Basingstoke Community Radio
Basingstoke Community Radio - Tuesday 4th November 2025
As well as playing some fantastic gigs to promote our album(s) these days we are also enjoying playing some in-store appearances in record shops and playing live on radio shows.
Our old friend Stompin’ Steve hosts a weekly rock ‘n’ roll radio show called 6.5 Jive on Basingstoke Community Radio and we had discussed the idea of us coming on and playing a few acoustic tracks live.
We set the date and Rusty, Eddie and I plan 4 songs that we think will work acoustically. We set off on the night, a dark and rainy Tuesday.
Eddie arrives to pick me up, having already got Rusty and then we’re on the road. As we enter Basingstoke, Stompin’ Steve calls. “We’re five minutes away” I say “Call me when you’re outside and I’ll let you in” he says. Sorted. Nice and easy. I’ve been to the station before, so I know exactly where we’re going. My phone goes again, it’s my partner Sandy “Is Poppy okay?” she asks. Poppy is our gorgeous toy poodle, the unofficial band mascot. I had to leave before Sandy got home. “She’s fine” I say, “She’s eaten her dinner and had a wee, but not had a poo”. I turn to Eddie and Rusty and apologise for discussing Poppy’s toilet habits. They’re laughing. The joys of being a doggy daddy.
With Steve duly letting us in we head up to the station’s brand new studios. There’s a lovely ‘live room’ set up for us. We’re greeted by sound engineer Mike and station managers Chez and Jeff. Everyone makes us feel very welcome as we set up. Chez makes coffee and Mike plugs in the guitars. We soundcheck by running through all 4 songs that we had previously chosen. Despite a problem with Eddie’s guitar (which is quickly overcome) the soundcheck is smooth and the songs are sounding great. To add a bit of ‘colour’ to the sound tonight Rusty is playing tambourine. It’s new to her but it sounds great. Adds a bit of rhythm.
All being set up we take a break. I head to the loo. Upon returning I can see Rusty on the phone, “I think he’s just had a wee, not a poo” she says, as if she is actually talking to someone. Eddie and I laugh out loud. We love banter like this.
Then the show starts. Steve plays a few tracks before linking live to us. We have a bit of a chat before we play our first acoustic track live. It’s our version of the old 50’s song “My Boy Elvis” and I announce that we will give away a free CD of our new album ‘A Triumphant Return’ to the first person to message in and tell us who originally recorded this song.
The song goes great and it’s back to Steve, he plays some more great tunes before coming back to us when he tells us he’s had 2 people message in with the right answer at pretty much the same time “It’s fine” I say “We’ll send them both a CD”. It’s great to have the interaction with the listeners. Steve also tells us of other people that have been messaging in.
We play “Showdown At The Ace Café” from our new album next and again it goes well. The crew in the studio are clapping and cheering after every song. It’s a great atmosphere in here.
This continues for the rest of the show. A few records played by Steve then back to us for more live stuff. We end up playing 3 more songs than we had originally planned (“Keep going!” Steve says) and he plays 2 tracks off of our albums as well, one from our first album ‘A Triumph!’ and one from our new album. He also plays Ruth Brown’s “This Little Girl’s Gone Rockin’” which is a song we will be covering and putting in our sets soon enough.
Then, before we know it, the 2 hours have flown by. We’ve had a thoroughly good time on a great radio show. I’ve even agreed to be a guest DJ and cover for Steve when he’s on holiday in the coming months!
Lucky