From 8am on Saturday 5th March 2016, RadioReverb will launch their Reverbathon, a yearly funraiser which helps keep the community radio station stay on the air for another year. The Reverbathon will raise money for the radio station, enabling it to remain playlist and advert free. RadioReverb is entirely run by volunteers, and are a non-profit organisation ‘which aims to produce the kind of radio programmes you won’t hear on mainstream radio and be as all-encompassing as our remit is possible.’
RadioReverb started in 2004 with a two-week broadcast during the Brighton Festival and in 2007, the radio station was awarded a full community broadcasting license. According to their website “RadioReverb aims to provide an accessible, sustainable and accountable community radio service for Brighton and Hove. Focusing on the needs of diverse groups and individuals, marginalised unrepresented by local radio, we have built a platform for discussion and empowerment through a diverse mix of locally relevant speech and music programmes, all produce by people in Brighton & Hove’. Each hour of the Reverbathon will be taken by a different present, promoting their different style of shows. Live guests and bands will be dropping in for short sessions and chats. Station Manager Euan Mcaleece said “We will have a much larger presence on social media this year -w hcih we hope will attract new listeners and possibly even more donations. The variety of programmes and shows means there will be something for everyone on Saturday 5th March and we are asking listeners, local businesses and anyone passing the door to come and support.”
Already scheduled for the Reverbathon are In Brighton with Jeff Hemmings, HIV Happy Hour, Oout in Brighton and the intergenerational son and mother show Ruben and Sharon. Frockabilly, Brighton’s only rockabilly radio show and Europe’s only female-fronted rockabilly show on FM radio will also be on the Reverbathon. Of course, Albion Roar will be in its usual slot. The Reverbathon theme this year is diversity, perfect for a radio station that has such a diverse range of shows, presenters and listeners. RadioReverb can be found on 97.2FM on DAB and online.
Holly Martin
