A pop-up digital radio station will celebrate established and blossoming Scottish musical talent in the run up to St Andrew’s Day.
BBC Radio Scotland Music Extra will broadcast 24 hours a day from November 23-30. It will play Scottish music from a diverse range of genres, spanning rock, pop, country, traditional and jazz.
The schedule will comprise dedicated breakfast, mid-morning and drivetime programmes on weekdays with selected archive programmes and live sessions at other times. Scottish bands Simple Minds and Travis will feature in the hand-picked schedule.
Every weekday Jenny Farish will host the Breakfast Show from 7-9am, followed by Bryan Burnett until 12 noon. Presenter and actor Sanjeev Kohli will present Drivetime from 5-6.30pm. Deacon Blue star Ricky Ross, Bargain Hunt’s Natasha Raskin, Janice Forsyth and Billy Sloan will also appear as guest presenters.
Artists Midge Ure and John McCusker, award-winning performer and composer Martin Green and former Scottish Album Of The Year winner Kathryn Joseph will all play a part in special segments.
A celebration on St Andrew’s night specially-commissioned programme featuring students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will bring the pop-up station to a close.
“I am so thrilled to be involved in this exciting project,” said Presenter Jenny Farish.
“It’s a great opportunity to offer our audience something a little bit different – to introduce new music alongside some huge favourites. It’s the kind of station I would seek out and love as a listener and can’t wait for it to start.”
BBC Radio Scotland’s main programmes will continue as normal over the eight days.
Jeff Zycinski, Head of Radio at BBC Scotland, says it’s a good opportunity to “celebrate the brilliant music that is made and heard right across Scotland.”
“You will hear the familiar, from Americana and classical to country and folk, but the station will also showcase new talent and explore the issues that impact the Scottish music industry,” continues Jeff Zycinski.
“It will also give listeners the chance to tell us if they would welcome a station that offers an alternative to BBC Radio Scotland’s successful speech schedule.”
BBC Radio Scotland Music Extra will be available on DAB digital radio, the BBC iPlayer Radio app and online.