Category: Special Shows

Check out the local artists, themed shows, and more that have been featured on The Rocker!

August 9, 2025 Playlist – Ozzy TributeAugust 9, 2025 Playlist – Ozzy Tribute

August 9, 2025August 9, 2025|

It was 99% Ozzy on this edition of the program, and even with three hours to work with, we couldn’t fit in everything that we wanted to play. We touched on all the decades of Ozzy’s recording career and hopefully painted an accurate picture of who he was as an artist: a true rock ‘n’ roll rebel. Click here to listen at your leisure.

  • All selections performed by Ozzy Osbourne unless otherwise specified.
  • LIGHTNING STRIKES
  • CRAZY TRAIN
  • PARANOID (Black Sabbath)
  • WAR PIGS (Black Sabbath)
  • MR. CROWLEY
  • THE WIZARD (Black Sabbath)
  • AIR DANCE (Black Sabbath)
  • CHANGES (Black Sabbath)
  • SNOWBLIND (Black Sabbath)
  • SWEET LEAF (Black Sabbath)
  • FAIRIES WEAR BOOTS (Black Sabbath)
  • RAISE ‘EM HIGH (Jon Caspi & The First Gun featuring Dez Cadena & Jesse Malin)
  • THIS MODERN AGE (The Chris Vandalay Project)
  • INTO THE BLACK (Black Rose Burning)
  • IN MY LIFE
  • SO TIRED
  • GODS OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL (Ozzy with Billy Morrison & Steve Stevens)
  • PHANTOM X (S’ain’t Anthony)
  • DIXIE QUEEN (The Thing)
  • SHOT IN THE DARK
  • SHOCK THE MONKEY (Coal Chamber featuring Ozzy)
  • BOMBERS CAN OPEN BOMB BAYS (Bill Ward featuring Ozzy)
  • I AIN’T NO NICE GUY (Motorhead featuring Ozzy)
  • ORDINARY MAN (Ozzy featuring Elton John)
  • I DON’T WANNA STOP
  • FLYING HIGH AGAIN
  • SABBRA CADABRA (Black Sabbath)
  • MAMA, I’M COMING HOME
  • MIRACLE MAN
  • LIFE WON’T WAIT
  • DREAMER
  • SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE
  • IRON MAN (Black Sabbath)

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July 25, 2025 Playlist – Violet SkyJuly 25, 2025 Playlist – Violet Sky

July 27, 2025July 27, 2025|

No one I know does the eighties like Violet Sky. The look, the style, the sound – she does it all. That’s remarkable when you consider the fact that she wasn’t even born in the same century as the subject of her fascination. She’s received press coverage on both sides of the Atlantic, and judging by her hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, she’s not alone in her obsession. Click on this link to hear how she took her initial attraction to an obsession and a career, all to tune of an eighties-centric soundtrack.

  • BOWLING FOR SOUP 1985
  • OZZY OSBOURNE Crazy Train
  • OZZY OSBOURNE A Shot in the Dark
  • LITA FORD & OZZY OSBOURNE Close My Eyes Forever
  • ASIA Only Time Will Tell
  • BIG COUNTRY In A Big Country
  • MOTLEY CRUE Looks That Kill
  • WARRANT Down Boys
  • Q-FEEL Dancing in Heaven
  • ZZ TOP Sleeping Bag
  • KILLING JOKE Eighties
  • VIOLET SKY I Found Love
  • SHY TALK Excuse Me
  • LIFE BY NIGHT Phone to Phone
  • PSYCHEDLIC FURS Pretty In Pink
  • ANNIE GOLDEN Hang Up the Phone
  • E.G. DAILY One Way Love
  • DEAD OR ALIVE You Spin Me Round
  • VIOLET SKY What’s a Girl To Do
  • JULIE BROWN Shut Up and Kiss Me
  • MADNESS One Step Beyond
  • GENERAL PUBLIC Tenderness
  • THE BUGGLES Video Killed the Radio Star
  • DEPECHE MODE Just Can’t Get Enough
  • ERASURE A Little Respect
  • YAZ Only You
  • VIOLET SKY A Heartbeat Away
  • THE ESCAPE CLUB Wild Wild West
  • ABC Poison Arrow
  • CULTURE CLUB Time
  • ALPHAVILLE Forever Young (Remix)

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July 12, 2025 Playlist – Tony FletcherJuly 12, 2025 Playlist – Tony Fletcher

July 12, 2025July 12, 2025|

Tony Fletcher has been writing about rock music since he was a Yorkshire schoolboy. He has interviewed some of the most recognizable names, written eleven books – including acclaimed biographies of Keith Moon and R.E.M. – and has even tried his hand at rock ‘n’ roll. We touched on all that and more. Listen to this remarkable edition of the program by clicking here.

  • BAD COMPANY Can’t Get Enough
  • MICHAEL DAVID WOLF Free Will
  • KYLE JORDAN PROJECT Tall Blonde Honey
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Snack Dad
  • THE LEVELLERS Beautiful Day
  • ENCYPHER New September
  • THREE CHORD MONEY Hope and a High Road
  • SHAWN PARSONS Grateful
  • ALEXIS P SUTER BAND God Gave Me the Blues
  • GUS BLACK Paranoid
  • BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Sunday Love
  • THE MEATMEN Rock and Roll Juggernaut
  • THE WHO The Kids are Alright
  • ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN The Cutter
  • BE BOP DELUXE Forbidden Lovers
  • THE CLASH Lover’s Rock
  • R.E.M. It’s the End of the World as We Know It
  • THE SMITHS There is a Light That Never Goes Out
  • HUDSON PALACE Holding Hands with Strangers
  • THE DEAR BOYS Gone Viral
  • THE DEAR BOYS A Word That Doesn’t Rhyme
  • APOCALYPSE Release
  • WILSON PICKETT In the Midnight Hour
  • EDDIE FLOYD Knock On Wood
  • FRANK TURNER Get Better
  • THE DESCENDENTS When I Get Old
  • THE WHO I’m a Boy
  • THE BEATLES When I’m Sixty-Four

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June 28, 2025 Playlist – Mighty Joe CastroJune 28, 2025 Playlist – Mighty Joe Castro

June 29, 2025June 29, 2025|

It was a bit of a rockabilly rave up on this edition of the program, with most of the music provided by Philadelphia-based Mighty Joe Castro and his band, The Gravamen. Joe joined us in the studio as we played his new album, “Between the Lightning and the Thunder” in its entirety, and a number of selections from throughout his career. He even graced us with a live acoustic performance. Click here to restream the show.

  • JESUS AND MARY CHAIN Just Like Honey
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Wake Up, You’re Rockin’!
  • BUDDY HOLLY Rave On
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Cold and Bitter Tears
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Can’t We Just Start Again
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Embers in the Ash
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Dominoes
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Come On Angels
  • THE SITUATION The Best Prescription Pill Available
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Gone (When the Morning Comes)
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Look of Eagles
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Automatic Amnesia
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO Hope and a High Road (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • BEDOLINA We Are the Clock Ourselves Again
  • BULLETTE When You’re Tuff
  • 49 BURNING CONDORS Half Hung Mary
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN The Future Gets Put Away
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN The Dying Breed
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Let Me Take the Blame
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Disappointed in You
  • THE SITUATION Amoralia
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN June (90 Degrees)
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO Everybody Tells Her That (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN There Are No Secrets Here
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Better Hold Tight
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Why Not Just Give in This Time
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Whispering Hell (The Finish Line)

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April 19, 2025 Playlist – Our Own YokosApril 19, 2025 Playlist – Our Own Yokos

April 19, 2025April 19, 2025|

After a relatively brief but worrisome “hiatus”, local power pop/rock trio Our Own Yokos returned to our studio with exciting new music. Shaun Gold and Brian Buchanan let us in on what the immediate future holds for the band. We also paid tribute to the late Clem Burke and worked in a few odes to mother nature in anticipation of earth day. Listen to the show by clicking here – and don’t be put off by the file name.

  • CHICAGO Wake Up Sunshine
  • URGE OVERKILL Sister Havana
  • GANG OF FOUR Damaged Goods
  • THE POGUES Sunny Side of the Street
  • BRIAN ENO & JOHN CALE Lay My Love
  • STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN Taxman
  • MARVIN GAYE Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
  • DAN CORIO BAND Rolling Away
  • DELTA CIRCLE Here’s to a Small Town
  • PAPA ROACH Scars
  • THE POLICE It’s Alright for You
  • DIRTY LOOKS Let Go
  • THE STRANGLERS The Lines
  • GIFTSHOP There’s You
  • AUDIOSLAVE Like a Stone
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Deriving Dariya
  • BLONDIE Dreaming
  • EURYTHMICS When Tomorrow Comes
  • PETE TOWNSHEND Brilliant Blues
  • DRAMARAMA Don’t Feel Like Doing Drugs
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Feel Alright Tonight
  • TAYLOR GLASHEEN When She Drinks
  • COUNTING CROWS with VANESSA CARLTON Big Yellow Taxi
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Crash
  • ZWALL Stranger
  • PLANETARY PEOPLE Springtime
  • MM ORCHARD Are You Comin’?
  • SOUND SIREN Washed Hands
  • RATT Way Cool Jr.
  • VAN HALEN Beautiful Girls
  • JESSE SALMON Comparing Ramadan, Passover and Easter
  • POISON Fallen Angel
  • BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Thunder Road
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Carry On
  • JOEY RAMONE Wonderful World
  • FRANK ZAPPA Watermelon in the Easter Hay

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March 8, 2025 Playlist – International Women’s DayMarch 8, 2025 Playlist – International Women’s Day

March 8, 2025March 8, 2025|

We marked the day by filling our space with the voices of extraordinary women from across the musical spectrum, past and present. The entire program is available to restream at your pleasure. Simply click here to access it in all its feminine glory.

  • X RAY LOVE On My Stereo
  • THE SURFRAJETTES Toxic
  • ANN WILSON Missionary Man
  • THE DETROIT COBRAS Stay Down
  • DOROTHY Tombstone Town
  • THE PRETENDERS Stop Your Sobbing
  • LIVVA JONES & ANGELA TINARI Joker
  • HALESTORM Gold Dust Woman
  • PIXIES Gigantic
  • LIZ PHAIR Sweet Jane
  • THE HELLFLOWERS Girl U Want
  • B-52s Give Me Back My Man
  • BREWSTER MOONFACE Hot Rod Girl
  • CASTLE BLACK Radio Queen
  • ROBERTA FLACK Killing Me Softly
  • ARETHA FRANKLIN You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman
  • BARBARA LEWIS Hello Stranger
  • PATTI SMITH Because the Night
  • CONCRETE BLONDE Happy Birthday
  • PARAMORE Rose Colored Boy
  • SPUTNIK THE BAND Good Company
  • KILLDEER Nice Enough
  • GIFTSHOP Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You)
  • RHONDA FUNK ‘Til I Don’t
  • BRANDI CARLILE The Story
  • THE METAL BYRDS Good Harbour
  • NORA KELLY BAND Hymn for Agnostics
  • SCARLETT TAYLOR Reckless Love
  • MANIC HONEY Nothing Comes Out
  • THERINA BELLA Starcrossed
  • LISA SCHERMA I Gotta Go to Church
  • JOAN CADELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Piece of Heaven
  • ELOUR Good Girl
  • THE INTERRUPTERS Bad Guy
  • ANNIE GOLDEN Hang Up the Phone
  • AMY WINEHOUSE Back to Black
  • INGRID MICHAELSON The Way I Am
  • ROYAL SHE Rollercoaster
  • KATE BUSH This Woman’s Work
  • PJ HARVEY This is Love
  • JOAN JETT Riddles
  • ALICIA KEYS Girl on Fire

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February 7, 2025 – International Clash DayFebruary 7, 2025 – International Clash Day

February 8, 2025February 8, 2025|

Maker Park Radio’s annual participation in the celebration of International Clash Day featured over a dozen of our DJs playing 60-to-90-minute sets which featured music by The Clash and a variety of other artists. It’s our way to celebrate the spirit and the legacy of The Clash and socially conscious music in general. Here’s our playlist:

  • THE CLASH Capital Radio (Edit)
  • WILLIE NILE Hard Times in America
  • WORLD PARTY Ship of Fools
  • SPENCER TRACY Fanaticism and Ignorance (from “Inherit the Wind”)
  • BAD RELIGION American Jesus
  • WHITE ROSE MOTOR OIL Hateland
  • GARLAND JEFFREYS Reggae on Broadway
  • WYCLEF JEAN Featuring THE REFUGEE ALL-STARS Fortunate Son
  • FAITH NO MORE We Care a Lot
  • THE DROPKICK MURPHYS Worker’s Song
  • MILLIE MANDERS & THE SHUTUP Me Too
  • LITTLE GREEN CARS My Love Took Me Down to the River to Silence Me
  • FRANK TURNER Make America Great Again
  • JOHN MELLENCAMP Rain on the Scarecrow
  • LOU REED Strawman
  • ROD SERLING The Tools of Conquest (from “The Twilight Zone” episode “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street”)

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December 21, 2024 Playlist – Christmas SpecialDecember 21, 2024 Playlist – Christmas Special

December 21, 2024December 21, 2024|

Her pre-recorded voice greets you at the start of each show, but Nancy gets to do it live – and co-host – once a year when she joins me in studio for our annual Christmas show! The entire program is available to restream. Just click right here and get ready to rock the halls!

  • DARLENE LOVE All Alone on Christmas
  • SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS White Christmas
  • NEON TREES Holiday Rock
  • THE PAYOLAS Christmas is Coming
  • THE RONETTES Frosty the Snowman
  • BILLY SQUIER Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You
  • PANIC! AT THE DISCO Feels Like Christmas
  • THE KINKS Father Christmas
  • CHICAGO God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
  • .38 SPECIAL Hallelujah, It’s Christmas!
  • BILLY MACK Christmas is All Around
  • HALL & OATES Jingle Bell Rock
  • BROTHER DYNAMITE It’s Christmas Time Alright!
  • SPIRALING Do You Hear What I Hear?
  • LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM Holiday Road
  • MAVIS STAPLES Christmas Vacation
  • U2 Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)
  • LYZA WILSON Christmas in New York
  • SABRINA CARPENTER Buy Me Presents
  • ARIANA GRANDE Santa Tell Me
  • BILLIE EILISH Silver Bells
  • THE CHRIS VANDALAY PROJECT Good Morning Christmas
  • THE GREEDIES A Merry Jingle
  • TOXIC TITO Feliz Navidad
  • LEMMY, BILLY GIBBONS & DAVE GROHL Run Run Rudolph
  • RAMONES Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)
  • DROPKICK MURPHYS The Season’s Upon Us
  • ELI PAPERBOY REED Last Christmas
  • THE WAITRESSES Christmas Wrapping
  • REEL BIG FISH Whatever You Celebrate
  • BAD MANNERS It’s Christmastime Again
  • BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Santa Claus is Coming to Town
  • THE POGUES Fairytale of New York
  • JOHN LENNON Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
  • THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA Merry Christmas All
  • THE SMITHEREENS Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
  • DEE SNIDER & LZZY HALE The Magic of Christmas Day
  • TRAIN Shake Up Christmas
  • STEVIE WONDER Someday at Christmas

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November 30, 2024 Playlist – From the Church to the CrossroadsNovember 30, 2024 Playlist – From the Church to the Crossroads

November 30, 2024November 30, 2024|

This edition of the program explored the connection between the world of spiritual and secular music. The journey from Gospel to Soul and then to Rock ‘n’ Roll is a long and fascinating one, and we conducted a basic crash course with selections from each of those genres, focusing on where they cross paths. You can access the show in its entirety by clicking here.

  • CREAM Crossroads
  • PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC Are You Ready?
  • THE STAPLE SINGERS I’ll Take You There
  • SISTER ROSETTA THARPE & THE SAM PRICE TRIO The Lord Followed Me
  • GEORGE GRANT & THE MIGHTY TEMPLARS Examine My Soul
  • MARVIN GAYE Can I Get A Witness
  • CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD I’m On My Way to a Better Place
  • PAUL SIMON Love Me Like a Rock
  • SHAWN PARSONS Grateful
  • SAM COOKE A Change is Gonna Come
  • LITTLE RICHARD Ride On, King Jesus
  • THE DOOBIE BROTHERS Jesus Is Just Alright
  • ZZ TOP Jesus Left Chicago
  • ARETHA FRANKLIN Border Song
  • RAY CHARLES Let It Be
  • THE IMPRESSIONS People Get Ready
  • CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO Awesome
  • QUEEN Somebody to Love
  • FOREIGNER I Want to Know What Love Is
  • NORMAN GREENBAUM Spirit in the Sky
  • MARC COHN Walking in Memphis
  • LEON BRIDGES River
  • JOHNNY CASH Wayfaring Stranger
  • TALKING HEADS Take Me to the River
  • THE HARLEM GOSPEL TRAVELLERS Jesus Rhapsody Part 1
  • MANHATTAN TRANSFER Operator
  • STEVIE WONDER Higher Ground
  • THE BYRDS Turn! Turn! Turn!
  • BILLY JOEL River of Dreams
  • BLIND FAITH Presence of the Lord
  • U2 featuring MARY J. BLIGE One
  • SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS Call On God
  • THE EDWIN HAWKINS SINGERS Oh Happy Day

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October 26, 2024 Playlist – 5th Anniversary SpecialOctober 26, 2024 Playlist – 5th Anniversary Special

October 27, 2024October 27, 2024|

We continued our tradition of letting our listeners compile the playlist for our annual anniversary show, and this year, they came up with perhaps the most eclectic hodgepodge they have ever produced. Open your mind as wide as you can and give it a listen here.

  • MC5 Kick Out the Jams
  • T REX Buick Mackane
  • SASS JORDAN Pissin’ Down
  • GUANO APES Kumba Yo!
  • HEART Rock and Roll
  • X RAY LOVE On My Stereo
  • SOCIAL DISTORTION Don’t Take Me for Granted
  • THE DEAR BOYS Gone Viral
  • DOUG AND THE SLUGS Too Bad
  • EDISON LIGHTHOUSE Love Grows Where My Rosemary Grows
  • KING HARVEST Dancin’ in the Moonlight
  • JASON MRAZ Living in the Moment
  • TIM McGRAW Humble and Kind
  • VAN MORRISON Bein’ Green
  • WEEZER Say It Isn’t So
  • COUNTING CROWS A Murder of One
  • RAY PARKER JR. Ghostbusters
  • MISFITS Halloween
  • IRON MAIDEN Killers
  • ALICE COOPER Poison
  • BOB SEGER Roll Me Away
  • .38 SPECIAL Hold on Loosely
  • SURVIVOR Eye of the Tiger
  • SHAWN PARSONS Grateful
  • LOUIS ARMSTRONG What a Wonderful World
  • OASIS Wonderwall
  • PHIL COLLINS Lorenzo
  • WOOF WOOF Dizzy
  • MOTORHEAD Ace of Spades
  • KING’S X Black Flag
  • IDLES Love Song
  • LEE FIELDS Forever
  • BAD MANNERS Walking in the Sunshine
  • SABRINA CARPENTER Espresso
  • FINNEAS For Crying Out Loud
  • MELISSA ETHERIDGE I Run for Life
  • AUTOGRAMM Wannabe
  • McFADDEN & WHITEHEAD Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now

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