Cambridge Springs radio program brings One Eleven Heavy to Brillobox

Every week, 100 miles north of Pittsburgh, Ryan Emmett’s Agave Party radio program airs on WXCS 92.9 FM in Cambridge Springs. However, the show that explores folk, new age, jazz, psychedelic, country, blues, rural rock, and more is recorded by Emmett in Pittsburgh and is intended to have a community feel rather than flaunting his musical knowledge. To better serve that mission, Emmett has started hosting Agave Party events, the second of which takes place tonight at Brillobox and stars transatlantic, country rockers One Eleven Heavy.

“It’s really risky for me to do this on a Tuesday,” says Emmett, “but they are really a fantastic band and encompass everything the radio show is about.”

Emmett, who now lives in Pittsburgh, started Agave Party as a way to stay connected to his hometown but says most listeners come from mixcloud.com where he posts the show after it airs on WXCS.

“I like having it anchored [to] an actual radio station,” he says.

During the show, Emmett asks listeners to link up with him on social media. This has resulted in virtual connections around the world, bands asking Emmett, who has experience booking shows, to help them set up a performance in Pittsburgh. One of those contacts is UK/US group One Eleven Heavy.

“The members have all been connected with various other bands that we haven’t really have come through in a while,” says Emmett. “This is a band that has a roster that I think would catch a lot of folk's interest.”

Current members of One Eleven Heavy include James Toth (Wooden Wand), Nick Mitchell-Maiato (Desmadrados Soldados De Ventura), Hans Chew (associated with Endless Boogie, D. Charles Speer & the Helix, Jack Rose, Hiss Golden Messenger, Chris Forsyth, and more), and Dan Brown (Royal Trux).

In keeping with the goal of a community-oriented radio show, Emmett plans for Agave Party events to have the feel of a live radio program. There will be free goodies like cassette tapes and pins, while supplies last, and continuous action throughout the night.

“I don’t usually like to do band, tear down, band, tear down, go home,” says Emmett. “So it really should feel like a loose, relaxing party. Everybody's welcome."