One of FM radio’s most iconic songs is one that was almost never a hit. “Amie” was first released in 1972 on Pure Prairie League’s second album Bustin’ Out. Other albums followed as the song became a favorite “album cut” on the radio, until it was finally released as a single in 1975. It became […]
People & Profiles
Posted inArts & Culture, People & Profiles, Things To Do
What’s Up Interview: Stephane Wrembel Playing the Knickerbocker Friday Feb. 11
“Winter is when nature dreams, it’s like nature is asleep and dreaming,” muses guitarist Stephane Wrembel. “I always found that winter is very romantic in a very subconscious way. Everything is bare and we need to be reborn. I think dreams are fabricated then.” Deep thoughts from one of the world’s great guitarists, Stephane Wrembel, […]
Posted inFood & Drink, People & Profiles, Things To Do
What’s Up Interview: Lisa McCurdy of RI Brew Fest – Coming to Waterfire Arts Center Saturday Feb. 5
Where can you find over 50 local and regional breweries sharing their bounty this weekend? At the Rhode Island Brew Fest, of course, returning to the Waterfire Arts Center in Providence after skipping last year due to the pandemic. We learned more about the 2022 Festival from Lisa McCurdy of Gray Matter Marketing, one of […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles, Things To Do
What’s Up Interview: Shawnn Monteiro playing Chan’s Saturday, Feb. 5
Jazz singer Shawnn Monteiro is returning to Chan’s Saturday night after a 20-year absence from the legendary venue famous for “egg rolls, jazz and blues.” The show comes on the heels of her new release You Are There, an album of jazz standards featuring Monteiro on vocals fronting two stellar studio bands. I spoke to […]
Posted inArts & Culture, News, People & Profiles
Local surfer’s One Last Wave Project helps thousands cope with grief
When he posted this TikTok video on January 4th in hopes of connecting with others experiencing profound grief, local surfer Dan Fischer didn’t know he was starting a worldwide movement to help people cope with the loss of a loved one. In less than four weeks, Fischer’s viral invitation to share the names and stories […]
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What’s Up Interview: Doug Woolverton, playing Miles Davis tribute Valentines shows Feb. 12 -13
Among the many great musicians who call Rhode Island home, Doug Woolverton stands out from the crowd. The trumpeter has played with nationally known artists like Aretha Franklin, Warren Haynes, Roomful of Blues, and most recently, blues keyboardist Victor Wainwright. Woolverton and his band will be playing a special Valentine’s show at the Updike Room […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Will tourism rebound in 2022; Discover Newport’s Evan Smith joins WUN for a live interview on Wednesday
No industry has suffered more than tourism during the pandemic, and no community in Rhode Island is more reliant upon tourism than Newport. Evan Smith, executive director of Discover Newport, joins What’s Up Newp for a live virtual video interview at 2 pm tomorrow (Wednesday) to look back at 2021 and to look ahead to next […]
Posted inCity & Government, News, People & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: Councilor Ceglie joins WUN for monthly live interview on Wednesday
Update – Since publishing this, the Mayor’s office has made us aware that Lynn Underwood Ceglie, Vice-Chair and At-Large Councilor, will be filling in for Mayor Napolitano. Newport Vice-Chair, At-Large Councilor Lynn Underwood Ceglie, on the heels of a divisive City Council meeting over North End zoning, joins What’s Up Newp for a live virtual […]
Posted inArts & Culture, People & Profiles
Community rallies behind Philip Easton Landers, a beloved local artist and coach, as he fights spinal cancer
Cancer is a disease that has touched the lives of many. Unfortunately, it has recently affected a young adult in the local community. Last June, I wrote an article about the HOPE mural that local artist Philip Easton Landers painted at the Fifth Element on Broadway. This design has become synonymous with the positive and […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Olympic Swimmer Elizabeth Beisel will make a record-breaking swim to Block Island (Updated)
Three-time Olympian, silver medalist, and 2016 Team USA Captain, Elizabeth Beisel is poised to make history on Wednesday, September 22, when she swims from mainland Rhode Island (Matunuck Beach) to Block Island in her BLOCK CANCER SWIM. Update: 12 pm on September 21 Elizabeth Beisel’s safety team just moved her swim due to increasing surf and […]
Posted inCity & Government
General Treasurer Seth Magaziner joins WUN for a live virtual conversation on July 14
Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner joins WUN for a videocast on Wednesday, July 14, at 12:30 p.m. to talk about school and green infrastructure initiatives, the passage of important legislation that expands financial literacy in schools, and for adults. He will also talk about the Treasurer’s office’s unclaimed property program, which recently announced It […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with PJ Finn, Executive Director of MVY Radio (June 30 at 1 pm)
What’s Up Newp’s Ryan Belmore and Ken Abrams will be joined by PJ Finn, Executive Director of WMVY radio based on Martha’s Vineyard, for a live virtual video interview on Wednesday, June 30 at 1 pm. Finn will be talking about the history of the station, the station’s recent move to new studios, and the […]
Posted inNews
Nellie M. Gorbea announces candidacy for Governor
Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, 54, of North Kingstown, officially announced her candidacy for governor in 2022, challenging current Governor Dan McKee, who assumed the governorship only a few months ago when Gov. Gina Raimondo joined the Biden Administration. Gorbea, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico and became the first Hispanic elected to […]
Posted inNews
Police Detective/legislator to share his views on police accountability
There are few issues more volatile today than policing around the country. Local communities, state legislatures, and Congress are grappling with proposed legislation that would significantly impact policing on a local level, demanding more accountability. Greg Howard, a detective in Stonington, CT also serves as a state Representative in Connecticut, and is chief among legislators […]
Posted inBusiness, People & Profiles, Things To Do
What’s Up Interview: Steve Iwanski of Charter Books – Opening this weekend
Bookselling is what I love, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life doing it here in Newport.
Posted inArts & Culture
LIVE ON WUN: A conversation with musician Nick Casey (April 19 at 7 pm)
Musician Nick Casey will join What’s Up Newp for a conversation on Monday, April 19 at 7 pm. The Nick Casey Band was founded in July 2018. Residing in the state of Rhode Island, the band consists of Nick Casey on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Ryan Tremblay on lead guitar, Olivia Baxter on fiddle, […]
Posted inNews, People & Profiles
History in the Making: Newport Historical Society’s interview with What’s Up Newp’s Ryan Belmore
Newport Historical Society’s Executive Director Ruth Taylor recently sat down, virtually, with What’s Up Newp’s Ryan Belmore to discusses the shift in community journalism that has taken place over the past year, and What’s Up Newp’s pivot from reporting on local events to providing detailed coverage of quarantine protocols, vaccine distribution, unsung heroes and more, […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
RI-based Singer-Songwriter Charlie Marie Releases New Single
March 17, 2021 – Charlie Marie has a voice that will absolutely floor you, but what really makes the Rhode Island native stand out is her ability to write songs that tweak traditional country music tropes, or simply turn them on their head completely. Her latest single “El Paso,” which is based on an actual experience, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Folk and Jazz Artists dominate Grammy Awards
Like most awards shows this year, tonight’s Grammy Awards (hosted by The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah), will be quite different from years past. Many presenters, including Lizzo and Ringo Starr, will be streaming in remotely, and workers from shuttered concert venues will be presenting awards. Headliners include Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Cellini With a Chainsaw
With sawdust dancing in the air to the high-pitched whine of the two-stroke chainsaw as the faint smells of burning pine mixed with gasoline, Taylor Olson literally carves out an artistic niche along the side of the road in the rural village of Carolina. The sheer volume of work he has been able to turn […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Boch Center presents “Women Who Rock” Celebration of Female Musicians
The Boch Center (Boston) is now showing “Women Who Rock,” a digital exhibit celebrating female musicians during Women’s History Month. Featuring photographs taken by Susan Wilson of artists including Tracy Chapman, Patty Griffin, and Tina Turner, the exhibit showcases more than a dozen images taken at the Wang Theatre and other venues across Boston, as […]
Posted inSports
Patriots and Revolution to host Women in Sports Panel on March 11
The New England Patriots and New England Revolution this week announced that they will host a virtual hour-long panel featuring influential women in sports on Thursday, March 11 at 1:00 p.m. The panelists will discuss their careers and the challenges they have overcome to become leaders in the sports industry. According to a press release from […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN’s Author Series continues with novelist Regina Andrews
What’s Up Newp continues its authors’ series on Tuesday morning at 11:30 when award-winning novelist Regina Andrews of Providence joins us for a videocast. She is the author of numerous works and 2010 winner of AKW Books eBook of the Year Award for fiction for her novel, Destiny’s Designs. Andrews grew up Barrington. After graduating […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Watch | WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Stefan Pryor, Secretary of Commerce – State of Rhode Island (Dec. 21 at 5 pm)
Stefan Pryor, Rhode Island’s Secretary of Commerce, will join WUN’s Ryan Belmore for a live virtual video conversation at 5 pm on Monday, December 21. Update – This interview was moved from 1:15 pm to 5 pm Pryor will provide an update on the status of funding for small businesses, chat about financial resources available […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
VIDEO: A conversation with The Boston Globe’s Kara Baskin
The Boston Globe’s Kara Baskin has been diving deep into many issues parents are facing – from balancing remote and hybrid schooling, how Thanksgiving will look during the pandemic, to divorcee co-parenting – in a weekly newsletter, “In the Family Way.” Kara joined WhatsUpNewp for a live conversation via video at 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday […]