Community radio is many things, but one thing is for sure: diverse programming of the highest (and funnest) quality is indispensable to our mission. That’s why, after 88.1 KDHX was bankrupted and sold off by a corrupt board and executive director, we organized to build a new community radio station. One that truly resonates with the community and brings musical joy (and more) to our lives.
Jazz, blues, soul, punk, funk, country, bluegrass, hip hop, new wave, rock & roll, Americana, reggae, ska, and international folk music all emanate from CRSTL.FM 24/7. And now we’ve added a new genre — house music — to the list.
House music emerged out of the ‘80s club scene in Chicago, specifically a legendary venue called the Warehouse. As a form of electronic dance music, house draws on disco, sampling, steady beats, minimalist vocals, rich percussion, and a trance-like vibe. Significant artists include: Felix da Housecat, Ron Hardy, Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, Steve “Silk” Hurley, Robin S, Crystal Waters, and Moloko just for starters.
On his new show, Tha Push, that airs every Saturday 1-3AM Central, DJ Mr. G blends together music from lesser known artists that both connect with house music but also go beyond by blending jazz, soul, funk, and more for an eclectic, soothing and grooving soundtrack. Every episode of Tha Push is at once atmospheric and highly danceable.
Check out playlists for Tha Push on Spinitron.
Listen to the most recent episode of Tha Push on Mixcloud.
Get to know a little more about Gary in this week’s volunteer spotlight.
Tell us about your relationship to radio and to music. When did that start?
I first became aware of the connection between rhythm and vibrations early on in my life. My mother often mentioned that music would soothe me even before I was born. Throughout my childhood, music became my primary means of escape. My mom would play various radio stations such as KATZ and WESL, along with classic AM channels. I remember lying on the couch, swaying my head to the rhythm of the music until I drifted off to sleep. As such, the radio has always held a special place in our family’s life.
What inspired you to apply for a show on CRSTL.FM?
I’ve always had a passion for radio, which led me to enroll in a broadcasting course at Forest Park Community College. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to pursue it further.
How does your relationship to Community Radio St. Louis and community broadcasting relate to anything else in your life?
CRSTL.FM provides me with the perfect platform to dust off my production skills that have been lying dormant. With an extensive collection of music production equipment at my disposal, collaborating with CRSTL.FM sparks my creativity and motivates me to explore new artistic avenues.
Tell us about your show Tha Push. What’s the concept? What artists and genres do you play?
Tha Push was born from a collaborative session with my cousin in the studio. As we played records from the internet, I couldn’t help but think about all the incredible non-mainstream artists who deserve recognition. This inspired me to create Tha Push— a platform dedicated to showcasing talented artists who often go unheard. My goal is to elevate these musicians and share their exceptional work with a wider audience.
What are the top things community radio contributes to you?
Building community ties enhances local relationships, fosters cultural exchange, and, above all, cultivates trust among individuals.
When you’re not broadcasting with CRSTL.FM, what are your favorite things to do in St. Louis (or anywhere else)?
I like to spend my time with my beautiful wife Pam. We explore the St. Louis music scene, hit up our favorite restaurants, and attending to our pets.
Do you have any favorite CRSTL.FM programs or DJs? Any other streaming radio stations / programs you enjoy listening to?
I do! Songbration, Elevated Rymstate, World of Wonder, Memphis to Manchester, and The Bridge.
What are your five favorite albums of all time?
Some of my favorites are:
Heatwave
Songs in the Key of Life
What’s Going On
Mothership Connection
Thriller
There’s a new way to support CRSTL.FM: Donate your unwanted car, truck, motorcycle, RV, boat, or other vehicle! Your donation via Car Easy can help us continue our mission of building community and supporting culture through independent radio. Donating your vehicle is a simple way to make a big impact and an opportunity to clear space in your driveway. Plus, it’s completely free and tax-deductible! To get started, visit https://careasy.org/crstl-fm or call 855-500-RIDE (7433) and let them know you want to donate a vehicle to CRSTL.FM. Thank you!
Here is a run down of the upcoming CRSTL-produced and sponsored events. Come meet your favorite DJs and build community with us!
Aug 22 - December 20 Sundaze at Schlafly. Our third year providing the soundtrack to this very cool artisan market. Here’s the brand new schedule. Most of the DJs spins are the last Sunday of the month, with a few Saturday evenings mixed in as well.
Aug 22 (Saturday): 4-9p Ital K and DJ ‘Nit
Sept 27: 11a-4p Kristin and Andy Coco
October 25: 11a-4p Caron and Rob Levy
November 22: 11a-4p Crim and Landy Dandy
December 20: 11a-4p TBA
August 7. Elevated Rhymestate 15 Year Celebration. Hosted by Wil Wander, the Elevated Rhymestate program is celebrating 15 years of broadcasting on community radio. Join us at the Blueberry Hill Duck Room on Friday, August 7 for music by locals Karl Livingston, 12-6 Movement, Brett Gretzky and more, plus special guest Khemist Mayfield. Elevated Rhymestate currently airs on CRSTL.FM every Saturday 11PM to Sunday 1AM. We are proud to be a media sponsor for this event.
September 1. Public Meeting of CRSTL. 7-9PM. Join us at the VFW Hall in Richmond Heights (1717 S Big Bend Blvd 63117). All are welcome! Learn more about Community Radio St. Louis, take part in the discussion, and find out how to volunteer. Meeting runs 7-9PM. We will be accepting donations for our upcoming Music & More Sale (date November 14, 2026). If you have CDs, LPs, posters etc. you wish to donate, this is a good time and place to do so! You can also email events@crstl.fm to make other arrangements.
Interested in volunteering? We are in need of experienced and enthusiastic graphic artists, social media and events volunteers, street team support, and more. Drop us a line!
And remember that one of the easiest ways to support CRSTL — which costs nothing — is to like and share our social media posts! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and help us get the word out about Community Radio St. Louis!
The programming you hear 24/7 on CRSTL.FM is 100% homegrown, 100% volunteer — as community radio should be. And this Substack is also written and produced by volunteers who love what they do: sharing information and connecting with readers like you.
If you value these creative efforts, consider a financial contribution. You can support CRSTL and all of your favorite volunteer programmers by making a donation today!
Donate via Zelle (no fees!)
Our Zelle ID is: League Of Volunteer Enthusiasts / treasury.love.kdhx at gmail dot com
Want to send a check? Make checks payable to:
“LOVE of Community Radio STL”
Mail to:
League of Volunteer Enthusiasts
3527 Pestalozzi St.
St. Louis, MO 63118
LOVE of Community Radio STL member Ken Laster, and his support team led by Shawn Greene, have the big run down on upcoming shows to kick off April. Be sure to follow Ken’s Concert Calendar Podcast on Facebook. Every Monday Ken and Shawn break down the upcoming concerts and even play snippets of songs with great info about the bands and ticket costs!
And visit our big list of shows at the CRSTL Concert Calendar.
Rumluck; Shall We Dance; Weephealer; Girletariat-Fubar Lounge
Baja-The Annex @ Frisco Barroom
The Larry Johnson Jazz Quartet-Evangeline’s
The Conestogas-Das Bevo
Mindy Smith-Blue Strawberry
Nathan Stanley & Constant Sorrow-The Focal Point
Space Quaker; Kids; The Jits; Three Poets-Off Broadway
Buck Fever; Cupid’s Trick; Monday Again; Geff Joldbum-The Sinkhole
Kat King; Front Flip; Night Parks-Moshmellow
Overthrown; My Favorite Aviator-The Heavy Anchor
Alligator Wine-Broadway Oyster Bar
Young The Giant; Cold War Kids, Little Image-St. Louis Music Park
The Gaslight Squares-The Annex
The Blue Sparks-Das Bevo
Tim Schall; Kelly Howe-Blue Strawberry
Admiral Radio-The Focal Point
Jim Jones-Red Flag
Cloud Machine; Wraithhammer; Sacred Fuzz; Killscreen-Fubar Lounge
Perfect Worker; Holofoil; Ninevolt; Spirithouse-The Sinkhole
Seashine; The String & Return; Cave Radio-The Heavy Anchor
Steve Ewing Band-Broadway Oyster Bar
Brunch w/Miss Jubilee & The Yas Yas Boys-Evangeline’s
Brunch w/Farshid Etniko Duo-The Annex at Frisco Barroom
Brian Clarke-Blue Strawberry
Austin Grimm & Them Gold Souls-Joe’s Cafe
Lyfe Jennings-City Winery STL
John Ford; John Long-The Focal Point
Simple Plan; Bowling For Soup; 3OH!3-St. Louis Music Park
Jack Harlow; James Savage-The Pageant
Christiana Miller-Blue Strawberry
Laka-Broadway Oyster Bar
Saintseneca-Off Broadway
Rec League; Onyakopon; Big Al & The Rocketship-Moshmellow
Satan’s God; Without MF Order; Chaos Collective-Fubar Lounge
Steve Ewing-Hawken House Concert Series
Soulard Blues Band-Broadway Oyster Bar
Train; Barenaked Ladies; Matt Nathanson-Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Black Market Kidney Surgeon; Boof; Cheap Knives; The Boogens; Leave No
Trace-The Sinkhole
Dialogue; Sonoa; Creysi-Fubar Lounge
Andrew Dahle-Broadway Oyster Bar
Need To Breathe; Drew & Ellie Holcomb-St. Louis Music Park
Hulvey; Indie Tribe; Kijan Boone-The Sovereign
Six Feet Under; Fuming Mouth; Flesher-Red Flag
Mohini Dey-City Winery STL
Cancerslug; Mass Arrest; Closed Casket; Overthrown!-Fubar Lounge
Matt “The Rattlesnake” Lesch Trio-Broadway Oyster Bar
Paul Bonn & The Bluesman-Cecil Whittaker’s Pizza Patio
Bebel Gilberto-City Winery STL
Static Dress; Blistered Spirit; Direct Measure-Off Broadway
Craig Todd Quintet feat. Feyza Eren-Evangeline’s
Lettuce-Atomic Pavillion
Rodeo Boys; Tidal Volume; Breakmouth Annie-The Sinkhole
Tommy Stinson; Karla Rose-The Heavy Anchor
Taylor Steele-Broadway Oyster Bar (afternoon)
Javier Mendoza-The Focal Point
Eric Roberson-City Winery STL
Andy Fraser & The U.N.; Kitchen Dwellers; Mihali-Atomic
Venezuela Earthquake Relief Benefit Show feat. Little Big Bangs; Piracy; Dour; Goo Man; Pre-Show in Patio by Julio Cesar Ensemble-Off Broadway
Drivin’ N Cryin’-Old Rock House
Jesus Christ Supercar; Primo Danger; Phantomelo; No Antics-The Golden Record Co.
Red Shirts; Get Punk’d; Driveway Talk-Fubar Lounge
Holy Wave; Mystic Valley-The Sinkhole
Dante No Bara; Cuddle Pile; 86 Red; Buck Fever-Moshmellow
They Need Machines To Fly; The May Day Orchestra; Harpo Jarvi-The Heavy Anchor
The Drew Project-Broadway Oyster Bar (evening)
Long-time KDHX volunteer Dan Garvey has put together another great list of arts and cultural events happening now throughout the region.
Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, www.theKPAC.org | Fusing People and the Arts
Venue for local and regional arts organizations to showcase their work.
Missouri Historical Society, www.mohistory.org
Multiple curated exhibits, See STL walking tours, special collections such as:
Yours Forever: Forest Park at 150 will explore how St. Louisans have used and adapted the park throughout its history and the moments and memories—big and small—that make it special. The exhibit runs through 5/31/27
Saint Louis Art Museum, www.slam.org
Many curated exhibits and events including Family Sundays activities, such as:
Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan. Marble sculptures and frescoes, along with mosaics, glass vessels, and bronze artifacts, chronicle life at the height of Rome’s empire. The exhibit runs through 8/16
Laumeier Sculpture Park, www.laumeier.org
Laumeier is one of the first and largest dedicated sculpture parks in the country.
Saint Louis County Library, www.slcl.org
In addition to traditional library materials/resources, many activities including author events.
Saint Louis City Library, www.slpl.org
In addition to traditional library materials/resources, many activities, collections, and events.
Webster University Film Series, www.webster.edu/filmseries
The Webster University Film Series has served as St. Louis’ premier cinematic alternative since 1979.
The Sheldon, www.thesheldon.org
A gathering place at heart, The Sheldon invites you to revere and participate in a diverse legacy of live music, arts, events and culture.
Repertory Theater of Saint Louis, www.repstl.org
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is a fully professional theatrical operation.
The Black Rep, www.theblackrep.org
The Black Rep, a 49-year-old legacy Black arts organization, is committed to producing, re-imagining, and commissioning work written by Black playwrights and creating opportunities for new voices and youth.
Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center, www.pmlodge.net
Located in Grafton, IL hosts many events.
Foundry Art Centre, www.foundryartcentre.org
St. Charles’ interactive, interdisciplinary art center featuring multiple galleries and events.
Ballroom Dance Academy of Saint Louis, Ballroom Dance Academy St. Louis
BDASL is focused on sharing the joy of ballroom dancing. Their mission is to promote partner or ballroom style dancing through inter-generational ballroom dance programs.
Contemporary Art Museum Mission + Impact - Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
The Contemporary Art Museum aims to create meaningful engagement with relevant and innovative art being made today through an array of activities and art education.
First Friday at Foundry Art Centre 5-8pm 8/7
First Fridays — Foundry Art Centre
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Alton Little Theater 7/31-8/9
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - Alton Little Theater Showplace
STL Fringe Festival Grand Center Arts District and beyond 8/3-8/9
STL Fringe St. Louis | Performing Arts Festival | Saint Louis, MO
SLAM Cinema “Faces Places” at Saint Louis Art Museum 8/7 6:30
SLAM Cinema—Faces Places - Saint Louis Art Museum
CRSTL’s Elevated Rhymestate 15th Anniversary at the Duck Room 8/7 7pm
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Events - Elevated Rhymestate 15 Year Celebration featuring Khemist Mayfield
Night Market at Mississippi Culture Staunton, IL 8/7 6:30-9:30
See STL Walking Tour: Cherokee Street 8/9 10am
See STL: Cherokee Street | Missouri Historical Society
Webster University Film Series “Seeds ” 8/7-8/9 7:30pm
Seeds - Webster University: Worldwide Events
Stages St. Louis presents “Guys and Dolls” at Kirkwood Performing Arts Center 7/24-8/23
Guys and Dolls | STAGES St. Louis
Litchfield Pickers Market Litchfield, IL 8/9 8-2
Litchfield Pickers Market - The City of Litchfield
Peach Festival at Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center Grafton, IL 8/9 11-3
Annual Peach Festival | Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center in Grafton Illinois
Family Sundays “Circus of Creativity” at Saint Louis Art Museum 8/9 1-4pm
Family Sunday—Circus of Creativity - Saint Louis Art Museum
New Jewish Theatre presents “JOB” at the Wool Studio Theater 8/6-8/23
Rock the Hops in Downtown Alton 8/8 2-8pm
StampFest at St. Peters RecPlex 8/8-8/9
St. Louis Stampfest ~ 2026 - Greater Mound City Stamp Club
Music on the Porch at Peers Store in Marthasville Saturdays and Sundays through October Noon-3pm
Peers Store Music Lineup 2026 - Magnificent Missouri
Chesterfield Summer Concerts Series at Faust Park Tuesdays through 8/11 7pm
39th Annual Summer Concert Series - Jun 2, 2026 - Chesterfield Regional Chamber, MO
Made in St. Louis at Missouri History Museum runs through 1/03/27
Made in St. Louis | Missouri History Museum
Missouri History Museum “Yours Forever: Forest Park at 150” Now-5/31/2027
Yours Forever: Forest Park at 150 | Missouri History Museum
Saint Louis Art Museum “Aymara Weavings: The Indigenous Andes” 1/30/26-9/13/26
Aymara Weavings: The Indigenous Andes - Saint Louis Art Museum
Carlinville Market Days Saturdays through Nov 9th 9am-3pm
100 Years of Route 66 - “Roads, Rivers, Rooms, and Reels” Exhibit at The National Museum of Transportation runs through 10/31
100 Years of Route 66 - National Museum of Transportation
Alton Farmer’s and Artisans Markets Saturdays through 10/17 8-Noon
Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market - Alton Main Street
Patterns in Nature: The Art of Hybycozo at Missouri Botanical Garden now-9/20
Patterns in Nature: The Art of HYBYCOZO
Farshid Etniko Duo at The Annex in Webster Groves Sundays 11-1:30
Annex Music Calendar — THE ANNEX
1926 at West End Gas Station in Edwardsville Wed-Sun now-1/18/27
West End Service Station | Great Rivers & Routes
Heartland Prairie Hike with The Nature Institute 6/9 5:30pm Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday through October
Heartland Prairie Hike - The Nature Institute
Summer Nights at Grant’s Farm weekend evenings through Labor Day
Summer Nights - The Grant’s Farm Experience
Edwardsville Arts in the Park Concert Series 6/19 and various Fridays through 8/14
Edwardsville’s Arts in the Park Concert Series | Great Rivers & Routes
River’s Reach: A Riverbend Photo Exhibition at Jacoby Arts Center in Alton Saturdays now through 8/8 Noon-4pm
The River’s Reach | JacobyArts
African American History and Genealogical Society Workshop at Missouri History Museum 6/20, 7/18, 8/15 1-3 pm
African American History and Genealogy Society Workshops | Missouri Historical Society
Civic Park Concert Series in Granite City Wednesdays through 9/30 6:30-8:30pm
Civic Park Concert Series 2026 | Great Rivers & Routes
Bethalto Music in the Park at Central Park Thursdays through 8/20 7-9:30pm
Bethalto Music in the Park | Great Rivers & Routes
The Grand Opening of Uhuru Bakery and Cafe takes place on Saturday, August 15 (12:00 PM – 5:00 PM) at 3719 W. Florissant Ave. in St. Louis. This is a free community event that celebrates African economic growth and food sovereignty. The opening includes live music, food sampling, and historical exhibits.
Saint Louis County Parks & Recreation presents the Summer Craft Fair
Saturday August 29. At the Kennedy Recreation Complex. The event will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission for shoppers is free. If you’d like to be a vendor and wish to reserve your spot, call and register over the phone. Contact Nikki at 314-615-8820 or Kate at 314-615-5562.
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