Black Squirrel Radio gives back, shows community new music

Marcus Donaldson

Black Squirrel Radio will host its second annual BSR Presents event at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Euro Gyro in downtown Kent. BSR Presents is the student-run radio station’s way of giving back to the Kent community, said the station’s general manager, Rachel Campbell.

“We wanted a way to reach out to the community, because we do a lot of stuff on campus for just students, but we know our listeners are all over the place,” Campbell said.

Black Squirrel Radio has an international audience, but the staff wanted to focus its energies on its listeners in Kent.

“We decided we wanted to focus more on reaching out to Kent, because I feel like, even thought we’re located here, we don’t have as good of an outreach as we could,” Campbell said, citing live music as a perfect way to engage the Kent community.

Justin Graci, event coordinator for Black Squirrel Radio said his focus is “to get people into music they wouldn’t normally listen to.” Graci said he hopes BSR Presents gets the Kent community more familiar with new music and Black Squirrel Radio. BSR Presents got its start last fall semester at the Stone Tavern on Main Street. This year, the grassroots concert will be held at Euro Gyro on Depeyster Street under the direction of Black Squirrel Radio’s event director, Alex Taylor.

“I think the show is going to be really good because we are … breaking into a preexisting popular music scene in [Kent], as well as, we’re trying to attract new people to Black Squirrel Radio,” Taylor said.

BSR Presents will feature bands Let It Happen, First Things First, The Composure, The Promise Hero and Blacklister. The event is free, but there is a suggested donation of $5 to support the touring bands. Attendees can RSVP on the Black Squirrel Radio Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/442532095866016.

Contact Marcus Donaldson at [email protected].