Latest news with #BBCRadio6Music
Rhyl Journal
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Irreplaceable BBC radio legend confirms exit after 16 years
Radio 6 star Tom Ravenscroft will be leaving at the end of May as new ventures, including "being around to do the school run," beckon. It comes as BBC Radio 6 shared its spring and summer programming with listeners. The 45-year-old who is known for presenting New Music Fix Daily with Deb Grant (Mondays – Thursdays, 7-9pm) and The Ravers Hour (Fridays, 11pm-12am) said it's 'been a blast' and "it's been a tough decision to make" as he steps down from both shows in a few weeks' time. In a post on Instagram, he said: 'It's with a heavy heart that I announce that after 16 years I'm to leave Radio 6 Music at the end of May. New ventures, foreign travels and being around to do the school run beckons. "It's been a tough decision to make, I've met so many wonderful people as a result of this job and will be forever grateful. You couldn't ask for a more fabulous community. "Thanks to everyone who tuned in, sent music, recorded sessions, put together mixes and sent funny emails. It's been such a treat to have been able to do this job; listening to everyone's creations, building shows and sharing what I've found. "I'd like to think we all have bigger, better and more interesting record collections as a result of the time we've spent together. "Special thanks to all the producers, assistants, engineers and presenters I've worked with over the years. It's been a ball, thanks for having me." A post shared by Tom Ravenscroft (@tomravo) Tom's final New Music Fix Daily show will be Thursday, May 29, and his final edition of The Ravers Hour will be Friday, May 30. As he confirmed his exit from the popular station, Samantha Moy, head of BBC Radio 6 Music said Tom is 'irreplaceable' and 'quite simply a 6 Music legend'. She commented: 'On behalf of us all at 6 Music, I want to thank Tom Ravenscroft for his huge contribution to 6 Music over the years – for his work spotlighting formidable electronic artists with his own shows, including the peerless Ravers Hour, as well as shaping the sound of our evenings with New Music Fix Daily and his incredible series, Peel Acres. 'He is quite simply a 6 Music legend: iridescent and irreplaceable - we will all miss him.' Joining Deb to present New Music Fix Daily from Monday, June 2 (7-9pm) is Nathan Shepherd. A post shared by BBC Radio 6 Music (@bbc6music) Nathan will continue to present Indie Forever on Fridays (9-11pm), which was recently nominated for an Audio and Radio Industry Award (ARIA) and a New York Festivals Radio Award. Nathan shared: "All my life I've been passionate about new music. Without new music there's no future in music. 'I'm so excited to be a part of the New Music Fix Daily team and to present alongside the amazing Deb Grant." Recommended reading: Zoe Ball returns to BBC Radio 2 after quitting the Breakfast Show 4 months ago All the acts who made it through to Britain's Got Talent's final after tonight's show Celebrities wish Lorraine Kelly a 'speedy recovery' as she undergoes surgery Tom is the son of the late BBC Radio 1 disc jockey John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, who was better known as John Peel. He was said to be the longest-serving of the original disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until he died of a heart attack in 2004.
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
BBC Radio 6 listeners devastated as star announces he's leaving the station
BBC Radio 6 listeners were gutted after Tom Ravenscroft announced his departure from the station in a heartfelt statement BBC Radio 6 listeners were gutted after Tom Ravenscroft announced his departure from the station in a sad statement. The presenter, who is the song of late radio star John Peel, hosts two shows on the station, including New Music Fix Daily as well as The Ravers Hour on Friday nights from 11pm. Tom's final shows will be on May 29 and 30, and he shared a statement about his departure. He said: "Argh man, this is a sad moment. It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to depart 6 Music but pastures new beckon. It's been a blast, I've met so many wonderful people as a result of this job and will be forever grateful. "Thanks to all the crew on New Music Fix Daily and Deb [Grant, his co-host] for the past two years in Salford, I think we did some cool stuff. Lots of love to the listeners and everyone who has ever sent me music. I will miss it all. Forever yours. Tom.' Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music, said: 'On behalf of us all at 6 Music, I want to thank Tom Ravenscroft for his huge contribution to 6 Music over the years – for his work spotlighting formidable electronic artists with his own shows, including the peerless Ravers Hour, as well as shaping the sound of our evenings with New Music Fix Daily and his incredible series, Peel Acres. "He is quite simply a 6 Music legend: iridescent and irreplaceable - we will all miss him.' Tom shared the announcement on his social media page and his radio pals and fans rushed to the comment section to share their heartbreak over his exit. "Omg you really can do that trick! Sorry I didn't believe you, we'll miss you Thomas," DJ Deb Grant posted while Lauren Laverne commented: "You'll be such a miss! Loads of love and luck for everything that comes next." Mary Anne Hobbs said: "Peerless DJ and beloved friend.. i'll really miss your face-melting selections, your dry wit and your warm generosity on and off-side Tom." Meanwhile, in early June, Mary will be making her return to 6 Music to present a new show on Sundays between 6 and 8pm fron 8 June. According to the BBC, the show will feature a 'borderless world of music' and have open conversation with the world's 'most fascinating artists'. Mary Anne said in a statement: 'It's a joy to return home to 6 Music, and pull-up next to my teenage hero Iggy Pop. The new show will be a home for music across all spectrums, outliers to headliners. "Open conversations with the Artists we love. New experiments in storytelling and sound. Come with us.'
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sir Elton John praises Irish band Kneecap for being ‘political' with their music
Sir Elton John has spoken of his admiration for Irish band Kneecap and their 'energy' and 'vitality'. The rap trio from West Belfast are known for merging Irish and English in their music alongside politically charged and satirical lyrics. Speaking to broadcaster Nick Grimshaw on BBC Radio 6 Music, the 77-year old musician said: 'I saw a video of them, and I just was so knocked out, by the energy they had and the vitality they had. 'They're just extraordinary and they, what they talk about is political, and there's not many bands that do that. 'So, yeah, I love them. I love the energy. I love everything about them.' Kneecap is made up of Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Moglai Bap, whose real name is Naoise O Caireallain, and DJ Provai, whose full name is JJ O Dochartaigh. The band has received some criticism and censorship over their music and was in dispute with now-Tory leader Kemi Badenoch when the group launched a discrimination case. The trio were blocked by the former Conservative government from receiving a grant aimed at supporting UK artists, despite their application being successful. The Department of Business and Trade, which was headed by Ms Badenoch at the time, said they did not want to give taxpayers' money to people who 'oppose the United Kingdom itself'. The group took legal action against the government, claiming the decision was discriminatory and won in November 2024, receiving £14,250 – the total amount of the original grant. The trio donated the money to two youth organisations in Belfast, splitting it between a nationalist and a unionist area. In 2024, the band released an eponymous debut film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together. The film was nominated for six Baftas and took home the award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer. It was also among the big winners at the Irish Film and Television Academy (Ifta), scooping four awards including best director for Rich Peppiatt. Sir Elton, known for hit songs Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer and I'm Still Standing, also spoke about still getting nervous before releasing new music. Sir Elton said: 'All the time. Oh, it never goes away. When you play new tracks for people, you still feel the same as you did when I was playing Empty Sky, my first album to somebody. It never goes away, nor should it. Fear is the greatest motivator.'
The Guardian
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Dolomites soundscape and a nightingale's song win nature music prize
One is a dreamy soundscape collected from the peaks of the Dolomites. The other is a drum'n'bass track that samples a nightingale's quickfire song. These contrasting tunes have won the inaugural Tune into Nature music prize, a contest that seeks to showcase new music by upcoming artists that is inspired by the natural world. Dawn, Aurora, by Josephine Illingworth, was created from sounds that the 23-year-old musician and artist from London recorded during several weeks sleeping alone in mountain huts in northern Italy, with lyrics taken from the entries left by hikers in the hut guestbooks. Nightingale by Wildforms, real name Dan Cippico, is inspired by recordings the electronic musician made last spring of the rare bird's incredibly fast, mesmeric song. The two winners beat nine other shortlisted artists, covering genres including hip-hop, rock, pop, jazz, folk and classical, to take the prize, which was founded by Miles Richardson, the professor of nature connectedness at the University of Derby. The prize, which was judged by musicians, artists and writers, including Cosmo Sheldrake, Andrew Fearn of Sleaford Mods, Melissa Harrison and Sam Lee, aims to support young talent and showcase how the natural world is central to creative life. Both songs will be played on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio 3. Illingworth described her song as 'a tapestry of the memories and experiences taking place across the mountains, and a call for us to see life and movement in things we may think are silent'. She added: 'I am so honoured to be chosen for the Tune Into Nature prize, and I hope that you can listen to the song, and that perhaps it touches you in some way.' Cippico wrote his track after hearing the nightingale's song for the first time last spring. He said: 'I was instantly inspired by its song, which to me evoked the jungle and drum'n'bass music genres that were a major influence on my musical upbringing. I'm excited that the interplay of nature and music is being celebrated by a prize such as this.' Judge Madame Gandhi said: 'Both tracks are richly emotive, deeply creative and immersive. In Nightingale, Dan was able to seamlessly sample the often robotic nature of a nightingale's song as the core motif in his drum n bass style piece. In Dawn, Josephine was able to drop us back into our human-centred heart space, encouraging us to listen to nature more and recognize oneness with our environment.' Fellow judge, sound artist and nature beatboxer Jason Singh, said: 'There is a great feeling of hope in the music, and it was wonderful to hear tracks created from recordings of birdsong and sampling twigs and grasses to create new instruments which all feel unique.' Richardson, who chaired the judges' discussion, said the panel wanted to give equal exposure and support to both tracks. He said: 'We constantly hear about the climate and biodiversity crises, but fostering hope and forging a new bond with nature is part of the solution. The entrants of the Tune into Nature music prize exemplify this, offering music that not only celebrates but also inspires hope through our connection with the natural world. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion 'Listening to all the entries gave me an immense sense of hope. It was thoroughly enjoyable and at times a true celebration of the natural world. Nature has featured less and less in song lyrics over recent decades, but the entries show that there is a great deal more to explore.' The shortlist also included indie singer Lizzie Esau and artist and producer Ciaran Austin. The two prize winners will both receive £500 as well as a professional remix and access to one of the world's best archives of nature field recordings from The Listening Planet. The competition has been supported by organisations including University of Derby's Nature Connectedness Research Group, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the Conservation Foundation, EarthPercent and Sounds Right.
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Lauren Laverne felt return to 6 Music ‘might never come' after cancer diagnosis
Lauren Laverne has said it was 'hugely emotional and joyful' to return to hosting on BBC Radio 6 Music after thinking last summer that it may not have been possible. The 46-year-old broadcaster took a break from hosting her breakfast programme in August last year after being diagnosed with cancer. She returned to the airwaves on Monday morning to the later mid-morning slot, with former BBC Radio 1 presenter Nick Grimshaw taking over her 6 Music breakfast slot. Laverne shared a photo of her smiling while on air to Instagram following her first show back, writing: 'Looking as happy as I felt to be back on air @bbc6music this morning.' She continued: 'Last summer today felt like it might never come so it was hugely emotional and joyful to return to doing what I love full time. 'Thank you so much to everyone who helped get me here, everyone who listened and messaged, to my amazing show team and the incredible people who run our station and have been so supportive during such a difficult time. I feel so lucky and grateful.' The broadcaster added that she 'can't wait to do it all again' on Tuesday. Laverne made a comeback to recording for BBC Radio 4's interview programme Desert Island Discs and BBC One talk show The One Show last year. As she began hosting her new mid-morning programme on Monday, the presenter said: 'Thank you for welcoming me home, and letting me be myself here on 6 Music, it feels so good to be back. Good morning and cheers to Grimmy (Grimshaw) for a sensational breakfast show so let's get going, should we?' Laverne then played Ezra Collective's Body Language, and after the track finished she thanked everyone for 'all the gorgeous messages'. 'It is wonderful to be here, back in a place that feels most like home to me,' she added. 'I've been off-air for six months, there's only one question, and that is this what have I missed? I've been dying to know … I've been looking forward to spending the mornings with you.' The DJ also promised that she would be playing 'comeback tunes this morning, songs about returning because here I am popping up like the proverbial Jack-in-the-box.' Before starting her programme at 10am on Monday, Laverne told Grimshaw: 'It feels fantastic, I've been so excited, it's … nervous energy (and) just excitement to get going. 'I've done a couple of run-through shows here, to remember how to press the buttons etc.' On Sunday, Laverne wrote on Instagram, saying her friends sent her 'good luck flowers'. Grimshaw started his first breakfast show on Monday on 6 Music, saying he had been 'overthinking', and was 'getting stressed out'. In November, Laverne revealed that she had been given the 'all clear' after being absent from her BBC work for around three months. She is taking over from former BBC Radio 6 Music mid-morning host Mary Anne Hobbs, who is set to move to a new show in the spring.
