There is not enough that can be said about one of Perth’s favourite community radio stations. 

For over 30 years people have been turning to RTRM 92.1 to be kept up to date with the latest and greatest music, news and entertainment from Perth and abroad.

RTRFM was started as Perth’s first FM radio station in 1977 and has continued to build a solid reputation as ‘the sound alternative’ and now boasts a crowded program schedule, with 49 unique shows, and utilises the skills and talents of around 150 volunteers to bring the people of Perth more of what they want.

The RTRFM success story is inexplicably entwined with the actions and generosity of its supporters and audience and the time has come to pledge your support. 

Each and every year RTRFM 92.1 asks its listeners, businesses, bands, DJs, concerned grandmothers, environmentalists and everyone in between to give whatever they can to allow RTRFM to continue bringing Perth’s radio junkies quality programming.

Radiothon 2008: Turn It Up! starts on Friday August 29 and runs through until September seven, giving you more than ample opportunity to pledge your support for one of the most distinctive, successful and diverse radio stations in Perth.

It all kicks off with a special outside broadcast on Friday morning with Peter Barr braving the chilly morning air and taking his breakfast show to the pavement in front of Planet Books on Beaufort Street.

This special outside broadcast will feature all the usual morning show suspects as well as special live performances from The Holidays, Abbe May and James Cruikshank, formerly of Cruel Sea fame.

For those who deem 6am as too early a time to kick off this years radiothon can take solace in knowing a special launch party has been organised by Artrage, Dream Catcha Productions, and RTRFM at The Bakery Artrage Complex.

Appearing at the Radiothon 2008 launch party extravaganza will be The Kuling Bros, Boys Boys Boys, Diger Rokwell, Voltaire Twins, Mia Sonos, Greg Packer, Massiv Trav, Declan and Gonzo, The Signal Drivers, The Brothers Elliot, Jumpin Josh and Rockin’ Rhys, Lady Carla and breakfast’s Peter Barr.

This night will showcase and celebrate the musical diversity Perth often takes for granted and with everything from quirky live electronica through to slamming drum and bass the opening party has something to satisfy even the most particular musical palette.

As always those who take the plunge and become subscribers during Radiothon 2008: Turn It Up! go into the running for their slice of a prize pool worth in excess of $150, 000.

With an average of 2, 500 subscribers every year the odd of taking home a prize are pretty good and this years prizes should proide more than enough incentive to become involved in the future of RTRFM, if you haven’t already done so.

For pledging as little as $60 you could be driving home on your very own scooter, spending 3 days in a recording studio, surfing the net with free broadband for a year, chilling out with mates during a private cinema screening, diving head first out of a plane with a free skydiving pass, getting a birds eye view of Perth with a free helicopter ride or taking home a couple of free CDs simply for becoming an RTRFM subscriber.

To wind things down on Saturday September six RTRFM and The Rosemount Hotel have put together a stellar line up of acoustic, live acts and DJs to bring the madness that is radiothon to an end. 

From 8pm till 1am you can get your groove on at the main bar while listening to acts including Red Jezebel, Fall Electri, Tame Impala, The Preytells and Umpire and if that all seems to much head to the 459 Bar to witness the acoustic delights of Josh Fontaine, Jeff Strong, Craig Sinclair and Gosia Basinska.

If all these acts still fail to scratch your musical itch then head out to The Rosemount’s infamous beer garden where you can catch a fearsome DJ battle for indie supremacy between the Out to Lunch and Drivetime DJs.

The match ups in the beer garden will be, in no particular order, Harvey and Aarom vs Sarah Tout, Cutter vs Sarah Delfante, Steph Edwardes Gemma Pike and Laura Miller vs Patrick Pittman.

RTRFM 92.1 prides itself on providing an alternative to mainstream radio with a focus on alternative music, politics, local art, the environment and many more issues that rarely get the recognition or attention they deserve.

It costs about $15, 000 a week to keep the station alive in its current form and without a commercial agenda RTRFM 92.1 relies heavily on local businesses and listeners to keep ‘the sound alternative’ on air.

With subscription packages starting from as little as $25 there has never been a better time to get involved and show your love for RTRFM 92.1.

Head to http://www.rtrfm.com.au/subscribe for more information and pricing details.

OR

To make a fully tax deductible donation head to

http://www.rtrfm.com.au/shop/categories/donations

Listeners can subscribe by calling the Radiothon hotline, (08) 9260 9210, logging on to www.rtrfm.com.au or sending a cheque or money order to PO Box 842, Mt Lawley, WA 6929.