Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette
Thoroughly exhausted after our second festival weekend in three weeks but we’ve managed to survive another Standon Calling!
The festival is a music event which takes place at the edge of our new FM coverage area in Standon Lordship, Hertfordshire. We’ve been increasing our presence there over the last few years and in the past we’ve interviewed stars including Gary Numan, KT Tunstall and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man.
It’s not a pop or a rock or an indie festival – there’s a very eclectic mix of musical styles which makes it a great fit for us as that’s what we aim to do on air too. Last year ex-snooker star Steve Davis performed a DJ set there which mirrored his Phoenix FM radio show.
My highlights were interviewing 90s legend Gaz Coombes, lead singer of Supergrass who is now touring his third solo album, and meeting a number of up and coming bands including the stupendously good Dream Wife who I can’t recommend enough.
Our team of presenters, including Xanthe Bearman, Steve Robertson, Gareth Williams and Nick Field, recorded 22 interviews to go along with the 27 we recorded at Latitude three weeks ago. That’s going to enable us to make six hours of new programmes for later broadcast, although all of the interviews can be found on our brand spanking new website at phoenixfm.com.
* Guests coming up in the next week include Lisa Mathews and Andrea Sandell from Pandemonium Theatre who will be talking about their new production of Dallas.
* Author Sylvia Kent and solicitor Brian Hughes will be in for their regular talk slots. There will also be live music in the studio from Rosie A Webb and Indigo Face.
