It’s the first Saturday of the month, and although there’s a crisp and cool night outside, indoors at the Floyd Country Store is alive with activity and a brewing sense of anticipation.  The floor is filled with rows of chairs all the way up to the stage, and folks move quickly from the dwindling ice cream line to grab their seats.  The few last-minute guests purchase their tickets at the front counter and grab seats at the back just as the house lights flash—the show is about to begin!

As the room becomes quiet and the lights go down completely, Floyd Country Store owner, Dylan Locke, walks down the aisle.  Onstage, he announces that the show will start with a traditional joke then hands the microphone to a young girl.  “What is the difference between a poorly-dressed man on a bicycle and a well-dressed man on a unicycle?” She asks like seasoned pro.  “Attire!” The audience chuckles, or groans, then Dylan reaches up to turn on the light box that displays “On The Air.” The Floyd Radio Show has begun!

Even though most folks might already know who’s lined up to perform on the Floyd Radio Show, and even though everyone knows it’s always an entertaining evening, no one’s still ever quite sure what to expect.  That’s true for both the audience and the performers.   The evening’s three musical acts have been upstairs, reading through scripts they’d never seen before; dividing up parts for skits, interviews and stories.

A group of string-band musicians take the stage and the host approaches the microphone with script in hand.  As the band breaks into a familiar fiddle tune, the host announces the evening’s guests.  Cheerful applause erupts from the audience after the name of each artist and sponsor has been read. The fiddle tune draws to a close, and the Radio Show gets into full swing.

The microphones are quickly moved around while some of the musicians leave the stage.  With papers in hand instead of instruments, an advertisement is read by one of the two who remained.  “Introducing the new Jasper Jenkins Banjo Helpline!”  This line starts off a comedic phone conversation skit about how best to destroy a banjo.

A singer/songwriter is next to take the stage.  Many folks know the name but haven’t seen a performance.  Maybe it was because they didn’t want to commit to a full show.  Or maybe they just didn’t have the opportunity.  No matter which, they are here now…just as entranced as everyone else by the artist’s skill and powerful voice.

As the hour goes by, there is music from all three acts, a comedic skit, a jingle about a new Peluso microphone, and a historical piece delivered by a local Floydian about the days of wagons and home-made entertainment.

To everyone’s surprise, the time flies quickly by, and as it must, the first set comes to a close.  Before it ends, however, the host takes time for an interview.  “How long has your family passed on this music?  Tell us about this whirlwind project that you are involved in!”

The room is inspired.  After just a few quick questions, the audience can go home with more knowledge about the artist than from any full-length concert.  And with the last words of that interview, the first hour comes to an end.

The lights come up for intermission.  The crowd rushes the dessert counter for a piece of key lime pie or a lemon bar before the next set.  Most everyone seems to know each other, and they take the opportunity to catch up; discussing favorite acts and the latest news before heading back to their seats.

The second half of the show flies by.  There is more music from each group and a comedic radio drama about a Floyd beat-reporter who solves a crime at the school’s career fair with the help of a local middle-school student.  The evening wraps up with all the musicians on stage to play a final tune together.  Another Floyd Radio Show comes to a close.  No matter whether witnessed in person at the Floyd Country Store, or heard live online, it brings together the best parts of community through music, storytelling, and humor.

The Floyd Radio Show – Season 8
First Saturdays from September through May
7:30pm at the Floyd Country Store
Tickets $12 in advance, $15 day of show
Tune in online during the show or download podcasts from all seven previous seasons at www.floydradioshow.com