APRIL 2020 - The Conway Daily Sun - TOM EASTMAN

HAD LIFE stayed normal, instead of the new normal, the Cold River Radio Show’s eighth season would have started April 19.

Alas,  like so many things in our world, that show at Theater in the Wood in  Intervale featuring singer-songwriter John Gorka has been canceled, and  host Jonathan Sarty and his team have had to rearrange … everything due  to guidelines in these coronavirus times.

Also  canceled was a May 3 Cassandre McKinley Cold River Radio Revue show in  Wolfeboro and a June 7 John Davidson and Old Eleven concert at Theater  in the Wood.

But, there is hope, notes Jonathan, who with assistant Glenn Mori has set up a Patreon website, patreon.com/coldriverradioshow. On it, you can subscribe to a catalog of recorded Cold River Radio Shows to watch in the comfort of your home.

On the site, Jonathan notes that they are “doubling back on some of the video” they have put together with the help of Jacksonflicks.com and Baked Beans Recording of Harrison, Maine.

Jonathan  told me the plan is to post two shows a month as edited full-length  videos. That is in addition to the radio shows we love to listen to on  WMWV 93.5-FM at 9:30 a.m. Sundays and the podcasts that Jonathan  produces.

“This is  something we have wanted to do for a long time, and we are using this  opportunity of being isolated at home to finally get the work done,”  Jonathan said. “Our hope is to build a solid subscriber base which will  help us reach our goals and continue creating this content for viewers  and fans.”

Subscriptions start at $3 per month and increase depending on what you want from three to five additional categories.

The  sixth category is the “Premier Sponsorship,” at $225 per month, which  includes all sorts of benefits, including — a real treat — the  opportunity to go backstage and meet the artists (once the live shows  resume).

The goal from  the start has always been to showcase the regional talents of New  England musicians, authors, storytellers and comedians.

He provided further commentary on the site in his online post:

“What  we’re hoping,” Jonathan said, “is to raise some much needed financial  support to continue producing this show and of course, producing these  videos. So I am hoping that whether you are an old fan or a new friend  that you can subscribe and support our cause and production. We are  looking forward to becoming the number one radio variety show in New  England and I think we are well on our way, and we thank you for your  support. I hope you enjoy the show, and I hope to see you at the show.”

In  a follow-up text, Jonathan said that the Patreon Cold River site will  notify members when new content is uploaded by the Cold River team.

“Any membership will be a huge deal for us," he said, adding, "I believe Patreon could help the show stay on track.

If  you have yet to experience the wonder of the shows, know that Jonathan  is backed by the stellar Cold River Radio Band, consisting of David  Mattacks on drums, Todd Baker on double bass, Mike Sakash on soprano sax  and Joseph (Sonny) Barbato on piano. Each show features the headliner, a  storyteller, humorist and storyteller as well as local musicians in the  “Local Spotlight.

I  know I am not alone in expressing my admiration and respect for  Jonathan’s vision and talent, as well as his unwavering resolve to live  up to that old adage: “The show must go on!”

For more, go to coldriverradio.com.