There’s a new radio show that focuses on Reno music—and often features bands playing live in the studio.
It’s called Rockin Reno, and it’s on from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturdays on Northern Nevada’s Voice, KNNR 103.3 FM. It’s also simulcast on the other two NNV stations: KPGF 93.7 FM, and KNNR 1400 AM.
NNV features talk and music shows mostly hosted by local DJs. Rockin Reno stands out, though, as the one that features contemporary rock—often the loudest stuff.
It started on Aug. 1 with co-host Trevor Henninger, who is a heavy-equipment operator and truck driver. He said he pitched the show to J. Biggs, general manager of Northern Nevada’s Voice and the host of a talk show on which Henninger has guested. The original pitch was to include both local and national band recordings, especially if they aren’t normally on radio playlists, Henninger said.
“Now it’s evolved, because there’s so much talent out here that we can really just play only local music,” Henninger said. “Every once in a while, I’ll play a song from a (national) band, just because it’s a fun song, but 99% of what we play is local.”
Amelia Graul knows Hennington and asked to co-host the show and help organize the bands. Graul, who is a mechanical engineering student at the University of Nevada, Reno, has been on the show since late August.
“I always wanted to be Casey Kasem as a kid,” she said.
Henninger said he considers Graul an equal co-host. “We’ve integrated really well to where there’s no hierarchy,” he said.
The term “rock” is a broad one for Henninger and Graul. Acts have ranged from acoustic music to full-blown metal.
“We had Giant Skunk on, which is all over the place with their sound—super fun dudes,” Henninger said. “And then we had a brand-new band called macro.phage, which is purely instrumental. But they worked really well together and enjoyed being around each other. So, it’s kind of cool helping bands network as well.”
Rockin Reno will feature metal band Shared Scars on Sept. 19 and post-hardcore group Abandoned House on Sept. 26. If you want to play on the show, reach out to Henninger on the Rockin Reno Instagram page.
“We’ll play anything that’s rock, alternative, or the 20 million subgenres that are adjacent to it,” he said.
To stream the show, go to the Northern Nevada’s Voice website. Some shows are archived on the NNV YouTube channel.
Todd Snider saluted in benefit show for 1701 Group
Last April, local singer/songwriter Breck Lee Durham put together a tribute show to John Prine that also was a successful fundraiser for the 1701 Group, a nonprofit that supports students, seniors and veterans. This year, Durham is organizing a tribute to another legendary folk-rock artist, Todd Snider, also to benefit 1701.
“A Reno Songwriter Tribute to Todd Snider” is taking place from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9 at Slieve Brewing Co., at 495 Morrill Ave., Suite 101. There’s no admission charge, but donations are suggested.
“Slieve will also donate a dollar from every beer they sell that night to the cause,” Durham said.
The show features a who’s-who of local singer/songwriters, including Durham, Canyon White, Liam Kyle Cahill, Eric Mercado of High Desert Habit, Nick Scott from Dirt City, Eddie B. and Dave Algers.
The performers will each play two or three songs by Snider, and Durham said Cahill will include the humorous tune “I Almost Stole Some Weed From Todd Snider,” written by Oregon singer/songwriter John Craigie.
Durham has been a fan of Snider, who died in November 2025, for decades.
“I just instantly fell in love with his songwriting style and his overall kind of anti-establishment ethos,” Durham said. “He wasn’t preachy so much as he was saying, ‘I’m going to point out shit to you.’ And he was such a great storyteller.’”
Durham also wanted the event to be a local music showcase with a cause at its center.
“People like Canyon and Liam, they can gig every Friday night if they want to, so asking them to give up one of those should be for something worthwhile,” he said.
Th event flier is on Instagram @breckleemusic.
Heavy bands gather for fire relief benefit
One of Reno’s heaviest bands, doom/prog/black-metal rockers BeachMaster, will be giving back to the community, along with local metal bands Reeking Slug and Night Crawler, as part of a benefit show for Pyramid Lake community fire relief. The show is at 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Holland Project, 140 Vesta St. The suggested donation is $5 to $10.
Guitarist/vocalist Josh Patten said that the bands are “still fleshing out details as far as the specific channels or organizations that will benefit,” adding that they know Pyramid Lake advocates who can ultimately decide where the money will be distributed. The show will also feature local artwork for sale that will benefit the cause, Patten added.
Patten said he knows several people, including fellow musicians, who were evacuated from their homes because of the fires. “It affected the community just in general—anytime we have a shared trauma like this, it affects us all in some way,” he said.
The benefit show is part of a busy September for BeachMaster. The group went on its second-ever tour earlier in the month, playing three shows with the excellent blackened doom metal band Ghorot from Idaho. Stops included Boise on Sept. 15 and Salt Lake City on Sept. 17, with a show scheduled for Pocatello, Idaho, to close out the tour on Sept. 18. BeachMaster will also play on Sept. 29 at the Owl Cave in Grass Valley, Calif.
To learn more, follow @beachmaster775 on Instagram.
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