The Friday Session - their ethos

Lexie Stobie playing LIVE on stage at Snodfest

Every Friday night on BBC Hereford & Worcester the playlist is ripped up and the airwaves are full of new music.

There is only one qualification - it has to be local.

The show provides an opportunity for local talent to send in their work for showcasing live on-air.

Speaking on BBC Hereford & Worcester, John Peel's former manager, Clive Selwood said: "John would have loved the programme - it would have pleased him enormously."

As well as the superb quality of music the programme showcases, listeners are also given a full gig guide for the two counties, news from the musicians themselves, interviews with the movers and shakers within the industry, and live performances on the show every week.

Huge interest

Smokestack play live on The Friday Session Introducing...

The programme was launched in June 2005 with huge interest; in the first six months alone, over 35 bands performed live exclusively for the show.

A lot of musicians have also teamed up as a direct result of the programme, some sharing band members, others going on tour and taking another band from the area for support.

The show now, on average, receives around 180 tracks a week - all of which are listened to.

Showcasing

One of the Friday Session Introducing... studios

As well as being able to offer bands airplay on BBC Hereford & Worcester, musicians are regularly given the opportunity to perform at a number of Introducing events.

These include stages at Glastonbury, Bestival, Creamfields, Reading & Leeds and local events such as Wyeside, Nozstock and the Worcester Music Festival.

Other opportunities include recording sessions at BBC Maida Vale and going on tour with the BBC Electric Proms.

The best tracks we receive are also passed onto BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music.

Friday Session - Listen Again