Quite a few years ago I started this blog as an aside to my 'top secret' job of searching out new music to send to a radio station. I was basically a new music scout, but that wasn't all. I had a real passion for promoting new artists who might otherwise not get heard and at the time I felt the blog was the perfect platform where I could share their music and also write a little about them and my views on their music.
In the autumn of 2011 a brand new community radio station, Radio Clwyd, was set up in Ruthin where I live. I went over to see how I could help, thinking that with my background and love of radio, there may be something I could do behind the scenes. To cut a long story short I was persuaded by Station Manager Mark Jones to have a go at actually presenting a show. The first one went out in November 2011. I had always said I was most definitely a listener and not a presenter, but I found I actually enjoyed it, especially as it gave me another platform to promote new musical talent.
Initially I recorded my shows at the studios at the top of the Crown House building in Ruthin, but before long I was hooked and armed with Adobe Audition on my computer and my own microphone (a very thoughtful Christmas present!) I began to learn to create my own shows at home.
I also recorded live sessions for Radio Clwyd including Isaac Birchall, Queen Beats Jack, Gary Edward Jones, Robert Vincent, Sparrowhawks and I Fight Lions, to name a few. And I recorded phone interviews with Zervas & Pepper, Bear's Den and two of my musical heroes - Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent from The Zombies.
Jump forward to 2014 - Sadly Radio Clwyd is no more but I now host The Music Truffler on 3 radio stations - Radio Deeside in Flitshire, Triangle Radio in The Forest of Dean and Quasar Radio - a soon to be launched international station. The Music Truffler's show varies slightly on each one but the idea of the show remains the same - to promote the best new music around from signed and unsigned artists; if the music is good, I will play it.
I haven't deserted Ruthin altogether - I also help run a new venture there called Live @ The Centre where we host monthly new music events where local (and not so local) musicians can come and play in front of a live audience. I interview the artists and the shows go out on Radio Deeside.
So that's where I am at the moment. My Radio Deeside programme also goes onto Mixcloud each Monday morning so that those who can't listen in when it goes out can catch it at a time to suit them, and I have my own Facebook and Twitter pages. The links to all of these, including the radio staitons, are below. So if you are interested in listening in or seeing what I'm up to, or if you are a new band or artist who would like to be considered for The Music Truffler, please feel free to drop me a line.
Radio Deeside
Triangle Radio
Quasar Radio
Music Truffler Facebook Page
Music Truffler Twitter Page
Music Truffler Mixcloud Page
Live @ The Centre Facebook Page
