ENTERTAINMENT—With just weeks away before the launch of the city’s brand new digital commercial radio station, there is already an excitement of anticipation among Glaswegians; and when you see the line-up of presenters already signed up you’ll understand why.

There’s a brand new station about to hit town and punters better listen out! GO Radio, which stands for Glasgow’s Own, is due for its premiere in a few short weeks’ time. It already promises to be enriched with the aim of keeping it local. Something Glasgow has lost of late due to other outlets broadening out and ‘getting above their station’.

It’s been a long time coming for the vibrant city that has a long-standing tradition for its passion for great radio that they can be proud of. The team behind the new radio station know what Glasgow wants and Glaswegians are known to thrive on what the station promises to deliver: local content, local interactivity, and of course – local patter.

The entertainment-mad city has always demanded, flourished and excelled when it comes down to local produce. It has a history of unearthing top music icons and producing the very best in radio presenters. As one of our regular readers (Jackie from East Kilbride) said of the importance of local radio: “Glasgow not only loves its music and chat but it’s also interesting to note that a radio presenter from Glasgow is looked up to like one of the city’s top football stars.

“They feel an instant connection to a presenter and their loyalty both ways knows no bounds. It goes without saying if you have a radio station idea all planned out for Glasgow you better make sure you have the very cream behind the mic. The punters will accept nothing less. They’ll soon let you know if you’ve short changed them.”

The new station is clear on its intentions and they’ve stopped at nothing to bring in the marquee names the punters expect. What’s more, there is something very unique about the city of Glasgow in the respect a station must have the same amount of energetic output as it does input. Presenters and listeners from Glasgow have always worked this way.

There are others who have some pretty thought-provoking ideas for the new station but there’s probably not much, if anything, the directors of GO Radio haven’t covered.

In a highly competitive environment how will GO Radio flex its muscles?

Well, the brand new station have three radio broadcasting legends on board already: Tiger Tim Stevens, Suzie McGuire, and Scottie McClue. When you talk about muscling in – those are heavyweights and good to have on your side. Perhaps the station could put ‘Square’ in front of GO because the listeners are in safe hands with those crop of signings.

On a business and creative level GO Radio have a very impressive management team and no doubt will have covered every angle possible to make sure the listeners enjoy the finest radio experience. Station Programme Director Kevin Cameron, ex-Clyde presenter and pilot, is perfectly placed for such a huge project. Going by the early marker the station has laid down, there is no question Kevin’s meticulous preparations and relentless pursuit to bring Glasgow the very best product is about to pay off. Backed by his own experience and abilities, as well as his team’s, the city’s new radio station is about to get off to a flying start.

DJ Suzie: Darling of the Airwaves

Legendary presenter Suzie McGuire captured hearts with her famous slots on Clyde, which put the gorgeous DJ mum at the top of the popularity charts. It’s no exaggeration to say GO Radio have snapped up a ‘Lionel Messi’ signing in the bubbly blonde, who is a wonderful exponent in pure interaction banter. Suzie’s inclusion in the GO team will automatically mean her army of followers will be turning on the McGuire Dial. And we’re guessing it will only take the length of a two-mile traffic jam before most of Glasgow tunes in to her drivetime slot. There is also a hint of the possibility of ‘a wee bit edgy’ content on DJ Suzie’s show. Couple that with her cheeky patter and infectious personality, this new station looks like a GO-er already.

Scottie McClue: The Dinky-Doo Voice of Wisdom and Reason

If it’s ratings a station is looking for (and why wouldn’t they?) then they need not look anywhere else than Scottie McClue. Famed for his popular phone-in shows, injecting some common sense into the heart of the nation with his no-nonsense opinions and viewpoints; Scottie is a master in the art of debate and live airwaves interaction. A seasoned campaigner who commands a healthy audience attendance, it’s easy to see why the bosses at GO Radio made the necessary moves to secure his services. With Scottie on air nothing is boring or predictable…exactly as a Glasgow audience insists.Whatever phone provider GO Radio are contracted to, they best ask to remove the limit on incoming calls.

Tiger Tim Stevens is like any other legendary figure in any other walk of life: he doesn’t need much of an introduction. Without question, the boy who grew up in one of Glasgow’s sprawling housing estates, Easterhouse, is as Glaswegian as anyone and by far the most influential radio presenter ever to have graced the turntables. It is unclear to us at Dafty News what schedule or slot the great DJ will appear but his inclusion and role on board only adds strength and weight to what is shaping up to be a great new era in local broadcasting.

What our readers and contributors say about the new Glasgow station

As a Glasgow-born online news and entertainment mag, it is the natural thing to do to get the views of Glaswegians. We talked to some about their thoughts on the most exciting radio broadcasting announcement the city has heard since the early 1970s.

Eddie Black from Knightswood in Glasgow, a Dafty News reporter, said:

“Glasgow once thought that Radio Clyde was what was needed by the city’s inhabitants, and perhaps at that time it was.

“But radio is really a big business which looks to maximizing profits and somehow along the way lost its way as a community radio.

“The fact that there is possibly an alternative to what’s currently available on the cards can only be seen as a step forward for the citizens of Glasgow.

“Looking forward to it myself, but hoping that it strays away from the tired clichéd radio that we currently have today.”

Louise Madden, a Glaswegian from Holland, said: “Fantastic news. We need some diversity. Glasgow folks are always open to new entertainment.”

Francis from the west end of Glasgow said: “This is great news all-round as it will gives us back our identity as far as entertainment value is concerned.”

Leanne, a fitness instructor from Paisley, said: “I think this is a great thing for Glasgow and the west as it is giving a local voice back to Glasgow. It’ll be nice to have a station that is being broadcast from Glasgow and it’s all about Glasgow. I’m looking forward to the launch.”

Derek Reid, originally from Clydebank, and Dafty News writer, said: “Radio listeners have been long overdue a change and what better personalities to make that happen. Here’s to a new vein of entertainment hitting our hearts and homes.”

Mags, originally from Drumchapel, said: “Tiger Tim takes me back to my Drummy days. Scottie McClue is a cheeky so-and-so, and Suzie McGuire deserves a medal. I can’t wait to hear the new station.”

Although the full presenters list is not known to us, there were cries from many we spoke to who name-dropped just a few icons they hope to be listening to.

Johnny from the south side of the city feels a music station based in Glasgow for Glaswegians really has to have Billy Sloan on its schedule list. He told Dafty News: “Billy is a huge music presenter icon and untouched by anyone in his field across Great Britain. When you talk about Glaswegian entertainment figures; then Billy and his legacy are beyond comparable or beatable. I am looking forward to this new station. Their local mantra is definitely their selling point.”

Catherine in England, but originally from Glasgow, said she can’t wait to hear the station online and praised the owners of GO Radio for keeping it local. She mentioned another great broadcaster and hopes the station has him lined up or they have plans to have him presenting his own show. She said: “Charm wit and Glasgow patter comes in all forms from a wide range of generations but for me Jim Symon is a must. Late nights died when he left Radio Clyde.”

Interesting perspectives and exciting times ahead for the city of Glasgow.

Good luck to GO Radio and as the locals said: “It’s been a long time coming.”

* GO Radio will be available online, on apps for radio, tablet, and smartphone.

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