AUGUST 2024 NEWSLETTER
Hello again and welcome to the latest Phoenix FM newsletter! Here’s a look back on our programmes and interviews over the last month and a look forward to what’s coming up on the airwaves.
PHOENIX FM IS FINALLY COMING TO DAB!
We’re delighted to announce that Ofcom have awarded us a licence to operate a new small-scaled DAB multiplex, which will bring Phoenix FM to over 1 million new DAB listeners in Brentwood, Romford, Dagenham and Ilford. We hope to get on the digital airwaves in the Spring.
RACE NIGHT IN AID OF THE MARILLAC NEUROLOGICAL CENTRE – FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER
Taking place at Warley Park Golf Club, Magpie Lane, Little Warley CM13 3DX, this is a fundraiser for the Marillac organised by Phoenix FM’s Steve Roach. A table of 8 costs £280 and includes food and the chance to win a bottle of bubbly in each race. Corporate sponsorships are available from £500 upwards. Brentwood’s Marillac Neurological Care Centre offers 24-hour specialised nursing care for 52 residents with complex neurological conditions. Doors 7pm – event starts at 7.30pm.
Contact Steve on 07952 498009 for more details.
INTERVIEWS
You may have missed some great interviews in July with local people, groups, charities and businesses …
Karen Boath and Rachel Franklin from SNAP came in to talk about their charity’s summer activities.
Colin Barber came in to talk about the Brentwood Business Awards, hosted again this year by our very own Mike Porter.
Patrick Sherring chatted to Wes Sutton, Director of Acorn Christian Healing Foundation and to players from this year’s Doddinghurst Stonley Tudor festival.
Local Ingatestone business owner Julie Bell came in to talk about her campaign to raise awareness against domestic abuse and providing a J9 safe space.
Tim Lee talked about the quiet tent that he is organising at the Ingatestone Summer show.
Mark Searby came in for his regular film and DVD round up with Spencer Carter.
Karen Cole from Essex Business Partnership came in to talk about the Dos and Don’ts of Networking.
Nicky Club, Nathan Reece and Marcus Wood came in to talk about their amazing production Blodina – The Viking Musical.
And don’t forget … Brentwood Foodbank needs your support. You can find out the latest news and what’s needed here.
MUSIC
We also interviewed some great singers and bands in July.
Andy Gardener hosted a Latitude Festival special with interviews from the site with Welly, Lexie Carroll and Samfire, and live sessions in the studio from James Rees and Lois Leon.
Madeline Christy welcomed in a number of country stars to her regular show The Nightshift, including Jess Thristan, Stringy J, Fin Pearson and Gabe Lee.
Paul Golder chatted to Welsh band Chroma about their recent support slot with the Foo Fighters at Old Trafford.
Michelle Ward chatted to singer/songwriters Adam Wedd, Priscilla Bailey and Nathalie Miranda and hosted a live session with Dan Olsen.
Nick Field chatted to actors, musicians and promoters on his reguilar Curveballs show, including Josh and Liam from Impious Spirit Productions, Kieran White from Essexfest, Atom Smasher and The Blackwater Kings.
Kev Piggott runs Phoenix FM’s weekly Open Mic Night at The Essex Arms in Brentwood every Monday from 8pm, and plays out the best of the performances from local unsigned artists on his Sunday Sessions show. This month saw new performances broadcast from some fantastic local performers – Callum Wood, Claudia Mack, Dan Stracey, Dawn Milton, Grace Brazier, Gracie Mae, Jane Oakman, Josh Barber, Katie Savage, Katie Todd, Richard Barker, Robbie Bunsell and Scott Wood.
BOOK NEWS
Emma Marns chatted to novelist Rose Cleary and actress Erin Connolly on her Wednesday Words & Music show.
Rob Merchant chatted to Patrick Sherring about his book “Broken by fear, anchored in hope”.
Local writers Sylvia Kent and Andrew Summers came in to chat on Eat My Brunch’s Book Club.
SPORT
John Chubb is the host of our regular Saturday Sport show, bring you the latest news from our grass-roots clubs.
Daren Mootoo’s popular cricket show 98 Not Out is on every Thursday. This month Daren chatted to former cricketers John Lever, Don Topley, Chris Cowdrey and Graham Napier, Suffolk Cricket chairman Andrew Squire and cricket writer Huw Turbevill.
Andy Gilson hosts our weekly Orient Hour – a show that’s just celebrated its 400th epsiode! – with a rotating panel of fans running through the latest Leyton Orient news, matches and rumours. This month guests included Orient manager Richie Wellens, former player Matt Lockwood and Orient kitman Ada Martin.
Our regular sports correspondent Jack Patmore is also writing and appearing regularly with news from our local non-league clubs including Brentwood Town, Billericay Town and Southend United.
PODCASTS
There are only so many hours in the day – but that doesn’t mean we can’t cram in more programmes! We also have podcasts which are produced regularly:
Rising Stars is a regular weekly podcast highlighting unsigned artists from around the world across every genre possible.
Mental Health Matters – our regular monthly look at Mental Health issues locally, nationally and globally, in partnership with the Essex Community Tree – is back on Phoenix FM. This month’s podcast deals with coping with anxiety and depression.
Made In Essex is a regular business podcast celebrating Essex entrepreneurship, presented by Jill Willis, co-founder at Attract & Engage, author and communications strategist. In the latest instalment Jill talks to Andy Thorne, CEO of Stansted HQ’d Kestrel Group, the King’s favourite international shipping agency.
Jill also spoke to John Gladman, Managing Director of AVRT Training, a tech business that’s making the way emergency services and military personnel train for difficult scenarios safer and more realistic.
We also host QFM – the occasional show made by the children of Quilters Junior School in Billericay. The most recent edition is now online here.
COMING UP IN AUGUST
We’ve already got some great guests lined up for the next month and beyond. You can see our full and ever-changing list here.
SO WHAT’S ON AIR?
In July we welcomed back Chris Stagg’s TFI 90s show after a 4 year break. You can hear it every Tuesday at 6pm – it’s a 90s music show!
On daytimes you can hear Mike Porter, Michelle Ward and Jo Bailey five days a week with local news, information, features and great music – lunchtimes are shared between Scott Ross (Mon/Tue), Bob Simpson (Wed), Roy Tyzack (Thu) and Patrick Sherring (Fri). Weekend breakfast is covered by Antonia Jones.
Evenings and weekends are also the home of our many specialist music shows including Synth City with Rob Harvey, Under The Radar with Andy Gardener, Resurrection with Paul Golder, Turn It Up with Vic Damhar, The Show That Goes Like This with Ben Simmons, Reggae Revival with Daren Mootoo, Curveballs with Nick Field, The Golden Years with Andy Gilson, The Bliss Disciples with Daniel Gregory, The Weekend Wind-Up with Spencer Carter, Geezers Pleasers and Cheesers with Mandy Cullen, Boogie Nights with Andy Furneaux, Classic Phoenix with Steve Robertson, The Sunday Sessions with Kev Piggott, Sunday Lunch with Tony Smith, Vicki Michelle’s Music Mix, GR80s with Xanthe Bearman and Wednesday Words & Music with Emma Marns.
None of the shows on Phoenix FM are “syndicated” – every single hour is created and produced exclusively for Phoenix FM by local people passionate about music and their community.
You can see our full schedule here.
IN THE PAPERS
Phoenix FM has had a regular page in the Brentwood Gazette since 2013 – you can see our recent columns here.
A BIG THANK YOU TO …
Phoenix FM is a not-for-profit organisation aiming to maintain a full-featured community radio station for Brentwood, Billericay and surrounding areas. Any money we raise goes straight back in the pot to broadcast more programmes on FM and online.
So we’d like to say a big thank you to our existing supporters and partners:
Anytime Fitness, Attract & Engage, Brandler Galleries, Brentwood Golf Club, Brentwood Spanish School, Brentwood Town FC, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, Essex Business Partnerships, Essex Community Tree Network, EV Charging Systems, Foxtel, Guided Learning, Hallmark Care Homes, Heralds Way Dental Clinic, Herongate Dental, Holiday Inn Brentwood, Hutton Spice, JWD Heating & Plumbing, Layalina, Malina Patisserie, The Mortgage Specialists, Not Just Travel, Pinney Talfourd, Players Lounge, Saint Francis Hospice, SEH BAC and Shepherd Neame.
FEEDBACK
Is there anything you would like to see in a future newsletter? Email us straight back!
See you on 98FM and https://www.phoenixfm.com!
Thanks for reading and listening
The Phoenix FM team
Phoenix FM – 214,300 hours on air and counting
