International Women’s Day is dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements whilst also taking action for equality and calling out harmful biases. Amplifying and spotlighting is at the very forefront of this day.
For this International Women’s Day we held a roundtable discussion focusing on the topic of Women’s Safety. We invited cis, trans women and non-binary people to share their experiences on topics such as domestic violence, street safety, language that contributes to violence against women and what we can do to improve women’s safety. This roundtable was made possible by Heritage Fund.
Hosted by Jenna G, the discussion featured multiple guest speakers who shared their experiences or delved into performances inspired by the roundtable topic. London based International Slam Champion Y.A, and our very own Artist in Resident Melissa Dean delivered their original spoken word material, exploring themes such as trauma, depression and finding self-love. Also expect an appearance from founders of SLEEC, a survivor-run organisation that changes systems, supports survivors and dismantles the roots of male violence.
Aside from this discussion, we have so many amazing shows by our residents and special guests contributing to this momentous day. First up we invited Nu-R&B Neo Soul artist Mali Hayes for a one hour takeover. Since making their debut back in 2016, Mali Hayes has snatched recognition as one of Clash Magazines Artists Set To Rise, and is set to support the Ego Ella May this March at Manchester’s YES. Live on Reform airwaves from 2PM.
Mali Hayes
Next up we have Sunday Night W/ Dani & Lauren, diving into guitar based music made by the queens of Punk, Blues, Soul and Rock from the 1950’s up until present day.
Finally we have the queen of dance DJ Paulette inviting Raw Silk for their monthly show. The Raw Silk duo have been hosting events, radio shows and DJing together since they met one sweet summer in Melbourne. Grace and Steph have provided the vibes and tunes to many dance floors both internationally and locally. Glastonbury Festival, AVA, you name it.
Tune in this Saturday 12th March from 7PM-9PM to catch this exclusive guest mix.
Start your March off the right way by joining Reform for our Online Work Club session. This one will take place on Thursday 10th March from 3:30PM – 5:30Pm and is packed full of opportunities.
Work Club runs on the last Thursday of every month with a full session based on opportunities for the future. It includes a number of speakers who discuss various opportunities available, as well as 1-1s and pastoral sessions.
We are excited to introduce our brand new project FutureYou, a programme designed to help guide and support young people on their career journeys.
Thinking about your future can be daunting, so we have teamed up with Ingeus UK and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to create FutureYou to help plan your career and get you into the education, training or employment that is right for you. This project was kindly made possible by the European Social Fund.
The programme offers 1-1 mentoring sessions, well-being & CV writing support, with work placements and career planning opportunities for those ages 18-24 and not currently in education or employment.
Our friendly team of mentors will guide you every step of the way and provide you with the support you need to move forward and find your next career step. By working with Manchester based organisations and employers, we will break down barriers together and help you find great opportunities in your local area.
For more details of what FutureYou can help with, see the flyer down below.
If you are interested in this project, drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
DJ Sessions, a project kindly funded by MAES, started with a bang on Monday the 14th of February (a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, don’t you think?). Led by DJ, producer and record label managerJoe Roche, this six week programme focuses on how to DJ, self promote and source what opportunities are out there, presenting individuals with a chance to play out in Manchester.
With only one week to get savvy with the decks, the participants entered the space at Reform Radio keen to learn and become the DJ that deep down, they always have been.
On day one the participants came into the space and were introduced to the nuts and bolts of deejay land. We are talking USBs, headphones, the do’s and the don’ts and the best softwares for organising your music. But it’s not all about equipment and the technical stuff. Although this is a huge proportion of becoming a DJ, discovering your personal style and image that you want to show the world is equally as important in becoming a full-fledged artist.
Now let’s get one thing straight. In order to be a DJ, one must become one. To immerse themselves into the disc-jockey world & phenomenon, the young people invented their DJ names and put forth their new alias; to cement, commit & complete their transition into their shiny new DJ personality.
Creative juices were certainly flowing in the studio, with names ranging from DJ Zambezi, KayBee, Los Lopez, The Blessed Les Dennis and Red Hicks to name a few. One of the participants named Monique chose the DJ name MIQUE, a shortened adaptation of her full name.
Another individual called Jesús chose the name MXANNA (pronounced mx-anna); the MX being a presentation that’s genderqueer and XANA being the name of a mythological creature or Spanish nymph from the forests in Northern Spain.
Jesús in the zone, getting their playlist ready for Friday.
With their DJ names finessed and the decks ready to be spun, participants were posed with the question: What do you want to get out of the week?
Manchester-born Kim, who is part of ‘Double Trouble’ with her sister who MCs and is a regular on MCR based radio station All FM, is used to mixing vinyl. As a selector, Kim started spinning tunes in the vinyl days but decided that if they are going to get booked out again, they need to learn how to mix on CDJs.
A lovely moment captured of Kim, otherwise known as KayBee, performing at the showcase.
Ben, who is also from Manchester and studied Music Technology at college, saw DJ Sessions as a ‘great opportunity to blow off the cobwebs and get back into DJing’.
The rest of the week was jam packed with hands-on learning, activities and break out rooms to get the group feeling confident with the decks ahead of the last session of the week. During which, participants were tasked with coming up with a playlist of their choice, to mix and perform in the space to promoters and venues across Manchester.
Lauren from Newcastle had previous experience mixing during her student years and upon finding an old USB filled with Liquid Drum & Bass, decided to get back into it because she ‘loves the music and club scene’. Lauren also commented on how the DJ industry is somewhat ‘relentless’, but participating in DJ Sessions is a great opportunity to bridge that gap.
As the group dynamic began to skill-up and individuals started to think about what songs they would like to choose to impress the promoters, all kinds of genres started bursting out of the studios.
Another participant with previous experience, Ben, who normally plays Jungle, decided to slow things down and go with ‘middle of the road House music’ for his playlist of choice. Whilst other participants such as Jesús were pumping Industrial Techno before switching it up and playing Last Dance by Donna Summer, which really got the vibes rolling between the group and the Reform team.
Ben, otherwise known as Sweaty B (left) and Jesús, otherwise known as MXANNA (right) performing at the showcase.
Although each person has their own unique style and preferred genre of choice, they were encouraged to think out of the box and pick a style of music that would be most enjoyed at bars and venues across Manchester. With popular genres ranging from RnB, Hip Hop, House, Reggeaton, Disco and Indie music to name a few, the young people got their thinking hats on.
Some of the favoured genres chosen throughout the group were RnB, Hip Hop and House, with individuals such as Monique thinking that ‘employers will prefer RnB because of the types of venues’.
Although there was lots of physical learning, the nitty gritty of professionalism and etiquette were brought to the table during the week, with industry talks and inside knowledge of how to approach agencies and promoters.
On the big day of the showcase, the group came to the space in the morning and got their mixing fingers ready to play for the promoters.
The energy in the studio during this session was truly impeccable, with an atmosphere of support and individuals hyping each other up. Unfortunately due to Storm Eunice, some of the promoters were unable to come into the space. However, in true we-live-in-the-digital-age style, Zoom came to save the day and both promoters and friends of the group took to the screens to enjoy the show. One of the participants, Magic, took on the hosting duties and provided the vibes for the day.
Lauren otherwise known as Finlay Roth (left) and Magic (right) hosting & performing at the showcase.
Meduulla otherwise known as DJ Meduulla (left) and Yelena otherwise known as Lashimba (right) getting their boogie on.
Gabriel otherwise known as Red Hicks getting his groove on.
A resounding success, the group rounded things up feeling proud of themselves, with one person commenting that they felt like a ‘star’ for the day. In the following weeks, the individuals will be meeting every Wednesday evening to shadow Reform’s DJs and take their DJ careers to the next level by gaining fundamental experience in the studios and working collaboratively with industry professionals.
If you are keen to get your hands on decks or have any questions about this or our other projects, drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk
Soundcamp is a 12 week programme that gives up and coming artists the opportunity to develop their performance and music business skills, delivered in partnership with Youth Music. The Soundcamp Spotlight series is a feature that aims to shine the light on Soundcamp artists and share their story with our audience.
Next up, we have PERiiSU stepping up to the platform…
Could you please introduce yourself.
I go by the name PERiiSU, and I’m an artist/producer from Manchester.
When did your musical journey start? Who are your influences?
My musical journey started from a young age. I would say around the age of eight. The first ‘instrument’ I had was a fork & knife, I would bang on the table tops creating a beat. Then that moved onto a few years later, where I got Hip – Hop Ejay 6, FL Studio to now Logic Pro (which I have been using ever since).
I have a wide range of influences – Tyler The Creator, Frank Ocean, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, J Dilla, Quincy Jones. Those are the ones I can only think of at the top of my head, but my list is endless.
How would you describe your production and DJing style?
My production is a concoction of what I like to listen to, which is a bit of everything. But for a detailed description, I produce gritty, electronic sounds, with smooth soulful melodic elements. This can include a big hefty grimy bassline (inspired by my UK & Jamaican heritage), alongside American Soul, 90s R&B vocal melodies and East Coast Hip-Hop.
You were part of the Soundcamp cohort back in 2018, what were some of your highlights?
I have a couple of highlights from Soundcamp. The main one was performing at Night & Day Cafe. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing a positive reaction from the crowd when you showcase your music. Another highlight for me was creating and coming up with my logo design, which Glen Cutwerk digitally brought to life. I have stamped that as a milestone in my music journey, because it turned out beautiful.
You then got involved with our Co-Lab Theory project in 2020 where you collaborated on a track with Swing Ting. Why did you decide to get involved? Did the project meet your expectations?
I decided to get involved, because I thought this was the perfect opportunity to not only work by creating music with an established Mancunian artist, but to also get advice for how to go about being an artist. The project exceeded my expectations because we got coverage on media blogs such as Mixmag, Hyponik & Fact Magazine. I’m also still in contact with Balraj, so Reform made the right decision matching me with Swing Ting lol, thanks Reform!
Could you tell us a bit about your track ‘Business & Culture’ which was born out of this project.
For ‘Business & Culture’, it came so naturally when I collaborated with Swing Ting. I don’t exactly remember whether it was the drum pattern or the melody we started with, but everything just jelled perfectly together once completed. We produced it at the Swing Ting studio, so being in their own space made it even more special.
What are you hoping your next steps will be?
My next step is to release my first major album. It’s been over 2 years in the making, but I’m telling you it’s definitely worth the wait. You can’t rush greatness, especially when it comes from the heart. So be on the lookout for that when it comes out.
Anything upcoming that you would like to shout out?
I’ll be releasing a few singles soon. However, before that, I’ve got something huge launching soon which I’m soo excited about. I won’t mention it for now as it’s a secret, but just know it will definitely benefit my music career and give me the freedom to express myself to the fullest.
Are there any local artists/musicians/collectives that you would like to shout out?
To be totally honest, I can’t really think of any right now other than Balraj. I would like to give a massive shout out to Balraj from Swing Ting. He’s been in contact with me since we first met & is still checking up on what I’ve got going on so far, and also been a major support. So big up Balraj!
And finally…What was your favourite album of 2021?
I would say it’s got to be the goat Tyler The Creator ‘Call Me If You Get Lost’.
We know you are all dying to hear how out latest podcasting course Manchester Futures went down… sit tight and let us tell you the ins and outs of podcasting town.
Our latest workshop, delivered in partnership with The Prince’s Trust, kicked off in the end of January with a two week Podcasting Bootcamp, during which participants were immersed into the mind-blowing world of digital broadcasting.
To our utter delights, Manchester Futures was able to run in person and participants came into our space at Bonded Warehouse.
After learning the foundations of how to script, record and edit a full podcast, participants were introduced to three different employers from Manchester.
The group of young people had the pleasure of working with some pretty incredible businesses this time running, with two site visits during the first week.
One group visited Rope Ladder Fiction in Swinton, the new film set for the Waterloo Road TV series, who were thrilled by the opportunity to see the behind the scenes action of how a TV series functions. One participant of this group says ‘It really brought on how real it actually is, once you experience it, it seems so much more achievable’. Two people from each department were interviewed, such as the art, story writing, production managers and story alchemists – a great success.
Another group visited one of the Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) locations, the Sugden Centre which is located next to the University of Manchester. The GLL manages a huge proportion of leisure centres across the UK, amounting in a whopping 270 facilities. As a charitable social enterprise and not-for-profit business, they also fund over 3,000 athletes via a sports foundation programme and work closely with their partner Cancer Research.
For the sporty crowd amongst the group, this one was very appealing and one participant says ‘It was quite fun because they booked a hall for us, so we got to play a bit of badminton’.
After the badminton rodeo, the group interviewed the manager of the Sugden Centre and then retreated back to Reform for lunch (chocolate penguins were on the cards, you see).
The final group interviewed the founder of Mozzington, a non-profit design agency – ‘all about creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds to thrive and contribute to society’ (we couldn’t have put it better ourselves).
Upon speaking to the Manchester Futures cohort, it became apparent that there was a common denominator encapsulating the room. As a group, most of the individuals involved were hoping to gain more experience and reward themselves with another gold star to pop on their CV (tick).
Let’s be honest, the past two years have been challenging and getting your foot in the door as a young creative has never felt more tough. So, to see a great turnout for Manchester Futures just proves the need for such projects.
One participant says that the workshop has shifted their path and perspective, as they have ‘always been creative’ but ‘always had a 9-5’ in order to support their creative venture, in this case – acting. But, in light of these comments, the participant adds that the workshop has given them the confidence to ‘shift into a new direction and work in a place where I can grow’. This is the energy we love to see in 2022!
Similarly, another young person on the course, who has career aspirations of being a film director, explains how the past few weeks have helped them. ‘As one of the youngest here, I am quite fresh and new to all of this. I felt that I didn’t have the creative knowledge to go into the creative field, because people want degrees and I didn’t have that’.
The pressure of going to University is monumental, overwhelming and more importantly, not for everyone. Degrees are not the be all and end all, there are plenty of other ways to kickstart your career. During the following four weeks of Manchester Futures, 1-1 support such as wellbeing, CV writing, applications, interview prep and work placements are offered to help and support our participants in their journeys.
As an ongoing six-week project, participants had all set themselves personal goals for the experience. One comments, that they hope by the end of this to start a path onto their ‘dream career’ and begin doing what they have wanted to do their ‘entire life’ (make money AND enjoy it… yes, please).
After conducting the interviews, the participants worked in groups to edit them together to be aired on a live show that took place on Friday the 11th on February at 1PM.
Naming themselves ‘Expression Collective‘, the group describes their podcasting bootcamp:
‘Over the space of two weeks we have learnt how to make podcasts and had the opportunity to talk to employers in a variety of fields and gain an in depth understanding about their field of work. As well as this, we really wanted to gauge how us and those around us express themselves.’
Listen back to the show down below to hear what they put together over the duration of the podcasting bootcamp.
If you would like to gain more experience, meet industry professionals and push yourself out of your comfort zone then listen out for our next project and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or queries via projects@reformradio.co.uk
Our exciting Podcasting Course in Tameside is back. If you want to take a deeper dive into the world of podcasting, then this project is for you.
Tameside Futures is a 6 week programme – providing bespoke support to young people 16-25 who are looking for work.
The programme includes an exciting 2 week Podcasting Bootcamp – You will learn how to develop and script a podcast, creating relevant and interesting content, learn the ins and outs of audio production, social media and creative writing. You will also get experience of producing and presenting in a live radio show.
The next 4 weeks are bespoke and offer opportunities to access workshops and 1-1 support in: wellbeing, CV writing, applications, interview prep, work placements and other flexible support to fit around you.
See the flyer above for contacts to get involved.
If you’re an employer and currently looking for new talent …
We are looking for organisations who are seeking to recruit new talent or who frequently work with freelancers/contractors, and those that can offer placements and interviews for our young people.
Employers must commit to between 1-5 days for young people to get hands on experience in their organisation and meet their teams.
The ambition of the Sustainable Futures Fund is not only to support young people at a time of great need, but to enable Greater Manchester to come out of the pandemic looking confidently into the future – aligning with a clear plan for growing industries providing sustainable, good quality, ‘future-focused’ jobs in the region. – The Prince’s Trust
Please contact mike@reformradio.co.uk if you are interested or would like more information.
Demo Tapes is the protest music project inspired by the North West sound archives. Using these archives of sound to make protest music, a group of young people make music that touches on many significant historical social movements that are prevalent not only in the NW region, but globally.
Previously, you could have heard Demo Tapes shows on Reform’s airwaves back in 2021, taking us behind the scenes of their journey from their first workshop to their final gig. Within which, musicians from More Music, Collective Encounters and Brighter Sound wrote original music responding to archives of sound they listened too.
This year, young musicians from the Demo Tapes project join us again during LGBTQIA+ History Month for another show, ‘Rewind With More Music’. Continuing to work with More Music in Morecambe and unlock the sound heritage of Manchester, they found an incredible archived audio of Luchia Fitzgerald, one of the founding members of the Gay Liberation Front in Manchester.
A prodigy to the LGBTQIA+ community in Manchester, Fitzgerald’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. In 2020, she won the Lifetime Achievement Awards with Pride of Manchester and has been continually recognised for her activist work in the city.
Inviting Luchia into the studio, Demo Tapes discussed her life as an LGBTQIA+ activist and campaigner. The conversation spanned the establishment of the Gay Liberation Front, the obstacles that were and are in the way of the LGBTQIA+ community fighting for their rights, how activism has changed from the 1970s to now and much more.
Using the sound archive of Fitzgerald’s voice, they made a song entitled ‘You’ve got the magic’ which they have been performing both live and online since its creation.
Joining Reform’s Resident Aisha Williamsin Demo Tapes is Ashley Murphy, the workforce development and music leader from More Music, who are also joined by some of the young people that took part.
Listen back to the show down below to hear all about Demo Tapes, More Music‘s workshops and how an Irish female activist fought for women’s and LGBTQIA+ people’s rights in Manchester.
This project has been supported by the The National Lottery Heritage Fund and co-ordinated by the British Library, with special thanks to More Music, Hope Streets & Manchester Libraries archives.
We are running another instalment of Creative Leadership project and it’s open for anyone aged 19-30, who is currently unemployed and located in the Greater Manchester area.
The workshop will consist of 4 sessions in which you will be able to learn about facilitation, funding, taxes and what it takes to be a freelancer.
If you’ve ever thought about setting up your own business, it’s important to understand your audience, self-employment and taxes. Facilitating workshops and delivering socially engaged projects in your community will require you to know how to write funding bids, work with partners, plan sessions and evaluate their success.
If you are interested in this project, drop us an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
Start your February off the right way by joining Reform for the second Online Work Club of 2022. This session will take place on Thursday 24th February from 3:30PM – 5:30Pm and is packed full of opportunities.
Work Club runs on the last Thursday of every month with a full session based on opportunities for the future. It includes a number of speakers who discuss various opportunities available, as well as 1-1s and pastoral sessions.
Returning this year on Thursday 3rd March is Reform’s very wholesome project, First 1000 Days – Storytelling Sessions.
This project is a series of workshops that explore storytelling, creative writing, the importance of characters and narrative and result in the group creating their own bespoke story for their babies. This is then recorded and turned into an audio book, which can be used to support literacy at home, language development and wellbeing.
Through accessing this project, all families are signed up to Manchester Imagination Library, receiving a free book each month until their child is 2 years old. There is also wrap around support provided and access to Speech and Language, Outreach Teams and Employability support through all partners involved.
This project is in partnership with Manchester Imagination Library and Sure Start, and is supported by Manchester City Counciland Manchester Health and Care Commissioning.
See the flyer below for more information on how to get involved.
Today is Blue Monday. A day that on average many find very mentally challenging. From the weather remaining dark and gloomy, to financial strain from the holiday period, many factors can flood in during this month, making this time of the year even more challenging than usual for some.
If you are struggling mentally and would like to talk to someone, please visit our Emergency Contacts page. There are multiple amazing organisations that offer their services 24/7.
To help uplift you during this difficult time, participants from our well-being focused project Positive Frequencies, have created a show exploring what it means to be true to ourselves (the good, the bad …and the beautiful!). The participants will take you on a journey through song, poetry and spoken word showcasing their talents.
The show will air today (Monday 17th January) at 1PM on reformradio.co.uk.
Supported byManchester Adult Education Service, Positive Frequencies is a week of personal development, creative writing and self-expression. The workshop will wrap up with a roundtable discussion. We provide a space for Participants to develop positive self-expression and a toolbox of wellbeing skills to help take and sustain their positive next steps.
The lead facilitator of this week-long well-being course, Dan Owens-Cooper, has also created a video on staying connected. Dan is Reform’s Mental Health and Well-being manager who has had countless 1-1s with our residents and present and past participants. Check out the video below.
A 6 week programme for those who are interested in learning all things DJ related, and want the chance to play out.
Led by DJ, producer and record label managerJoe Roche, the programme will focus on DJ workshops, how to self promote and learn about DJ opportunities.
The remaining 5 weeks will involve shadowing live shows and promo activities at Reform’s studios every Wednesday evening. The programme will wrap up with a gig opportunity where participants can showcase their DJ skills.
See flyer below for more info and to get involved.
Boombox FM is a radio play created through lockdow by young people in Greater Manchester.
The project was funded by ESF and the storyline is inspired by real life experiences throughout lockdown with elements dramatised wonderfully by the young people for the enjoyment of our listeners. This show also includes music created by the participants as well as spoken word and stories written whilst meeting weekly online
Kickstart 2022 with Reform’s very own online Work Club. The first work club of the year will be running from 3:30PM – 5:30 PM on Thursday 27th January.
Work Club takes place on a Thursday each month, and is based on opportunities for the future. It includes a number of speakers who discuss various opportunities available, as well as 1-1s and pastoral sessions.
The well-being focused workshops are guided by Reform’s very ownMental Health and Well-being Manager Dan Owens-Cooper. The main aim of these sessions is to help you navigate the many thoughts, feelings and experiences that life throws at us.
The two hour workshop will be be kicking off at 6PM on the 7th December, and subsequently returns every two weeks.
See the flyer below for more info & contact to get involved.
To wrap up our most recent MAES funded Music Course is Vibez@it’s_finest.pro. A show created by up and coming talent from the Manchester area.
Music Course gives participants the opportunity to learn and develop their skills in music production, radio productions, social media and creative writing.
Listen to the full show below. Expect a whole range of different sounds, interviews and personalities.
The HERchester Documentary is finally out on Reform’s Youtube Channel. An exclusive look into the BTS of the HERchester Cypher, a finale performance that wrapped up an 8 week long MCing and lyrical writing workshop.
The project was funded by Arts Council England and brought together women, non-binary people, transgender women and those that identify as women from 4 different cities: Manchester, Morecambe, Blackpool and Sheffield. We teamed up with RiteTrax, House of Wingz and More Music who accommodated and guided participants in their respective cities.
Guided by interviews and shots from the rehearsals and cypher, the documentary gives us all the opportunity to understand the appeal of this amazing project. Participants share why they joined, their highlights and what they gained from this workshop. From the project being a safe space to grow to feeling supported and inspired by one another, the documentary’s narrative emphasises the importance of creating a space for underrepresented individuals to develop their skills in the music scene.
Watch the full documentary below.
We are very excited to announce that this Thursday 16th December at 12PM we will be taking over Arts Council England Instagram stories to shout about this amazing project.
This radio show is a collection of memories and advice from the young people of Tameside. The group have filled in this one hour with their own unique experiences of finding the Comedy in Life. Expect a conversation on all things queer, an exclusive interview with founder of Tameside’s Global Grooves and more.
The show was created by the participants of Tameside Futures, a project in partnership with the Prince’s Trust and Tameside City Council.
We have been blown away by the number of nominations and wins this year. From Podcasting to Projects, the awards have shone a light on Reform’s multiple departments.
Youth Music Awards 2021
The Youth Music Awards celebrates the most forward-thinking projects and individuals making, learning and earning in music. From artists and entrepreneurs to grassroots projects and young leaders, the event recognises an exciting range of trailblazers from across the scene.
Reform Radio were nominated for 3 Youth Music awards; Outstanding Project Award, Outstanding Act Award & Live Performance Award. Scroll down to find out more about each category.
WINNER : OUTSTANDING PROJECT AWARD
The Outstanding Project award celebrates organisations that push the boundaries and promote inclusive music education. We had two projects nominated this year, Soundcamp and Rhythm Lab Records‘ Career Starter and we are very excited to say that we won in both categories.
8 finalists of the first Soundcamp project with their mentors – Jenna G, Danny Fahey (Thirty Pound Gentleman) and Werkha.
A bit of background about the two projects. Soundcamp is a programme in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman and Youth Music, aiming to discover talent in Greater Manchester. The bootcamp aims to find 12 young people who have shown the potential of making a career in the music industries. They embark on a three-month intense mentorship with working musicians, to create their brand, new music and showcase at an industry event. Since the project began, they have collaborated with Mr Scruff, performed at We Out Here Festival and MIF Festival Square, and tracks have been broadcast on BBC.
Rhythm Lab Records
Rhythm Lab Records is Reform Radio’s in-house record label, that was originally an Arts Council funded project which strived to explore the art of collaboration and foster new creative relationships. As part of the Career Starter project, Reform Radio handed over their record label to five young people for six months. Having a budget of £400 per artist for five artists that they sign to the label, the group have taken on the roles of A&R, Business Affairs, Talent Development and PR and Marketing. With 100% control of the social media platforms, signings, budget, and key decision making, this truly is a ground-breaking project, offering the young group a once in a lifetime opportunity that will propel them into the Manchester music industry.
WINNER : OUTSTANDING ACT AWARD
Snatching a win for the Outstanding Act Award was Bolton born rapper Superlative. Recognised as being one of the best young rappers in the UK scene right now, Superlative aka Corey Brown, has been making waves in the industry for a while now. We are very proud to say that Corey joined our first Soundcamp project in 2018, made it to the final 8 and has been absolutely unstoppable. In 2020, the rapper collaborated with Manchester legend Mr Scruff on Reform Radio’s Co-Lab Theory programme, and has featured on multiple major festival line ups such as Green Man and Castlegate.
RUNNER UP : LIVE PERFORMANCE AWARD
The Live Performance Award is allocated to an artist from a Youth Music project who has delivered an outstanding live performance. Nominated for this award was Soundcamp 20′ alumni Sarah Angel who has performed multiple times in Reform’s studios.
The quote from Sarah Angel’s nominator perfectly encapsulates her intoxicating stage presence – “You can feel her getting lost in the power and emotion of her own music, it is utterly compelling and truly beautiful. This sort of performance without an audience is tricky yet Sarah creates her own atmosphere, making you feel instantly like it’s a live experience. It’s a really amazing achievement and a real skill.”
Manchester Culture Awards
Showcasing Manchester’s best in culture, arts and creativity, the Manchester Culture Awards celebrates the city’s creative heroes. Among awards like Best Performance, Best Event and Young Creative of the Year, Reform have been nominated for the People’s Choice Award and the Promotion of Environmental Sustainability Award.
WINNER : PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Reform Radio have been recognised for helping young people across Manchester through 618 sessions covering employability, digital and creative skills. Another contributing factor to the nomination was Reform’s free wellbeing support for their projects’s participants and community of over 300 DJs. We were really thrilled to receive this award and are grateful to everyone who has been working with us.
WINNER : PROMOTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Sustainability has become one of our key focuses here at Reform over the last 2 years. As an organisation and as individuals, we were able to use our passion and energy about climate change in ways that make meaningful, effective change. It means a lot to us that our work is being recognised by the Manchester community and beyond.
Audio Production Awards
WINNER : BEST NEW PODCAST PRODUCER
The APAs, organised by AudioUK, celebrates the craft and skills behind audio production. There are 21 categories in total spanning audiobooks, podcasting and radio.
Reform Radio’s very own Podcasting Manager Olivia Swift has been nominated for Best New Podcast Producer and ended up snatching the award.
This is another award to add to her books, as early on this year the Tough Talks podcast series Olivia produced won BestSex & Relationships Podcast at the British Podcast Awards.
Reform Radio wants to once again thank everyone that has been involved in these projects. These achievements wouldn’t have been accomplished without our amazing participants, staff, partners and funders. It is a blessing to be supported by so many people and organisations and we only want to share gratitude to those contributing to our journey, so thank you.
