A few words from Programme Controller, Dan Richards:
Last Sunday it was our turn to host the National Student Radio Chart Show! Ben & Dan were live across the nation for two hours, and managed to vlog their way through the day…
Their chart show antics are up online now on our Vimeo page or you can watch the first installement below!
A few words from Programme Controller, Dan Richards:
It’s been a funny old few weeks at Scratch. We moved studios just before the new term started, and it’s been a bit hectic trying to sort that side of things out and get all the freshers excited about the station. The studio is all but finished, hence being on the air again, but still needs a little bit of TLC to get it to where it should be.
We finally moved into our new media centre space last week (affectionately known as “the office”) which we share with Tiger TV and Spaghetti Junction. It’s pretty cool having us al in one place - and as soon as the others get settled int then it’s your one stop shop for student media at BCU. If you want us to do record, film or write something about or for you, or you want to join one of the groups yourself then stick your head round the door and say hi! It’s just next to our studio on level 2, opposite Lounge North.
We’re getting a good selection of shows in the schedule, from daytime chart output packed full of features and competitions right down to the less talk, more music specialist shows - Scratch Niche. Here you’ll find every conceivable genre of music to get your head around, from indie and rock to live sessions and from comedy to the Official Flirt! warm up on Saturdays whilst you’re getting dressed up. We also welcome our newest addition - Solaris International. This worldwide brand gives us 2 hours of progressive house and trance to wind down to and is well worth a listen.
Also, we’ve set up the all new Scratch Crew and have tickets to Arcade fire and hopefully Pendulum to give away in the coming weeks, as well as free tickets to all the SU nights every week - if you don’t listen, you can’t win! So make sure you’re tuned to us and dancing your heart out to the songs you love each week!
Dan x
With the first Forever 21 store in Europe opening in the Bullring, Conor Fitzhenry and Perri Ross went down to talk to the Marketing Manager and Vice-President about how the shop is different to all the other high street clothing retailers.
They also spoke to the new face of Forever 21, Amber Le Bon, to see what her thoughts were on the shop and how successful it would be over in the UK.
What do you think of Forever 21? Just another clothes store in the Bullring or bringing American fashion to the UK? Get in touch and let us know!
Adrian Percival and Conor Fitzhenry went down to the O2 Academy Birmingham on the last date of the Charlatans tour to catch up with Tim Burgess and Mark Collins to see how the tour went and what is next for the band.
Are you a massive Charlatans fan? Were you there? Get in touch and let us know!
Whilst it’s been a while, Scratch is back for good on Monday! And there’s plenty to keep you going online…
In-case you’ve not seen the revamped website, there’s plenty to explore over there - just head over to www.scratchradio.co.uk!
Right now all our presenters are updating their brand new show pages with all sorts of exciting stuff about themselves and their shows. Head over to the website and check out the ‘Shows and DJs’ pages.
You can also find tracklistings for our specialist shows on their pages. Take a look at the schedule to find out what’s on when!
Listen online to Scratch Radio
You may not have seen the brand new Listen Live Player online now! You’ll see something like this, where you can listen live to Scratch and see what’s happening in the studio (albeit just and arm or two).
Now you can also have your say in what gets played on Scratch! You can vote on some of the latest releases on the homepage now and let us know if you like or dislike the latest tunes.
Having trouble listening? Make sure you check out the Listen Live Help pages where you can find plenty of tips and advice on how to you can listen to Scratch.
So Freshers week has come and gone and what’s left are only clichés. Terms such as “knuckling down”, “getting down to it” and “I am the king of radio” are bandied about at this beginning stage of the academic year.
(Well, obviously not the last one - I think that’s just me.)
Freshers Fair was, as predicted on this very blog by this very blogger, its usual collection of high-paced hustle and bustle with the occasional chance to take stock and try to join that society you’ve had your eye on since you arrived in Birmingham.
I also hope that meant that you, the discerning blog reader, had your chance to add your name to our ranks and signed up for Scratch Radio and the Media Groups.
If you did sign-up, we look forward to being in touch really soon! If you’ve not been along to one of the many Scratch and Media Groups meetings that have happened in the last week that is.
If you didn’t have a chance to stop by our various locations during Freshers, don’t worry! We don’t just accept new members in September, it’s never too late to get involved with Scratch. All the details to get involved and get in touch with one of us are on the website - specifically www.scratchradio.co.uk/join to get involved.
If you did sign up at one of the Freshers’ events and haven’t heard anything, do feel free to drop us an email. We don’t bite (or scratch for that matter), so email apply@scratchradio.co.uk and we’ll be in touch.
So, to sum up in the shortest way possible: Freshers may be over, but Scratch continues all year!
We’ll be back in touch soon to tell you about training opportunities, show proposal forms, the launch date and the whole nuts and bolts of getting you on the air and us back on the air too. Keep your eyes on our website, Twitter and Facebook for the latest.
Before I bring this now rather edited update to a close, don’t forget the relaunch of the Scratch Radio Pub Quiz making it’s return to Bar42 this Wednesday (6th October). It doesn’t need much explaining. It’s a quiz. Please do attend, 1 pound to enter the quiz and I’m assured there are prizes!
Everything kicks off at about 8pm this Wednesday, at Bar42 on City North Campus of BCU. Do come along and you can find out everything you need to know on our many profiles and websites.
Paul Hadsley
Station Manager (External)
What’s Freshers Fair? What’s Scratch Radio? Where do I go on Wednesday the 22nd September? Who am I? What year is it? Who is the president?
Station Manager, Paul Hadsley, gives his usual witty rundown of events to come.
You might be coming to the City North Campus armed with all these questions and more, but for the most part the most important thing to remember is that the Freshers Fair is all about you and what you want to get involved with here at BCU.
Of course, judging by the fact you’re reading this on the Scratch Radio blog, we’re hoping you already have an interest in getting involved with your official Students’ Union radio station.
At Freshers Fair, we have a small amount of time to get your attention and impress you - and it’s hard to show off a whole radio station from a stand in a sports hall. Don’t be surprised if we decide explaining how we work isn’t good enough and offer to march you to the studio and show a programme in action and even give you the chance to have a go!
With all the hustle and bustle of Freshers Fair, you might miss out on seeing Scratch in action. However, why not stop by our new studio on Level 2 in the Union building (turn left as soon as you go through the automatic doors and we’re right there).
So enjoy yourself on Wednesday and come and see your potential new friends at Scratch Radio!
Paul Hadsley
Station Manager (External)
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