HS community radio celebrates with party, restaurant preview
A local radio station plans to host a birthday celebration Aug. 12 highlighting two years of being on air and introducing a new pizza joint and microbrewery next door.
KUHS-LP 97.9 FM is Hot Spring’s first community radio station, and the only solar-powered radio station in the state of Arkansas. It opened in 2015, about 15 years after the station manager, Zac Smith, and his wife, Cheryl Roorda, envisioned a radio station and restaurant combo.
“I just thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to have a radio station inside a restaurant?’ So it’s always kinda been the plan to have the two together,” said Smith.
According to a news release, the celebration will raise money to support the community radio, and Smith plans to make an announcement about improvements to the signal that will enhance the listener experience. They have set a goal to raise $5,000 in the next three months to fund changes to the studio.
“We’re going to change a few things, actually. One announcement I’m going to keep a secret for now … but in terms of hardware upgrades, we’re going to be upgrading our transmitter and putting on a better antenna,” said Smith.
“This will give us much better audio shaping controls … (and) a fuller, more present sound,” he said.
When the station first started there were about 40 volunteers rotating their playlists between time slots. Today, nearly 70 volunteer disc jockeys work day and night to bring Hot Springs an eclectic selection of music and talk radio.
KUHS plays nearly every type of music imaginable. Their radio DJs compile unique playlists weekly, engaging listeners across the country. Some shows strictly play music, while others integrate a talk show format in with the mix.
“Our DJ’s really take ownership of the work we do here, and help out in a variety of different capacities. Some of them are actually going to be running the kitchen for
the party,” Smith said.
For the past two years, those working at the station have focused primarily on getting music on the radio. Now that they have their feet under them, as Smith likes to say, they want to begin working more with promoting nonprofits and community organizations on the air.
Last October, the station hosted the Grass Roots Radio Conference, a gathering of community radio stations from across the country. GRC was filled with workshops and seminars concerning the ins and outs of starting, running and maintaining a successful community radio station.
Reflecting on the past two years, Smith said its “just crazy” to look back on all they have accomplished in that short time.
“We figured out how to get our feet under us as far as playing music is concerned, we hosted a national conference that brought people in from all across the country and we’re still the only solar-powered radio station in Arkansas,” Smith said.
Smith and Roorda have spent more than a year renovating the rest of the 1920s building housing the station, and are close to completion. The celebration will also serve as a preview for the new restaurant’s dining room and bar.
“I’ve been an avid home brewer for many years, and the only restaurant experience I had in terms of running s place was a pizza joint. So we chose to feature homemade pizza and homemade beer,” Smith said.
The station has teamed up with a few local businesses to ensure the night is filled with merriment. Drinks will be provided by The Wine Rack and Spirit Shoppe and Superior Bathhouse Brewery. Ben E. Keith will provide the food.
Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served out of the kitchen of the new pizza joint and microbrewery, SQZBX Pizza and Beer, which will open soon under the same roof as KUHS.
They plan on using fresh, locally sourced foods as much as possible. Smith said he wants to focus heavily on the fresh, homemade aspect of their food.
Jimmy “Daddy” Davis will be providing the musical entertainment for the evening. According to the release, Davis, originally from Memphis, Tenn., brings his infectious enthusiasm to every audience member.
Davis is a longtime fan of Hot Springs, having played at the former Sawmill Depot Restaurant and Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa years ago.
His songs have been recorded by artists like Martina McBride, Restless Heart and other recording artists. It is his warmth, charisma and sheer talent as a writer and performer that his fans find so endearing, the release said.
“Jimmy is big in this region. He’s more respected for his songwriting, but we’re still expecting a big crowd from his following,” said Smith.
The celebration will take place Saturday, Aug. 12, at 6:30 p.m. inside the radio station, 240 Ouachita Ave. Tickets are $25.