_ ghosts don't write
___they only make noise

_____ there are so many people here, how am I not supposed to be sad

Tape Swap Radio airs the last Friday of each month at 11 PM on 88.1 FM WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio. You can find all of our audio and video content online.

Officially launched in June 2013, Tape Swap Radio was started by Lehigh Valley residents Shamus McGroggan and Matt Molchany. Tape Swap began as a music and video series that aimed to spotlight the independent and DIY music in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. This included bands that called the Lehigh Valley home but soon grew to include bands that were passing through on tours. McGroggan and Molchany saw a vital and thriving music scene in their hometown and set out to create a unique live snapshot of these artists and their music.

Tape Swap Radio produces original live "Shards Sessions", recorded at Molchany's dedicated recording space in Bethlehem, PA, Shards as well as "Rooftop Sessions", recorded on Lehigh Valley rooftops. Shards Sessions and Rooftop Sessions are made up of four songs performed live, an interview, and a "band pick" to highlight a fellow artist the guest wishes to promote. 

Tape Swap Radio began its life airing on Muhlenberg College radio and Lehigh University radio in 2013-14. After celebrating a one-year anniversary, the Tape Swap Presents live concert series launched in June 2014 hosting live concerts at a variety of Lehigh Valley venues including The Funhouse, St. Bernard's, and the Ice House in Bethlehem; as well as the Allentown Brew Works' Silk Lounge and the Alternative Gallery in Allentown.

In September 2014, Tape Swap premiered its own stage at Allentown ArtsFest, the annual art and music festival at Allentown's Cedar Beach Park that ran from 2014-19. In late 2014, Tape Swap marked the occasion of releasing its first 12 Shards Sessions with its first ever compilation CD. Shards Sessions, Vol. 1 took one track from each of the first 12 sessions (Literature through Our Griffins) and released them on CDs with hand-stenciled art. This also marked the creation of the series' own Bandcamp page where listeners can buy Shards Sessions compilation CDs or download them for free. This was followed by 20 more tracks on Shards Sessions Vol. 2, released in May, 2017. 

Tapes, CDs, and merchandise are available at a number of live events that Tape Swap appears at as a vendor throughout the year, as well as any official Tape Swap Presents live show.

Tape Swap Radio found its current home on WDIY 88.1 FM, the Lehigh Valley's public radio and NPR station in 2015, introducing a revamped on-air radio format that was hosted by McGroggan and Molchany. The pair continued to grow Tape Swap's events by launching the Lehigh Valley Punk Rock Flea Market in 2018 at the Bethlehem Area Public Library. The response from the event was overwhelming, so the second PRFM was held at the more spacious Ice House in 2019.

2019 brought more changes as well as for Tape Swap. With work picking up at Molchany's Shards Recording Studio, he stepped away from his on-air role. Lehigh Valley musician and artist Maggie Mae then came aboard as the new on-air co-host with McGroggan. Molchany continues to engineer sessions and provide behind-the-scene support.

The COVID pandemic forced changes for many people in 2020, and Tape Swap was no exception. Allentown ArtsFest would discontinue, making 2019 the final Tape Swap Stage. Rooftop Sessions were also moved to the historic Flatiron Building in SouthSide Bethlehem. Tape Swap's Punk Rock Flea Markets were suspended. Work on sessions and radio shows slowed in the next few years. Tape Swap discontinued throwing standalone live music shows in favor of collaborations. They began by becoming a sponsor of Ice House Punk & DIY's monthly live shows at the Ice House, with Tape Swap's McGroggan joining the aforementioned committee. They also began partnering with the City of Bethlehem for events around the city. Tape Swap hosted its own stage at 'Live on the Greenway" in 2022. They also began collaborating with the city to book dates during the annual "Live in the Garden" series at the Bethlehem Rose Garden in 2022, which continues annually.

Speaking of today, what's happening? McGroggan, Molchany, and Mae all have other involvements, but remain committed to Tape Swap. Shards and Rooftop Sessions have begun on a regular basis again, airing the last Friday of each month on WDIY 88.1 FM and releasing as videos online. Their partnership with the City of Bethlehem continues to produce memorable "Live in the Garden" shows. And the Lehigh Valley Punk Rock Flea Market returned in 2024 and now welcomes visitors to the Ice House twice per year.

Our goal has always been to grow and nurture independent and DIY music through an honest, person-to-person exchange, just like the physical act of swapping cassette mixtapes. Give us your ears and we'll give you a mixtape.

Need to reach us? Contact: info@tapeswapradio.com

A label & collective of artists making some rad and forward-thinking musique!

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Experimental Industrial musician // Owner of Sinful Wish Records
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