Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota

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Northern Community Radio is an independent, nonprofit organization that operates a unique community-based public radio station, KAXE and KBXE. NCR serves most of north central, northeastern and northwestern Minnesota with a 100,000-watt signal originating in Grand Rapids at 91.7 FM and a 50,000-watt signal in Bemidji at 90.5 FM. Northern Community Radio also operates translators in Brainerd at 89.9 FM 

Northern Community Radio is a different kind of radio. When you tune in NCR you hear northern Minnesota...its people, environment, communities, attitude. These are the "stars" of NCR programs. NCR is a place where people gather to dance to good music or to find out about the flowers in the ditches and the birds at their feeders. It's a place to learn about the world, laugh, meet good neighbors, and share ideas.

Series

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3 Pieces

Segments that explore the meaning and lasting impact of Dylan’s work on the Minnesota music and literary scenes through the eyes of one or more other working musicians or writers. Programming is supported by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

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158 Pieces

A radio segment about Ojibwe language and culture that features puppets. Programming is supported by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and by the people of Minnesota.

Caption: Tippy, Credit: Karen Oothoudt
121 Pieces

The Call of the Wild is a call to your heart. The call to the wild part of yourself that you want to express in the work that you do. Sometimes you can even make a living doing what you love. And sometimes you can’t, but you still do it. Programming is supported by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

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779 Pieces

Centerstage Minnesota showcases the talents of Minnesota musicians. A local production of Northern Community Radio: KAXE - Grand Rapids and KBXE - Bemidji. Also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls and on WTIP in Grand Marais.

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38 Pieces

Centerstage Minnesota Features are value-added segments focusing on various aspects of Minnesota's music landscape, past and present. Centerstage Minnesota Features are produced by Nothern Community Radio, and are made possible by Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

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103 Pieces

A focus on regional events, sites, and places and how they relate to the community.

Caption: Gary Burger, Credit: The Bemidji Pioneer, with permission
1 Piece

Coming Home: the Gary Burger Story is an hour-long documentary about the life and times of Gary Burger, former front man of The Monks. Produced by Milt Lee and written by Jamie Lee.

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81 Pieces

This program contains state and local conversations on COVID-19.

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148 Pieces

Stories from Northern Minnesota's arts and culture scene.

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102 Pieces

Topical conversations about the history, present and future of Minnesota with our commentators Aaron Brown and Chuck Marohn. Programming is supported by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and by the people of Minnesota.


Latest Pieces

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"BlackMaled by Toki Wright" by Doug MacRostie. Toki Wright is a hip-hop artist out of Minneapolis. Raised in a Buddhist household, and immersing hi...

Bought by KSRQ and KVSC


  • Added: Jan 27, 2011
  • Length: 23:28
  • Purchases: 2
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"The Color Pharmacy Fills My Prescription" By Doug MacRostie. The Color Pharmacy is definitely one of the most exciting bands out of Minnesota. The...

  • Added: Jan 19, 2011
  • Length: 40:36
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Doctor, 'The good news is they're naming a disease after you...' I know, not funny. Do you suffer from congenital optimism?

Bought by WTIP


  • Added: Jan 17, 2011
  • Length: 03:03
  • Purchases: 1
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There's a whole host of 'Good News/Bad News' jokes floating around on your finer after diner speech preparation websites...

  • Added: Jan 17, 2011
  • Length: 02:30
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Fifty years ago this month, President Dwight Eisenhower gave his farewell speech to the American people. Eisenhower's farewell address is considere...

Bought by KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 13, 2011
  • Length: 14:40
  • Purchases: 1
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"Love and Loneliness with Pieta Brown," by Doug MacRostie. Pieta Brown is a striking Poet-songwriter with a haunting voice and unmistakable style. ...

  • Added: Jan 12, 2011
  • Length: 23:47
Caption: Judy Hedblom's work 'Traveler Twins', an example of the form
Dan and Frances Hedblom create one-of-a-kind art objects with buffing and heat applied to copper panels. From AMPERS member station KAXE, Justin C...

Bought by KKWE Niijii Radio


  • Added: Dec 29, 2010
  • Length: 08:06
  • Purchases: 1
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"Music is Todd Clouser's Second Language" by Doug MacRostie. Todd Clouser's "A Love Electric" is an instrumental album with a lot to say. For some ...

  • Added: Dec 28, 2010
  • Length: 36:09
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Joan Steffend is a Minnesota native known for her television work – first on KBJR in Duluth then KARE-11 in Minneapolis and on HGTV’s Decorating Ce...

  • Added: Dec 21, 2010
  • Length: 20:15
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There are really only two directions we can travel: back towards the familiar or out into the unknown.

Bought by WTIP


  • Added: Dec 21, 2010
  • Length: 03:51
  • Purchases: 1