Award underscores local radio program’s impact

AN influential Phoenix FM weekly radio program dedicated to promoting Bendigo’s live music scene has come up trumps at the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia’s Australian Audio Awards.

Live Music Bendigo, which has been broadcast every Saturday afternoon from the station’s Reservoir Road studio for the past two years or so, took home the Best Small Australian Music Show/Music Programmer award.

The accolade recognises broadcasters who champion, program and celebrate local independent Australian artists to their communities in markets comprising less than 100,000 potential listeners.

As a category winner, Live Music Bendigo will also have its entry placed in the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

The show’s co-presenter Brett Adie said the win was beyond what he could have imagined.

“I didn’t think we were going to come home with anything,” he said.

“To be on that stage in front of the who’s who of radio and to have Phoenix FM and Live Music Bendigo plastered across the big screen was a real wow moment.

“It was quite emotional for me because of how invested I’ve been in this project, and to come home with the trophy felt like acknowledgement for the work we’ve done.”

The passionate Aussie music fan and former frontline emergency serviceperson said after 100 shows, about 200 different guests, 55 live performances and 20 guest hosts, Live Music Bendigo has matured into much more than the sum of its parts.

“It’s become so integral for the local music scene,” he said.

“It’s become a hub, a place where people pop in for a

catch up.

“It’s given the scene a focal point where, on a Saturday afternoon, there’s a spot that’s going to be talking about what’s going on.

“It’s also provided an outlet for local artists – they know if they’re releasing music, we’re going to play it on the radio.”

Adie said what also sets Live Music Bendigo apart is the time allowed for real conversations to occur.

“What I love about the concept that we’ve developed is you can go into some stations and you get 10 minutes and you’re booted out,” he said.

“We give people on the show up to an hour so they can come in, play their music, have a good chat about themselves and about the scene.

“Once you’ve had them there for 30 or 40 minutes, all of a sudden you get into the nitty gritty of things.

“It’s that real connection that we have with the artists that I hope people then feel when they go to the gigs.”

Adie said hardly a show goes by without him at some stage “ending up with goosebumps”.

“I’m not a muso, I just love music, and it’s such a nice, intimate setting for someone like me – a mug punter.

“To actually get opportunities to sit in a room with artists of that calibre and have them play music, it’s quite mind-blowing, and I sometimes wonder, ‘How the hell did I get myself into this?'”