This week in Freak Scene, we talk to Rob DeRosa, who just reached the 23rd anniversary of his radio show, Homegrown, plus singer Laura Clapp releases the first single from her first album in a while.

Rob DeRosa was more of a collector of music from Connecticut before he became one of its biggest advocates through his radio show, Homegrown. The 90-minute program on Wesleyan’s WESU-FM, 88.1, last week reached its 23rd anniversary — a notable milestone for a show on campus radio.

By the time he first sat down behind the microphone, DeRosa had been amassing a collection of music by Connecticut artists for decades. He also managed the Manchurians and their frontman, Roger C. Reale, and released music by them and others through his Thin Man Music record label. The year before DeRosa went on-air, he started a job managing the Red & Black Café in Middletown, which shares a building with WESU. One day he knocked on the program director’s door and pitched a program featuring local music.

Roger C Reale/The ManchuriansOne For All

The show on WESU led to a gig booking bands to play the Daffodil Festival in Meriden. After nine years, DeRosa gave up the festival, but resumed his role as booker last year. In this Q&A, he talks about how he got started, and what keeps him going.

How did you start doing Homegrown in the first place?

I had been working as manager of a cafe located below the WESU studios. I had been collecting Connecticut music for about 25 years or more and asked the program director what it would take to get a show. He answered that they needed a show that had community interest and played music as well. I pitched a local music show and they loved the idea.

What was the learning curve like in terms of how much preparation you had to do, or how much technical stuff you had to learn?

Because it was the end of the school year, I had little time to train. My "trainer" sat me at the board and more or less left me on my own that very first show! I’ve been pushing the wrong buttons on occasion ever since. I learned as I went.

How has doing the show changed your relationship with the Connecticut music scene?

The show has changed my relationship incredibly with the local music scene. I count dozens of folks as close friends, and at this point, acts request that I debut their music before it is even released. I managed a band, and ran a very small record label with a few local acts, and that was my involvement. But musicians love having their music on the radio, so I met many new friends. Connecticut has a vibrant and varied music scene and I’m never at a loss for music each week.

What do you like best about doing the show?

5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday is my favorite time of the week. I scour the listings of each section of the state and play music that promotes the gigs. My favorite thing is when musicians thank me for doing that, and the thing is, it's actually MY pleasure.

Laura Clapp Previews New LP with ‘Rise Up’ Single

Guilford singer Laura Clapp gave Nashville a try in her 20s, working as a demo vocalist and releasing a pair of albums. Eventually, though, she was ready to exchange the Music City grind for her hometown, and she moved back to New England. (The Massacoustics, featured in Freak Scene #115, did something similar.)

Now a mother of two who works at Shure, the microphone company, and hosts the podcast TMI With Laura, Clapp today releases “Rise Up,” the first single from her forthcoming album Chameleon.

The song is deceptively straightforward, built around layers of Clapp’s voice and synthesizers that curl upward like slender tendrils of smoke. Her voice is versatile, ranging from controlled and clear to big and powerful, especially when Clapp hits the bridge and locks in with a roaring electric guitar.

There’s no release date yet for Chameleon, which is Clapp’s fourth album, and first non-single release since the 2012 EP Go. She performs tonight, Friday, June 5, as part of the Occasional Coffeehouse series at North Madison Congregational Church in Madison.

Upcoming Concerts

These are new shows announced this week. The full concert calendar is available here for paid subscribers.

Easthampton singer Kimaya Diggs plays an album release show Oct. 10 at the Academy of Music in Northampton, which would suggest she has a new album due around then (tickets).

Cowboy Junkies play Bombyx in Florence Nov. 16 (tickets).

Will Dailey’s show tonight at the the Iron Horse has been postponed; more details to come. Jon Carroll plays an album release show there Aug. 11 (tickets). Also coming: Country singer Morgan Wade is there Aug. 20 (tickets), along with the Devil Makes Three Sept. 5 (tickets), Margaret Glaspy and Anna Tivel Sept. 24 (tickets), new blues trio Johnny A. Syndicate Jan. 9 (tickets), Amethyst Kiah Jan. 15 (tickets) and Altan Feb. 16 (tickets).

Coming to the Drake in Amherst: Sam Burchfield July 30 (tickets), the Belair Lip Bombs Sept. 18 (tickets), El Ten Eleven Sept. 25 (tickets), Tōth Oct. 4 (tickets).

Experimental trio Basic play June 16 at Daily Operation in Easthampton with Slant of Light (tickets).

Hope Center for the Arts in Springfield presents the Irish Tenors Dec. 4 (tickets).

Austin guitarist Jackie Venson plays July 2 at De La Luz in Holyoke (tickets); Pedro Pastor y los Locos Descalzos are there Aug. 16 (tickets).

College Street Music Hall in New Haven hosts Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy Oct. 3 (tickets) and American Football Dec. 18 (tickets).

Hail the Sun play Aug. 12 at the Space Ballroom in Hamden (tickets). Also coming: El Ten Eleven Sept. 24 (tickets), Dana and Alden Oct. 25 (tickets) and Kyle Gordon Dec. 2 (tickets).

Infinity Music Hall in Hartford hosts Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country Oct. 25 (tickets) and Spyro Gyra Nov. 6 (tickets). Infinity in Norfolk brings in Jesse Cook Nov. 11 (tickets).

That’s all for now. Thank you for reading! Previous issues are available in the online archive. Freak Scene is free, but donations help make this happen and are gratefully accepted. If you’re able, please consider a paid subscription!

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