Hello September! We’ve got lots going on at the station this month, so jump right in.
42 Years and 2,000 Episodes of Nightwaves
If you tune in to CFCR on a Tuesday evening from 9:00-11:00, you’ll be treating yourself to an all-vinyl showcase of rock’n’roll. Garage, psychedelia, mod, punk, and power-pop from the 60s to the present grace the turntables of the on-air studio, with hosts Ron Spizziri and Jeff Salyn guiding you along the sonic journey.
Nightwaves is a staple of CFCR, and on August 12, Jeff hosted a special edition of the show — the 2,000th episode. Ron wrote about the history of the show, and Jeff broadcasted this history on the air. Ron was kind enough to send along his write-up to be posted in this newsletter.
In the summer of 1983, Duncan Wall, a U of S student, approached me to do a show with him on CJUS, the campus station. It was Duncan who came up with the name, Nightwaves.
Our first program (a 2-hour show) - Thursday, August 4, 1983.
Nightwaves soon moved to Sundays and became a 4-hour show from 9pm to 1am.
The University, which held the station's license, decided not to renew it in 1985 and offered the station to the Students Union, who didn't want to take it on. The station therefore went off the air and Nightwaves' final show (#110) aired on September 29, 1985 after it had been on for 2 years and 2 months
Barb McLellan, who had no other connection with the University station other than being a listener, got five of us together to form the Community Radio Society of Saskatoon. Work then began on applying for a broadcast license.
While applying for a license, the Society began cablecasting on Saskatoon Telecable. Program #111 aired on Telecable on Tuesday, October 6, 1987, at 9pm. It was still a 4-hour program but eventually became a 2-hour show.
Judging by the listeners' pledges directed to Nightwaves during our annual on-air fundraising drive,(FM-Phasis), the show has remained quite popular over the years.
It's been difficult to recruit hosts for the show, as not too many people are really into the garage-rock and psychedelia we feature.
The song, "Gloria" has become the tune most closely related to Nightwaves, as several of our past (and present) hosts have played it over the years.
If you would like to listen to past episodes of Nightwaves, including the 2,000th episode (2025-08-12), you can do so on our website: cfcr.ca/timetable/program/nightwaves/
FM-Phasis 2025: Sounds So Fine!
Our yearly 2-week fundraiser, FM-Phasis, is coming up! We’ll be raising money for the station from Saturday, Sept. 13 to Friday, Sept. 26. Not only will we be collecting pledges from people who want to support local, non-profit community radio, we will also be hosting a few events! FM-Phasis is essential to CFCR’s existence, and this year our goal is $80,000.
We’ve got some goods for those who donate. Limited edition merch, prizes available to be picked up at the station (such as gift cards to your favorite local businesses), AND we’ll be pulling names for some amazing grand prizes! See the chart and pics below to see the bang you get for your buck.
Donation | Limited Edition Merch | Entry to Grand Prize Draws | Value of prizes (while they last!) |
|---|---|---|---|
$10 | magnet | ||
$25 | magnet | 1 | $10 |
$75 | magnet, t-shirt | 1 & 2 | $30 |
$150 | magnet, t-shirt, mug | 1, 2 & 3 | $60 |
$250 | magnet, t-shirt, mug | 1, 2, 3 & 4 | $100 |
A small sample of the prizes available
Along with our FM-Phasis 2025 “Sounds So Fine” shirts, we will also have an alternative CFCR design available to donors (while supplies last).
Grand Prizes
Donors who pay over $25 before October 30, 5:00pm, will have their name entered into grand prize draws. You can see the chart above for the minimum donation required for entries into the four draws. This year, we’ll be pulling two names out of pool #1.
Draw #1:
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster & Amp from St. John’s Music (value: $540)
Garmin Tacx Boost Bike Trainer from Spoke n’ Sport (value: $450)
Draw #2: ENO Sky Hanging Chair & Stand and $50.00 gift card from Escape Sports (value: $580)
Draw #3: $800.00 in fine dining gift cards from Hearth Restaurant
Draw #4: A John Taylor (Duran Duran) Signature Model Bass Guitar from Dingwall Guitars (value: $3,465.00)
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster & Amp from St. John’s Music
ENO Sky Hanging Chair & Stand
John Taylor Signature Model Bass Guitar from Dingwall Guitars
Garmin Tacx Boost Bike Trainer from Spoke n’ Sport
Trout from Hearth Restaurant
Fundraising Events
Come support our fundraising events; all proceeds go towards FM-Phasis! More information about all of these events can be found on our website.
Our Fundraiser Kick-Off Party will be at Capitol Music Club on Friday, Sept. 12 at 10:00pm.
Bands: The Whiskey Jerks, Oscar’s Hollow, Gil & Wil
Tickets are $10 at the door
This is a 19+ event
Our 10th annual Record Fair will be at Grace Westminster Church (505 10th St E) on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 10am-3pm.
Come check out the variety of vendors selling new, used, and collectible vinyl and other musical treasures.
10-11am: Early Nerd hour $10 tickets
11-3pm: $5 Regular entry OR free with a CFCR membership!
Visit our website to buy your Early Nerd ticket in advance.
Our Fundraiser Wrap-Up Party will be at Amigos Cantina on Friday, Sept. 26 at 10:00pm.
Bands: Dump Babes, Blue Fantasy, Unproductive
Tickets are $10 at the door
This is a 19+ event
(P.S. FM-Phasis is pronounce “eff-emphasis”)
Album of the Month
Saskatoon’s High Master brings a thunderous sound that sits somewhere between stoner rock groove and garage rock grit. Their debut EP Road Man is a live-wired, riff-driven ride.
Check it out right now over at: https://highmaster.bandcamp.com/
CFCR 10% Sponsor Spotlight
Located in the heart of downtown YXE, The Capitol is Saskatoon's music venue - showcasing touring and local bands, comedy, and more.
Come check out the Capitol Music Club and watch our show on September 12!
Thanks for supporting Saskatoon’s only community radio station. See you next month!