CBC Radio 3 Leaves The Radio Airwaves

03/14/07 2:00pm

After six years of bringing Canadians indie, alternative and rock, CBC Radio 3's Saturday night national live broadcast will shut down. According to a CBC press release, the Radio Two schedule is currently undergoing a revitalization that will "represent the first phase of arts and culture redevelopment at CBC Radio."

But fear not listeners, the program will continue to "break new sound" through podcasts, Sirius Satellite Radio and the CBC Radio 3 website. This Saturday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. EST will be the last broadcast for the alternative programming via CBC Radio Two, and it will feature guests including Joel Plaskett, Buck 65, John K. Samson (The Weakerthans) and Christine Fellows.

Though the program's podcast has eclipsed the Saturday broadcast in popularity, host Grant Lawrence said via email that he's still heartbroken about its airwave demise.

"There is still something about doing a live, national, rock 'n' roll show that can't be beat," says Lawrence, who's hosted for all six years and did Radio Escapades in the time slot previous to that. "To say the least, it was a major challenge to do a rock show in the middle of a classical music landscape, but we succeeded and it will be missed. I'm obviously biased, but I consider it the best live, national rock 'n' roll show in the world. I'll see you on the other side."

All told, there has been alternative music programming on Saturday night on Radio Two for 20 years. Past hosts David Wisdom and Leora Kornfeld will also be involved in Saturday night's sendoff.