Regrettably I always seem to forget about WRTE-FM, better known as Radio Arte. Granted, the station pumps out less than 100 watts and doesn't reach much beyond its home in Pilsen, but that's not a good excuse since the station has a great website and a decent quality audio stream. And no, I'm not fluent in Spanish, but a majority of WRTE's programming during the day is English or bilingual and they really put together a great mix of music. As expected during their Latin Alternative programming blocks, you'll hear bands like Los Amigos Invisibles and Kinky, but then later you'll hear four songs in English right in a row straight off of the American college radio charts. And if you're not familiar with Kinky and like, don't worry, it sounds nothing like the crap they blast at full volume inside Flash Taco to keep the drunk gringos from lingering too long.
Fortunately, I somehow managed to get on WRTE's mailing list and lately it appears that they're trying to get the station some more well-deserved exposure. This month they're celebrating their 10th anniversary with a series of local events to show off their diverse musical stylings. For the full list of events go to WRTE.org, and while you're there be sure to check out their full programming schedule and live audio stream.
Owned by the National Museum of Mexican Art, 90.5 FM Radio Arte is a non-profit radio station, and an award-winning institution located in the Pilsen neighborhood. Being the first radio station in Chicago to play Rock en Español, Latin Electronic Music, and other alternative genres, WRTE could only celebrate with a series of events presenting the same original and eclectic array of musical styles featured on our airwaves.
Recent Comments