Cuillin FM is finally on air

Subject: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Strupag
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 08:12 PM

Well I've mentioned it many times before on the mudcat, about us starting a community radio station on the Island of Skye but this time it's for real- Yes we started transmitting on 106.2 on Saturday and are now up and running.
Actually we are far from ready yet but you've got to start some time.
At the moment we have no phone line to the desk and no sustaining service. We are extremely limited in CD's but the buzz is there.
On Saturday when we started we got Ali Abassi, the Traffic reporter for the BBC Scotland to come up for the opening. Although born in Karrachi, Ali has been brought up in Glasgow and is an enthuiastic Gaelic learner. He has hundred of jokes and has compiled a couple of joke books, so guess what the prizes were. He's a great guy and a welcome honorary Skye man.
No Sooner had Ali left the studio when the boys of Battlefield popped in on their way from a concert in Edinbane.
They were great and left CD's for us.
Today Lesley Riddoch popped into the morning show and sounded like she belonged there.
We are still doing a limited service but the enthusium is growing and we will extend the hours as we go along.
The music content so far has been about 70 percent traditional with a healthy input of country and pop.
If you are ever in the area, tune in and come and see us.
Do you know! I don't know the address but it's at the top of Stormy Hill in Portree and you just look for the antenna mast,
Our phone number is 01478 61 1234
And just in case you want to post and album, it would get there if you posted it to "Cuillin FM, Stormy Hill, Portree, Isle of Skye Scotland.
(I've never been a great believer in these post codes anyway!)
Oh you better mark it for the attention of Strupag so I'll make sure that everything that we receive is played.

Well I'm off to bed now as I've got to get up to drive the desk tomorrow for "Duisg" the morning show

Andy

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 08:19 PM

This link supplies the address and so forth. But we can't listen in via the Internet, as yet anyway.

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Maryrrf
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 09:11 PM

Hey Andy - don't forget to play mine - "Of Rogues and Lovers"! Congratulations on the new station! I just wish there were more people broadcasting traditional music!

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Strupag
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 05:04 PM

I'll be playing it next week, Mary, It's a brilliant album and I think I'll choose "Glenlogie" for starters. What would be your choice and I'll also play that. I will also tell how you contacted me through Mudcat and sent the album from the States.
Thanks McGrath, hopefully we will be on the net soon but we haven't even got broadband on Skye yet.
This week I featured Dave Gunning's latest album - a UK debut and it's a stunning album.

Andy

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Maryrrf
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 05:56 PM

Well, if I had to choose...I really, really like Mattie Groves. The album certainly isn't flying off any shelves (or websites) but I'm happy with it and I find myself listening to Mattie Groves and thinking that I really like how everything came together on that song. My son did the guitar and it sets the tone from the beginning - you know as soon as it starts it's going to be a swashbuckler! And then Stevie Mulholland comes in with the fiddle and I think his fiddle accompaniment is just a masterpiece. He listened to the song twice then walked into the studio and improvised- and I don't think it could have come out any better if he'd rehearsed it dozens of times. I sang it and I'm pleased with the vocals - I always really get caught up in the drama of that ballad - it's a melodrama/soap opera that's almost tragi-comic but that's okay! So that would be my pick! Oh and the other interesting thing about that ballad is how much it made the rounds - in addition to being widely known in England, Ireland and Scotland (names sometimes differ but the story is the same) it was one of the most widespread Appalachian ballads, as well.   I guess people will always enjoy scandals involving the rich and famous.

Oh and the album is available in Scotland at www.tradmusic.com .!

All the best,
Mary

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 05:57 PM

Well done Andy. please God it doesn't go down, or even anywhere near the road taken by Loch Broom Radio. I will try to get over to Portree sometime soon, trouble is that Lairg is so far from anywhere.
Giok

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Cuilionn
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 10:08 PM

Meal Do Naidheachd!!!

Suas le na steisean agus na ciuil traidiseanta!


--Cuilionn (ag ionnsachadh na Gaidhlig ann Ameireaga)

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: John J
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 01:44 PM

Congratulations on getting on the air!

Do you know if the signal will be audible on Harris? I'll be over there at the end of August.

Best wishes,

John
(in Manchester, where it's most unlikely the signal will be audible without the intervention of tropospheric ducting or sporadic 'E')

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Strupag
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 05:52 PM

Hi John, as an ex radio officer ( and and ex trawler one) I actually know about the various layers etc. but naw - I don't think Harris will be possible for August.
We are, however, going to get a fairly high powered antenna up on one of the Cuillin mountains soon and I'm sure we will be blastine out over a huge area but right now it's just around Portree. We're on 30 Watts but will eventually relay on Mt Scriag mast at 1 KW.
I reckon that will be around October.

Agus mor an taing Cuiloinn.Tha mi an dochus gun tig thu gun Eilean Sgithean(isle of Skye) uairiginn.

Thanks everyone for your good wishes.

Aye John, LBFM has been a sad tail and a good case study but I believe that moves are afoot to take the station back into real community ownership. Why don't you join and vote at the AGM in a couple of months time!

Incidently, this cummunity radio thing has been a big thing in Scotland in the last few years resulting in Isles FM in STornoway, Loch Broom FM in Ullapool, Nevis Radio, Speysound in Aviemore, Waves FM in Peterhead, Oban FM in north Argyle and Argyle FM in south Argyle and a few more throughout the country.
They have resulted in some awful programmes but some so excellent that no big radio station could ever copy.
The best programmes are where the local community is involved.
Loch Broom did a midgie count instead of a Pollin count.
Isles Fm has some great progs about local history etc.
Unfortunately, every station has their "up and coming DJ's" where they think that the most important thing in the world is the charts.
It's all part of a tapestry and getting the ballance right is challenge.
Whatever happens, on Cuillin FM, there will be plenty Gaelic and plenty folk and traditional music in the land of Runrig, Blair Douglas, Christine Primrose, Ann Martin, Arthur Cormick, and many more.
Thanks everyone,
Andy

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: John J
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 01:22 PM

Thanks for the info Andy, very interesting. Time to put the 8 ele beam back on the mast I think! Trouble with WBFM is any adjacent strong signals. Still it will be worth a try when you're up to 1kw.

.- .-.

John

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Strupag
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 07:40 PM

Hi John,
One of our poblems is that Gairloch (Two Lochs Radio) is on 106.0 and 106.6 and we are stuck in the middle at 106.2.
It's a crazy situation by created by the licensing authority (OFFCOM) considering that the waveband up in this part of the world is hardly crowded. Once we get the new transmitter on Sgriag hill we will be allocated another frequency.
Right now on a mast very close to our proposed Sgriag one there is a BBC transmitter and if you can pick up Radio Scotland on 92.9 then you should be able to pick us up. I'll post a thread when it's up and running.
Sorry to all the non tech people for all these boring details but some one has to do it!

Andy

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: GUEST,Tarneybackle
Date: 10 Jul 04 - 10:50 AM

Good news.

We'll get a couple of our CDs to you asap.

Please give Tarneybackle a mention as we are playing
The Kyle Hotel on 30th July at 8.30 p.m. then
The Royal Hotel, Portree on 1st and 2nd August.

Traditional Scottish Folk Group from Perthshire on our 3rd Highland Summer Tour.

All the best

John Davidson

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jul 04 - 05:44 PM

Hi John,
Great! get in touch and we will get a wee interview and possibly a wee live spot if you are up for it.
E-mail me at [e-mail] and we can arrange.

Andy

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Strupag
Date: 11 Jul 04 - 11:45 AM

John I was that last guest on an other computer!
Andy

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 11 Jul 04 - 06:50 PM

Hi Strupag. I'm a big supporter of community radio - I wish you well.

I would be happy to send you a copy of our first CD release, "At Last" by Julie Ellison. However, I wondered if you would be good enough to visit our samples page first to be sure it is appropriate for your station?

http://www.julieellison.co.uk/samples.shtml

The CD has had airplay on several BBC stations in the UK and from community stations here and in the USA. Would be happy to send a copy if it fits what you want to broadcast.

All the best
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 08:01 AM

I was going to request a track by Tarneybackle. So I will wait a day or two then ask again.
Oh by the way give the Lomond festival a plug. It is on Friday 23rd July to Sunday 25th.

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: RangerSteve
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 09:28 AM

Are you accepting traditional music from the US? I can put a copy of my out-of-print cassette on CD for you.

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Tapselteerie
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 04:46 PM

Hello there

Tapselteerie Music Agency is also very new, I started in May. I have some of the hottest young bands in traditional and contemporary music. If you can give me the cost of postage and package I can send you a few cd's in return for airplay and reviews. I hope that most of the bands on the roster will play in the north sooner rather than later.

The email is [e-mail] I hope we can work something out.

Duncan

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Strupag
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 05:03 AM

Sorry, I'm late in replying to all your posts but the answer is Yes, Yes, Yes.
The address is Cuillin FM, Tigh Lisigarry, Bridge Road, Portree, Isle of Skye IV51 9ER. Mark it for the attention of Andy Mitchell so that it will come to me.
I've just done a morning show where the format is mixed but about 30% traditional/comtemporary folk but on Tuesday evenings I do a show called the Strupag (Which means a wee cup of tea) and its a broad mix of folk/singersongwriter/gaelic and instrumental and, now that we have a phone in we hope to do live interviews. Tonight I'll be featuring Mary Smith's great album, "Of Rogues and Lovers".
I've already been playing a lot of Dave Gunnings latest album, "Two-Bit World"
And John(cittern), thanks for the link to Jullie's stuff. I thing it's great and will certainly play it.
I appreciate everything that is sent and will guarantee to play tracks from the stuff I receive whatever language or origin
Thanks to everyone

Andy Mitchell

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: GUEST,John (Cittern) at the Studio
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 06:31 AM

Hi Andy - a copy of "At Last" will be in the mail to you tonight.

Regards
John R.

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: GUEST,Rob Wright
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 08:15 AM

Hello Andy copies of "Now We Are Met" by Taggart and Wright and "coming through" a solo album by Angie Wright are on their way to you as I e-mail you.
Hope you can give them a bit of air play. They have already been played on Radio Lancs, Radio Merseyside, and Radio Shrops, and Angie Had a track played on the Steve Wright Show (no relation honest).

Their web site is www.sky-web.net/taggartandwright/ where you can get lots of information and, those who have not got a copy can listen to a few tracks.

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 05:54 PM

Thanks again folks. It's all apprecdiated and I guarantee that we will find time to give all your contributions more than just a token play.
It's also great to get the background info as there is nothing worse the saying here's a track from "--------" and just playing it!
Good old Mudcatters - they never let us down!

Andy

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Strupag
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 07:31 PM

The last post was me - been troubled with popups recently and put all sorts of anti spyware progs on my computer, Despite Spybot, Spywareblaster,Spyblocs Google popup blocker and XP firewall they are still getting through.That's what probably removed my cookie.
I have even recently saved all my crucial programmmes and re-fprmatted my hard drive but they still continue.
If I could get my hands on "jullie, a student in London". I would force her to put her clothes back on - just get off my computer!
Sorry for the outburst and it probably needs a new thread but, once again I'm being hounded by those grey "dings" They are driving me mad!
Andy

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: GUEST,Tarneybackle
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 07:29 AM

Great to see the popularity of Cuillin FM.

Noddy, thanks for requesting a Tarneybackle track. I hope that with your advancing years you can still appreciate us.


Happy Birthday for the weekend - may the sun shine on your Barbie.

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 10:39 AM

Strupag just refreshing this so more people can contact you.

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: GUEST,Jack
Date: 14 Aug 04 - 04:29 PM

Hi,

I had a listen the other week when visiting Portree. We had some rather grim digs up near the studio. However, the good programming was some consolation!

Reception was good until about 3km north of Sligachan and was then a bit hit and miss until about 2km north of Broadford when you vanished completely. You say you are planning to use Skriaig. Are you going to use the same sort of power as the BBC currently run from there? Sounds expensive!

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Strupag
Date: 14 Aug 04 - 08:46 PM

Hi Jack,
sorry about the digs.
We hope to do a deal with Scottish Hydro and use their mast which is close to the beeb one and to broadcast at about 1 KW.
We are all volunteers so there's no wage bill and that helps.

Andy

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: GUEST,Jed from borrowed PC in Totonoto
Date: 15 Aug 04 - 12:44 PM

I sent you a CD some time back, maybe a month or more ....

I believe I sent this one (with Brian McNeill, Rick Fielding, Big Mick Lane and Paul Mills) but I might have sent this one too.

Can you verify if you have 'em?

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: John J
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 08:32 AM

I'm visiting Harris around 25th August for about a week, my No2 son is doing some work for his Geography degree and I've been volunteered to drive him up from Manchester.

I'm rather hoping I'll be able to hear Cuillin FM whilst on Skye and when on Harris.
Could someone please advise of any sings / music sessions I could attend on Harris?

Cheers,

John

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: GUEST,Rob Wright
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 11:45 AM

Strupag, Angie Wright is appearing at the Innerleithen Festival this week-end trying to win a spot in the main concert with Dougie Maclean.
We sent you a coy of her CD "coming through" and that of Taggart and Wright, "Now We are Met" (they appeared in concert with the Macalmans at the Lomond Festival last month).
Can you play a track to bring us luck? And give us a plug while you are at it.

Cheers

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Strupag
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 05:45 PM

Hi Guys,
I've a day job and it's getting hard to keep up.
Jed from borrowed PC in Totonoto - PM - Jed I've never seen these CD's, I don't know what has happened but I will carry out a search and enquiry.
In the meantime, if you've got a couple of spare copies, I'l guarantee that the will get played (often)
I'll pm you with my personal address.
Please all, bear in mind that this is a bit of an expiriment in local radio where there is no play list and traditional music is heard more that pop.

Air do Slainte

Andy

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: Strupag
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 05:50 PM

Hi Rob,
I found Angie's CD and have been playing it often,
I had no idea about her and the Macalmans
great stuff!
Andy

pm following

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From: GUEST,Jed on Borrowed PC
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 06:18 PM

OK - I'll be back in Dallas in a week or so, and can check back in to Mudcat. I hope you have 'em, but if they went astsray, I'll try again.

I'm working on the next one right now. It'll be out in Dec/Jan. I'll have Brian McNeill again on fiddle, Paul Mills on guitar/mando and Tom Leighton on accordian. It's early in the process, but it sounds damn good!

Subject: RE: Cuillin FM is finally on air
From:
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 03:12 AM

Hello everyone, especially Andy. Just dropped onto you to see if I could hear your programme but it seems that it is not yet available on the net. I hope to take up Andy's offer to get some airtime on Cuillin radio. I shall get in touch again as soon as possible. Hope that the back is better, Andy.

Best of luck with the station.

Peter Gray, Melbourne, Australia.
Presenter 3MBS-FM