DJ Kani-ma spins Near and Far – featuring multi-cultural, folk, and ethnic music from around the world, local musicians, and musicians that have passed through our very own Port Townsend – many of whom she has seen perform live. She is passionate about music and community radio. She believes in supporting musicians through attending live performances, buying their music directly, and sharing their tunes on our “authentic, eclectic,” KPTZ. Kani-ma has had her ears tuned into radio all of her life and was inspired in her early years by Tom Donahue at KSAN in San Francisco (coincidentally the father of fellow DJ Buzzy Donahue), KPFA in Berkeley, and KUT in Austin. She curates her playlists mostly from her own extensive collection. In her spare time Kani-ma likes to dance, watch films at The Rose Theater, support the arts, ride her bike, and share the love! Email Kani-ma.

Nightcrawler is an ode to nighttime counterculture from around the world – hosted by eames. It aims to spotlight the macabre, camp, and passion of post-punk, nu-metal, raw techno, musique concrète, hypnotic EBM, horror-core, industrial dance, experimental R&B, and other musical genres that dwell in the dark. Every Friday from 10pm to midnight. Music requests and inquiries: eames@kptz.org.

Our Town airs alternate Tuesdays and the following Sunday from 12:30-1pm. Host Maryanne McNellis has worked for the Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, Business Week Magazine and several other American publications. She lived in Canada for many years and edited The Financial Post, the Canadian equivalent of the Wall Street Journal. In addition, she has taught journalism at universities in both Canada and the USA, including a stint as a Distinguished Professor at the University of Montana.

About OUR TOWN. Have you ever wondered about the people you see every day around Port Townsend? The clerks at Safeway or QFC? The fire fighters or police officers? The barista who serves your favorite coffee just right? KPTZ’s new show “Our Town” profiles some of the fascinating people who live, work and play in Port Townsend. It’s not about the ‘big shots’ – it’s about the real people who make up the texture of the community. Host Maryanne McNellis talks to some of Port Townsend’s finest – from fire fighters to foodies, from artists to animal handlers, and even the occasional bus driver or teenage beauty queen. Listen in and meet someone new. “Our Town” gets you out and about, meeting someone new each time you tune in.

Email Maryanne. Listen to past Our Town shows at KPTZ's podcast page.

Every other Tuesday (5:30-6pm) and Sunday (noon to 12:30pm), alternating with Community Tides, Chris Bricker joins co-hosts Eron Berg, Port of Port Townsend’s Director, along with Port Commissioner Pam Petranek to bring you updates, characters, artisans and stories that surround our busy Port and Maritime Community.Previously for eight years, he was music host for Morning on the Salish.

An actor and performer for many years, Chris Bricker is a graduate of the Ringling College of Clowns, class of 1971 and worked with Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus for three years. He is also a saw-playing member of AFM, Local 1000 (acoustic traveling musicians union). Contact Chris.

Out of Nowhere, airing on Tuesdays from 3-5pm, is Peter Robinson’s indulgence in the freedom KPTZ offers its volunteer DJs to air whatever they want (FCC regulations limiting). His many musical loves include, in no special order: Blues, Jazz (earliest to current), Country, Country-Western, Old-time, Roots Rock, Rockabilly, all the many genres resulting from the amazing African musical diaspora throughout the world, Singer-songwriter, Folk, Latin, Reggae, and more. It’s really about roots. To quote Tony Allen, great Afrobeat drummer, arranger, band leader, composer: “One Tree, Many Roots”. And to quote Earl Lindo, longtime colleague of Taj Mahal: “Music Keeps Me Together”. Email Peter.

Peter Robinson is a lifelong music lover and collector, and closet noodler on guitar, banjo, and drums. He started Out of Nowhere many years ago with the encouragement of Bill Kiely and Phil Andrus, and with tutelage from Mike Schleckser and Nora Petrich. A Port Townsend resident since 1979, he has had the benefit of countless musical pleasures at the Ace of Cups, the Town Tavern, the pubs of Port Townsend, and wonderful Centrum programs to fertilize his already highly addicted love of many genres of what he calls proof of intelligent life in the Universe – harmony and music!

Now on Wednesdays from 8am to 9:30am. Time to rewind…With vintage KPTZ programming. All-original episodes hosted by Susan Bublitz. This is where the world’s ancient music collides with modern studio wizardry, all expressed in a deluge of grooves, tunes and little ditties. Be prepared to have your hair blown back! Music that spans the globe, on Saturday mornings. Email Susan.

Radio Kilombo, airing weekly on Thursdays from 9-10pm, curates the Earth’s finest collection of seductive African and Afro-Latin grooves. The selections are three parts club culture, one part roots culture, and all parts positive. From Global Bass to Afro-Latin Folkloric to Rare Groove, join us for our weekly convocation, hear the story of the rhythms, and let the music stir your soul!

Rhythm Connection, airing Tuesdays from 1-3pm, transports listeners to cultures around the world, through incredibly diverse music from the African diaspora. Since its 1993 inception in Alaska, Robert has presented fresh music every week to make you dance or bring you solace, or both. Email Robert.

KPTZ is thrilled to welcome venerable DJ and noted musicologist Jon Kertzer to our program roster. His career has included a stint as the Director of Global Sound with the Smithsonian Center for Folk Life and Cultural Heritage, as well as 30 years producing and hosting regular programs on KEXP and KBCS in Seattle. Jon’s new show for KPTZ is a musical world tour. Be sure to tune in on Sundays from 3-5pm! Email Jon.

From 11am to noon each Saturday, KPTZ airs Sing It, Sister!  Ellen Bonjorno has been a dance & party DJ for over 30 years, and has always enjoyed introducing her audience to music they may never have heard, putting those “new” songs together with classics we all know and love. Inspired years ago by 2 male friends who only listened to music by women in their home every Sunday, she decided to do a program featuring all women’s voices. You’ll hear songs from every genre, from jazz to gospel, bluegrass, disco, folk, rock and reggae and from every era, from the 1920s to today. Thanks for tuning in to Sing It, Sister!

Click here to read the interview with Ellen Bonjorno from the March 16, 2021 KPTZ Spotlight. Email Ellen.