BBC Wiltshire Introducing presented by Will Walder and Marie Lennon is dedicated to finding the most exciting unsigned talent across the county. The programme gives local musicians the chance to find their way on to bigger stages. With links to both BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music, BBC Wiltshire Introducing doesn't only play the best new music but puts it forward to people like Huw Stephens and Tom Robinson. Will in his own words If it hadn't been for a man called Woomble, and a room on the 3rd floor of a pub in Bristol, then I don't think I'd be here. I'd been to loads of gigs before - Def Leppard and Terrorvision in Sheffield, Megadeth at the London Astoria, Symposium and Midget at the Fleece - but it wasn't until I saw Idlewild at the Louisiana that I thought that this was amazing! Raw, pretty terrible guitar playing, but so much energy that you couldn't fail to be completely caught up in it. That was in 1997 and it was the night that I realised what live music is all about for me. Since then I've seen literally hundreds of gigs across the country and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. I love being surprised by different instruments (always happy to see a saw being used) and watching how musicians get together on stage during songs, wondering what those little chats are that they're having during guitar solos (if anyone can give me a hint, I will come round your house and make you tea for a month). For me, Wiltshire has always had a history of good bands but sometimes it's like a giant blanket has been thrown over us and people seem oblivious to all the good work and creativity that's going on here.
 |
If we can build up artists on the show and say to the Huw Stephens and Tom Robinsons of this world "get this on BBC Radio 1 or 6 Music because if you don't, you've lost all credibility", then that's good
|
I've always thought that musicians from Wiltshire have to work four times as hard to get noticed compared to lesser acts from London and Manchester and that really frustrates me. I hate the fact that most A&R people think that London is a country in it's own right and you need a special passport to leave along with 7,000 different injections and your own personal army of bodyguards so you don't get strung up by the locals. I hope that's starting to change though and people are beginning to notice what's going on here. I want BBC Wiltshire Introducing to be a massive part of this and I will shout from the rooftops about anyone who I think deserves more recognition for their work, buy the passports and go to London and dish out the injections. If we can build up artists on the show and say to the Huw Stephens and Tom Robinsons of this world "get this on BBC Radio 1 or 6 Music because if you don't, you've lost all credibility", then that's good. I'll never forget how excited I felt when I was living in Portsmouth and I heard The Fog Band from Devizes being played by Rob Da Bank. If we can do that every week, then I will be happy. I can't think of anything better than going home of an evening with an armful of CDs and a memory stick full to the brim of MP3s ready for me to listen to. If I could, I'd do it 24/7, but apparently you need sleep and food. Marie in her own words After a good few years of making pretty nice cups of tea for the BBC Wiltshire staff, I was chuffed to have the chance to be involved in BBC Wiltshire Introducing. I had Radiohead to blame really.. I stumbled upon a performance on Jools Holland, and couldn't quite comprehend what was I was seeing. Johnny's painful guitar playing, and Thom's bizarre and furious performance - my 16-year-old head couldn't quite deal with it all. From here, I spent about six months listening to The Bends, and on the days that I didn't, I physically missed it. On the mention of Radiohead I found myself pointed in all other musical directions, and with the guidance of a few wise friends my music collection grew, and I started going to local gigs. BBC Wiltshire Introducing is a lot of fun. When we started out, I thought I knew a fair bit about unsigned music in Wiltshire, after years of watching mates' bands in The Vic in Swindon, so was sure we'd always have plenty of fresh music to play.
|
I'm so excited about what's happening in Wiltshire. We're so lucky to have such a thriving music scene, with a hugely varied range of styles
|
I completely underestimated Wiltshire, and was happy as Larry when my email inbox became rammed with a plethora of tracks by bands and artists I was completely unaware of, from every part of the county. I'm so excited about what's happening in Wiltshire. We're so lucky to have such a thriving music scene, with a hugely varied range of styles. Un-signed music is great, because people really go for it; there are loads of people who really care about un-signed music in Wiltshire, and there's a massive support network for emerging musicians. With Will Walder's guidance, I'm learning loads about Wiltshire, which is just great, and am becoming much more open-minded about the music I listen to (though stand by the fact that Radiohead are the greatest band, probably ever). Listen to the show and get in touch Listen to Will Walder and Marie Lennon every Thursday from 7.05pm on BBC Wiltshire so that you can say you were there when you first heard The Alfonz, Beatbullyz, Citystereo or The Volt. BBC Wiltshire Introducing - the best unsigned music, the best place to hear it.
|
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~57~RS~)
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
© MMIX
Bookmark with:
What are these?