Rock Island Line // news

your starter for ten

Rock Island Line // 25.02.09 // Your Starter For Ten

This week sees the beginning of the munch anticipated culinary event of the year - Eat To The Beat. Our quest to find the king-size champion begins with three qualifying matches, the first of which sees current VP Comms Zoe 'Killergrams' take on failed VP Comms candidate Alan 'The Food Mountain' Gardner. Alan goes into the fight with an unbeaten record in the competition and a diet-fuelled lust for chocolate raisins, whilst the rookie Killergrams has opted for a high-density food in baguettes in an attempt to throw the veteran off his massive stride. Who will make it through to fight for the title at The Last Supper?

If you want to eat along at home you'll need the following (per person):
6 x 200g bags of Mister Choc Chocolate Raisins
5 x plain white baguettes (typically 250g each)
1 x bucket (empty)
1 x St. Johns ambulance crew (standing by)

Tune in live for your chance to win the leftovers from each fight.

We'll also be playing Jesus Says No, alongside music from The Brother Louis Collective, The Big Eyes Family Players, JJ Cale and Rilo Kiley.

That's Rock Island Line, 6-8pm Wednesday, on www.subcity.org and for Greater Glasgow listeners only on 106.6 FM!!

Posted at 18:45, 24th February 2009

the order

The order of the matches has now been confirmed.

February 25th 6-8pm: Your Starter For Ten
Zoe Killergrams - white baguettes vs. Alan 'The Food Mountain' Gardner - chocolate raisins

March 4th 6-8pm: The Main Course
David 'Gastronomic Grey-Area' Jackson - After Eights vs. Thin Joe (Evans) - 'plastic' cheese

March 11th 6-8pm: Just Desserts
Shaun 'Sweet Tooth' Murphy - condensed milk vs. George 'The Gorger' Pearson - Cornish pasties

March 18th 6-8pm: Back For Seconds
The Grammed Final featuring the return of John "The Stick" Burns

Posted at 11:02, 23rd February 2009

eat to the beat - the rules

Well here you are munch fans. All the rules you'll need for the upcoming Eat To The Beat contest.

1. All foodstuffs will be measured in an equivalent unit – Nibbles of Matter (or NOMs).
2. Each foodstuff carries its own NOMs per g. These have been determined through rigorous testing. (Details of these can be found below.)
3. The competitor who has consumed the greatest total NOMs by the end of the bout will be declared the winner.
4. 25% of each compeatitors total consumed NOMs must be constituted of their opponents chosen foodstuff.
5. In the event a compeatitor fails to consume 25% of their opponent’s chosen foodstuff their total score shall be capped to four times the NOMs they have consumed of said foodstuff.
6. Vomiting results in instant disqualification.
7. No foreign condiments are permitted.
8. Food may only be consumed within the eating arena.
9. Water may be consumed freely by compeatitors, however it cannot be purposefully mixed with any foodstuff.
10. All compeatitors assume full and sole responsibility for any adverse health or dental affects directly or indirectly caused by compeating.

And the all-important NOM values

Bread - 1 NOM per g
Chocolate Raising - 1.3 NOMs per g
Mild Cheddar Cheese - 1.5 NOMs per g
After Eights - 1.3 NOMs per g
Condensed Milk - 3 NOMs per g
Cornish Pasties - provisionally 1.5 NOMs per g (subject to further brand specific testing)

Well I guess that's it in a nutshell. Let the contest begin.

Posted at 18:21, 21st February 2009

the draw

If you don't want to know the results look away now.

Here's the results of the draw

Shaun 'Sweet Tooth' Murphy - condensed milk vs. George 'The Gorger' Pearson - Cornish pasties

David 'Gastronomic Grey-Area' Jackson - After Eights vs. Thin Joe (Evans) - 'plastic' cheese

Zoe Killergrams - white baguettes vs. Alan 'The Food Mountain' Gardner - chocolate raisins

Check out last night's Rock Island Line for the dramatic draw, complete with a panel of pundits and telephone interviews with all the compeatitors (except Zoe who didn't answer her phone).

Posted at 12:57, 19th February 2009

feeling peckish yet?

Rock Island Line // 18.02.09 // An Appetiser

This Wednesday night on Rock Island Line sees the start of the search for the Eat To The Beat King-Size Champion.

Here's the list of the final entrants and their all-important selected foodstuffs.

1. Shaun 'Sweet Tooth' Murphy - condensed milk
2. Zoe Killergrams - white baguettes
3. Thin Joe (Evans) - 'plastic' cheese
4. Alan 'The Food Mountain' Gardner - chocolate raisins
5. David 'Gastronomic Grey-Area' Jackson - After Eights
6. George 'The Gorger' Pearson - Cornish pasties

The draw for the qualifying matches will be held live on Rock Island Line (6-8pm).

And if that's not enough to get you excited check out the trailer.

There'll also be lots of cool music, Jesus Says No, and all the usual inane banter.

Posted at 23:05, 17th February 2009

occupation of the subcity studio

Rock Island Line // 11.02.09 // An Occupational Hazard

Tonight on Rock Island Line we'll be holding a two-hour occupation of the Subcity studio until the university caves in to our demands for an end to Cheesy Pop's occupation of the QMU. Whilst we're camped out we'll keep the spirits up by playing music from Marion Black, Professor Longhair, The Roots and Bruce Springsteen amongst others. We'll also have our regular slice of film filth in Jesus Says No, and more announcements on the upcoming Eat To The Beat King-Size championship.

If you want to send your messages of support, you can stand outside the studio waving placards and shouting with a megaphone, or you can email studio@subcity.org, or text the word subcity then your message to 07766404142. Or if you want to join the protest come down to the studio and sit with us. (please bring snacks)

Peace and love to everyone.

RIL

(If you don't know what we're on about, listen in tonight to find out.)

Posted at 16:08, 11th February 2009

hungry for more?

Eat To The Beat will be returning for a special one-off tournament throughout the upcoming FM broadcast. We’re looking for six brave/foolish munchers to put their tums on the line in the ultimate culinary challenge.

What is Eat To The Beat you say? It’s the single most successful radio-based long period tactical eating competition in Scotland. Originally invented to assist my severely underweight co-presenter gain a few much needed pounds, Eat To The Beat developed into a competition that turned the stomachs of a nation. Each week John and his challenger would eat as much as possible of a particular foodstuff over a 45-minute period. Having acquired the title, the Islands Cup, and just over a stone over the course of 20 gruelling competitions, John “The Stick” Burns hung up his cutlery for good. But now as his weight tumbles he’s come back for one last bite at the title.

This special competition will take place over four weeks with three qualifying rounds on the 25th Feb, 4th and 11th of March, followed on the 18th March by a no-holds barred 4-way final to determine the ultimate Eat To The Beat King-size champion.

If you want to enter you need to send an email containing the following details to jannik@subcity.org The food you want to eat and, in no more than 50 words, why you think you will be the first Eat To The Beat King-size champion. If you want to compete you must be available on Wednesday nights between 6:30 and 8pm on the 25th Feb, 4th, 11th and 18th of March. Full details of the rules for this special competition will be published in the next fortnight.

For some top advice on what foodstuffs to avoid listen to last week’s episode of Rock Island Line. All entries must be in by 17th February. A live draw will be held on Rock Island Line on the 18th of February, competitors and hecklers are welcome to join us for this.

Eat To The Beat – eat fast, die young.

Posted at 12:39, 9th February 2009

back again (with a throbbing great announcement)

Rock Island Line // 04.02.09 // Pushing Back The Boundaries Of Competitive Eating

Yes we're back on air tonight from 6-8pm. We'll be talking about The Superbowl, snow and the economy, and Scottish politics. We'll be playing new music from Bruce Springsteen and The Big Eyes Family Players, plus a string of glucose heavy classics, and a host of funky oddities. We'll also be playing Jesus Says No, and making a big announcement.

If you want to send us a message email studio@subcity.org or text the word subcity followed by your message to 07766404142.

Posted at 17:51, 4th February 2009

no show this week

Due to a broken car there was no show this week, but never fear we'll be back next week with a big announcement. Sorry to keep you in suspense.

Posted at 20:06, 28th January 2009

rock island line returns

Rock Island Line // 07.01.09 // The Smallest Penis In Scilly

We're back on air tonight at 6pm to wish everyone a Happy New Year. We'll be playing lots of exciting music whilst advising you on how to save your pennies, survive the sales, and avoid public beatboxing displays. Tune in from 6-8pm or anytime after on listen again.

Posted at 14:30, 7th January 2009

how to beat the credit crunch

Rock Island Line // 29.10.08 // How To Beat The Credit Crunch

Tomorrow we return for our fourth season. We'll be discussing everything from The Credit Crunch and the American elections, to the history of naff and The Highland Science Festival. We'll also have an interview with excellent Glasgow group Brother Louis Collective, a run down of the best upcoming gigs, and the return of Jesus Says No. Plus a whole host of Subcity celebrities will be helping us write Das Kapital In The Back Of The Cab.

Posted at 20:15, 28th October 2008