Otago Access Radio listeners will have no shortage of locally produced shows to enjoy over the holiday period. The station’s two studios have been booked solid over recent weeks as volunteer broadcasters record fresh episodes of their programmes to air when they are spending time with friends and family.
Station manager Lesley Paris said several broadcasters were planning special Christmas and New Year editions of their programmes.
“Jazz fans will be happy to know that Calder Prescott and Lou McConnell will be jointly hosting a ninety-minute special on Christmas Day. It’s a tradition that goes back a few years and a nice way to bring our two jazz aficionados together.
“Other programmes will explore themes that are especially relevant to this time of year, from staying physically and mentally healthy to enjoying the outdoors and relaxing with great books and great music.”
Summer holidays also offered the opportunity to catch up on programmes listeners might have missed earlier in the year. Podcasts were available to download from the station’s website and from iTunes, to be listened to at any convenient time.
Southern Heritage Trust programme Heritage Matters was an example of an informative and entertaining series that lent itself well to an “immersive” online listening experience.
“Heritage Matters covers a lot of territory, from stories of Dunedin’s earliest settlers to debate around preservation of the city’s built heritage and plans to restore or establish historic sites. Anyone with an interest in local history and architecture would find it a pretty compelling series to tap into.”
For those who wanted to create a musical soundtrack to their summertime activities, there were plenty of music programmes available as podcasts.
“We have Celtic music covered on Celtic World, Americana on The Jukebox Highway, vinyl classics on The Vinyl Vault and alternative music on Blip In The System, as well as several shows on our Connecting Cultures Zone that celebrate the music of our migrant communities.”
Photo: Podcast potential: Otago Access Radio’s Heritage Matters team are (from left) Jane Edwards, Dougal Stevenson and Bill Southworth.