DJ Neil is on the hunt for new talent
Published 5 Jun 2012 09:30
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AIR-RAISING: Neil will organise gigs and make sure local groups are given a fair hearing on his radio station
A BARRHEAD DJ is turning up the volume with a live show hosting new breakthrough East Renfrewshire musical acts.
Neil Wilson, 26, from Pulse FM 98.4 Community Radio, is branching out in an exciting direction by broadcasting gigs featuring performances by area bands.
And he is lining up a brand new Barrhead group to appear on his show broadcast next month.
Neil has been hosting 'Scottish Fiction' since January 2011 which aims to catapult unsigned Scottish bands from East Renfrewshire, Glasgow and further afield into the big time.
Neilston man Neil told the News: "I have always been cursed with a complete inability to play a musical instrument so going on the radio to talk about music is the next best thing.
"I've always been that annoying person who hogs the pub jukebox and determinedly tells people how good my music is, so naturally a slot on the radio is a perfect fit." He is now branching out into live music, organising a gig at Glasgow hotspot Captain's Rest on Great Western Road.
He said: "It's a brand new thing for me arranging the gig, though it has the same ethos at heart as the radio show.
"Effectively the gig is a chance to showcase new talent and we four artists from slightly different genres together in a live environment.
"We've got St Beth who are a local band from Barrhead.
"They haven't been gigging much but any of their recording I've heard have been very impressive.
"They're an instrumental act, post rock you could call it - it's quite an atmosphere they make.
"We've also got Paisley singer/songwriter Michael Cassidy who is going to release his debut album soon and he brings a real enthusiasm to his work."
The gig is being held at Captain's Rest on Great Western Road on Sunday, June 17, between 8pm and 11m.
Tickets cost £5 and are available online or on the door.
While Philosophy graduate Neil has turned his back on his classical studies and is now heading back into education to do an HNC in radio at Reid Kerr College.
He hopes to emulate BBC radio regular Vic Galloway and carve out a career promoting up and coming Scottish acts.
And he heaped praise in Pulse bosses for highlighting the musical talent in the town.
He said: "I've signed up to do an HNC in radio and that has all spiralled out of Pulse.
"I'm hugely supportive of what they do at the station and I have always been given space to get on with things and do what I want with it."
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