Tape Swap Radio began as a summer show on Muhlenberg College radio and has grown to include a year-round show on WDIY 88.1 FM, live artist sessions with HD video and audio archived online, bands performing as part of the City of Bethlehem’s “Live in the Garden” series, and a twice-annual Lehigh Valley Punk Rock Flea Market.

Founded by Lehigh Valley residents Matt Molchany and Shamus McGroggan in 2013, Tape Swap now also includes musician Maggie Mae as occasional radio co-host. We continue to grow and evolve to serve the Lehigh Valley's DIY music scene.

Recording

Tape Swap bring bands into Matt’s Bethlehem recording studio, Shards, to record original Shards Sessions and onto various Lehigh Valley rooftops to record original Rooftop Sessions. Our sessions are made up of a four-song live performance and interview.  Drawing equally from those who call the Lehigh Valley home and those passing through on tours, Tape Swap aims to provide a unique live snapshot of bands and artists. 

Broadcast

Tape Swap’s monthly radio show is hosted by Tape Swap founder and producer Shamus McGroggan with occasional appearances from co-host Maggie Mae. Each show finds a new way to spotlight the DIY music happenign in the area, whether it’s a Shards Session, Rooftop Session, mixtape made by a local musician, a recording from a local DIY show, interviews, music from bands playing shows in the area, spotlights on independent record labels, deep dives into different music scenes throughout the country, or some other feature we decide on. Tape Swap Radio airs:

• The last Friday of each month, 11 PM - 1 AM
  WDIY 88.1 FM - Lehigh Valley Public Radio

Live

Tape Swap hosts shows around the Lehigh Valley throughout the year including partnering with the City of Bethlehem for the annual series, Live in the Garden, taking place at the Bethlehem Rose Garden, and hosting the Lehigh Valley Punk Rock Flea Market twice per year at the Icen House in Bethlehem. And while Tape Swap no longer produces other regular live events outside of Live in the Garden and the LVPRFM, we now sponsor the monthly shows thrown by the Ice House Punk & DIY collective at the Ive House.

Between 2015 and 2020, 2,000+ attendees at Tape Swap’s shows throughout the Lehigh Valley helped us raise over $11,000 for worthy organizations like The Center for Animal Health & Welfare in Easton, The Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, and The Homebase Skateshop After-School Skate Program in Bethlehem. Since then, we have continued to try to help the community by engaging in mutual aid at our LVPRFM events. Each flea has a donation drive for organizations like Valley Youth House and New Bethany, collecting food, toiletries, and other essential items.

All of us who work on Tape Swap devote our own time and money to this project. We hope one day to make it sustainable, but until then, it is our passion project. Any amount you can give helps make everything we do for the Lehigh Valley's DIY music scene possible--even $5 or $10. Click the PayPal button to give.