Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette

One of the things I always enjoy about being involved in community radio is the number of local and unsigned bands and singers that we get to feature on air.

You never know who’s going to be the next 1975, or Lewis Capaldi, or Wolf Alice; and yes, I picked three artists who we caught on the way up. (Ed Sheeran cancelled on us but that’s another story …)

Last week we welcomed George Sanders & The Parallels back to the Phoenix FM studio. The foursome – Matt, Dylan, George and Tom – recently signed with Golden Robot Records and have recorded a new EP, Hope Hotel, which will be out later this year.

They chatted to Nick Field about their recent return to the live scene when they support The Ends at Chinnerys in Southend – a venue they’ll be back headlining on March 31st. They also spoke about their charity partnership with War Child UK.

The first taster single from the new EP, Tired, has just been released to streaming sites, and you can hear the interview again at www.phoenixfm.com.

Nick has been presenting his eclectic music show, Curveballs, every week since we went full time on FM back in March 2007. I’m not sure he’s ever taken any time off either! That means he’s presented the best part of 800 live weekly radio shows for us. I suppose I’ll have to buy him a cake when he reaches four figures.