A community radio station which has been spotlighting talented local bands and songwriters in south Hampshire since 2012 by mixing their songs in with it’s format of classic rock & blues, is now searching for talent of a different kind.
‘The Flash’, which is broadcasting to the Portsmouth area on DAB as part of an experiment by communications regulator Ofcom, is looking for new volunteer presenters to join it’s on air team. Station founder Martin Kirby said “You don’t need any experience in radio or a certain type of voice to join the Flash team. All we require is a love of classic rock or blues and an interest in the live music scene in and around Portsmouth”. “Full training is given and new presenters record their first shows in our studio with another member of our team operating the studio equipment, so no one is thrown in the deep end”.
Flash fan Martin Rogers, 58, from Milton in Portsmouth asked to join the station shortly after hearing test transmissions on his DAB radio back in August and now presents a weekly show on Saturday evenings. He said “I cannot quite believe that I’m a DJ like my hero John Peel, and get to play my favourite music to the people of my home town Portsmouth!”.
Specialist programmes are broadcast in the evenings and they even have a weekly space rock show, presented by Portsmouth musician Kev Ellis.
The Flash can be heard on DAB digital radio in Portsmouth and the surrounding area and anywhere via it’s website. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer presenter can e-mail ‘rock@flash1512.co.uk’.
I believe your station is truly unique in that the music you include is totally comprehensive of rhythm and blues from bands like the Stones from the sixties right up to the present day with local bands included making you a truly local music station. I certainly hope that you are able to continue on DAB after the trial period and that you will have sufficient advertisers. Nick Anderson, Milton, Portsmouth.