On Friday 10th August 2007 Life 103.6 FM will be launching a monthly residency at The Avenue Winebar in West Ealing to be hosted by our very own DJs. The event will be held on the second Friday of every month.

The venues relaxed setting coupled with our range of quality music will serve as an end of week remedy for all. For more information about this night check out www.lifefm.org.uk . .

This year’s Brent Respect Festival takes place on Sunday 8th July 2007 from 1pm to 8pm. The address is Roundwood Park, Harlseden Road, London NW10. At the time of writing it’s looking like Life 103.6 FM will be again spinning the sounds and comparing in the park. For more information check out (www.brent.gov.uk/respect).

Ebony Evans from Atlanta, Georgia is the new singing sensation. Her genre of Nostalgic Soul music is just a truly amazing sound.

Her album is available now and you can purchase it from the link(s) on her website www.ebonyevans.com. It’s also good to check her myspace page at www.myspace.com/ebonyevans where you can listen to tracks from the fantastic debut album ‘Luv’s Fire’.

Ebony was in a phone interview with me on Sunday 1st July 2007 on Life 103.6 FM. It was fantastic!

Kanye West performed a one off secret gig at Central Hall, Westminster on Monday 20/08/2007. This was part of the Vodafone TBA [Live Music] series of events.

The location was kept a secret until 3pm that afternoon, when a selected number of people received the second of two text messages confirming the location. Having been told in the text to arrive between 18:30 and 19:30 it was evident by the length of the queue that we were not going to get in before 19:30. In the end that did not matter as the entry time was not being enforced.

It was not until 21:15 that the concert started, with the ‘I Wonder’ track from the new album opening up the gig. It was a strange venue for a concert and sitting in the circle the acoustics was not the best it could have been.

Kanye performance was full of energy as he danced, sometimes giving the impression that he was in a boxing match bobbing and weaving. He sung most of his hits from the first two albums. The only glaring omission was ‘Gold Digger’ from the ‘Late Registration’ album. After about 45 minutes you felt as those the concert was coming to an end. There were one or two encores that stretched it out for just over an hour with the final song being ‘Touch The Sky’.

In my opinion I felt the concert rated 7/10. The gig was being filmed for later transmission on Channel 4.

Kanye West ‘Graduation’ album is released on Monday 10th September 2007.

The March will begin on the green opposite Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre, Harrow Road, London NW10 0RG at 12 noon stopping at points of memorial. It will end at St. Augustine’s CE High School in South Kilburn with refreshments and speeches.

For more information contact Earl Dinham on 07984 469 278 or Marcia on 07769 641 620 or e-mail: notanotherdrop@googlemail.com

On Monday 15th October 2007, Life 103.6 FM is moving from Stonebridge to Harlesden. We will be broadcasting from our brand new premises above the Abbey in Harlesden High Street. It’s going to be a very exciting time for us all!

Add. Life 103.6 FM, 2nd Floor, 89-93 High Street, Harlesden, London, NW10 4NX
Tel. 020 8963 9560
Fax. 020 8963 9561
New studio number 020 8963 9566
Web. www.lifefm.org.uk

If you want, need, like or require a DJ for the forthcoming festive season…get in contact with me via the links and / or info on this website as bookings are now being taken.

Admission free and we are open till 3am. Bring in the New Year in a fine style!

Wednesday 9th January 2008 saw the last of three nights in concert, with the legendary Jean Carne and her friends Shirley Jones & Alyson Williams at the Jazz Cafe in Camden Town, London. Unfortunately Glenn Jones could not attend as planned, due to illness.

The live music started after 9pm, when Jean Carne’s brother, who compared the evening introduced his sister to the audience. Jean took to the stage wearing a black jacket and skirt outfit. She told us of how she had recently been in Blackpool performing at the Luxury Soul Weekender.

Jean went on to introduce the first act which was Alyson Williams. Alyson came on stage and sung ‘SleepTalk’ which immediately got the crowd singing and dancing. Alyson went on to sing most of her well known tracks including her version of ‘Holding Back The Years’ from the current album ‘It’s About Time’.

Second on stage was Shirley Jones from the legendary group The Jones Girls. Shirley performed many of the classics we all know so well including ‘Who Can I Run Too’, ‘Nights Over Egypt’ and ‘Do You Get Enough Love’ which got just about had every one in the house singing.

Finally it was the turn of Jean Carne herself. Jean is a real true professional. Well use to performing at the Jazz Cafe she was able to interact with the audience in a very special way. Even when one of her fans got so excited by holding her hand that they did not want to let go. Jean handled the situation really well. She performed all her major hits including ‘Was That All It Was’, ‘We Got Some Catchin’ Up To Do’ and of course ‘Don’t Let It Go To Your Head’.

The was a final surprise for us with a two song rendition from 19 year old Alexandra Bell whose mother Melissa Bell is a former singer with Soul II Soul.

In my opinion I felt the concert rated 8/10.

Life 103.6 FM Drive Time presenter DJ P goes for the Guinness World Record attempt!

What’

Well, our amazing presenter DJ P is going to attempt breaking the World Record of Longest Continuous Radio Show Broadcast ever £ Record Breaking Drive Time Yes, it is quite a task, as DJ P will need to be on air non stop for over 135 hours! That’s right, that’s almost 6 days!!!

When’

The official attempt starts at 4pm on Thursday 10th April 2008 and completes on Wednesday 16th April 2008 at midday.

It’s the BIG Life FM Party on Friday 18th April 2008! Life FM will be celebrating it’s birthday, the end of DJ P’s Guinness World Record attempt and re-launching our monthly event Life FM Friday’s. It’s definitely one not to be missed. Life FM DJs on the night playing the best in music like Party classics, 80’s classics, Funk, Hip Hop, RnB and Funky/Soulful House and Afro Beat £ will be DJ Peanut, DJ Pugwash, Mark Bart, Dr Lex and many others.

Entry: £5 for a party to remember.

Where: Route 66 Sports Bar, 28 Abbey Road, Park Royal, NW10 7SB.

For more information email events@lifefm.org.uk.

Geoff Schumann has joined Life 103.6 FM to host a brand new breakfast show weekdays between 7am and 10am & a show on Saturday’s between 9am and Midday. So join Geoff Schumann for breakfast from Monday 30th June 2008.

You can now join me at the new time of 12noon on a Sunday for The Sunday Afternoon Affair. You’ll still have all the great classics in the first hour and new, future and current music in the second hour along with some super features. So join me, Sly every Sunday on Life 103.6 FM for The Sunday Afternoon Affair between 12noon and 2pm from Sunday 6th July 2008.

One of reggaes great legends Alton Ellis passed away on 10th October 2008 (aged 70) after a long fight against cancer.

The singer who was often referred to as the “Godfather of Rocksteady” died at Hammersmith Hospital in London.

Ellis’ career started in the late 50s / early 60s, he is well remembered for his hits that include ‘I’m Still In Love With You’, ‘Let Them Try ‘, ‘A Fool’ and ‘Too Late To Turn Back Now’.

He was inducted into the International Reggae and World Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2006.

Our condolence goes out to the family of the late Alton Ellis.

The year the MOBO Awards for 2008 are being held on 15th October at Wembley Arena. The 2008 MOBO nominees are as follows:-

GTA is an Oxford based British Hip-Hop group with a real old school / new school flavour to their music. Their debut album ‘The Way’ has been 3 years in the making and features the title cut featuring Jada Pearl and the new single ‘Breakthrough 08’.

GTA itself does not stand for anything. However band members Chima Anya & Ineffable like to say it can mean whatever you want it to be.

Join GTA in conversation with Sly on The Sunday Afternoon Affair on Life 103.6FM, Sunday 23rd November 2008 @13:15hrs.

Reazon has always been interested in music from a young age. His father is Rick Clarke so he has always been surrounded by music. Reazon started off as a DJ, he say£s as with most DJ’s, once you master the technique of mixing, and realise the effect music has on a crowd, you start to adapt your skills using the knowledge that you gain from listening & playing tunes.

Reazon started producing at the age of 15, mainly Grime/Rap. It was not quite what he expected, but it was a start and he progressed on from there. The name Reazon came about when he became more familiar with producing.

My Lady, Reazon£s debut single, is a slick urban track, written, produced and performed by Reazon himself. The song focuses on love between young lovers. Artistic producer Don E was so impressed with Reazon£s production and writing abilities he re-mixed My Lady to produce a soulful dance mix as well as collaborating and producing a funky mix of the song.

Join Reazon in conversation with Sly on The Sunday Afternoon Affair on Life 103.6FM, Sunday 7th December 2008 @13:15hrs.

Life 103.6 FM Brent’s community radio station has been named the best in London at this year’s Radio Academy Nations and Regions Awards. The news means that the station will be automatically entered into the Station of the Year award at the 2009 Sonys.

Life 103.6 FM, was described by judges as “a community radio station which seems entirely at ease with itself because, first and foremost, it knows and understands its target audience”.

The judges felt that the output they heard demonstrated that it is possible to achieve high level of local awareness without sounding parochial £ citing, as the best example of this, a feature called ‘Battle of the Brands’, which pitted local businesses against each other for a chance to win some free advertising: the judges felt that this was an excellent mechanic for building listener loyalty, and very well executed.

The judges were also impressed by “the standard of the on air presentation, the station sound, and by the written submission that accompanied the Life FM entry”.

Life FM Station Manager Gabriella Incalza Kaplanova, collecting the award said of the achievement: “This is the culmination of a very special year and this award is a testament to the commitment of everybody who has worked so hard and volunteered their time and efforts.

“This award means so much to us who strive every day to put community radio on the map”.

Jennifer Ogole, CEO of the station’s parent company BANG Edutainment, said: “We are proud to get this award and the recognition for the hard work of everyone involved in the station.

“This award shows that there is so much talent at a community level but a lack of opportunities in the radio industries. It also highlights the positive role community radio stations can play in local communities.

“Community radio needs recognition by the government, local councils and the public as tool in promoting cohesion, supporting local services and a viable route for those who want to become professional broadcasters”.

Life FM is soon to be relaunched under the name BANG Radio.

Life 103.6 FM is changing it’s name to BANG Radio 103.6 FM. This will take place on Monday 8th December 2008.

You can now join me at the new time of 10am to 12noon on a Sunday for ‘The Mid Morning Sunday Show – Past, Present & Future’. You’ll still have all the great classics in the first hour and new, future and current music in the second hour along with some super features. So join me, Sly every Sunday on BANG Radio 103.6 FM or www.bangradio.fm for ‘The Mid Morning Sunday Show – Past Present & Future’ between 10am and 12noon from Sunday 14th December 2008.

Admission free and we are open till 3am. Bring in the New Year in a fine style!

GREAT NEWS!
THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AFFAIR
RETURNS TO
BANG RADIO 103.6 FM
2PM TO 4PM
EVERY SUNDAY
FROM 1ST FEBRUARY 2009

Playing the very best in Classic Soul, Classic Reggae & New Music the show has the following music and features…

Classics 2pm to 3pm

Classic Reggae Selection

Two Step Corner

Classics + New Music 3pm to 4pm

New Music

Artist Profile

Soul While You Bowl Every Saturday from 8pm at Tenpin Acton, Royale Leisure Park, Park Royal, London W3 0PA (0871 550 10 10) (www.tenpin.co.uk). The resident host DJ is Sly from BANG Radio 103.6 FM (formerly Life 103.6 FM). The music policy is R&B, Hip-Hop, Funky House, UKG, Reggae and Classic Soul…and the entry is FREE

Vivienne Mckone who was born in London, began dancing at the age of two and worked as a child in television. She attended a local dancing school, training in American tap and jazz then went on to attend the Royal Ballet School. She appeared as a child as ‘Velma’, the solo dancer, in Alan Parker’s Bugsy Malone, and inspired by the music of Paul Williams and the Soul and Pop music of the 70’s began a musical theatre involvement whilst performing as a solo artist and continuing acting and television work.

She has appeared as the receptionist in BBC’s Casualty, and her first album entitled ‘Vivienne Mckone’ was produced by American producer Stuart Levine (Crusaders, Randy Crawford, Simply Red). Her next album, entitled ‘Souled Live’, was recorded live in London in 1997. Her music, a pop-soul mix has been recognised and given a place on such albums such as the Jazz FM album Spirit of the Street – The Very Best of Inner City Cool alongside artists such as The Brand New Heavies, D’Angelo and Jamiroquoi.

She has also been approached to be the solo support act for American jazz artist Al Jarreau in May 2000. In 2001 she enjoyed playing to a packed out house at the London Camden Jazz Cafe, and the Scala supporting the legendary Omar. Vivienne Mckone is currently putting together another studio album.

Join Vivienne Mckone on Sunday 19th April 2009 @ 3:15 pm on BANG Radio 103.6 FM and / or www.bangradio.fm in conversation with Sly on ‘The Sunday Afternoon Affair’.