OCTOBER 2022 - The LAKER - Lori Tremblay

The Cold River Radio Show is unique because it is an old school formula variety show which brings world class performers from the New England area. Comedians from the Boston stand- up comedy clubs, New York Times best-selling authors who live in New England, musicians and story tellers take the stage. 

Host Jonathan Sarty and the Cold River Radio Band present the Cold River Radio Show at the Majestic Theater in Conway. They perform songs from The Great American Songbook (significant early 20thcentury American jazz standards, popular songs and show tunes) and add their own flair to the great standards.

The show is recorded live before the studio audience and listeners can tune into The Cold River Radio Show Sunday mornings on local radio station 93.5 WMWV FM. The show is also recorded for their Patreon site, which gives members access to shows, livestream and upcoming shows. The site is also a way for members to support the show. You can find out more on the website, www.coldriverradio.com.

In a phone interview with Jonathan Sarty, he said, “We are just hitting the tip of the iceberg” because there is so much talent in New England. The show promotes the rich arts and culture of New England and is the most popular show of its kind in this area, according to the website. 

Jonathan is a talented performer, producer and recording artist. He co-founded the Cold River Radio Show with Vince Pelote, an executive business coach, who is passionate about the arts. In the beginning, Vince produced some shows and asked Jonathan if he would host a variety show. “He was fun to work with, insightful and became immersed in it,” said Jonathan. Eventually, Vince needed to have more time for his own endeavors. Jonathan continued the Cold River Radio Show and said, “It’s the only thing I’ve ever done creatively that turned out as I envisioned it.” The show is celebrating its 10th year. 

The next show is Sunday, Oct. 16 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at The Majestic Theatre, 36 Main St., Conway. Tickets to attend in person are $40. Live stream tickets range from $15 to $30. All tickets are available at www.coldriverradio.com.

Host Jonathan Sarty and his  Cold River Radio Band feature David Mattacks on drums (Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention), Todd Baker on double bass, Mike Sakash on soprano saxophone and Joseph (Sonny) Barbato on piano. 

Guests for the upcoming show include The Amarantos String Quartet, based in Portland, Maine. Their goal is to reinvent the string quartet in today’s culture, by performing new music, unique collaborations and their own arrangements. While classically trained, the musicians have also performed with other musicians in a wide variety of styles.

Cormac McCarthy is described by Jeff McLaughlin of The Boston Globe, as “A distinctive songwriter with a warm, powerful, inherently melodic baritone, a fine guitarist and a devastating wit…enormous writing skills, capable to putting chills into your spine or a silly grin on your face.” He has performed nationally on many stages and has recorded five albums. He is currently working on a new album.

Author Jen Dupree is a librarian, assistant editor for The Master’s Review and a former bookstore owner, who has won numerous awards and contests for her writing and has been published in several publications. Her novel, “The Miraculous Flight of Owen Leach,” debuted in April of this year.

A musician from North Conway, Chris Schalick plays many instruments and performs solo, with his own band, cover and all originals bands. He adds a rhythmic, fun twist on crowd favorites from the 1960s to early 2000s. 

Finding guests for the show is a unique process. Jonathan said that he likes to see musicians perform in person, rather than on a polished demo. He also can get a sense of their rapport with the audience and if they have a positive attitude.  He interviews authors and storytellers who will perform with the show and calls it “an intuitive process.” Jonathan discourages solicitations and finds performers by word of mouth or recommendations.

During the show, “a lot of the magic is what happens backstage,” said Jonathan. “Musicians are meeting for the first time. It gives the show that edginess.” Jonathan told me that there are no resources or time for rehearsals with the guest performers. The show comes together that night and the audience is a part of that ‘magic.’

My husband, Len, and I had the chance to see The Cold River Radio Revue, a mobile version of the show performed in different venues, for the first time over Labor Day weekend. It was a treat for Len’s birthday and we were both so impressed by the quality of the performance, musicians and professionalism. We had a table at The Old Saco Inn in Fryeburg, Maine for the dinner show. 

The band played together flawlessly and Jonathan sang with soul and versatility.

In the interview, Jonathan told me more about his background and his band.  Jonathan’s father was a natural tenor and played records for them to sing along with, when he was a boy. Jonathan said that his teachers were on the record player. “People emulate the artists that they admire until they find their own voice,” he said. As a self-taught musician and singer, Jonathan said that, although he had natural desire, it was a long road learning how to sing. “It was work…The music business is full of disappointments. You have to believe in you when nobody else does.”

Jonathan needed studio musicians for his first original album, “This Road,” in 2011. That’s when he met Dave Mattacks and Joe (Sonny) Barbato. Dave Mattacks, on drums, is the “grandfather of folk” in the U.K. He played with Jethro Tull and other musicians, including Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Elton John, The Moody Blues and many, many more. (davemattacks.com) Len and I talked with him the night that we went to the show and found that, although he is so talented, he is also very humble. He now lives in Marblehead, MA. Boston-based Joe “Sonny” Barbato is incredible on the piano. He studied with accordion master Louis Bregoli at age nine, then switched to piano at age 13. Later, he studied at both the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory. Joe’s popular new release, “Crackerjack” includes original compositions with pianist David Budway (allaboutjazz.com). Joe has collaborated with many musicians and is an integral part of the Cold River Radio Band.

Mike Sakash, on soprano saxophone, was Music Educator of Year in 2018 at the Fryeburg Academy in Maine. Mike has numerous degrees in music studies, and is on the faculty of Mountain Top Music Center in North Conway. 

Todd Baker, playing the double bass, lives in the Boston area and is professor of contra bass at Dartmouth University. He has also played with numerous musicians and is a great addition to the Cold River Radio Band.

Jonathan mentioned that they have a dedicated fan base. Attendance is starting to pick up well since the pandemic, and before that, every show was sold out. Jonathan is grateful that he has a supportive network of people who believe in the arts and what they are bringing to the community.

For more information, www.coldriverradio.com, www.jonathansarty.com.