Jazz on Ribble FM - with Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues

There’s something in the air around Clitheroe and Ribble Valley - and it sounds jazzy!   Well, it must be Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues ‘Radio Team’?   Four members are in the midst of planning a new venture aiming to promote jazz on Ribble FM community radio.

Ribble FM is a new community radio, due to be launched on Monday 25th July, broadcasting on 106.7 fm to Ribble valley residents, also broadcasting online - so reaching out from its Clitheroe base across the world!   Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues will be broadcasting two weekly programmes, both t 8pm for two hours on Wednesday and Sunday evenings.

John Shepherd & Richard Tapestry will be launching their weekly programme ‘Jazz on Ribble FM’ from Wednesday 27th July, and plans so far are for a broad mix of jazz tunes, with added features, likely to include (a) a ‘Desert Island Discs’ style format - featuring a guest and 6 CD tracks, (b) a regular gig listings primarily featuring our local programmes, and particularly our annual Ribble Valley Jazz Festival - 27th April to 1st May 2017 - but possibly featuring jazz gigs from wider afield, i.e. the North!, (c) some live music sessions with local and regional musicians, and (d) competitions promoting chance to win gig tickets.   Our Sunday programme, with Sue Lightbown (chair RVJ&B) and Lorraine Grice ensuring women will be taking a key role in presenting jazz on air, is likely to start in September.    We also believe that there is a 3rd jazz funk programme in the planning stage, giving a great chance to help us build bigger audiences at our local gigs!

Three weeks to go before first programme, so time for presenter-training, and more planning for these Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues sponsored programmes.  In the meantime, if there is any other NORVOL  member involvement in presenting jazz on radio we would be pleased to hear from you very soon.  It would be great o share ideas!   Send us an email if you have any good information, to geoff@rvjazzandblues.co.uk