Community via a DJ collective: an interview with Gonzo Radio
Photo courtesy of Gonzo Radio
Written by Maizy Weirich
Gonzo Radio is a DJ collective based in Bangor, Maine, that focuses on community, inclusivity, and expression through an untraditional club scene. Co-founders Jake Callaway and Antoine Miles gave Maine Coast Life the rundown, exploring how this underground group emerged and pushed its mission above the surface.
The duo met in the summer of 2024, and quickly the idea of an inclusive EDM and trance music scene began to build.
“The big thing that we kind of knew that we wanted to do for Gonzo Radio was we wanted it to sort of be this inclusive thing that you could become a member of,” Callaway said.
Gonzo Radio has a list of five rules promoted during each show:
COME FOR THE MUSIC
BE OPEN TO THE UNFAMILIAR
RESPECT ONE ANOTHER
DRESS TO EXPRESS
DANCE YOUR HEART OUT
“It has blown me away, just the range of people that have attended Gonzo events and that have all loved it equally,” Miles said.
While both founders agreed it would be good to expand their presence and shows outside the Bangor area, their priority is to maintain the authenticity Gonzo Radio stands for. Some considerations are physical, like proximity to a general audience, but also atmospheric, like the energy and creative capacity of a certain venue.
For now, Miles and Callaway will take the growth and future of Gonzo Radio in stride, one eccentric show at a time.
The collective’s next show, "Gonzoween 2: The Bride of Gonzo,” is Oct. 30 at Barlimans, 2 Hammond St., in Bangor.
For more information and insights from Miles and Callaway, watch the full interview below.