Click here to listen to Mike on Phoenix FM.

Labour’s Mike Le Surf came in to talk on GRILLED LUNCH this week and what a show it was!
Conservative, Russell Quirk, was also due to be in but unfortunately was unable to make it – he will be back next month!

Mike talked about a wide variety of subjects and as always Mike makes local politics and government issues interesting as he talks with passion and knowledge. Pity we don’t have more of the local councillors in central government as they are approachable people who live in the real world and are not so far removed from reality that they don’t know the price of a pint of milk!  As you can see, I am slightly disillusioned at the moment with central government of all parties and the news we are currently being fed in the wake of Greece’s bailout.

GRILLED LUNCH runs once a month and open to all parties in Brentwood so get in touch if you would like to be included. The aim is make politics interesting and to encourage people to get involved. It’s not about point scoring off other parties failures, it’s about the here and now and moving forward.

You can hear the interview again by clicking the link below:

Talking to Scott Hudson from Gearlink Kawasaki, who seems just a little excited to get the season underway which starts on the Easter bank holiday weekend. Teaming up with British Super sport rider Ben Wilson who lost out to the championship by just a single point in 2011. So far he seems happy with the team and all the preparation in getting the bike running. Only down side for Scott is that he has only rode at a few of the tracks. Luckily he will have help from team mates who have set ups for suspension from previous years. Scott hopes to have his very own web page up and running by end of this week. Keep an eye out for the site www.scotthudsonracing.co.uk

Last and not least, a man who has won championships both here in the UK and his home country of Australia, Billy McConnell. Not knowing who his team mate would be, how much of a shock was it when he finds out it would be long term friend Glenn Richards. With Bill third place in the British super sports in 2011 and BSB Evo champion in Glenn Richards, Alan Smith owner of Smiths(Gloucester) Racing will be the team to watch in the 2012 season. Bill’s day job is testing bikes for Triumph. Along with Glenn Richards and another Ozzie, Paul Young. It’s good to know that the bikes you will be riding are tested by current sports bike riders

Drake ft. Lil Wayne – The Motto
Young Jeezy – I Do
The Neighbourhood – Female Robbery

Jake Bugg — Troubled Town
Eugene McGuinness – Shotgun

Rusko – Somebody To Love (Skream Remix)
Young Guns – Bones
Foo Fighters – All My Life

Dot Rotten — Are You Not Entertained?
Skrillex – Bangarang
Wild Belle – Keep You

21:00
Disclosure – Tenderly
Tribes – Corner Of An English Field
Theme Park – Two Hours
T.E.E.D – Tapes & Money
Adam F – When The Rain Is Gone

EP Of The Week – Ed Sheeran and Yelawolf/The Slumdon Bridge
Faces

Sway – Level Up
Smiler & Lana Del Ray – Spender
Here We Go Magic – Make Up Your Mind
Mr Fogg – Stay Out Of The Sun
Zulu Winter – We Should Be Swimming
MIA – Bad Girls

Blur – There’s No Other Way
Reverend & The Makers – Bassline
Nero – Must Be The Feeling
Nero – Must Be The Feeling (Flux Pavillion Remix)

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN AGAIN

Firstly, we are at the NEW STUDIOS! Its masssssive! Thanks to all the guys for the hard work they have put in over the last two months. It’s a brilliant space at the BRENTWOOD CENTRE our new Station Home.

Delighted as always to see local writer Sylvia Kent. Sylvia came in for the second edition of THE BOOK CLUB. As you will hear from the interview I got rather carried away in places, so apologies to Sylvia for talking too much! Sylvia recommended two books this month, CALL THE MIDWIFE by Jennifer Worth and A PERFECTLY GOOD MAN by Patrick Gale. Hear Sylvia’s reviews in the above interview.

Looking forward to March and Show Three with more recommendations from Sylvia.

http://www.sylviakent.blogspot.com/ an amazing blog – check it out!

Tuesday 14th February 2012 – The Dangers of Sweeteners

If the human body isn’t designed to run on refined sugar (depleted vital nutrients like vitamins and minerals) then it certainly isn’t designed to run on a chemical used to sweeten foods for taste purposes. That is the only reason something I unnaturally sweetened – to make it taste more edible. This is important, as it means that sweetener has the potential to make foods that should not even taste edible taste palatable. Should we be trusting food manufacturers by eating foods that don’t naturally taste palatable? After all our taste buds would have once been our natural guide, not sell-by-dates and an ingredient list. Did Palaeolithic man pick up an apple and not eat it because he couldn’t find some written information on it?! The effects of artificial sweeteners on living organisms have been tested and caused genetic mutations and disease in lab rats.

Top 4 most dangerous artificial sweeteners include Aspartame, Aceslulfame-K, Sucralose, Saccharin.   They can be found in ‘Muller Light’ foods, ‘Weight-Watchers’ products, chewing gum, fizzy drinks, ‘no added sugar’ products, crisps, ‘light’ labelled foods such as hot chocolate and many other processed goods, even dried fruit and so called healthy cereal bars can be found to have them lurking. Aspartame contains chemicals that impact the brain and central nervous system and has been linked to headaches, fibromyalgia, anxiety, memory loss, arthritis, abdominal pain, nausea, depression, heart palpitations, IBS, seizures, neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease and MS, vision problems, brain tumours, and fat storage. Aceslulfame-K is a carcinogen and has been linked to various types of cancer. It is also linked to liver and kidney impairment and can cause hypoglycaemia  so anyone wanting to take care of their blood sugar levels should definitely avoid – ironic that many products containing it are recommended to diabetics then! The pharmaceutical companies work with the food manufacturer so everyone’s a winner (except for us that is!) Sucralose contains chlorine which almost has the same chemical structure as DDT, a now banned pesticide. It is linked with inflammation of organs and tissues in the body and can cause shrinking of the thymus gland – the bodies immune system regulator. Saccharin has caused bladder cancer in rats and has been linked to allergies, skin problems and diarrhoea. For a full list of artificial sweeteners: http://supersweetblog.wordpress.com/list-of-artificial-sweeteners/

Now you are equip with the information, go home and check all of the ingredients or any processed foods you eat even ones you consider ‘health foods.’ If it doesn’t grow or move, it cannot be trusted and needs your scrutiny! For more health features see www.mindhealthmovement.com

Ben Benson’s on Drive

Ben, author of ’7 Laws of Wealth,’ joined me in the studio also on tuesday. Ben is a business owner of 4 companies who made his money in training, property and publishing and now assists entrepreneures and small/medium sized business owners build better businesses, he understands the Natural Laws of growth both in buiness and life. He hasn’t had it easy though and he became the bread-winner for the whole family at a young age. We discuss his background, the current economy, the book and what he is organising to try and motivate and help people in the local area who are interested in surviving the economic climate. This is well worth a listen: Ben Benson speaking about The 7 Laws of Wealth

Thursday 16th- Friday 17th February

I covered lots of local news and topics on thursday’s Drive including a visit from Alan from FSB talking about local business news for the area. On friday Kerry Chambers, event organiser from St Lukes Hospice in Basildon came in to speak to me about the wonderful work that all the staff do there. They provide a service that is free of charge to service users so they obtain a lot of funds through fundraising activities such as the 10 mile fun run coming up on Sunday 26th February. If you can’t help them with this one though, see their website for future events coming up and find out how you can help (don’t worry you don’t have to run 10 miles to help the hospice!) See http://www.stlukeshospice.com/ and listen again here Chatting to Kerry Chambers from St Lukes Hospice

It has been a busy few weeks at phoenix fm, we are now up and running in our brand new studio at the Brentwood Centre, and with all that’s been going on I very nearly forgot I had a band in this Sunday the 19th Feb, with no research done this would usualy have been a nightmare! but luckly for me the band `Yesterdays Sorrow` have been on the show before so we wing`d it, made for great radio.

I am always happy to meet this band as they have great energy along with the talent that goes with making a good band.

Click on the audio tab below and listen to the Interview in Full;

Yesterdays Sorrow

Click on the audio tab below to hear the studio version of their track `A World Apart`

A World Apart

The Band are currently working on a new album to be released later this year, I hope to grab a first copy of the finished article.

You can find more info on the band at;

Twitter; @YesterdaysSorro

Facebook; YesterdaysSorrow

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wix.com%2Fyesterdayssorrow%2Fband&h=TAQGUvCdr

Thats It from me hope you enjoyed this weeks show

Tony

@DJTonySat

Sadly all the bars at the Brentwood Centre were closed but we’ll sort out an escape route to the pub next week.

Music played:

Kaiser Chiefs – Modern Way (Paul)
Prince – Graffiti Bridge (Ed)
Keren Ann – My Name Is Trouble (Mike)
Fiona Bevan – Slow Mo Tiger Glow (Phoenix FM session) (Paul)
Pat Metheny – Travels (Ed)
Kate Bush – Cloudbusting (Mike)
Imogen Heap – First Train Home (Phoenix FM session) (Paul)
Blackstreet – Don’t Leave Me (Ed)
Emerson Lake and Palmer – From The Beginning (Mike)
Dodgy – What Became Of You (Paul)
Jools Holland – I Went By (Ed)
Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again (Mike)
Cowboy Racer – Love Stationary (Phoenix FM session) (Paul)
Ronan Keating – I Hope You Dance (Ed)
Van Morrison – Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (Mike)

You can listen again to their poetic ruminations by clicking below:

So ended 1962! Then by complete contrast, our 3 @ 3 this week featured LED ZEPPELIN!
A Whole Lotta Love/Communication Breakdown/Stairway to Heaven.
REM – Losing My Religion
Robert Palmer – She Makes My Day
Robbie Williams – She’s the One
Guns & Roses – Live and Let Die
Right Said Fred – I’m Too Sexy
It was at this point that the sun came down and shone through the window of the Phoenix FM studios and blinded the presenter (me) to such an extent that he couldn’t see the computer screens! Management take note please!
Enjoyed today’s show muchly… thanks for listening.
I left you with…
Faith Hill – This Kiss.
Kiss Kiss xxx
Eric Clapton – Cocaine

1962 – 1st James Bond

Two days after Valentines Day and a First from the New Studios at the Brentwood Centre the Playlist looked like this

Huey Lewis & The News – Heart and Soul
Newton Faulkner – Dream Catch Me
The Arctic Monkeys – The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala
Hall & Oates – Adult Education
Mull Historical Society – City Lights
Turin Brakes – Pain Killer
The Ronettes – Do I Love You?

Friday Facts Featured Two New Entries from the Chart of 16 Feb 1980 -
Peter Gabriel – Games Without Frontiers
Elvis Costello – I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down

Super Furry Animals – Demons
Missing Andy -
Mumm Ra – What Would Steve Do?
Leo Sayer – Heart (Stop Beating In Time)

This weeks Pole to Pole Country was Senegal and musically these -
Abdul Tee-Jay – Wele Kpeku
Ebenezer Callendar and His Maringer Band -Arria Baby
Seydu – The Well

Simple Minds – Hypnotised
Steely Dan -FM
Arthur Alexander – All I Need Is You
Chris Rea – Stop
Hall & Oates – Sara Smile
The Beautiful South – Pretenders to the Throne
Phil Collins Don’t Let Him Steal Your Heart Away
Randy Crawford – Rainy Night In Georgia
Tracy Chapman – Fast Car
Beatles – Goodnight

TWSH is back this Thursday 23rd Feb. Join me 10 to midnight for weekend local events, Phoenix stuff and more music you don’t hear on the Radio anymore.

• Sow sweet peas in deep pots and pinch out once two pairs of leaves have developed
• Cut back old stems of mallow (Lavatera) to ground level. Take care not to harm roots
• Plant hedging plants
• Prune stems of dogwoods, willows, cotinus and paulownias
• Fork and rake over area for hardy annual bedding

The Fruit and Veg Garden

• Cover rhubarb with a forcing jar or an old bucket to exclude light and encourage early shoots for early pickings of rhubarb
• Prune gooseberry bushes to open up the centre of the bush to improve air circulation
• Chit seed potatoes in trays in bright frost free place
• Plant bare root fruit trees before they begin to shoot. When the arrive soak the roots and heel in some soil until you are ready to plant.
• Sow seeds of broad beans, carrots, hardy peas and parsnips outside in soil warmed by cloches

Greenhouse

• Plant dahlia tubers in pots or trays and place in a heated propagator if you want to take cuttings
• Star raising crops from seed, including tomatoes, chilli peppers, aubergines and cucumbers
• Water with a copper fungicide solution to prevent damping off of seedlings
• Sow seeds of cyclamen keeping in total darkness until seeds have germinated

Generally Around The Garden

• Take care not to walk over emerging spring bulbs in the border or in the lawn
• Order young plants from mail order companies
• Sort out and clean up canes and support ready for use in the spring
• Use a pressure washer to clean paths

Our second ever show from the brand new sudios! It was slightly less ropey too so that’s always good! We did a recycled uke box but everybody seemed to guess a bit more so I might start doing that a bit more often! I mucked about with the pitch bend on a CD because I’m mature like that. And We had LOOAAADS of people in the chatroom tonight! Cheers guys! So until next week, seeya!

PLAYLIST: Coldplay – Charlie Brown, Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc., Django Django – Default, Ed Sheeran – Drunk, One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful, Two Door Cinema Club – I Can Talk, Noah & The Whale -5 Years’ Time, The Fray – How To Save A Life, TEED – Garden, Justice – Audio Video Disco, McFly – Star Girl, Bombay Bicycle Club – Leave It, David Guetta ft. Sia – Titanium, Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again, Flo Rida – Good Feeling, Arctic Monkeys – Brianstorm, M83 – Midnight City, The Ting Tings – Hang It Up, Scissor Sisters – I Don’t Feel Like Dancing, Shins – Simple Song, The Vaccines – Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra), Mull Historical Society – City Lights

Thank YOU until Next Week

1. Skrillex – Breaking a Sweat (Zedd Remix)
2. Flo Rida ft Sia – Wild One (Project 45 Remix)
3. JLS – Proud (Moto Blanco Remix)
4. Laidback Luke ft Wynter Gordon – Speak Up (Mark Knight Bassau Beach Remix)
5. Labrinth – Last Time (GarethEmery Mix)
6. Whitney Housten – Queen of the Night (CJ Macintosh Remix)
7. Sub Focus – Falling Down
8. StooShe – Love Me (lazy Jays Rave-0-Lution Remix)
9. Benny Benassi ft Marshall Jefferson  – Move your Body 2012
10. Bodyrox ft Chipmunk – Bow Wow Wow (Mike Delinquent Remix)
11. Wolfgang Gartner – There & Back
12. Sarah Atereth – Without You (Sol Brothers Remix)
13. Alexandra Burke ft Eric Morillo – Elephant
14. Kirsty – Twilight (Full Intention Remix)
15. Nadia Ali – Rapture (Avicii Remix)
16. Paul Van Dykft Austin Leeds – Verano
17. Sak Noel – Paso (The Nini Anthem)
18. Sean Finn vs Robin S  – Show Me Love 2012 (Rockstroh Remix)
19. Nero – Must Be the Feeling (Brookes Brothers Remix)
20. Mat Zo – Yoyo Ma

She has revealed her pregnancy cravings at the moment are pickles and she has compared her body to ex spice girl, Posh, by saying “Victoria Beckham seems to walk out of the hospital two days after giving birth as skinny as ever! Everyone knew I was pregnant at three months, I’m so big now, but I know it’s going to take ages to get my body back,”

As well as a baby on the way she also has her first album on the way very soon too! She has described it by saying “It’s just a lovely chilled-back acoustic live loungey sort of album,”
“Exactly the sort of music I want to be doing. We’ve delayed the release of the first single though because I can’t be prancing around and recording videos and things whilst I’ve still got my bump!”

Rihanna and Chris Brown
It is well known that singers Rihanna and Chris Brown were an item until 2009 when they spilt because of Brown assaulting Rihanna. As a result he received five years’ probation and six months of community service. However this week it has been said the pair have collaborated together to make a new version of the song ‘Birthday Cake’ which features on Rihanna’s album Talk That Talk.
Rumours say that Brown may also appear in the music video for the song, but it has not been clarified to whether Brown’s singing and rhymes will be used on the final edit.

Talking about ‘Birthday Cake’ producers have said “It’s gonna be crazy. And the feature on there is gonna shock the world.”

A1 Writing for Cole
90’s boyband A1 have been busy recently writing a song they hope to feature on Cheryl Coles next album. Talking about the situation member Ben Adams has said
“We are in a writing session today, so a publisher will give us a briefing for a type of song they are looking for. Right now we are working on one we are hoping to pitch for Cheryl Cole.

“It’s very different. Sometimes we get sent requests, [but] it’s always better to get the artist in the studio and write what they want and write with them.”

Co member Mark Read added: “We are just pitching the track [for Cole], we are writing for her. Her team are looking for songs to put on her next album.”

The Vow
Of course this week cupid was in his spotlight as it was Valentine’s day. And a new Romanic film also came out called The Vow which stars Channing Tatum and Rachel Mcadams as the main characters.
The plot follows a man called Leo who tries to win back the love of his wife Paige after an accident erases her memory.

Tatum has explained that many people would be able to relate to this film by saying “You don’t just need some horrible accident to not really know someone in a relationship, you can kind of grow apart and they can not recognise them and to see somebody try so hard to get back to that is cool.”

And he is also happy this story is told ” through the guy’s perspective,”

Adams on the other hand has said that she was a bit wary of the on screen relationship with Tatum saying “I was worried we might not [have onscreen chemistry], because we were more like brother and sister, like buds,”

“[But] Channing is very outgoing, very kind and a lot of fun to work with.”

The Vow is in cinema’s now.

Whitney’s Funeral
Sadly last Saturday it was announced that of the world’s best-selling artists Whitney Houston has passed away after being found in her bathroom in Los Angeles.
Her funeral is taking place today and some of the guests expected to attend are Alicia Keys, Bobby Brown, Beyonce, Jay-Z and Elton John.

In 1992 Houston covered Valerie Simpson’s song I’m Every Woman and Simpson will also be attending. Talking about Houston she has said “Her personal trials and tribulations have nothing to do with her artistry,” “Her record is her music. That incredible voice.”

“It had everything – it was elastic, it had meaning, it had range, it had soul, it had pop sensibility and an ability to interpret a lyric in a way that made you feel it.”
After being asked by Houston’s family, Aretha Franklin, will sing during the service which is taking place at the New Hope Baptisit church in New Jersey.

Anyone without an invitation will not be allowed near the building however it will be streamed via the internet at 5pm this evening.

Today I was privileged to be joined by DREW-LEVI HUNTSMAN and JAE FROST. Now although still only 19, Drew has appeared in numerous West End Shows with people like Michael Ball and Sir Elton John and has just completed filming for The Sweeney. Jae at just 20 is already working full time in the music business. In addition to working together on a new album, they are both hoping to release new albums individually as well as EP’s. Earlier this week on Tuesday, they released their latest single – SAVE YOU FROM ME, which we’ve already played a few times on PHOENIX.

We had hoped that Drew and Jae would be singing live today but unfortunately they had both been struck down with the dreaded lurgy and sore throats but hopefully we’ll get them next time round!

You can listen again to the interview with Drew and Jae here: -

Once again Frances Clamp joined me for our BRENTWOOD & BILLERICAY BYGONES feature to talk about LAKE MEADOWS in Billericay. Her talk can be heard again here: -

I won’t be here next week as I will be going back to school, but hopefully Frances Clamp will still be heard talking about the history of Brentwood’s Baptist Church.

I will be back on my usual Two O’Clock slot next Tuesday afternoon and hope to have your company then. See you soon.

Scott

This year the Link is organising a holiday in Essex for a dozen children from Belarus, but to be able to do this they need new host families. Alastair said that the main thing they’re looking for in a host family is dedication; if you think you could help out visit the website, or phone Gaynor and Alastair on 01245 328235. This year’s holiday is the four weeks from 17th June, and host families do need to look after two children sharing a room. David, Gaynor and Alastair have all described how rewarding their own experiences as hosts have been.

Gaynor also talked about their fundraising concert, featured on our Events Guide, in which she’ll be playing clarinet and saxophone, on Saturday 10th March at Billericay URC.

It’s always a pleasure to meet members of the Link, and I hope that the children will have the time to make a trip to Phoenix FM part of their holiday!

Plenty of good music today; as ever….. 

Roxy Music

We had Roxy Music on the twofers, with ‘ Angel Eyes’ and ‘On the Radio’.  Also and as well, we squeezed in a great Cover of ‘The same old Scene, by Modovar.

My Comedy show picks for this week……

Jimmy Carr’s “Gagging Order” -19th Feb 2012 • Bloomsbury Theatre

Join Jimmy Carr as he tests out some brand new material for a forthcoming tour. Might be good, might be rubbish. Bloomsbury Theatre is part of the University College London, and has a distinctly student feel.

Omid Djalili – 24th – 25th Feb 2012 • Hammersmith Apollo

The world’s funniest Iranian comic is back at the Hammersmith Apollo with a brand new show. Omid Djalili has had a great 12 months, picking up the best actor award for his role in “The Infidel”.

Boat Show Comedy Club: Lee Hurst – 24th – 25th Feb 2012 • Tattershall Castle

Lee Hurst will appear at Tattershall Castle –London’s finest floating comedy club — alongside Dave Fulton and Mark Mair.

Live music pick for this week;

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Join me NEXT WEEK – Sat 25th: Protege Reign will be in for a chat.

Check them out: www.protegereign.com