Roots, Rock, Reggae // news

one love

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 15.02.10 // One Love

I am lucky enough to share a birthday with one Bob Marley. He would have been 65 this year so, naturally, this episode shall be a spotlight on him. Listen in to hear some of the biggest hits from Bob Marley & the Wailers, some chat about Bob Marley, and some other good reggae music to fill in the gaps.

Posted at 00:25, 24th February 2010

black history

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 01.02.10 // Black History

February is Black History Month (in America, that is). And to commemorate this, I've got a real treat lined up, and it's an episode I'm particularly excited about. Be sure to tune in on Monday at 10:00am or go to the 'Listen Again' feature to hear a special 1 hour 'Black History' mix featuring speeches, news reports and some of the best songs from black artists. Don't dare miss it.

Posted at 12:23, 27th January 2010

spotlight on 1966

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 25.01.10 // Spotlight On 1966

This week I'm back to having a theme for the episode, and today it was a feature on the year 1966. Obviously an hour is hardly enough to go through the 200+ singles released in 1966, but along with my friend and fellow enthusiast Campbell McInally we have picked out some of the best, some of the not so popular, and some of the downright obscure songs from 1966. Enjoy.

Posted at 12:15, 25th January 2010

smooth sailing

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 18.01.10 // Smooth Sailing

Fun. Relaxed. Laid back. Everything you need to start your week. No particular theme to this episode, just something for you all to enjoy.

Posted at 21:57, 23rd January 2010

happy 75th

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 11.01.10 // Happy 75th

On January 8th, 2010, Elvis Presley would have turned 75 years old. The BBC has been commemorating his legacy with documentaries and concerts on both TV and radio, and this week I will follow suit. Tune in as I bring you an hour of some of my favourite Elvis tracks as a tribute to arguably the greatest entertainer the world has ever known.

Posted at 21:18, 11th January 2010

blast from the past

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 28.12.09 // Blast From The Past

Another two-hour special for you all today, with particular emphasis on 1960's rock. I hope you all had a nice Christmas, and have a great New Year.

Posted at 18:03, 28th December 2009

a familly affair

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 21.12.09 // A Family Affair

As a little Christmas treat for my father and sister, I decided to bring them in to the studio with me to help out with a show. Plenty of chaos, a few mix-ups, but still the same great music.

NOTE: The playlist for this episode is not in the order that it plays on the episode. Instead, it is in alphabetical order.

Posted at 17:27, 28th December 2009

run rudolph run

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 14.12.09 // Run, Rudolph, Run

It's time for the long-awaited Christmas episode. I know there's still one more episode to go before Christmas, but I couldn't resist. Listen in the 'Listen Again' section to hear all the tracks from Phil Spector's Christmas Album, plus a few other favourites thrown in for good measure.

Posted at 11:51, 18th December 2009

six of the best

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 07.12.09 // Six of the Best

It's time to spotlight some of Scotland's best exports. This episode will feature six different Scottish acts, as well as the usual bevy of requests, and some other great music to enjoy.

Posted at 17:12, 4th December 2009

last words

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 30.11.09 // Last Words

It's the last of the episodes spotlighting songwriters, and what better way to end it by playing some of music's most memorable tracks? We can't figure out why, but for some reason there are songs which everyone seems to know. Hear some of the best ones here.

Posted at 17:04, 26th November 2009

all about writers

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 16.11.09 // Words, Words, Words

This week, it's all about songwriters. In fact, this week and the next two weeks are all about songwriters. It's the first of 3 episodes spotlighting some of the best writers the industry has ever seen.

Posted at 23:48, 12th November 2009

black vs. white

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 09.11.09 // Black vs. White

This week, I will be highlighting songs by black artists that were covered by white singers; covers by Pat Boone and by the Crew Cuts in particular. While black artists often saw their songs (often referred to as 'race music') climb up the R&B charts, they struggled to reach the mainstream audience because of a reluctancy to accept black artists. Consequently, records by artists such as The Chords and Little Richard were often outsold by (some say inferior; the debate is ongoing) cover versions. Tune in as I play all original tracks. Not a cover version in sight!

Posted at 02:15, 6th November 2009

halloween

I'm sure everyone's Saturday is already filled to the brim with plans of shenanigans in funny clothes, but for anyone still with a bit of free time this Friday, October 30th, you could always stroll along to the Elvis dance. Put on by Glasgow's Elvis fan club, known as the Elvis Touch, this Friday is obviously the Halloween dance. And contrary to popular belief, you will find very few Elvis costumes. Come along to the upstairs function room at the Junction Bar and enjoy Elvis from 8:00pm-1:00am. Doors close at 11:00pm, so be sure to get in on time. Hope to see you there!

Posted at 22:20, 27th October 2009

get up and dance

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 02.11.09 // Get Up And Dance

The show's going well. You've all got the idea of the kind of music you'll hear. So I think it's time to start making it more interesting, and I've decided to start adding a bit of a theme to each episode. I'll start with something nice and simple: loud, fast, and fun. Expect to hear plenty of upbeat songs and very little talking from me. After all, the less I talk, the more time there is to enjoy the music. If you don't find yourself getting up to dance at least once during this episode, I'll consider it a failure. So please, enjoy yourselves and get up and dance!

Posted at 22:14, 27th October 2009

always diverse

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 26.10.09 // One Hit Wonder? Rubbish

More great music for you to start your week to. Tune in as we jump from rock 'n' roll to rockabilly to reggae to soul. Always a diverse selection, but always good music. And Jimi Hendrix makes his first appearance on 'Roots, Rock, Reggae' (finally!). Enjoy.

Posted at 00:22, 26th October 2009

fun times

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 19.10.09 // Fun Times

A rather eclectic selection for this week, but certainly not at the expense of a good show. Bull Moose Jackson makes his first appearance on the show with a track that would worry even today's censors. The war of requests continues, and could always use a few more participants. During the show you can email a request to studio@subcity.org or text the word 'Subcity' and your request to 07766 40 41 42. If I like what you've suggested, then you'll get your request played. And please, feel free to get in touch with me at any time by emailing rootsrockreggae2009@hotmail.co.uk if you have a request for an upcoming show. Enjoy this week's installment, and I look forward to welcoming you all back next week.

Posted at 00:53, 19th October 2009

competition?

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 12.10.09 // What Next?

There's a proverbial 'war of shout-outs' going on between a few of the listeners. It seems as if some people are on a quest to see how many times they can get their name mentioned on the show. But, of course, nothing comes cheaply. Feel like joining in and amassing your own count of shout-outs? In keeping with the theme of the show, the requirement for getting a mention is to get in touch with me (whether it be during the show by emailing studio@subcity.org or texting the word "Subcity" and your message to 07766 40 41 42, or email me directly at rootsrockreggae2009@hotmail.co.uk) and request one of your favourite tracks. Tune in this week to hear what requests people have come up with this time, and I look forward to getting a few new ones in the future.

Posted at 13:00, 11th October 2009

start off slow

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 05.10.09 // Back To Business

It was a long and tiring weekend for me (as is usually the case), but fear not, you can rest assured knowing that an hour of good music will always be waiting for you on Monday at 10:00am. This week, there's a more relaxed tone to the show as I try to give you an easy start to the week, as opposed to the usual musical slap in the face I've been giving you week in, week out. Enjoy.

Posted at 11:35, 5th October 2009

another successful elvis night

Just a quick update for anyone else interested in these Elvis-themed nights. Saturday the 3rd of October was a hugely successful night for the Edinburgh Elvis fan club. Malcolm King (hailed as Scotland's best Elvis tribute act) put on a great performance for everyone which was followed by 3 hours of non-stop dancing (it was down to me to play the music, so hopefully I was doing something right!). So if anyone fancies giving one of these dances a try, the next one in Glasgow is the Halloween dance on Friday, the 30th of October in the upstairs function room of the Junction Bar in the city centre. And the next dance being put on by the Edinburgh Elvis fan club is on Saturday, the 14th of November at the Royal Air Force Club on London Road. It's something different, but just as fun as any night out, if not more. Hope to see some of you there.

Posted at 00:14, 5th October 2009

back to business

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 28.09.09 // More Of The Good Stuff

I hope everyone had a nice weekend, but now it's back to work for all of us. It was a good time at the Elvis dance over the weekend, but now it's back to the studio for me. Make sure to tune in to start your week with another hour of great music, and the Beatles make their first appearance on the show. Finally.

Posted at 08:28, 28th September 2009

elvis dance in glasgow

Due to an anonymous email from a listener wanting to know how one would dance to an Elvis Presley track, I figured I would post the details of the upcoming Elvis dance in Glasgow. It is put on by Glasgow's Elvis fan club (called the Elvis Touch), and there is a dance on the last Friday of every month in the upstairs function room at the Junction Bar in the city centre. From 8:00pm until late, come along and enjoy some Elvis music with other enthusiasts. The next dance is this Friday, the 25th of September. And, like at all the other dances, I'll be getting up to do the music for an hour or two. Hope to see a lot of you there.

Posted at 13:48, 21st September 2009

that's more like it

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 21.09.09 // So Much Fun, I Think I'll Do It Again

Much more organized show for you this week. Still plenty of great music, but thankfully I managed to get my timing down, so you should be able to hear it all in the 'Listen Again' feature. Enjoy the rest of your week, and be sure to tune in again next Monday at 10:00am.

Posted at 11:26, 21st September 2009

let's try again

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 21.09.09 // So Much Fun, I Think I'll Do It Again

The first episode was a relative success (minus some careless losing track of time), and this week can only get better. Plenty more great songs to be played, plus we settle once and for all an issue that has been bugging me as well as a couple of other presenters.

Posted at 16:03, 18th September 2009

first impressions: listen again

I must apologize to anyone wanting to listen to the first show again. Due to a little bit of time mismanagement, the episode finished after 10:00am, and thus the end of the show unfortunately gets cut off on the 'listen again' feature. Not to worry, though. There's still an hour of good music there for you, and you can expect a much more well organized show next week. Enjoy the rest of Freshers' Week.

Posted at 17:54, 14th September 2009

good start

Hope you enjoyed the first episode (I certainly know I did). Be sure to tune in on Monday the 21st of September as I move to my usual time slot from 10:00am-11:00am. Plenty more classic tracks to come.

Posted at 12:32, 14th September 2009

almost there...

Not long now until the first ever 'Roots, Rock, Reggae', no doubt the first of many great shows. Any last minute requests, just e-mail me directly at rootsrockreggae2009@hotmail.co.uk. Enjoy your weekend, and be sure to tune in Monday at 9:00am as I start the week off right!

Posted at 13:41, 12th September 2009

first impressions

Roots, Rock, Reggae // 14.09.09 // First Impressions

It's the first ever episode of Roots, Rock, Reggae, and I plan to start things off right. Tune in Monday morning from 9:00-10:00am as I'll be playing some well-known, some not so well-known, but all good music.

Posted at 16:01, 7th September 2009