Playlist w/c 29th June 2009 + Advice

Hi Again

Please find below our new music playlist for the forthcoming week:

a-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
Ali Campbell - Out From Under
Alison Krauss - Simple Love
Beverley Knight - Every Step
Bruce Springsteen - My Lucky Day
Eagles - Do Something / I Don’t Want To Hear Any More
Gary Go - Engines
Green Day - 21 Guns
Honey Ryder - Love In Time
James Morrison - Nothing Ever Hurt Like You
James Taylor - Seminole Wind
Lionel Richie - Forever
Lisa Hannigan - I Don’t Know
Martina McBride - Ride
Nell Bryden - What Does It Take?
Noisettes - Never Forget You
Paloma Faith - Stone Cold Sober
Paul Carrack - Just 4 Tonite
Pixie Lott - Mama Do
Pussycat Dolls - Hush Hush; Hush Hush
Regina Spektor - The Calculation
Rob Thomas - Her Diamonds
Simple Minds - Stars Will Lead The Way
Take That - Said It All
The Third Degree - Mercy
VV Brown - Shark In The Water
Yusuf - Roadsinger

Items in BOLD are new additions

Coming up on today's show we will be chatting with Karen Williams from St Albans Citizens Advice Bureau. If you have anything you would like to ask, please feel free to contact the show in the usual ways:

Phone - 01727 839926
Email - studio@radioverulam.com

You can also contact us if you would like to request a song, dedicate something to someone or to tell us about a community group you're involved with.

See you at 4pm!

Danny
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Turning Points

Hi Everyone

Last Friday we spoke with Julia Ogilvy, author of "Turning Points: Stories to Change Your Life". This was a fascinating discussion about how she came to write this, her first book. There are several interviews contained within the book and they all discuss turning points in their own lives. Subjects include Gordon Brown and Bob Geldof. Julia also shared with us a special conversation she had with Paul Newman, who graciously declined to be interviewed but nonetheless spent over half an hour discussing the subject of the book with Julia!

For more information please check out the book's website:

http://www.turning-pointsonline.com/

As you can imagine, the book is available from all the usual places. However, if you wish to purchase a copy online, please click here:

http://buy.at/radioverulam

All purchases made via the above link also help support our much needed funds!

Regards

Danny Smith
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On tonight's Gig Guide - Fri 26th June 2009

Greetings all,

On tonight's show we have tracks from Swanvesta Social Club, No Exyt, The Caution Horses and The Legendary Hearts.

Listen in from 6:30pm-7pm on 92.6FM or online at www.radioverulam.com

Chris

www.myspace.com/rvgigguide

Midnight Walk for Grove House

Hello again

On today's show we will be talking about the Midnight Walk this weekend in St Albans in aid of Grove House. This is an exciting event which takes place at midnight Saturday into Sunday morning in Verulamium Park, and I will be talking to the event organiser today. For more information visit www.midnightwalk.org or call 01727 731002.

Also we are giving away more tickets for a St Albans Festival event on tonight at Trestle Arts Base. You simpy need to tune in after 4pm today.

We have had some great interviews lately. Last week I spoke to Richard Burton's great nephew as the Maltings recently did a play about him.

And we continue to comment on the news whether it's local, national or around the world, plus regular travel updates, entertainment and the best in music.

Back with you today 4 'til 7pm.

John B-S

The Gig Guide - Tracklisting: Fri 19th June 2009

Greetings all,
Here's last Friday's selection of tracks:


TRACK OF THE WEEK: Tranquil Fury – Creeper
http://www.myspace.com/tranquilfury

Screaming From The Ashes – Red, White and Blue
http://www.myspace.com/screamingfromtheashes

Featured Artist:
The Tearaways – Wesley Ruggles
The Tearaways – Belle Of The Ball
http://www.myspace.com/tearaway

OUTRO: Kasabian - Fire


Keep sending in your tracks as we want to hear more from local artists and there is so much hidden talent out there. Thanks to everyone so far for sending in your tracks and I look forward to hearing even more (the greedy music glutton I am!)

Until next week,

Chris @
Radio Verulam 92.6FM
www.myspace.com/rvgigguide

Playlist w/c 22nd June 2009 + Ticket Giveaway on Today's Show!!!

Hi everyone

Below is our playlist for this week:

a-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
Bat For Lashes - Pearl's Dream
Beverley Knight - Every Step
Bruce Springsteen - My Lucky Day
Eagles - Do Something / I Don’t Want To Hear Any More
Fleet Foxes - Your Protector
Green Day - 21 Guns
Honey Ryder - Love In Time
James Morrison - Nothing Ever Hurt Like You
James Taylor - Seminole Wind
Jon Allen - Young Man Blues
Lionel Richie - Forever
Lisa Hannigan - I Don’t Know
Mamas Gun - Let’s Find A Way
Mika - Songs For Sorrow EP
Nell Bryden - What Does It Take?
Noisettes - Never Forget You
Paloma Faith - Stone Cold Sober
Paul Carrack - Just 4 Tonite
Pixie Lott - Mama Do
Pussycat Dolls - Hush Hush; Hush Hush
Rob Thomas - Her Diamonds
Take That - Said It All
The Yeah You’s - 15 Minutes
VV Brown - Shark In The Water
Yusuf - Roadsinger

Items in BOLD are new additions

If you have any requests or dedications, please let us know and we'll see what we can do! You can contact us during the show:

Phone: 01727 839926
Email: studio@radioverulam.com

Also, if you're involved with a local group or event and would like to tell others about this, please get in touch and you could be on air before you know it.

Finally, listen out for our competition today to win tickets to see the mesmerising and infectious percussionist Adriano Adewale at the Trestle Arts Base tomorrow evening.

I don't know how we fit it all in!!!!!

Best wishes

Danny Smith
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John B-S, Tracks Of Your Life, Sunday 21st June, 10am - 12 noon

Hello again,

I will be the guest today on 'Tracks Of Your Life' on Radio Verulam 92.6 or http://www.radioverulam.com/

Each Sunday morning, Elspeth Jackman invites a guest who lives or works in and around St Albans to choose their favourite music and talk about their life. This week she has asked me to share my pearls of wisdom. There will undoubtably be thrills and spills as some of you try to guess what I have chosen. I can confidently assure you my selection does NOT include anything by Bros, Dollar, Madonna, Dido, Take That, Brotherhood of Man or the Bay City Rollers. This leaves lots of other exciting options and I hope I may yet manage to surprise even those of you who know me well. There is no desert island, compulsory Bible or Shakespeare (someone else had that idea long ago) but a poem may appear as will some classic rock, pop, punk, soul, reggae, jazz and even proper music - plus the odd opinion or two!

If you manage to miss my usual nonsense on Tuesdays and Thursdays 4 - 7pm for the perfectly sensible reason that you are at work, walking the dog or you are a glutton for punishment and actually WANT to hear more of me - either way I don't mind. Do tune in anyway!

John B-S

On tonight's Gig Guide - Fri 19th June 2009

Greetings all,

On this week's show, we have The Tearaways in the studio with us playing their tracks and talking to them about their latest projects.

We also have tracks from Tranquil Fury and Screaming From The Ashes as well as our usual Outro track.

Listen today, 6:30pm-7pm on Radio Verulam 92.6FM or online at www.radioverulam.com

Thanks all :)

Chris @
Radio Verulam 92.6FM

www.myspace.com/rvgigguide

Calling All Thespians!!!

Hi guys & gals

On today's show we chatted with Steph Cotter from the Breakaway Theatre Company. She was telling us all about this local theatre group and how listeners can get involved. For more information, please check out their website or contact Steph via email: steph@breakawaytheatre.co.uk

Don't forget, if you would like to feature your local group on our show, please let us know.

Best wishes

Danny Smith
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My car radio won't work!

Hello again.

When I buy a car (quite a rare thing but occasionally it happens) I ask two questions.

Does it go? And does the radio work?

Apart from that I'm not really bothered. I'm not after a 205mph Ferrari like the one Christiano Ronaldo wrote off recently. I don't care if it has a sun roof or not and I don't consider the car to be an extension of my manhood in any way. As long as it goes at a reasonable speed and the insurance and garage bills don't cost an arm and a leg, I'm fine.

But... when the car radio packed in this morning I was apoplectic with rage, angry, upset, annoyed - discombobulated even! I didn't even turn the rotten thing off. Just as I was deciding to change station the sound disappeared and defiantly refused to come on again simply showing me the date, time and temperature - quite useless! Victor Meldrew and Basil Fawlty (even an enraged Donald Duck) had nothing on me today!

No longer can I listen to my colleagues on Radio Verulam 92.6 as I come in to work especially Warren Knight with his jazz, soul, swamp, eclectic and eccentric selection, delivered in a voice that resembles a storm drain with his dedications from Louisiana or some other exotic part of the United States. Nor can I hear Phil Richards presenting Spotlight on Folk as I head for home or the numerous other stations once I get outside the St Albans area and switch to a phone-in on LBC, "more music variety" (more of the same)on Heart or Marguerita Taylor promising me more Smooth Classics at Six (even if it's actually 7.45) In the afternoons Lorna annoys me by droppin' all the 'g' endin's on everythin' she says. She also talks about strange county called Buckin'amshire. I was only able to regale listeners to my West Herts Evening show with tales of what various members of the Royal family were wearing at Royal Ascot because I heard it on the radio.

A car without a radio that works is like an empty ice cream cone, the Beano without Dennis the Menace, a marriage without love or romance, a pub with no beer, a glass with no wine, no Guardian on a Monday, a restaurant with no food, a garden with no trees or grass or flowers - unthinkable! Much as I love my old mum, the thought of a holiday in Wales and a long trawl down the M4 with only her for company when we could be listening out for Radio Cymru (we don't actually understand Welsh) or Red Dragon Radio is not a happy prospect. I think you get the general idea.

I suppose I'll just have to get the wretched thing fixed!

More from me again soon.

John B-S

Today's Interview

Hi

As promised on air today, below is some information regarding the interview we featured this afternoon. For those of you who missed it, we chatted with 24 year old Philip Edgington from Harpenden who is off to Mozambique for two weeks to help with their clean water project:

http://www.oasismz.org/EN/index.htm (Oasis Mozambique)

http://www.oasisuk.org/ (Main Oasis Website)

If anyone would like to donate to this worthy cause, you can do so here:

http://www.justgiving.com/mozambiquecleanwater

Finally, if you would like to promote any local causes or concerns, please let us know!

Danny Smith
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Tracklistings - 12th June 2009

Greetings all,

Another show and more great tracks from some of West Herts' best artists including a new track from Pocket Gods and another track by previous visitors to the show, Royal Flush…

Tracklistings:
TRACK OF THE WEEK: The Second Post – Revolver
http://www.myspace.com/thesecondpost

Elephant Shelf – Just Another Someone
http://www.myspace.com/elephantshelf

Royal Flush – The Blitz
http://www.myspace.com/royalflushtheband

The Pocket Gods – Carry On Behind
http://www.myspace.com/thepocketgods

OUTRO: Nirvana – On A Plain


On next week’s show we have The Tearaways in the studio to talk about their latest projects & gigs as well as your usual Gig Guide and the newest tracks from West Herts' best

Until next week…

Chris

www.myspace.com/rvgigguide

Playlist w/c 15th June 2009

Hi Everyone

Below is our drivetime playlist for the forthcoming week:

Bat For Lashes - Pearl's Dream
Bruce Springsteen - My Lucky Day
Daniel Merriweather - Red
Eagles - Do Something/I Don’t Want To Hear Any More
Fleet Foxes - Your Protector
James Taylor - Seminole Wind
Jon Allen - Young Man Blues
Lenka - The Show
Lionel Richie - Forever
Lisa Hannigan - I Don’t Know
Mamas Gun - Let’s Find A Way
Mika - Songs For Sorrow EP
Nell Bryden - What Does It Take?
Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day
Noisettes - Never Forget You
Paloma Faith - Stone Cold Sober
Paolo Nutini - Candy
Paul Carrack - Just 4 Tonite
Pixie Lott - Mama Do
Pretenders - Love’s A Mystery
Rob Thomas - Her Diamonds
Shannon Noll - Now I Run
Take That - Said It All
The Script - Before The Worst
The Yeah You’s - 15 Minutes
VV Brown - Shark In The Water

Items in BOLD are new additions.

Please remember that we love to hear from you with your requests, dedications and comments. You can add a comment to this blog, or you can phone or email us during the show:

Phone: 01727 839926
Email: studio@radioverulam.com

You can also follow us on Twitter:

@dapperdan75 - for Danny Smith, presenter Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
@johnbs100 - for John B-S, presenter Tuesdays and Thursdays

Please do tune in when you can either on 92.6FM in the West Herts area or anywhere in the world at www.radioverulam.com

Best wishes

Danny Smith
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Tonight's Gig Guide

Greetings all,

On tonights Gig Guide we have music from The Second Post, Elephant Shelf, Royal Flush and a new track from The Pocket Gods.

That's coming up on tonight's show, 6:30pm-7pm, Radio Verulam 92.6FM or online at www.radioverulam.com

Ta,

Chris

www.myspace.com/rvgigguide

The Great Escape

Hello again

So Gordon Brown survives. At a meeting on Monday night the Labour MPs decided not to go through their plot to oust him as their leader and our prime minister - at least not yet, which means the Government will go limping on for a few months more. The results of the European election sees the Conservatives in the lead, followed by UKIP, then Labour and the Lib Dems - and for the first time the BNP with two seats.

For various reasons I can't do the show today so Danny will be with you instead. I'm back on Thursday 4 - 7pm

John B-S

The Gig Guide - Tracklisting 5th June 2009

Greetings all,

Aplogies for the delay. Thanks to Underview for this week for coming in and talking about their upcoming projects. Here are this week's tracks:


TRACK OF THE WEEK: The Chevrons – Teardrop Blues
www.thechevrons.com

The Harringtons – Crowd Pleaser
http://www.myspace.com/harringtonsband

INTERVIEW: Underview
‘There’s This Girl’
‘Nowadays’
http://www.myspace.com/underview

OUTRO:
The Bluetones – Slight Return


Until next week...

Chris @
Radio Verulam 92.6FM

Playlist w/c 8th June 2009

Hi All

Please find below our playlist for the forthcoming week:

Bat For Lashes - Pearl's Dream
Bruce Springsteen - My Lucky Day
Daniel Merriweather - Red
Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People
Fleet Foxes - Your Protector
James Taylor - Seminole Wind
Jon Allen - Young Man Blues
Kleerup - Longing For Lullabies
Lemonheads - I Just Can’t Take It
Lenka - The Show
Lionel Richie - Forever
Lisa Hannigan - I Don’t Know
Mamas Gun - Let’s Find A Way
Mika - Songs For Sorrow EP
Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day
Noisettes - Never Forget You
Paloma Faith - Stone Cold Sober
Paolo Nutini - Candy
Pet Shop Boys - Did you See Me Coming?
Pixie Lott - Mama Do
Pretenders - Love’s A Mystery
Rob Thomas - Her Diamonds
Shannon Noll - Now I Run
Take That - Said It All
Taylor Swift - Teardrops On My Guitar
The Duckworth Lewis Method - The Age of Revolution
The Proclaimers - Love Can Move Mountains
The Script - Before The Worst

Items in BOLD are new additions.

These are the new songs we will be featuring but we also play lots of classic tunes and requests from listeners. If you would like to make a request or dedication, please feel free to get in touch during the show:

Phone: 01727 839926
Email: studio@radioverulam.com

John B-S (presenter of the show Tuesdays & Thursdays) and I both have featured tracks. This is a studio initiative whereby our featured tracks get played on other shows to promote our show. Our current featured tracks are:

Danny Smith: Jon Allen - Young Man's Blues
John B-S: Mamas Gun - Let's Find A Way

You can also follow John B-S and myself on Twitter. Our usernames are:

Danny Smith - @dapperdan75
John B-S - @johnbs100

We will endeavour to follow your tweets during the show, do feel free to tweet comments, requests and anything else you choose.

So tune in weekdays from 4pm - 7pm for the best in local news, views, inane chit-chat and great music!

Best wishes

Danny Smith
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'Dear Gordon, I Quit'

Hello again.

So the elections are done, the results are flooding through and we are free to talk at last. Yesterday the ban on talking about party politics on my Radio Verulam show was a bit like Basil Fawlty: 'Don't mention the war..I mentioned it once - but I think I got away with it!'

Meanwhile we have had a cabinet re-shuffle. Earlier in the week they were (to use a cliche) queuing to jump, just like rats leaving a sinking ship; like moving the chairs on the Titanic (0 out of 10 for originality). How can you shuffle the pack when they're all jokers! (Enough I hear you say). Earlier in the week the Guardian called for the PM to go. In the Times today they put James Purnell's letter on the front page, but I have also heard pundits saying Gordon Brown may be safe after all. The calls for a general election from David Cameron and Nick Clegg grow ever more shrill. They scent blood and are not going to stop now. What is crucial is whether the PM can still command the support of his own side. This looks increasingly doubtful. In 1990 the Tories did the deed and removed Mrs Thatcher while she was still in office. These are very interesting times, and already 2009 will go down as a big year in history. I managed to talk about some of this with my partner-in-crime Danny on his Friday show.

On Thursday we heard from Warren Knight one of our afternoon presenters, phoning in live from a jazz benefit gig for Alzheimers Disease at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, London. Warren sounded like he was enjoying himself! Great music too. I also got a call from folk singer Julie Felix who appears at the Maltings on Saturday. She's from California but has been performing over here since the '60s. She has worked with the likes of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. We both agreed that Dylan's new album isn't quite as good as the last one. Also Lydia previewed her 7pm Irish show - The Emerald Hour.

Saturday marks 65 years since the D-Day Normandy landings in France on 6th June, 1944. We now know this turned the tide of the Second World War. The Allies led by Britain and America went on to victory against the Axis powers led by Nazi Germany. Four years earlier things had seemed far worse. On 4th June 1940 the troops were evacuated in the nick of time at Dunkirk. Winston Churchill told the House of Commons that day: 'We shall fight them on the beaches...we shall never surrender!' We played you that famous speech, complete with the chimes of Big Ben, V for Victory (Beethoven's 5th) and Vera Lynn singing White Cliffs of Dover. If you want to find out more watch BBC 1 Sat. 4.20pm D-Day 65: The Veterans Return.

Before that you can watch The Derby. And I'm looking forward to the final of The Apprentice on Sunday. The more belligerant Sir Alan gets, the better! As for Big Brother - I don't think I'll bother.

I enjoy writing these blogs so if you have any comments about this message or anything you hear on the radio show, I would love to hear from you. You can add a comment here, contact the studio on 01727 839926 or email studio@radioverulam.com

In the meantime, have a good weekend. I'm back on air Tuesday 4-7pm

John

Updates

Hi everyone

On Monday's show I spoke to Clare Gray from the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust and she told us about the various initiatives they are currently undertaking. For more information, please check out their website:

http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/herts

On Today's show we ran a competition to win the New CD by Simple Minds, entitled "Graffiti Soul". We gave away two CDs and the first one went to Paul in Bedmond - well done!

Also on today's show Simon Carver (our resident film expert and presenter of the Entertainment Guide) told us that he wrote a chapter about the theology of Terminator 2?!?! This was included in the book Flickering Images: Theology and Film in Dialogue and can be obtained from all good book stores though if you wish to order online please use:

http://buy.at/radioverulam

As we are a community station, we are run by volunteers and purchasing items through this website helps us to raise much-needed funds.

Don't forget to tune in from 4pm tomorrow (Thursday) for John BS and I will be back with you on Friday.

Be seeing you

Danny Smith
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PS John BS is now on Twitter. His username is @johnbs100 - please follow him! We will endeavour to get his updates on here automatically in the not-too-distant future!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

D-Day Special

Hello Bloggers

On the show today: a special feature to commerorate 65 years since the D-Day Normandy landings in France on 6th June 1944 (I know I'm two days early). This will include part of a speech by Churchill and some appropriate music. I am also hoping to hear from Warren Knight up in London on a jazz benefit gig for Alzheimers and from folk singer Julie Felix who is at the Maltings on Saturday.
Plus all the usual rock & roll and other nonsense.
Today at four!

John B-S

Don't forget to vote on Thursday 4th June.

Hello Bloggers.

On Tuesday (2nd), Neil and I brought you news of the resignation of Home Secretary Jaqui Smith. Now, Miss pint features Hazel Blears has joined her on the way out. Did you see her little badge 'Rocking the Boat'? Hardly subtle is she? They're all dropping like nine-pins and even the Guardian is calling for the Prime Minister to go. Poor old Gordon, you almost feel sorry for him. I have to tell you I'm thoroughly enjoying all this. Politics is the best soap opera in town but of course it is also important. We don't know when the general election is coming but you have an opportunity to vote tomorrow. Polling stations are open 7am - 10pm. If you forgot to send in your postal vote don't worry, it's not too late as these can be handed in to any polling station as well.

Big Ben (or rather the actual clock) turned 150 last weekend and yesterday we celebrated complete with a set of chimes and bongs. We also mentioned the Queen's Coronation on 2nd June 1953 and played part of Handel's Zadok the Priest. This Saturday marks the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France and thank goodness at the last minute Prince Charles is going. We also talked about the FA Cup Final - an exciting match for a change - and Britain's Got Talent. Congratulations to Diversity while poor Susan Boyle recuperates in the funny farm. Big Brother starts tomorrow (I would rather watch paint dry) but I am looking forward to the final of The Apprentice.

Music included UFO, ELO, Billy Idol, Elvis, Echo & the Bunnymen, Led Zep, Beatles, Stones, Christopher Cross, Village People, Karen Souza, Noisettes, Fleet Foxes, Empire of the Sun, Style Council, Ramsey Lewis, Dion & the Belmonts, Jean Carnes, David Bowie, Spandau Ballet, Style Council, Kaiser Cheifs, Morrissey, Isaac Hayes and (Danny's favourite) the Eagles. The featured classic album this week is Elton John - Honky Chateau (1972). You won't get such a wide selection anywhere else on a drivetime show - certainly not on stations like Heart, Magic or Capital!

As Thursday is polling day, I will have to shut up about the politics (radio presenters are not allowed to influence the vote in any way), but I am sure to find plenty of other things to talk about. So tune in 4 'til 7pm - you know it makes sense!

John B-S

Big Ben is 150!

Hello Bloggers - It's June and summer is here!

On today's show: Big Ben has been ticking for 150 years. We celebrate - with bongs!

As Britains Got Talent proves too much for Susan Boyle, I ask was it really a bit of a freak show?

Jeremy Paxman says we are all barbarians - what is he on about now?

And did you enjoy the FA Cup Final?

Plenty to talk about, plus great music.

Today at four!


John B-S

Playlist w/c 1st June 2009 + Wildlife Interview

Hi Everyone

Below is our playlist for this week:

Billy Ray Cyrus - Ready, Set, Don’t Go
Brett Dennen - Make You Crazy
Daniel Merriweather - Red
EG White - Broken
Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People
Fleet Foxes- Your Protector
Kleerup - Longing For Lullabies
Lemonheads - I Just Can’t Take It
Lenka - The Show
Mamas Gun - Let’s Find A Way
Mica Paris - Baby Come Back Now
Mika - Songs For Sorrow EP
Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day
Noisettes - Never Forget You
Paloma Faith - Stone Cold Sober
Paolo Nutini - Candy
Pet Shop Boys - Did you See Me Coming?
Pretenders - Love’s A Mystery
Shontelle & Akon - Stuck With Each Other
Simple Minds - Rockets
Take That - Said It All
Taylor Swift - Teardrops On My Guitar
The Duckworth Lewis Method - The Age of Revolution
The Proclaimers - Love Can Move Mountains
The Script - Before The Worst

Items in BOLD are new additions

We do play a variety of music in addition to the above list and welcome your requests and dedications. You can contact us during the show as follows:

Phone: 01727 839926
Email: studio@radioverulam.com

On today's show we will be chatting with Danielle Porteous of the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust during the second hour of the show.

See you soon!!!

Danny Smith
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