Page 47 - Phonebox Magazine May 2009

Steve Stathers is one of the fortunate few who always knew what he wanted to be. In his teenage years he would sit in his bedroom with a cassette player and a stack of cassettes
Steve Stathers &
The Vibeby Mark Stevenson
and pretend to be a radio presenter. A few years on and Steve applied to work at a local hospital radio in Milton Keynes, where he started in 1997, swiftly moving through the training. A year later Steve joined CRMK 89.8FM (now CRMK Online) where he remains a resident presenter.
During his time at CRMK, Steve has built up a rich portfolio of charity events and great competitions for the formerly 898 show. Through the show, Steve has met Lemar, Natasha Bedingfield, Kylie Minogue (lucky man), John Culshaw, Sugarbabes, Razorlight (yes Razorlight) and interviewed TV Agony Aunt Jenni Trent Hughes, helping to catapult the show into the spotlight. There could have been more if it werenʼt for a mix up with the dates - Paul Bradley (Elliot Hope in Holby City and formerly Nigel from Eastenders) and Sylvester McCoy (7th Doctor Who) were planned too.
Just recently the shows name has changed to ʻThe Vibeʼ and it You can catch the vibe every Sunday afternoon between the hours looks certain that it will become better. Steve explains “My plans of 2pm and 6pm.
for The Vibe are to get as many people involved as possible,
attend more festivals, charity events and get more bands and
upcoming artists into the studio. I will be joining forces with
various companies in MK and am currently in talks with a local (you may need to install a real player) and listen. talent agency. I will be holding monthly competitions; having
Open Mic @ The Bull
previously given away Silverstone Tickets, Easter Eggs, Storm The station has a whole host of dedicated radio presenters and all Watches, CDʼs, Cinema Tickets and most recently, a pair of tickets styles of music are catered for from Commercial to Dubstep, Rock for Airkixʼʼ (indoor skydiving). For Mayʼs competition you can win to World Music, itʼs well worth a listen.
a copy of Now 72 - details can be found at:
www.thevibeonline.co.uk/competition www.thevibeonline.co.uk
Facebook: Acoustic Open Mic Nights @ The Bull Says ʻLet There Be Musicʼ as local
The Bull Inn, Olney
talent flocks to play
Simply log on to www.crmk.co.uk
To keep up to date with the show and to chat to Steve log onto
The acoustic scene in Olney is really taking off at the moment and thereʼs another venue for lovers of organic intonations. The Bull held itʼs first night back in January after a conversation between James from The Bull and local Musician Tom Williamson about the lack of venues for enthusiastic amateurs to perform. James explains “From this we agreed that Tom would compere and perform at the acoustic nights whilst we (The Bull) would host and promote the event.” The nights have boasted an array of musicians and musical genres with Jazz, Rock Blues and Pop all on the menu with acts from Olney and the surrounding areas, even one of the chefs is involved!
Mark Girling, one of the licensees at The Bull told us how over whelmed they were by the support from local musicians at their local acoustic nights.
ʻWeʼve had some terrific acts, with music from Folk to Blues to Pop and Rock and everything in between.ʼʼ
He went on to say that they “now regularly have in excess of 80-100 people in attendance at each acoustic night, which is testament to the quality of the music acts performing.”
James has more plans in the pipeline too: “We would like to progress to having more frequent acoustic nights in the future, perhaps once a fortnight and we are looking into broadening our spectrum of events by linking to an organised comedy night and possibly Jazz Improvisation nights in our function room.”
If you are interested in playing or attending one of The Bulls acoustic nights held on the first Sunday of each month, you can contact The Bull on (01234) 711470 or email:
thebullolney@gmail.com
Phonebox Magazine 47