Homegrown Music is WVIA-FM's exclusive series which each week showcases the talents of regional contemporary music artists in recordings produced in the WVIA-FM studios by series host George Graham and is broadcast Tuesdays at 9:00 PM. June features a live Homegrown Music concert on the 20th. Further information on Homegrown Music may be obtained via the World Wide Web at http://homegrownmusic.info and http://www.wvia.org/radio/homegrown-music

June 7 Erik Balkey. Philadelphia-area singer-songwriter Erik Balkey is known for his pleasing songs, thoughtful lyrics and easy-going style. He has released several CDs nationally. This encore from 2005 spotlights some of his original songs.

Erik Balkey at WVIA

June 14 Craig Thatcher Band. Lehigh Valley blues guitarist Craig Thatcher has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best in the region. He often performs tributes to Eric Clapton, and in recent years, has been the guitarist for vocalist Simone (Nina Simone's daughter). This archive edition of Homegrown Music from 1996 features Thatcher and a tasteful blues band performing mostly original music.

June 20 A Homegrown Music Live Concert with ROGUE CHIMP and JASON O. WVIA-FM's unique monthly series of live radio concert-broadcasts continues with another two hours of great music performed live before a studio audience in the station's Sordoni Theater.

Rogue Chimp at WVIA

Rogue Chimp is a distinctive fusion-funk-electronic group featuring two brothers -- second generation Homegrown Music artists -- from Clarks Summit, PA, performing original music that is marked by a danceable groove with creative compositions. A further distinctive feature of the group is the presence of violinist Mark Woodyat.

Jason Olcese is a talented singer-songwriter from around Clifford, PA, who is in the process of releasing a new CD. He returns to Homegrown Music to perform some of the songs in a distinctive acoustic setting with a looping device.

Jason O in the studio at WVIA

As usual, WVIA's members and listeners are invited to attend the concert at the WVIA studios, Free audience seating is available by reservation at http://www.wvia.org/ or by phoning 570-655-2808.

Joe Rathrbone (left) with band at WVIA

June 21 Joe Rathbone. Singer-songwriter Rathbone has NEPA ties, though he travels widely and has lived in Philadelphia, Atlanta and more recently Nashville. His brings a kind of rock sensibility to his original music. This is an encore of his third Homegrown Music session, recorded in 2010, featuring a small group with percussion, performing his outstanding songs.

June 28 Unspun. From the archive from eleven years ago, this session features vocalist extraordinaire John Smith, who was recently featured on Homegrown Music in the band Underground Saints. Unspun created excellent “arty” original rock that deserves to be heard again.

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