Backstage at this year’s V Festival, Ben Stones managed to catch up with Scottish pop-sensation Alex Gardner. You can hear the full interview on Scratch Radio during Freshers, but for now here’s a taster of what’s to come.
Scratch Radio has been out and about throughout the summer, you can hear the highlights of our antics when we’re back on air in September.
The afternoon sunshine has stuck around into the evening here at Weston Park, for the finale of V Festival 2010.
After the antics of earlier, I’ve braved the portaloos - admittedly the ones backstage - and had chance to catch a few more acts this evening.
At the moment, I’m sat watching Florence and the Machine as Miss Welch has just taken to the 4Music stage ahead of David Guetta - tonight’s headliner up against the mighty Kings of Leon. I’m trying hard not to type to the tune of ‘Rabbit Heart’.
My evening has had a distinct lack of Derulo, but nonetheless I’ve caught a couple more of this year’s big V acts. Heading from the press tent, I managed to catch Paul Weller coming off stage kindly and eloquently informing his audience not to throw bottles at each other - “we’re all brothers” and the likes.
Reports backstage were speculating that ever-popular Ellie Goulding had possibly started celebrating the wrong side of her performance. However, Ellie took to the stage and gave a stunning, crow-pleasing performance. She performed the sensual new single, ‘The Writer’, to the accompaniment of many a waving lighter, and gave a stunning extended performance of ‘Under the Sheets’.
Sat watching Florence, you can hardly wonder why she draws such a massive crowd. Resonating around the site I can hear an outstanding rendition of ‘You Got The Love’, the amazing Candy Staton cover, with en-mass audience participation. Without meaning to sound like a gushy critic, Florence (as always) whips up an epic, mesmerising performance.
I managed to catch a glimpse of Stereophonics, who gave V-fans an epic mixture of new and classic ‘phonics. In between Florence I can just hear fans going mad for some old Stereophonics tunes.
Overall V experience - well worth it. Even side-tracking the main stage, some epic sets from chart-topping artists from this year.
Now, just for the decision between Guetta and the Leon. I’ll keep you posted…
Ben Stones - Twitter: @BennSt
Manoeuvre your way through the cue for the portaloos, around the discarded waterproofs and wellies and past the gazillion tempting food stalls, and you’ll find V Festival 2010.
It’s day two here at Weston Park, about half an our way from Perry Barcelona, and after yesterday’s sodden mess today’s sunnier climes are making a massive difference to the mood on site.
Chatting to some of this year’s happy campers it seems as though they all had rather soggy nights, but it’s not deterring today’s antics.
After an interview with Alex Gardner, up-and-coming Edinburgh based popster, I headed off in search of music. Apparently missing out the main stage, I’ve spent the first half of the day between the 4Music stage and the Virgin Union.
You’d be surprised how anthemic a seven and a half minute rendition of the Temper Trap’s ‘Sweet Disposition’ can instantly whip up a frenzy. Whilst Newton Faulker’s fairly sedate, pirate-based antics went down a treat… I think you had to be there.
After catching the full Alex Gardner set - which was excellent I might add - it was straight over to the 4Music stage to see the end of Paloma Faith. I have officially decided that I want her to be my wife.
Up next, Paul Weller, Jason Derulo and Ellie Goulding… what a combination.
Ben Stones - Twitter: @BennSt
Ok, so it’s been a while since our last blog but this one is uber exciting so it’s all ok.
For those of you not up on Scratch festival news, a few weeks ago our very own Wil Vincent managed to get into Sonisphere Festival and got to chat to quite a few well known acts from the lineup. Well, in case you missed the Facebook update, this weekend Rich Skelding has made his way into Bloodstock festival and will be bringing you all the highlights when he gets back!
It’s not just rock and metal that we’re covering though, it was revealed the other week that our very own Ben Stones will be popping along to this year’s sold out V Festival in Weston Park. He’s going to attempt to chat to a few of the big names on the lineup.
You can keep up with news, interviews and pictures from all the festivals we’re covering on Facebook, Twitter and the blog. We’ll also be bringing you all the festival highlights throughout Freshers in September!
It’s not just our festival coverage that’s exciting at the moment, our studio move is now well underway. Whilst we will be off air for a short period of time, this means we can move all our equipment and (carefully) attempt to put together the new studio in time for September.
In other news, for those of you who have recently logged onto the website, you may have noticed that we’ve managed to fix both the webcam and our streaming! We locked Ben in the studio until he fixed everything and he managed to get our webcam going. You can now log onto the website and see live pictures from our studio (or Scratch Studio 1 as it’s lovingly known).
Radio geeks out there will also be pleased to hear that we have now moved over to Shoutcast streaming technologies, which means for those who haven’t been able to connect to our stream before should now be able to listen! All you have to do is log onto the website and click ‘Listen Live’, which will launch our all new listen live player.
So, if that’s not enough exciting news for you then I don’t know what is! Stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates on the new studio, new website and plans for Freshers, in the meantime look out for festival updates right here on the Scratch Blog.
Scratch Radio’s Wil Vincent has made his way to this year’s Sonisphere Festival where he’s caught up with legendary Swedish heavy-metal band Europe…
Q: You played Bloodstock Festival last year, and you said people were surprised to see that you’re a lot heavier than they thought, does this happen often?
A: Yeah, everyone seems to attach us to “The Final Countdown”, and we went on the Bloodstock site and everyone was like “Europe are shit”, but when they actually saw us, they realised that we are heavier, and we can kick ass.
Q: Have you got a producer for you new album? Where you going to record it?
A: Yeah we have, we’re gonna record it back home. We don’t see any point in me flying all the way over to America to record an album, when I can do my bit in two days, and beside, I get to go home to a wife and a hot dinner, rather than some s***ty hotel food.
Q: Whats the worst bit about touring?
A: What really winds me up are all these refurbished venues. They all scream about how wonderful they are, yet nothing ever seems to work. On the last tour, I slept in the bus, thinking I could go into the venue and have a shower, and none of them ever worked! And everything either seemed to be dirty, or not working etc.
Q: Do your kids get any stick for being the son of the “Final Countdown bloke”?
A: Not as much as you’d think. My eldest son, who is almost 18, is with me at the moment, and came to the Peace and Love festival a few days back, and just camped by himself with his mates. He does get a bit proud though when he sees his dad rocking out with Europe.
Q: Do you think there is a difference between festivals now, and back in the day?
A: Yeah, cause there were hardly any festivals back then! In Sweeden there are so many now, and half of them are going bust as they cant get the line ups. Our tour manager says however that we always seem to play the good Festivals. I dunno if thats a compliment to them or us…
Good Afternoon all!
Despite the ever present threat of rain, all is good here at Knebworth! The live music is due to start within the next hour or so, and there is a great evening of entertainment lined up for the 30,000 campers to enjoy.
Delain will be opening up the festivities at 5pm this evening, but not before a World Record Attempt, to get as many people as possible to do the Time Warp. For those of you who don’t know what the Time Warp (or the Rocky Horror Show) is, SHAME ON YOU! However, you can see Team Sonisphere doing a practise run the other day…
The campsites are buzzing, the beer is being drunk like it’s going out of fashion, and the queues for the toilets are as long as ever… Wish you were here?
For those of you sat at home, we have got a number of interviews lined up this evening, EUROPE will be talking to us in a bit, followed by Karma to Burn, 65 days of Static, Never means Maybe, and Throats.
All interviews will be online at some point, so long as there remains a spare plug socket in the Press area. We’re right in front of Scuzz TV, and it’s hectic stuff! Anyway, enjoy the rest of your afternoon, and remember, It’s just a jump to the left…
Wil Vincent - Head of New Music
It’s exciting times at Scratch towers! After months (possible exaggeration) of waiting and building excitement, we’ve been given the news that over the summer we’re moving! Cheers and celebration all round, I hear.
Today brought an announcement from BCSU that Level 2 of the Students’ Union Building on City North Campus is set for a total revamp over the summer. The good news is that the work includes moving the Scratch studio, along with the other Media Groups.
The plans mean that not only will our studio be easier for everyone to actually find, but you’ll be able to see and hear Scratch across the revamped Level 2. With a rebuild of the studio now in it’s final planning stages, work will start in the over few weeks.
Our new studio sits next to the new Media Groups office on Level 2 (the old Waterstones for everyone returning to BCU) - where Scratch will be working together with Tiger TV and Spaghetti Junction.
Hopefully by now you’re as excited by the move as we are! Come September, we will be up and running from our new studio bringing you a fresh sounding Scratch (not only because we’ll actually have an opening window) with tons of amazing shows and events for Freshers 2010.
And, if this post isn’t long enough already, the move isn’t the only news on the Scratch agenda. Over the summer we’re busy beavering away on some other highly exciting plans which we will reveal in due course.
Make sure you keep up-to-date with all the latest Scratch news on here, on Facebook and on Twitter @ScratchRadio
This Friday and Saturday sees Birmingham City University open it’s doors to prospective new students. If you’re popping down we’re going to be out and about on campus all day, do say “Hi” if you see Dan wandering around in his yet to be announced fancy-dress outfit.
As well as wandering around and generally making fools of ourselves, we’ll me broadcasting live from our stand outside the studio in the Students’ Union! The line-up is looking something like this…
Friday 18th June
10.00-12.00 Dan Richards and Kash
12.00-14.00 Carl and James
14.00-16.00 Rich Williams
16.00-18.00 The No Signal Rock Show
Saturday 19th June
10.00-12.00 Rich Skelding
12.00-14.00 Tom Williams
14.00-18.00 Paul Hadsley
If you’re coming down do pop over and see what we’re all about. But no-fear if you’re not on campus, you can listen to all the special shows live online!
Make sure you’re tuned in to Scratch Radio this weekend - www.scratchradio.co.uk
Tom Williams - Scratch Blog Interview by Scratch Radio
Our very own Dan Richards has caught up with new Scratch presenter, Tom Williams, to find out how he’s getting on!
Hear what Tom’s got to say for himself above; Dan finds out all about Tom’s show, what you can expect to hear and how you can get in touch!
You can also download the interview so you can listen on the go, all you need to do is click the down-arrow on the right-hand side of the player and then drop it into your chosen media player.
You can catch both Tom and Dan on Wednesday’s from 10am right through until 2pm - find out more online at www.scratchradio.co.uk
The bi-election has taken place and the results are in - get ready with the X-Factor voice…
Station Manager (External) - Paul Hadsley
Assistant Station Manager (External) - Kevin Moore
Head of News and Sport (Internal) - Conor Fitzhenry
Head of News and Sport (External) - Kate Single
Head of Promotions (Internal) - James Gregory
Non-Portfolio (Internal) - Kash Prateek
Head of New Music (Internal) - Wil Vincent
Well done to everyone that was nominated for positions on the committee! If you want to find out more about the committee and how Scratch is run, check out the About pages of the website.
