Absolute Radio announces 15th Birthday celebrations

05 September 2023 - Press release

The station will crown the greatest song from the last 15 years, as well as broadcasting live music specials including Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

 

 

Absolute Radio turns 15 on Friday 29^th September and so to mark the occasion, the station has lined up some very special programmes across the month, including some classic Absolute Radio live performances from the likes of Coldplay, Wet Leg, Liam Gallagher and Florence and The Machine, and it will also crown the Greatest Song from the last 15 years.

Listeners have been voting in their thousands to name their favourite recent release and Ben Burrell will be counting down the list with the ultimate winner announced on the afternoon of the station’s birthday. That day will also see listeners take charge as Absolute Radio hands the station over to them to choose the music from 10am right through to 7pm when it invites friends The Dixon Brothers over from sister station KISS to host a special three-hour show of 80s versus 90s versus 00s.

Ahead of then, kicking off proceedings on Thursday 7th of September will be a Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds performance and interview from the recent live gig held at the O2 Academy in Bournemouth. Then on Sunday 10th September the station will be turning the tables on Tim Burgess as he becomes the guest on his Listening Party. He’ll join Danielle Perry for a special programme where he talks us through Tellin’ Stories to close season two of the show.

Absolute Radio Stories also returns to the air this month, bringing tales from some of the amazing artists, albums and genres that make up the station. Listen each Sunday evening from 8pm to hear from the likes of Dan Noble on de-bunking the myth that Ringo Starr wasn’t even the best drummer in the Beatles or how Wham! changed the world with China’s first ever music concert.

Birthday celebrations will culminate in a special 15th birthday gig with the legendary James at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on Monday 30 September, hosted by Dave Berry and Danielle Perry. Tickets go on sale this Thursday 7 September fromwww.absoluteradio.co.uk/tickets.

Breakfast show host Dave Berry said ‘You’ve heard of those people who have full Birthday Weeks, right? Well here at Absolute Radio we're going full-on throughout the entire month of September and into October, why not?!

‘Fifteen-year-old me would be green with envy at the way we're partying into adolescence. This birthday behemoth is a chance to showcase what makes the station special; from the bands and artists we love to play, to our wonderful listeners that tune in and join in every day. All are welcome to our special 15th Birthday gig headlined by the legendary band James in London next month. You grab a ticket and I’ll bring the cake.’

 

Key highlights/programmes from Absolute Radio’s 15^th Birthday:

 

SEPTEMBER 2023
Sunday 3^rd – 8pm: Absolute Radio Stories - All Roads Lead Back To Ringo with Dan Noble

Monday 4th – Station announces that they’ll be holding a special Birthday gig with James at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London

Thursday 7th - 7pm: Absolute Radio Live performance of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at The O2 Academy Bournemouth (from 31^st July 2023), featuring interview by Richie Firth and Sarah Champion

Sunday 10th – 8pm: Absolute Radio Stories - Music Made of Metal with Leona Graham

10pm: Tim Burgess is the guest on this special episode of Tim’s Listening Party as they play The Charlatan’s ‘Tellin’ Stories’ in-full. Hosted by Danielle Perry.

Thursday 14th - Live Music Thursday from the Absolute Radio Live performance of Stereophonics at O2 Kentish Town Forum (from Jan 21^st 2020) 

Thursday 21st – 7pm: Live Music Thursday from the Absolute Radio Live performance of Coldplay at the London Palladium (from Nov 11^th 2016)

Sunday 17^th – 8pm: Absolute Radio Stories - The Science of Ed with Ross Buchanan 

Sun 24^th – 8pm: Absolute Radio Stories - Welcome to Nashville with Jennie Longdon

Monday 25th – 1pm: Absolute Radio will begin a special countdown of The Top 50 Songs of the Last 15 Years, as voted for by Absolute Radio listeners. Ben Burrell will play 10 songs per day with the winner announced on Friday.

7pm: Danielle Perry will play live music on her show every night this week, with classic gigs and sessions including Wet Leg, Liam Gallagher and Sleeper. Tonight’s programme will feature Florence and the Machine. 

Friday 29^th – Absolute Radio’s 15^th Birthday
6am: Expect a special guest today on The Dave Berry Breakfast show
10am: Leona Graham is joined on a special The All Request Guarantee show by fellow Absolute Radio presenter Claire Sturgess
1pm: Ben Burrell continues The All Request Guarantee, joined by fellow Absolute Radio presenter Sarah Champion

4pm: Bush and Richie will present their Hometime Jukebox

7pm: The Dixon Brothers return for a special 3-hour show with 80s versus 90s versus 00s 

Sunday 1^st October – 8pm: Absolute Radio Stories – Wham!: Making It Big In China with Jay Lawrence