Radio Waves: Radio Presenter Spotlight – SJ Birds “The UK Country Showcase”

Radio Waves: SJ Birds “The UK Country Showcase”

Radio presenter for Golden Grooves Radio, RedroadFM and Country Road Radio.

Producers, researches and curates 6 shows a week.

“The UK Country Showcase” – A 3 Hour weekly show highlighting current British Country Music acts.

SJ is a voluntary presenter

Works with Ken Meakin (Country Music Social Media) to help and support UK acts.

RedroadFM Description:

The station with the BIGGEST variety of music! LIVE on 102.4FM (Rotherham & Sheffield), online at redroadfm.com

Twitter: @RedroadFM

Contact: Redroad Studio, Old Colliery Offices, Colliery Road, Kiveton Park, Sheffield, S26 6LR (079 800 969 24)

Broadcasts on Redroad FM (WEBSITE)

WHEN: Sunday 12:00 pm - 15:00 pm: The UK Country Showcase

Online | On Mobile | On Smart Speaker | On 102.4 FM

TuneIn | Simple Radio | Internet Radio UK | Internet-Radio

HOW TO LISTEN

Listen to the show LIVE on Redroad FM Sunday's 12 - 3pm

TuneIN

ON DEMAND: MIXCLOUD (Currently around 30 listens/ week)

CONTACT S.J Birds

Email: studio@redroadfm.com (During show times)

CONNECT with SJ Birds (Simon John Birds): 

The UK Country Showcase SAMPLE SHOW

Sunday 28 April 2019 PLAYLIST 12-3pm on Redroad FM

SHOWCASE Louise Parker (Listen from 22 mins)

LIVE IN SESSION Maria Jordan (Listen from 1 hour 22 mins) “The fantastically wonderful”

2019-04-28 Playlist (Facebook Links)

Gary Quinn (“What a fantastic song that is, a great track”) | Bailey Tomkinson (“Very talented young lady”) | Jade Helliwell | Jessie Mary (“Halve of Hengistbury”) | Katy Hurt (“The fantastic”) | Molly-Anne (“This is beautiful”) | Helena Mace | Lily Garland | Lisa Redford (“You’re going to love the best of UK Country Showcase”) | Zoe Newton (“Isn’t that fantastic”)

Credit Facebook: SJ Birds pictured with UK recording artist Maria Jordan at Redroad Studio, Sheffield on Sunday 28 April 2019

Michael McMillan Music | Steve Bonham | Lucy Blu (“Absolutely love that”) | Peter Donegan | Sabineofficialuk (“The EP is just fantastic”)| Gasoline & Matches | Danny McMahon (“There is a beautiful for that, it is stunning”) | The Orange Circus | Hengistbury | Elles Bailey | TJ Walker “Brand new” | Tennessee Twin (“It is beautiful”) | Dusk Brothers | Saskia Vese (Saskia Vese Fans) (“Friend of the show”) | Shannon Hynes Music | Sam Coe | Kezia Gill

Redroad FM (Profile) in his own words - I (SJ Birds), born Simon John Birds on 6th April 1978 in Barking Hospital, Essex (some say that explains a lot!).

I moved up to Sheffield within the first year of my life and have lived in and around the area ever since. I attended Dobcroft First and Middle schools and then went to High Storrs Secondary School in 1990. My love of the limelight was established early in my life, performing magic shows to family and friends. I also enjoyed putting on a Christmas concert every year, which I took very seriously, from the schedule to how each carol should be sung! During my teenage years I preferred to spend time setting up and messing with various audio setups in my bedroom. In 1993, I produced several demo tapes of a radio show entitled ‘The Big Red Microphone Show’ with my brother, Andrew. The inspiration for the name came from, surprisingly enough, the colour of the microphone! Sadly those tapes have long since bitten the dust!

After the fun and games I had with the mock radio show I decided to apply for a job with Sheffield Childrens Hospital Radio. The demo went in and I was lucky enough to be offered my own show on a Saturday morning from 10am – 12pm.

The show was filled with music and chat with daft news items, competitions, requests and even a celebrity interview with Mitch Johnson of Virgin 1215. It was great fun to do and seemed popular enough with the somewhat captive audience on the wards in the hospital. During this time I also appeared at the Roadshow which took place on Fargate in Sheffield City Centre, raising vital funds to keep the station broadcasting. After 9 months the need to get a ‘proper job’ reared its ugly head and unfortunately I was forced to choose between the two. Sadly the paid job needed to come out on top and that put his career as a DJ on hold, indefinitely.

Over the following 20 years I have worked in the hospitality industry as chef, barman and ultimately manager of a public house. Upon leaving the trade I then worked for a community organisation, providing support and education to adults with learning disabilities. During this time music and entertainment were never far from my mind. I worked with individuals to develop musical performance skills and record a CD at Red Tape studios, Sheffield. From there a talent show was born and the 8 week show, in the style of X-Factor, was presented, produced and directed by SJ.

The show was even made available on DVD, which were purchased by relatives and friends of participants to buy as keepsakes. The years spent in the community and charity sector have given me a broad understanding of all different walks of life and different challenges people face.

Specifically, how the power of music can enhance and change lives for the better.