‘Spreading joy through the airwaves’: Community radio station finds new home after four year search
A community radio station which has been “spreading joy through the airwaves” for 22 years has just found a new home after losing its previous residency during Covid.
During the pandemic, Resonance 104.4 FM lost its long-established headquarters in Borough High Street, forcing its voluntary programme makers to produce their shows remotely from home.
Now, four years on, the not-for-profit music station has taken up a new, fully furnished studio in the heart of Thames Bankside.
Richard Bentley, 61, from Pimlico, hosts a live music programme, The deXter Bentley Hello GoodBye Show, every Saturday lunchtime on Resonance FM.
The 61-year-old construction worker said: “We have re-purposed all the kit from our old studio and we’re ready to go live.”
The show first took to the airwaves in May 2002 – when Resonance launched – and has since provided a vital platform for thousands of underground artists, offering them experience and exposure.
Many of those who have appeared on the show have since gone on to become successful, including the likes of Sleaford Mods, Metronomy, Olivia Chaney, Kokoroko, Fat White Family and more.
Mr Bentley said: “I’ve always tried to give support to artists who are under the radar. If you support people before they get big they are always very loyal and keep coming back.
“We are completely autonomous so I can choose whatever I want.”
Resonance, which Mr Bentley said works on a shoestring, was first set up with the help of funding from the Arts Council. Each year it hosts an annual fundraiser, selling air time, to afford running costs.
But Mr Bentley said working on such a tight budget hit the team hard during Covid.
He said: “The plug was pulled when everyone went into lockdown, we were all downloading free software.
“Everyone was panicking and I could tell people were desperate to have something to focus on.
“I started doing zoom chats with artists and it went down really well. I was getting messages from listeners saying thanks for sending antidepressants out through the airwaves.”
Extending the offer of air time beyond artists and into the community, Mr Bentley also set up a ‘one minute wonders’ show during the pandemic.
He said: “I asked listeners to contribute sound files of 1 minute – I got hundreds coming in and it made for a great 90 minute show.
“It was like taking a core sample into the earth, pulling it up and seeing all the layers – everything from the most out there stuff to incredibly beautiful music, poetry or even birdsong from peoples gardens.”
More recently, Mr Bentley said he has received an influx of up-and-coming artists trying to get a slot in his weekly programme.
He said: “Major radio stations have really cut back on their new music shows recently, which is a shame. But, the knock on effect is more of them coming to me.
“I listen to every file I get sent.”
On September 14, between midday and 1.30pm, Mr Bentley will broadcast the very first live episode of his Hello GoodBye Show from the station’s new headquarters.
This episode will feature a ‘Dash The Henge’ record store special that will include related live music, new music, poetry and chat.
Mr Bentley said: “The last few years, when we were homeless, Dash The Henge invited us to do outside broadcasts from their shop in Camberwell New Road, so it’s lovely to invite them back.”
Pictured top: Richard Bentley at the brand new Resonance studio in Bankside (Picture: Richard Bentley)