Monte Belmonte

Monte Belmonte

Monte Belmonte 6am - 10am

Having grown up in the suburbs of Boston, I always thought Western Mass was a desolate wasteland. Now I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Well, I guess I can imagine it but I don’t WANT to live anywhere else. On this page you’ll find conversations with some of the people I find most interesting in our Valley. Authors, astronomers, astronauts and other people that start with letters other than “a.”

I got my start in radio impersonating Al Gore while off the air on Election Day 2000, and since that election dragged on and on, so has my radio career. I love bringing music and my “low minded humor for high minded people” (Wine Squirrel copyright 2017) to people of the Valley every weekday morning.

Thursday, June 2, 202206/02/2022

Writing bars from behind bars

In Podcasts

Monte talks with Northampton’s Lois Ahrens from The Real Cost of Prison Project and saxophonist Felipe Salles about the remarkable…

Thursday, June 2, 202206/02/2022

Using música to fight el sistema

In Podcasts

Monte talks with folks from  Música Franklin and their free Fun Fest. https://soundcloud.com/939theriver-1/musica-franklins-fun-fest?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Thursday, June 2, 202206/02/2022

NERO is ready to burn down Classical Music

In Podcasts

Monte talks with Cailin Marcel Manson, the conductor, and Julie Carew, a cellist, with New England Repertory Orchestra about their…

Wednesday, June 1, 202206/01/2022

A Funeral for “Whiteness”?

In Podcasts

Monte talks with Richard Newman from the Detroit-based theater company Hinterlands taking up residency at Double Edge Theatre in Ashfield, and…

Wednesday, June 1, 202206/01/2022

The Coup is Not Over

In Podcasts

The January 6th Select Committee is being headed up by Congressman Jamie Raskin. Our Congressman, Jim McGovern, brought Congressman Raskin…

Tuesday, May 31, 202205/31/2022

Being There with Wilco

In Podcasts

This is Being There with Wilco. A conversation at the kick off to Wilco’s 2022 Solid Sound Festival. On this…

Thursday, May 26, 202205/26/2022

Now is the time to stand up to the gun lobby

In Podcasts

Congressman Jim McGovern reflects on the massacre at a Texas elementary school. https://soundcloud.com/939theriver-1/now-is-the-time-to-stand-up-to-the-gun-lobby-mcgoverning-with-mcgovern?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Thursday, May 26, 202205/26/2022

Wines for the Kick-off to Summer

In Podcasts

Monte and the Wine Snobs at State Street taste some delicious Italian wines to welcome in the summertime. https://soundcloud.com/939theriver-1/italian-wines-for-the-unofficial-kick-off-to-summer-wine-snobs?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Wednesday, May 25, 202205/25/2022

Bill O’Reilly got a word BACK INTO the dictionary?

In Podcasts

Emily Brewster, resident wordster, from Merriam-Webster talks about why disgraced former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly was the reason a…

Tuesday, May 24, 202205/24/2022

The Odenong Powwow

In Podcasts

Monte talks with Justin Beatty who is bringing the Odenong Powwow to the Valley. Learn about why “powwow” is a…

Recent Headlines

17 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

Dolly Parton estate announces 2-day festival ‘Dollyfest’ to celebrate her legacy

Dolly Parton is not done yet. The estate behind the icon, who died of cancer last week at age 80, has announced Dollyfest, a two-day festival to be held in Nashville and London across two consecutive weekends in 2027.

17 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Closing arguments to begin in trial of man accused of orchestrating Tupac Shakur killing

Closing arguments are scheduled Monday in one of hip-hop's most anticipated trials for the man accused of orchestrating the death of Tupac Shakur. Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 63, faces a single count of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang in the killing of Shakur in Las Vegas nearly 30 years ago.

17 hours ago in National, Trending

More storms possible at Grand Canyon where a flash flood killed at least 2 people, others missing

At least two bodies have been recovered since a major flash flood swept through the Grand Canyon, park officials said Monday, as search and recovery efforts continued for about 15 people still missing.

4 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

Nashville’s airport would be renamed for Dolly Parton under Tennessee governor’s proposal

Nashville International Airport would be renamed for Dolly Parton under a proposal announced Friday by Tennessee's governor.

6 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

Tim Curry, iconic character actor and ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ star, dies at 80

Tim Curry, a character actor who created a gallery of delicious, very loony villains for stage and screen, including Dr. Frank-N-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and the smug concierge in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," has died. He was 80.