I don’t quite remember where I heard about KCUV, but I’ve been checking it out for the past couple of days and I dig it. Apparently it’s been around for awhile but very recently switched formats? I’d say about 50% of the songs I’ve never heard before. It seems like an indie version of KBCO… a bit of everything such as folk, bluegrass, blues, alternative, rockabilly, etc. Check it out if you’d like something different and aren’t too cool to listen to such content. 
It’s not something I listen to all the time, but I’m all about the diversity.
KBCO used to be more eclectic… before they were bought by Clear Channel.
I feel like I should turn in my cultural cred for admitting the only radio station I listen to now is an NPR affiliate, but the rest of the selection in Dallas is underwhelming since the dance station we liked changed formats at the end of an agreement not to flip to a Spanish-language format for five years after being purchased by Entravision. Meh.
Yeah, KTCL was /amazing/ before it was bought-out. I actually discovered Ministry of all bands from KTCL sometime in the early to mid 90′s which at the time was followed by a song by R.E.M… ha. I don’t think I’ve ever heard such an amazing follow-up to a song like “Thieves”, ha.
I don’t listen to much radio other than NPR/BBC and the Sirius radio stuff which is part of my Dish Network subscription. I get on AM radio kicks at times (other than NPR), but lately not so much.
KBCO and KTCL were truly amazing stations in the late 70s/early 80s. KBCO tried for awhile to make it happen after that and just fell apart alltogether after the clear channel buyout.
KCUV is the best I’ve heard anywhere since the heyday of underground FM radio. I am so glad they are here in Denver.
I’ve lived a few other states and compared to them, Denver radio offers much more. California, which I always thought would have great radio, sucked worst of all.
Spot on!, I found KCUV a couple of days ago as well and am loving it. I thought KCBO was pretty cool when I first moved here a couple of years ago, but I have since grown tired of their politics. Just play the damn music and shut the hell up hippies!
Unfortunately, from past experience these formats never seem to last. There was a great station in Phoenix years ago that was similar to KCUV but they eventually succumbed to the dreaded buyout.
Enjoy it while it lasts.
John
I used to listen to “Colorado’s Underground” when KCUV was an AM station. I kinda miss that, and even though I live a coupla miles away from the station, I can’t get good reception on my digital armband radio. Since they’ve gpne FM, therte’s not as much Bluegrass, but that’s kinda Ok as well, but Sunday mornings aren’t the same without the Bluegrass.
It’s gone. The demise of KCUV is a tragedy. The local music scene and radio in Denver has lost an alternative voice amongst the jungle of corporate radio.
“Enjoy it while it lasts…”
Indeed, KCUV is now Jack FM.
Denver Radio truly sucks. Glad I got Satellite Radio.
Denveradiosucks.com
Any word on what happened to KCUV? just lack of funds i suppose?
Ain’t ‘jack’ to listen to anymore-how sad…
O.M.G! Nothing but JACK! I am so bummed!
Nothging to do but dust off my turntable, and get up to turn them over in the middle.
I’m so old that I remember KFML FM 98.6 in 1972.
What the @#%$ happened? No warning of the impending format change? All of a sudden this nasty behemoth JACK takes over? Now Denver radio sucks a lot more because of it! Does anyone know of any other Rock station that will be comparable to the old KCUV format…99.5 the Mountain doesn’t even come close!
this totally sucks. i turned on my radio the other day to my favorite station of all time (even back when it was on A.M. which, in my opinion, was even better!) and it’s that crap station.
the only reason i’m here is because i was looking to see what the hell happened?!
guess i’m back to the ipod till something different/better comes along.
What the heck happened to KCUV? all of a sudden it got “Jacked up”. Very disappointing!
Hey Guys, I’m new to the area, turned the dial to 102.3 when I got here and never swiched the channel. So, now that the best radio station I had ever heard is gone, is there something close out there?
Awful. Simply awful. I am so disappointed – KCUV was the only station I ever could bring myself to listen to. Their library was awesome and I loved how they gave some of my favorite independent bands airplay. RIP KCUV. Screw Jack.
What happened to our favorite station?! Where will they resurface?
what happened to KCUV? It got hijacked by JACK 105.5 – I miss it! I used to listen to KBCO but it got too corporate – any suggestions on a new station?
I am soooooo bummed! The best station ever is gone! I keep thinking I am going to wake up from this terrible nightmare called JACK and I will hear G, Zack, Benji, Doug, Dean and Co. playing great eclectic music again.
I never jelled with a radio station like KCUV. They were just incredible. What a big mistake…where is the petition? http://www.thepetitionsite.com
This really sucks the big one!
KCUV was my fav in the Denver area. Now they got sucked up by JACK. Jack now has 2 locations on the dial to draw a vacuum. What a shame. Now I listen to classical more than I ever did before. It is just too bad!!!
I too am mourning the loss of KCUV. I had been listening since it started, I even have a 1510 AM KCUV T-shirt. I was happy when it went FM because the AM tuner in my car sucks. I live in MI now and have been listening on-line. I just found out about this about 15 min. ago and had to find out WTF happened. Holy crap this sucks.
Went to Denver in April 2005 to kick off a 3 week trip through the West. Flipping through the dial in the rental I heard a Bob Dylan B-side and discovered a terrific station, KCUV. Been listening online for 3 years now. Very sad that they are no longer around. Anyone know of a comparable station that streams online??
I, too, am very saddened by the loss of KCUV. As for Jav’s question, do give KPIG a try.
http://www.kpig.com/
I agree that the loss of KCUV is terrible for Denver (and what is up with JACK on two stations???). As for a great station that streams online, my favorite is Fordham University’s station WFUV (www.wfuv.org). You can check out sample playlists on their web site under “music.”
I was sickened to read in the Sat. August 30th Rocky Mountain News that KCUV was to die a painful death at the hands of the MegaChannel (Clear Channel, etc.) finishing their broadcasting on Sunday August 31 and to be replaced by “Jack” (oh, brother!!). They just couldn’t compete. Maybe the “public” could get a Public Radio station (Like KCFR) that would be listener-supported that would play the kind of music KCUV did?? I’m afraid that’s the only way we, the listeners, could get what we want. There’s a lot of scare tactics being used by the MegaChannel stations. I once heard that KBCO threatened Emmlou Harris and her management that if she were to go on KCUV to do a live broadcast, they would boycott her music on their station. “Now, isn’t that special!” KCUV RIP. I’ll miss the sounds you never hear anywhere else: Frank Zappa, NRBQ, John Prine, Robin Trower, and the like. S’long Zac Phillips, G. Brown, Oz (who had departed earlier). What a cryin’ shame!
Yes, Denver radio truly sucks once more. Not sure why we can’t keep at least one decent station that doesn’t rely on the “Top 40″…whatever that is?
***Once upon a time we had a great and inovative station in 96.5 (not sure of the call letters)which later turned into an all Spanish station.
***99.5 The Mountain actually was a great station at it’s inception and sometime later turned into a 103.5 clone which truly blows. One can only handle so much Boston or Foreigner…like NONE.
***Then of course Denver had 102.3 KCUV which was probably the best of the bunch in my opinion, who’s frequency is now obviously occupied by JACK…which is pretty JACKed up. KCUV is where I learned of Little Willy John for crying out loud!…not to mention numerous other great artists who have been around for decades but for some reason most have never heard of them or anything from them.
Maybe I’ll just brush up on my Spanish and settle with 96.5 for now until we get something else worth listening to.
Shhh, hear that, that sucking sound? That’s from the vacuum left by the demise of KCUV from the airwaves in Denver! Losing KCUV is a cryin’ shame. I stated listening to them from the first day they came on the AM radio. Kinda saw the writing on the wall when the became FM (f’ing money). Hopefully something will come along to replace it soon. Hurry!
I almost feel violated, well at least my ears. I was out of town for a few days, and turn the radio on to find my center once again…JACK is now on 102.3. I listened for a while to try to find out what happened….NADA. Thanks for the blog, Mr. Harper, and God bless.
Best wishes to all who made KCUV the best station for a lot (apparently not enough) of people.
It’s very sad that to think the kind of music that KCUV played for free is now probably on a station you have to pay, and have special equipment for…….
I feel the same as most of the other comments on this page but they did have a sister station 102.1 but it’s hard to get unless you’re up north because it’s from one of the mountain towns like Dillon but does have a good selection of music.
There is truth to the saying that you never know what you have til its gone. Since I started listening to kcuv about two years ago, the affect on my music library was incredible to say the least. I will forever miss the last haven for truly talented musicians that Denver had, and can only hope for a return or replacement soon. Until then the radio is off and I listen to my library.
it’s been a couple of months now and the depression only get’s worse day by day. I’ve lived all over this country and for awhile we n Denver had great radio. but thats gone now kcuv couldn’t pull the ratings to entice investors. so I say go underground. I’ll personally pledge $1,000 over thew next year for operating expenses. and Quit my job to hit the road and promote this format. it struck me again today how sad it is for a city like Denver to have such crappy representation on our local airwaves. just a few examples alice, fox the mountain, kbco [ the co stands for corporation] someone call me I’m looking for a new career Ren Ferddersen 720 304 6123 I may be gettin on in years but I cut my eye teeth on rock and roll.
Misery loves company but, no offense, I’d rather have KCUV back than find commaradie here! I used to brag about Denver’s eclectic radio to all my out-of-state friends, how we are made aware of new artists and can still hear the best variety of old blues, funk, and rock. KCUV was the best we’ve ever had and it truly broke my heart when I turned on the radio the first day they’d be swallowed up by the Jack, the tasteless wonder.
Even the Mountain used to have a fairly good variety to switch to but they’ve turned, like someone said previously, into just another classic rock clone.
And KBCO, my oldest standby, used to also have a mind of their own, DJ’s who were allowed to play songs that you would hear nowhere else. I recently painted a friend’s house and listened day after day to the radio and couldn’t believe how many times the same few songs were repeated in one day.
Corporate radio execs, hang your heads in shame! You’ve eliminated what was once a good source of musical culture and joy from Colorado. How do you sleep at night?? Does your money keep you warm at night?
Suzblues
I’m still missing KCUV. Denver radio just sucks. The only thing that lessens the pain is http://www.radioparadise.com Now if I just had a decent phone so I could stream this station through my car stereo.
Don’t know if anyone will pick this thread up, but I still miss KCUV 102.3. Has anyone found anything similar? Even in another market so I can stream it? Sigh.
I’m Dean Allen. I was a DJ on 102.3 KCUV- I was on weekends during their last year on the air. Although it still hurts after all this time, it makes me feel a little better to know that I’m not the only one who misses KCUV. Its closing was as much a surprise to me as it was to you. I went down to do a Saturday shift and was told that the next day would be the last. I remember thinking “at least I’ll get to record my last day on the air”, since I hadn’t brought a tape with me that Saturday. But when I got in on Sunday, I was told we weren’t doing live breaks anymore, and to go home. It broke my heart- I felt like a family member had died. I still do.
I want to thank Doug Clifton, Zak Phillips, Benji, G. Brown, Oz, Sabrina, Mike Wolf, Ken Young and all the other people whose names I’m forgetting right now, both on and off the air, for an incredible year at the best job I’ve ever had. Our little experiment in radio might not have lasted, but it made a lasting impression on people. I feel so lucky and proud to say that I was a part of it.
For those of you who are still looking for an Americana outlet, the best suggestion I have is 88.5 FM, KGNU. They don’t have an Americana format, but on Saturday mornings they have vintage country followed by bluegrass. You might hear Americana sprinkled throughout the day- you never know. Even though their format is all over the place, KGNU is the one station that comes closest to the spirit of KCUV. IF anyone else finds something that scratches the Americana/KCUV itch, please let me know. And thanks for caring, even after all this time. You people are great!