Fans of community radio station, Radio Northumberland have rallied around the station in a bid to raise much needed funds.
The Bedlington based station’s popular “New Wave with Newman Show” will be hosting a special benefit gig in Newcastle organised by the listeners of the show.
The show which airs every Monday evening at 8pm features presenters Keith “New Wave” Newman, “Punky” Paul Storey and “Ramona” Lisa Etherson who together play an eclectic mix of classic old school punk right up to new bands breaking through.
Many of those bands have rallied around to arrange the special gig to boost the station’s funds which are needed to pay for insurance, licensing fees and equipment.
Playing at Trillian’s on Sunday 9th September will be Gateshead based Urban Commandos, Sunderland band Slalom D, Cramlington’s All Out Attack and Morpeth’s Halfcuts. Add to this punk poet Cherry B with guitar by Ashington’s Peesh and the show looks set to bring in the crowds. Two more acts are also set to entertain the crowds, The Band for Disease Control and Prevention whose cover version of Blondie’s track 11:59 was played on BBC 6 Music and one of the most iconic female figures of punk rock, Pauline Murray will do an acoustic set.
Antony Bircham from The Band for Disease Control and Prevention organised the gig and is looking forward to helping the station raise funds.
“The New Wave with Newman Show has highlighted each of the bands playing at the benefit gig. It’s our way of saying thank you to the station for their support. It is indicative of how highly the show is rated, that North East punk legend, Pauline Murray from Penetration is playing a rare acoustic set.”
”Pauline Murray was at the forefront of the punk rock movement. As the lead singer with Penetration, she played alongside bands of the day including Generation X, The Stranglers and The Buzzcocks. The band are still together and next year they will play a special concert in London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Presenter Keith Newman is delighted at the support the station has received from the bands.
“Radio Northumberland is run entirely by volunteers and as well as the punk show we broadcast a variety of music styles and genres including running shows produced and presented by local schools and other community organisations. Every penny that we raise will go back into the station. I’m really pleased that each of the bands has volunteered their time to help us.”
The gig at Trillian’s Newcastle will be on Sunday 9th September from 6pm. Suggested donation on the door is £5. There will also be a punk based raffle.
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The station has a wide listenership from the Borders to Hexham in the West and south to Tyneside as well as listeners all over the world.
The station can be heard via its website radionorthumberland.com, by apps such as TuneIn Radio and also by asking Alexa to “play Radio Northumberland.”
