Get out the party hats! CKUA is turning 98!
Tune in this week to hear birthday wishes, festive music, and entertaining trips through CKUA’s history.
CKUA doesn’t suffer from bad knees or an aching back. In fact, it’s looking younger and brighter than ever at 98! It’s all thanks to you, our donors. You step up, again and again, to support the cultural marvel that CKUA is and to keep it thriving as we move toward a major milestone birthday in 2027.
Let’s celebrate with a fun day of radio! Here’s a rundown of the on-air excitement.
Thursday, November 20
The Upload with host Kate Stevens
11am-1pm MT
On the Thursday edition of The Upload it’s Trivia Thursday and we’ll be testing your knowledge of CKUA!
Friday, November 21
Alberta Morning, with host Grant Stovel
6am-9am MT
On Friday’s Alberta Morning, we’ll celebrate CKUA’s 98 years by spotlighting some other notable beginnings in 1927 — the year that all-time crucial artists like Jimmie Rodgers, Louis Armstrong and His Hot Seven, Big Bill Broonzy, and the Carter Family all began their recording careers.
We’ll also zoom in on how events that year catalyzed a huge leap in musical and cultural development — like the advent of talking motion pictures and the “big bang” of country music that happened in Bristol, Tennessee, known as The Bristol Sessions.
Plus, we’ll be wrapping up a week of spotlighting or featured artist this week on Alberta Morning, Mose Allison — who was also born in 1927 — and hearing some the hottest new sounds from the 1920s! As has become a fun annual tradition, Grant loves to spin 2020s recordings of songs originally from the 1920s.
This Just In, with host Amy van Keeken
9am-11am MT
Amongst her usual inspired new music offerings, Amy will share some special birthday messages from a fun series called “Interesting and Amusing Reminiscences Of the Early Days Of CKUA.”
On the Rise with hosts Kate Stevens and Spencer Streichert
1pm-3pm MT
Kate and Spencer will be doing their regular countdown and look back at charts past! They will be diving into some of those albums and songs from years past that had particular impact.
Traffic Jams, with host Lisa Wilton
3pm-6pm MT
Lisa will be sharing comments from listeners – and requesting and sharing them during the show – about how you first came across the station and what musical favourites you’ve discovered through CKUA.
The Wild Card with host Jasmine Vickaryous
6pm to 7pm MT
This week on The Wild Card, we’re tipping our hats to CKUA’s 98th birthday with a journey through nearly a century of musical history. We’ll be spinning classics from the late, great Todd Snider, plus brand-new tracks from Colter Wall and Bella White. And since this is a donated hour, there’s plenty of heart and plenty to celebrate.
Wax & Wane, with host Joe Hartfeil
7pm-9pm MT
Host Joe Hartfeil will musically muse (wax, if you will) on transitions (the silent era through talkies, for instance), phases, satellites natural and manufactured, the evolution of media and the things we preserve and play with through time.
Friday Night Blues Party with host Cam Hayden
9pm to midnight MT
Cam will be taking listeners for a ride through the decades in the blues. Check out the best in blues in 1927, 1937, 1947 an onwards. Cam is your expert guide.
P.S. You can also look up at the night sky for some unique celebrations. On November 21 the Calgary Tower will be lit up for CKUA. On November 23 the High Level Bridge in Edmonton will be lit up in yellow to celebrate the occasion. Send us your photos or tag us on social media when you post them online.
Add your voice. We invite you to share YOUR birthday wishes for CKUA.
If you have birthday wishes or special CKUA memories to share, be sure to send them to us via your favourite social media channel, or record a voice message via the Open Mic feature on the app. You can also send a text message!
Send in your birthday message:
– to your favorite host using the text-to-booth option. Send a written text message, or an audio recording via text message, to 1-800-494-2582. Learn more here.
– on Twitter, Instagram, of Facebook.
– via the Open Mic option on the CKUA App. Learn more here.
– by email to feedback@ckua.com.
