Bedlington based Internet community radio station Radio Northumberland experienced an unprecedented surge in listeners during the recent broadcast of its well-established punk show, “New Wave With Newman,” leading to the temporary loss of its servers. The surge was attributed to the retirement of one of the show’s long-standing presenters, Paul Storey, who bid farewell to his listeners as he prepared to relocate to Turkey. North East punk fans tuned in in their droves to hear his last appearance on the show.
The “New Wave With Newman” show, hosted by Keith Newman alongside co-presenters Lesley Newman, Karen Goldfinch and Paul, has been a staple of Radio Northumberland for over 14 years, captivating punk enthusiasts not only in the North East but also across the globe.
Keith Newman said, “We received heartfelt voice recordings paying tribute to Paul from major bands, friends of the show, and many of Paul’s local bandmates. The outpouring of support on social media was truly remarkable.”
As the show ended, the servers unexpectedly crashed, rendering the station offline for several hours. Stewart Alan, the station manager, said, “We’d like to think the crash was down to all of the people who tuned in to listen to Paul’s departure. The show marks the end of a wonderful 10-year partnership with Keith. We wish him the very best in his retirement abroad but are pleased that he will still be doing his own Punky Paul show from his new home to our servers here.”
Paul was delighted with his last New Wave with Newman show:” It was a very emotional show and coupled with a fantastic leaving party earlier in the week for myself and my wife Tracey in Gateshead we were touched by everyone’s kindness.”
The show team presented Paul with a framed cartoon drawing of the studio and his colleagues drawn by Blyth based artist Gail Armstrong.
Despite the temporary setback, Radio Northumberland remains committed to delivering quality programming to its dedicated audience. The station is currently fundraising for its entry into the DAB network which will increase its reach even further.
The station offers a diverse range of programming, including music, news, and community-focused shows. www.radionorthumberland.com
Ends
Photo Karen, Punky Paul and Keith with his leaving gift (S Goldfinch)
Media keith@highlightspr.co.uk 07814 397951