The Vortex Moves to Thursday Nights on WMNF

The Vortex, a themed musical program on WMNF, will air on Thursdays at 8 p.m. beginning this week.

The show previously aired on Monday mornings. Host Nate Diggity Dawg created the format after mentor Katarina encouraged him to build a unique audio space for his listeners.

Dawg describes The Vortex as a collective experience rather than a specific location. He notes that listeners often visualize the show as a composition of purple and red fluffy clouds.

The program operates as a torus-shaped vessel called the Mothership. Dawg clarifies that the show is not a safe space, noting the absence of safety equipment such as air masks, lifeboats, or air locks. He adds that a shark resides in the pool on the Lido Deck.

Each episode features a unique theme that is either musical or abstract. The format follows a less talk, more rock approach. The mix includes unfamiliar tracks and familiar songs. Local musicians and bands make appearances, and the show solicits listener submissions that fit the weekly theme. The broadcast also includes information on upcoming Tampa Bay concerts and music history from that specific date.

Listeners can tune in to 88.5 FM from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursdays. Missed episodes are available on wmnf.org and the WMNF app for iPhone and Android devices.

Dawg likens the experience to a guided vacation to Walt Disney World, but one run by a volunteer-powered nonprofit organization. He compares the variety of content to attractions ranging from the Country Bear Jamboree to Spaceship Earth and The Tower of Terror.