Nova Radio North East is a community based radio station based in Newcastle, North East UK. Broadcasting 24 hours a day they launched in 2007.

One of the programmes features local music and presented by Paul Kirsopp. I got in touch with Paul and asked him, what got you interested in radio ?

Nova radio posted an advert looking for local DJ’s. I made enquiries, completed a training course and then created my own radio show and named it North East Live Music Is Alive.

I wanted the show to be inclusive regardless of age or sex, to include bands past and present and include all genres of music to satisfy all listeners.

The show would highlight original music and most importantly all singer/songwriters would have a North East connection.

Was focusing on original music a ‘must’ for the programme ?

I am very passionate about original music, especially North East music, past and present. We have a wealth of talent in the North East and it is such a shame that many of our North East artists go unnoticed and fall by the wayside without the recognition they deserve.

I feel that my show can give them a platform to be heard and recognised locally at least, I have every respect for these people stepping out and having the courage to create original music.

Paul with Jaspers Daughter in the studio.

Alan Fish & Jesse Terry in the studio.

58 year old Paul from Dilston Hall, Northumberland recalls the first time he heard music and it’s effect on him….

As long as I can remember I have always been interested in music, listening to music, creating music and trying to sing and play an instrument.

From an early age I wanted to play the drums in a marching jazz band, however that all changed when my mother bought me an acoustic guitar for my 10^th birthday.

During my teens I fancied myself as a bit of a chanter and gravitated towards local musicians trying to sing and playing a little guitar.

Paul in the band Zenith at a gig in the,Lemington Comrades Club. Lead guitarist Dave Shaw (The Force). Paul Atkinson on drums with the late Tony Lawson on bass.

The band NATO, with Dave Simpson on vocals, john Ward drums, Mick Proctor lead guitar and Graham Brown on drums. Date and venue unknown.

Ticket for the Lemington Comrades Club, 1982.

Did you take your passion further and join a band ?

In those days it was all about creating your own songs and taking the music to a local youth club and then when we became of age we would look for gigs in the local pubs.

At this time, I began to watch local bands like White Heat at Newcastle Polytech and The Mayfair for their farewell gig in February 1982.

Southbound at the Gosforth Hotel where they had a residency on a Monday night, Nato/Eldron at Balmbras Music Hall in the Bigg Market, these bands were all playing original music.

I began writing a few of my own songs and began to enjoy the creativity and fun during this process. But soon realised how difficult it was to write original songs, especially songs that punters would listen to and songs that people would pay to listen too.

Do you receive any support to your radio show ?

Former White Heat guitarist Alan Fish contacted me to give me some advice, contacts and cd’s by local musicians. Obviously it’s a two way thing and as Alan is a local singer/songwriter my show benefits his music and I’m very grateful for his continuing support of the show.

I also receive regular contributions from local artists from around the North East – Newcastle, Northumberland, Durham, Darlington and Teeside.

There is a hell of a lot of very talented singer/songwriter/musicians /bands out there and we need to support them.

There are regular contributions from local music promoter Steve Willis, who organises the very successful Crossing the Tyne Festival and who is very close to young up and coming artists in the North East, this benefits the show immensely.

Plus, a special thanks to Neil Owen Kipling, Dean Wears and all other staff at the station for making this show possible.

Where can musicians and bands get in touch ?

If you have a connection with the North East and you’re writing and recording original music please get in touch on the contact below, and I will play your music on the show.

Contact Paul at    https://www.facebook.com/paul.j.kirsopp 

or email      pkirsopp@blueyonder.co.uk

Listen in to ‘North East Live Music is Live’ on Mondays 2-4pm,

http://www.novaradio.co.uk 102.5fm    or    www.mixcloud.com/hoppa25

Interview by Alikivi  April 2020.