The 7th “Cabin Fever Reliever,” a celebration of local musical talent and community radio, will be held Sunday, March 12, 4:00 pm, at the Two Harbors High School auditorium. The community celebration will benefit radio station KTWH in Two Harbors.
The two-hour program features nine performing acts and will be co-emceed by the one-man band Steve Solkela, and flutist and KTWH Beat Farm host Leslie Black.
The show’s producer, Kim Leon, is a long-time volunteer working with KTWH. She and husband Jose Leon, who own and operate Two Harbors Media, came to Two Harbors in 2012. She began organizing this event in November. Kim is an on-air volunteer at the station and works to showcase highlights of the music and artists in the region.
Kim is excited to bring a live performance to the stage this year. “Due to the pandemic, Cabin Fever Reliever was not done live for the last two years,” Kim said.
Local crowd favorite, THUG (Two Harbors Ukulele Group), is the “one-of-a-kind house band” for the performance.
KTWH is a radio station created after the US Congress passed legislation in 2010 authorizing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue low-power FM licenses to community-based non-profits. Current board member Fran Kaliher presented KTWH as an idea to fellow board member and co-founder Leo Babeu. The two leaders organized broad community support and filed the license application. The station went on the air in September 2015 and broadcasts over 5,000 hours of programming every year.
KTWH’s low-power community radio license is limited to 100 watts, which allows coverage of a three to ten-mile radius from its antenna in downtown Two Harbors, depending on weather and topography. The station has applied for and received a construction permit to build a full-power station, up to 20,000 watts, to expand its reach along the north shore. Board chairman Babeu says that engineering studies have been done, a budget is in place, and a campaign to “Raise the full power antenna” is underway. When completed to full power, the station will reach up the shore past Silver Bay and inland.
“We call ourselves ‘Radio with a lake view,’ Babeu says. “With 320 square miles of coverage, half of it is on Lake Superior.”
KTWH is a volunteer-run radio station. “It’s a labor of love all around,” Babeu says. “We have 50 or more volunteers helping out.”
Board chairman Babeu specifically acknowledges “Electron Bruce” Holmen who is the volunteer operating engineer making sure all the technology works to get programming on the air. Bruce (the Moose) Eckland runs daily operations at the station. Activities Manager Mychele Anderson coordinates the many volunteers working on the air and behind the scenes.
KTWH can be found at 99.5 on the FM dial, and you can listen live from anywhere and anytime with internet access at KTWH.org. KTWH is always looking for volunteers, including for on-air talent and programming ideas. Contact information is on their website.
Here is a snapshot of the acts appearing at Cabin Fever 2023:
Erin Aldridge: The Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster, appearing on multiple stages in varied genres as violinist and fiddler.
New Salty Dog: Duluth-based Northwoods jam band featuring brothers Jacob and Owen Mahon.
Michael Anderson: Tenor vocalist, photographer, and Duluth East Sider who enjoys elevating Northland non-profits.
Skarlett Woods: Singer/songwriter bringing folk, swing and jazz together with a 7-string guitar and entwining, mesmerizing vocal passages.
Edward “Eddie” Ojard: Now 14 years old, he’s an accomplished concert pianist trained in the Suzuki method and classical forms who’s been playing since age three and composing music since age 4.
John Agacki: Indy and Irish music singer/ songwriter/ guitarist from Ashland, WI who transforms into John O’Gacki ahead of every March 17th.
Oshkii Giizhik Singers: Based out of the Fond du Lac/Duluth area, these Anishinaabe women singers are an award-winning hand drum group founded in 2006.
Jeremy Lepak: Serving up family-friendly entertainment with comedy and musical ventriloquism.
Babie Eyes: An energetic and harmonic, improvisational Twin Ports band led by singer/songwriter and guitarist Heidi Feroe.
