BEFORE Newcastle's Viper Creek Band were receiving Golden Guitar and CMC award nominations or debuting at No.1 on the country charts, a Central Coast community radio station pushed their barrow.
The Gosford-based Todays Country 94One is believed to be the first radio station to play the Viper Creek Band. They were also among the first supporters of Newcastle's Morgan Evans, before he became the darling of the commercial pop-country scene.
The station also helped kick-start the career of Cessnock Golden Guitar winner Travis Collins.
For eight years Todays Country has broadcast from Central Coast Leagues Club, but due to a future redevelopment of the venue the station has been forced to search for a new home.
A fundraiser has been launched to raise $20,000 to find a new home and finance the move.
On Wednesday June 17 Todays Country will host a fundraising live stream concert featuring station co-founder Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Travis Collins, Ashleigh Dallas and former Newcastle resident Matt Scullion.
Todays Country deputy chairman and presenter, Ron Trundle, said it was vital the radio station found a new home as the not-for-profit organisation provided an essential service to the music industry.
"We love giving a voice and an outlet for local up-and-coming artists who ordinarily wouldn't get it if they had to just rely on commercial stations because commercial stations are harder to get on to than community," Trundle said.
"If we can start someone's journey on community radio, then we've done our job."
Tickets for the fundraiser are available at todayscountry94one.com.
