Features / KNowle West
Community radio station wants to be the voice of south Bristol
A community radio station based in Knowle West is calling on local people to help make it the go-to for everything going on in south Bristol.
Base Radio has been broadcasting from Filwood Community Centre for a year and half, from a storage room transformed into a radio studio.
The station, which used to be based in Whitchurch and then Withywood, started off as a youth project in Hartcliffe, teaching young people how to DJ and breakdance.
is needed now More than ever
“There was obviously a need for breakdancing, DJing or music in general,” says Mike Shipway, co-founder and co-owner of Base Radio. “And we were like, ‘we’ve got to do something with this.’”
Mike Shipway is one of the volunteer co-owners of Base Radio, along with Rodney Brown and David Hand. Photo by Base Radio
Now a 24/7 station, Base Radio is run by volunteers and has a team of south Bristol-based presenters.
“We’ve all got a love for music or a love for the community,” adds Mike. “Really, it’s like a hobby that people want to get involved in, which is great.”
But Mike is also keen for more local people’s voices to be heard on Base Radio, and for the community to feel like it’s theirs.
He says: “If you want to promote your club or your whatever, then we’re here – that’s what we’re here for.
“You might have a gardening club or a knitting club that you want to come and talk about every week.
“You don’t have to have any experience at all; we can go through all that with you.”
The Base Radio studio in Filwood Community Centre used to be a storage room for a social club. Photo by Base Radio
Mike believes that what sets Base Radio apart from other community radio stations in Bristol, like BCfm and Ujima Radio, is that it’s the only one in the south of the city: “We want people in Knowle West and south Bristol to go, ‘aw, that’s our radio station.’
“It gives people a platform to voice their opinions and to show their talent.”
Up until the Covid-19 outbreak last March, Mike was co-presenting a weekly show on Base Radio for unsigned talent called BS Live.
“We would put our business cards out to all the bands in Bristol, like up-and-coming bands – people that probably haven’t had that opportunity to be on radio – and ask if they wanted to promote their new CD or something like that.”
Base Radio has managed to stay on-air throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Base Radio
Covid-19 means fewer presenters are using the studio, but the station has been able to stay on air throughout the pandemic.
DJs are doing their shows from home, and local people would also be able to take part in the station without travelling to the studio.
Base Radio is available online, via the Base Radio app and on smart speaker. It could also soon be available on DAB.
To get involved with Base Radio, email the team at info@baseradio.co.uk
Charlie Watts is reporting on Knowle West as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a pilot project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media
Main photo by Base Radio
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