Speakers Corner
- 30 Oct 06, 02:59 PM
One of the main purposes of this blog - in fact THE main purpose of it - is to open up a direct channel of conversation between the people who run Radio Ulster and the people who listen to it.
In the past radio has been very much a one way medium - you tuned in at a certain time to hear a particular programme and if you had any issues about it you might (a) phone in (b) write a letter (c) send an e-mail or (d) grumble about it to your friends.
Hopefully now this is changing from a one way street into a two way street
So, regular listeners will know that over the last couple of weeks we have been telling you a lot about the schedule changes at Radio Ulster.
These have changed the content and the schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
So here is your chance to try us out and find out if we are listening.
After all the changes were brought in as a result of feedback from our audience - but are they working for you?
Springsteen night
- 27 Oct 06, 03:49 PM
In a career spanning several decades is one of a select band of artists who have been able to maintain an unbroken run of critically acclaimed and artistically consistent albums.
Of course that is not to say that he has not spanned a range of musical styles and those will be the subject of two special programmes on Radio Ulster tonight.
First in McLean's Country at 8pm Ralph will be examining the country roots of Springsteen's music and how it led up to We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions..
Then at 10pm Stuart Bailie will turn the spotlight onto the album which broke Springsteen into the big time - 1975's Born to Run.
Of course both programmes are highlighting the fact that Bruce Springsteen will be playing a sellout concert in the Odyssey next month - and the good news is both shows will be offering the chance to win tickets.
And there will also be an opportunity on Stuart's show - as well as here on the blog - to nominate their ultimate Bruce Springsteen anthem.
For the record (sic) mine is Johnny 99 from Nebraska.
Any takers?
Book controversy
- 27 Oct 06, 03:44 PM
Callers to the Stephen Nolan show today were expressing their opposition to a decision to broadcast an interview by Johnny Adair's former mistress who has written a book about their relationship.
If you missed it here's another chance to find out what all the fuss was about.
Electric Proms
- 27 Oct 06, 03:34 PM
Sunday is a big day for home grown talent at the Electric Proms. Danny Todd will be appearing in one of his many musical alter egos as at the Electric Proms.
He's opening the Electric Proms next stage gig at the Camden Barfly in London - and will be accompanied by some rather unique percussion.
He told me "I'm going to be performing in the Barfly with Austrian Schuhplatter dancers. It was Across the Line who put me up for this and I am just hoping that we will be able to talk to eachother!
"A lot of my records have hand claps and slaps in them for percussion and that is where the idea came from. I am meeting them on Friday for the first time for two days of rehearsal.
"We will be rehearsing from ten until six - but I am hoping to find time to get some tickets to see The Who.
"I'll also be using this London show as a showcase - it's great to get out and get playing again."
You can plan your weekend of great music here.
Hello Hugo
- 23 Oct 06, 01:38 PM
Was there ever an audience as enthusiastic as Hugo Duncan's? You may have noticed over the summer that Hugo was asking people to send in pictures of his outside broadcasts.
Now we can tell you why - if you look on the right hand side of this entry you'll see some of the shots you sent in.
We have used these to create a scrapbook of Hugo's summer and if you want to see them all just click on any one of the photos. And if you have any more locked up in your digital camera - or in your phone - just e-mail them to us and we'll add them in.
You can find out how to do it on Hugo's website.
And if you have any comments to make about any of the pictures just add them in below the photo.
To see all the pictures in the collection click on any one of the photos here and when it comes up simply click again on the at the top right hand corner of the shot.
Anorexia update
- 18 Oct 06, 01:09 PM
More listeners today shared their experiences with anorexia on the Stephen Nolan Show after a woman called in yesterday to tell of the problems she said her sister was having in being treated for the disease.
The discussion has highlighted difficulties families here have had in getting treatment for their relatives. We would be interested to hear of anyone else's experiences of this.
A day in the life
- 17 Oct 06, 01:38 PM
As you may have heard on today's Good Morning Ulster the National Trust is encouraging us all to blog the details of our daily lives between 0600 and midday today.
You can find out more details about the project and is where you make your submission.
Quite what anyone will make of them in 2207 is anyone's guess.
Surely they will still be aghast to find out how much I was told this morning a replacement motor for the electric window in my car will be.
Or maybe they will be shocked that we were still driving cars.
Still let's hope someone out there will still be listening to the radio.
Cabbages in Cullybackey
- 13 Oct 06, 11:54 AM
Do you know where Cullybackey is? Do you know what is going on there? If so you may be able to help Stephen Nolan out after yesterday's programme
Elvis is leaving the building
- 11 Oct 06, 02:07 PM
This is the almost shrine like scene behind the counter at Hector's House in Belfast.
It is one of the last independent shops which has held out here now finally giving in and closing down. News has also reached me that another well known record shop in Enniskillen has also closed. For those of you who missed Will Leitch's report on the last of the independents on yesterday's Good Morning Ulster you can listen to it again - you will find it just before the seven'o'clock news.
Rates debate
- 9 Oct 06, 04:13 PM
Also tomorrow you'll be able to hear the great Nolan rates debate - both on the programme and afterwards as a download - and you will be able to give your opinion on that right here.
Where have all the records gone part two
- 9 Oct 06, 03:54 PM
News reaches us that another cornerstone of Belfast's independent record scene is reaching the end of the road. This time it is
To hear more about the state of the record business here listen to Good Morning Ulster tommorrow morning.
And then come back here and tell us what you think
Where have all the records gone?
- 4 Oct 06, 12:00 PM
There was an interesting piece in on Monday about the demise of independent record stores in the UK. It listed the top twenty -- none of them here but that is a separate subject and I am sure you could think of a few.
But those few are getting fewer. Last week while in Belfast I discovered that the Gramophone Shop was having a closing down sale.
(I can remember buying my first album by there for a budget breaking ?4.50).
Surely we are seeing the very end of an era here. I can remember buying music in Making Tracks, Smyths, Caroline when it was in Belfast, Heroes and Villains and Good Vibrations to name but a few.
And in Bangor up until relatively recently there was Kosmos, Underground and Sho' Nuff.
When I was a kid there was even a record shop near where I lived in Ballyhackamore. I can remember getting the Outdoor Miner single by and Supertramp's first album there - but I cannot remember what the shop was called.
I am sure you could add to that list shops in your area where you could go on a Saturday afternoon and buy something you had heard on John Peel or whatever.
So what we would like to hear about is your memories of those shops, what you bought there and who ran them.
Do you miss them or are you happy enough to take advantage of the choice and low prices on the internet?
(And for the record I have been to at least seven of the shops in the Guardian's top twenty - can anyone better that?)
Four seasons in one conference
- 3 Oct 06, 06:44 PM
The Tories began the week looking for sunshine. Well, there's some about at the moment here in Bournemouth - but it's been a close run thing. The wind was blowing sand all along the long queue of delegates patiently waiting for their accreditation passes on Sunday - there were faint Lawrence of Arabia overtones at one point as what, to my inexperienced eyes, looked like a mini-sandstorm showered the waiting queue. Yesterday saw howling gales and rain as we made our way up the path to the clifftop hotel where the DUP had their fringe meeting. Inside, the room started off warm, and by the time we got to the question and answer session, the temperature was positively tropical. Any available paper was quickly turned into a makeshift fan as the heat climbed up. And today, we strolled to the conference centre basking in lovely early morning sunshine. Does Bournemouth have its own microclimate? Delegates are queuing when they get inside the hall as well - some head to the now famous juice bar, while others snack on oysters in the seafood bar. Tonight the Ulster Unionists have their reception - last night former UU leader Lord Trimble addressed a fringe in a Bournemouth hotel - you may have heard him on Good Morning Ulster this morning.
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