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Looking back on a great year of live music and eclectic playlists

Here’s our review of some of the sessions we featured in 2013 which appeared in the Brentwood Gazette this week.

2013-12-25 Brentwood Gazette (sessions)

You can click on the image above or read the text below.

OTHER stations talk about more music variety – Brentwood’s station just goes ahead and does it.

Phoenix FM welcomed in a record 217 live sessions in 2013 – more than at any time in the station’s history – with a large representation of bands and singers from the Brentwood area.

Once again the station’s king of sessions was Nick Field, who has been hosting his weekly Curveballs show since the station went full-time in March 2007.

This year Nick welcomed in no fewer than 48 acts to play live on his show, including Brentwood Festival favourites The Tomorrow Men, Any Colour You Like and The Ends, alongside great sets from up-and-coming local bands including The Dalloways and Black Cherry Pop Tart.

One of the organisational highlights of the year was the Phoenix FM Creative Sessions, for which 24 bands came down to a specially-constructed studio in the foyer of the Brentwood Centre.

While it was hard to pick out a favourite, special mention has to go to electronic rock act Republica, who produced a storming set which made you feel they never went away. The noise, anger and humour of Essex band Universal Disappointment Sponge, named after a Charlie Brooker description of Nick Clegg, also deserves mention for livening up a quiet Saturday morning at the Brentwood Centre.

The station’s love of 1990s music was evident with the appearance of indie legends Echobelly playing a rare acoustic set along with Abdoujaparov, a rock band fronted by ex-Carter USM guitarist and former Phoenix FM presenter Les “Fruitbat” Carter.

Some wonderful acts also featured on Eddie Curry’s Brentwood’s Only Alternative show, including fantastic sets from Wanstead grunge-tinged female-fronted rock trio Bleech, chaotic Colchester rockers Dingus Khan and the folk sounds of Southend’s Plantman, a band who received rave reviews in the national press for their debut album “Whispering Trees” this year.

Station newcomer Jed Shepherd was busy in his first year of broadcasting with 21 live sets, including some delightful music from emerging artists Apple Eyes and Hettie Steinmore, but the standout act had to be London’s Keebo, a female quintet whose multi-layered guitar sound was faithfully reproduced in the studio to outstanding effect.

Another highlight from Jed’s shows was the appearance of The Popguns, a band who were championed in the 1980s by the NME and John Peel as part of the “Twee/C86” scene and, like many bands from that era, have recently started gigging and recording again, to the joy of old and new fans alike.

While the majority of bands who play at Phoenix FM are from the surrounding area, the station has a reputation for live music which sees artists from further afield getting involved with broadcasts too. For the second year running the band who travelled furthest to play live at the Brentwood Centre studios was Taffy, a Britpop-influenced quartet from Tokyo, who broke off from their UK tour to play an acoustic set at the station.

The band’s second album – Lixiviate – received glowing reviews in the music press, and greater things are forecast for them in 2014. Toronto’s Americana-tinged singer Josh Taerk was a close second in terms of air miles clocked up, with Swedish rockers The Spin not too far behind.

Pop music was once again well represented, with X Factor contestants Sam Callahan and Kingsland Road playing live long before they reached a TV audience of millions. As well as radio interviews, Sam also played a live set at the station’s Phoenix In The Foyer gig back in March, while Kingsland Road, who were just called Kingsland when they visited Phoenix FM in May, played their first ever radio set with the station and managed to get Phoenix FM trending on Twitter during their visit.

Tony Smith’s Sunday Lunch show was the home of R‘n’B and Urban-tinged acts with 24 live sets during the year, including some great performances from Mila Falls, Tiger Lilly and Look2wice. Motown superstar Ray Lewis (lead singer with the Drifters) also visited to sing a couple of numbers live.

A highlight early in the year was Haiku Salut, an instrumental trio from Derbyshire who use accordions, ukuleles, glockenspiels, trumpets and pianos, combined with loops and electronic effects. The music was great in itself but the spectacle of watching the musicians effortlessly play about a dozen instruments between them for each song was breathtaking in itself.

Another band to watch out for are Southend’s High/Low, currently recording their debut album, who take their inspiration from the early 1990s Seattle sound and whose accomplished sounds were evident when the band played live at the station in April. There is a great buzz surrounding them, and they are definitely another band to watch for the future.

While it’s not been possible to mention all the great sessions the station has featured this year, most of them can be heard or seen again on the station’s website at www.phoenixfm.com. Here’s to another year of great live music – and if you’re in a band and want to get out to an audience appreciative of live music, you know what to do …

Thanks to our friends at the Brentwood Gazette for their support of Phoenix FM over the last 12 months.

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One a month, no spam, honest

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Looking back on a great year of live music and eclectic playlists

Here’s our review of some of the sessions we featured in 2013 which appeared in the Brentwood Gazette this week.

2013-12-25 Brentwood Gazette (sessions)

You can click on the image above or read the text below.

OTHER stations talk about more music variety – Brentwood’s station just goes ahead and does it.

Phoenix FM welcomed in a record 217 live sessions in 2013 – more than at any time in the station’s history – with a large representation of bands and singers from the Brentwood area.

Once again the station’s king of sessions was Nick Field, who has been hosting his weekly Curveballs show since the station went full-time in March 2007.

This year Nick welcomed in no fewer than 48 acts to play live on his show, including Brentwood Festival favourites The Tomorrow Men, Any Colour You Like and The Ends, alongside great sets from up-and-coming local bands including The Dalloways and Black Cherry Pop Tart.

One of the organisational highlights of the year was the Phoenix FM Creative Sessions, for which 24 bands came down to a specially-constructed studio in the foyer of the Brentwood Centre.

While it was hard to pick out a favourite, special mention has to go to electronic rock act Republica, who produced a storming set which made you feel they never went away. The noise, anger and humour of Essex band Universal Disappointment Sponge, named after a Charlie Brooker description of Nick Clegg, also deserves mention for livening up a quiet Saturday morning at the Brentwood Centre.

The station’s love of 1990s music was evident with the appearance of indie legends Echobelly playing a rare acoustic set along with Abdoujaparov, a rock band fronted by ex-Carter USM guitarist and former Phoenix FM presenter Les “Fruitbat” Carter.

Some wonderful acts also featured on Eddie Curry’s Brentwood’s Only Alternative show, including fantastic sets from Wanstead grunge-tinged female-fronted rock trio Bleech, chaotic Colchester rockers Dingus Khan and the folk sounds of Southend’s Plantman, a band who received rave reviews in the national press for their debut album “Whispering Trees” this year.

Station newcomer Jed Shepherd was busy in his first year of broadcasting with 21 live sets, including some delightful music from emerging artists Apple Eyes and Hettie Steinmore, but the standout act had to be London’s Keebo, a female quintet whose multi-layered guitar sound was faithfully reproduced in the studio to outstanding effect.

Another highlight from Jed’s shows was the appearance of The Popguns, a band who were championed in the 1980s by the NME and John Peel as part of the “Twee/C86” scene and, like many bands from that era, have recently started gigging and recording again, to the joy of old and new fans alike.

While the majority of bands who play at Phoenix FM are from the surrounding area, the station has a reputation for live music which sees artists from further afield getting involved with broadcasts too. For the second year running the band who travelled furthest to play live at the Brentwood Centre studios was Taffy, a Britpop-influenced quartet from Tokyo, who broke off from their UK tour to play an acoustic set at the station.

The band’s second album – Lixiviate – received glowing reviews in the music press, and greater things are forecast for them in 2014. Toronto’s Americana-tinged singer Josh Taerk was a close second in terms of air miles clocked up, with Swedish rockers The Spin not too far behind.

Pop music was once again well represented, with X Factor contestants Sam Callahan and Kingsland Road playing live long before they reached a TV audience of millions. As well as radio interviews, Sam also played a live set at the station’s Phoenix In The Foyer gig back in March, while Kingsland Road, who were just called Kingsland when they visited Phoenix FM in May, played their first ever radio set with the station and managed to get Phoenix FM trending on Twitter during their visit.

Tony Smith’s Sunday Lunch show was the home of R‘n’B and Urban-tinged acts with 24 live sets during the year, including some great performances from Mila Falls, Tiger Lilly and Look2wice. Motown superstar Ray Lewis (lead singer with the Drifters) also visited to sing a couple of numbers live.

A highlight early in the year was Haiku Salut, an instrumental trio from Derbyshire who use accordions, ukuleles, glockenspiels, trumpets and pianos, combined with loops and electronic effects. The music was great in itself but the spectacle of watching the musicians effortlessly play about a dozen instruments between them for each song was breathtaking in itself.

Another band to watch out for are Southend’s High/Low, currently recording their debut album, who take their inspiration from the early 1990s Seattle sound and whose accomplished sounds were evident when the band played live at the station in April. There is a great buzz surrounding them, and they are definitely another band to watch for the future.

While it’s not been possible to mention all the great sessions the station has featured this year, most of them can be heard or seen again on the station’s website at www.phoenixfm.com. Here’s to another year of great live music – and if you’re in a band and want to get out to an audience appreciative of live music, you know what to do …

Thanks to our friends at the Brentwood Gazette for their support of Phoenix FM over the last 12 months.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
One a month, no spam, honest

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Coming up
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More from Phoenix FM


Looking back on a great year of live music and eclectic playlists

Here’s our review of some of the sessions we featured in 2013 which appeared in the Brentwood Gazette this week.

2013-12-25 Brentwood Gazette (sessions)

You can click on the image above or read the text below.

OTHER stations talk about more music variety – Brentwood’s station just goes ahead and does it.

Phoenix FM welcomed in a record 217 live sessions in 2013 – more than at any time in the station’s history – with a large representation of bands and singers from the Brentwood area.

Once again the station’s king of sessions was Nick Field, who has been hosting his weekly Curveballs show since the station went full-time in March 2007.

This year Nick welcomed in no fewer than 48 acts to play live on his show, including Brentwood Festival favourites The Tomorrow Men, Any Colour You Like and The Ends, alongside great sets from up-and-coming local bands including The Dalloways and Black Cherry Pop Tart.

One of the organisational highlights of the year was the Phoenix FM Creative Sessions, for which 24 bands came down to a specially-constructed studio in the foyer of the Brentwood Centre.

While it was hard to pick out a favourite, special mention has to go to electronic rock act Republica, who produced a storming set which made you feel they never went away. The noise, anger and humour of Essex band Universal Disappointment Sponge, named after a Charlie Brooker description of Nick Clegg, also deserves mention for livening up a quiet Saturday morning at the Brentwood Centre.

The station’s love of 1990s music was evident with the appearance of indie legends Echobelly playing a rare acoustic set along with Abdoujaparov, a rock band fronted by ex-Carter USM guitarist and former Phoenix FM presenter Les “Fruitbat” Carter.

Some wonderful acts also featured on Eddie Curry’s Brentwood’s Only Alternative show, including fantastic sets from Wanstead grunge-tinged female-fronted rock trio Bleech, chaotic Colchester rockers Dingus Khan and the folk sounds of Southend’s Plantman, a band who received rave reviews in the national press for their debut album “Whispering Trees” this year.

Station newcomer Jed Shepherd was busy in his first year of broadcasting with 21 live sets, including some delightful music from emerging artists Apple Eyes and Hettie Steinmore, but the standout act had to be London’s Keebo, a female quintet whose multi-layered guitar sound was faithfully reproduced in the studio to outstanding effect.

Another highlight from Jed’s shows was the appearance of The Popguns, a band who were championed in the 1980s by the NME and John Peel as part of the “Twee/C86” scene and, like many bands from that era, have recently started gigging and recording again, to the joy of old and new fans alike.

While the majority of bands who play at Phoenix FM are from the surrounding area, the station has a reputation for live music which sees artists from further afield getting involved with broadcasts too. For the second year running the band who travelled furthest to play live at the Brentwood Centre studios was Taffy, a Britpop-influenced quartet from Tokyo, who broke off from their UK tour to play an acoustic set at the station.

The band’s second album – Lixiviate – received glowing reviews in the music press, and greater things are forecast for them in 2014. Toronto’s Americana-tinged singer Josh Taerk was a close second in terms of air miles clocked up, with Swedish rockers The Spin not too far behind.

Pop music was once again well represented, with X Factor contestants Sam Callahan and Kingsland Road playing live long before they reached a TV audience of millions. As well as radio interviews, Sam also played a live set at the station’s Phoenix In The Foyer gig back in March, while Kingsland Road, who were just called Kingsland when they visited Phoenix FM in May, played their first ever radio set with the station and managed to get Phoenix FM trending on Twitter during their visit.

Tony Smith’s Sunday Lunch show was the home of R‘n’B and Urban-tinged acts with 24 live sets during the year, including some great performances from Mila Falls, Tiger Lilly and Look2wice. Motown superstar Ray Lewis (lead singer with the Drifters) also visited to sing a couple of numbers live.

A highlight early in the year was Haiku Salut, an instrumental trio from Derbyshire who use accordions, ukuleles, glockenspiels, trumpets and pianos, combined with loops and electronic effects. The music was great in itself but the spectacle of watching the musicians effortlessly play about a dozen instruments between them for each song was breathtaking in itself.

Another band to watch out for are Southend’s High/Low, currently recording their debut album, who take their inspiration from the early 1990s Seattle sound and whose accomplished sounds were evident when the band played live at the station in April. There is a great buzz surrounding them, and they are definitely another band to watch for the future.

While it’s not been possible to mention all the great sessions the station has featured this year, most of them can be heard or seen again on the station’s website at www.phoenixfm.com. Here’s to another year of great live music – and if you’re in a band and want to get out to an audience appreciative of live music, you know what to do …

Thanks to our friends at the Brentwood Gazette for their support of Phoenix FM over the last 12 months.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
One a month, no spam, honest

Now on air
Coming up
More from Station news
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More from Phoenix FM


Looking back on a great year of live music and eclectic playlists

Here’s our review of some of the sessions we featured in 2013 which appeared in the Brentwood Gazette this week.

2013-12-25 Brentwood Gazette (sessions)

You can click on the image above or read the text below.

OTHER stations talk about more music variety – Brentwood’s station just goes ahead and does it.

Phoenix FM welcomed in a record 217 live sessions in 2013 – more than at any time in the station’s history – with a large representation of bands and singers from the Brentwood area.

Once again the station’s king of sessions was Nick Field, who has been hosting his weekly Curveballs show since the station went full-time in March 2007.

This year Nick welcomed in no fewer than 48 acts to play live on his show, including Brentwood Festival favourites The Tomorrow Men, Any Colour You Like and The Ends, alongside great sets from up-and-coming local bands including The Dalloways and Black Cherry Pop Tart.

One of the organisational highlights of the year was the Phoenix FM Creative Sessions, for which 24 bands came down to a specially-constructed studio in the foyer of the Brentwood Centre.

While it was hard to pick out a favourite, special mention has to go to electronic rock act Republica, who produced a storming set which made you feel they never went away. The noise, anger and humour of Essex band Universal Disappointment Sponge, named after a Charlie Brooker description of Nick Clegg, also deserves mention for livening up a quiet Saturday morning at the Brentwood Centre.

The station’s love of 1990s music was evident with the appearance of indie legends Echobelly playing a rare acoustic set along with Abdoujaparov, a rock band fronted by ex-Carter USM guitarist and former Phoenix FM presenter Les “Fruitbat” Carter.

Some wonderful acts also featured on Eddie Curry’s Brentwood’s Only Alternative show, including fantastic sets from Wanstead grunge-tinged female-fronted rock trio Bleech, chaotic Colchester rockers Dingus Khan and the folk sounds of Southend’s Plantman, a band who received rave reviews in the national press for their debut album “Whispering Trees” this year.

Station newcomer Jed Shepherd was busy in his first year of broadcasting with 21 live sets, including some delightful music from emerging artists Apple Eyes and Hettie Steinmore, but the standout act had to be London’s Keebo, a female quintet whose multi-layered guitar sound was faithfully reproduced in the studio to outstanding effect.

Another highlight from Jed’s shows was the appearance of The Popguns, a band who were championed in the 1980s by the NME and John Peel as part of the “Twee/C86” scene and, like many bands from that era, have recently started gigging and recording again, to the joy of old and new fans alike.

While the majority of bands who play at Phoenix FM are from the surrounding area, the station has a reputation for live music which sees artists from further afield getting involved with broadcasts too. For the second year running the band who travelled furthest to play live at the Brentwood Centre studios was Taffy, a Britpop-influenced quartet from Tokyo, who broke off from their UK tour to play an acoustic set at the station.

The band’s second album – Lixiviate – received glowing reviews in the music press, and greater things are forecast for them in 2014. Toronto’s Americana-tinged singer Josh Taerk was a close second in terms of air miles clocked up, with Swedish rockers The Spin not too far behind.

Pop music was once again well represented, with X Factor contestants Sam Callahan and Kingsland Road playing live long before they reached a TV audience of millions. As well as radio interviews, Sam also played a live set at the station’s Phoenix In The Foyer gig back in March, while Kingsland Road, who were just called Kingsland when they visited Phoenix FM in May, played their first ever radio set with the station and managed to get Phoenix FM trending on Twitter during their visit.

Tony Smith’s Sunday Lunch show was the home of R‘n’B and Urban-tinged acts with 24 live sets during the year, including some great performances from Mila Falls, Tiger Lilly and Look2wice. Motown superstar Ray Lewis (lead singer with the Drifters) also visited to sing a couple of numbers live.

A highlight early in the year was Haiku Salut, an instrumental trio from Derbyshire who use accordions, ukuleles, glockenspiels, trumpets and pianos, combined with loops and electronic effects. The music was great in itself but the spectacle of watching the musicians effortlessly play about a dozen instruments between them for each song was breathtaking in itself.

Another band to watch out for are Southend’s High/Low, currently recording their debut album, who take their inspiration from the early 1990s Seattle sound and whose accomplished sounds were evident when the band played live at the station in April. There is a great buzz surrounding them, and they are definitely another band to watch for the future.

While it’s not been possible to mention all the great sessions the station has featured this year, most of them can be heard or seen again on the station’s website at www.phoenixfm.com. Here’s to another year of great live music – and if you’re in a band and want to get out to an audience appreciative of live music, you know what to do …

Thanks to our friends at the Brentwood Gazette for their support of Phoenix FM over the last 12 months.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
One a month, no spam, honest

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