Andy Haynes and Bainy, two friends and former colleagues of mine, started the radio show Notts Live on Sherwood Radio before setting up shop on Trent Sound. The only dedicated Nottingham music show, (in the UK at least, I hear there's one in America), they have in the last two years created something culturally significant for the city and they should be proud of their baby. I have had the pleasure of working with them individually, they have both co-presented one edition of The Sunday Alternative and one edition of The Sound Of Nottingham UK with me and we worked well together. Notts Live has had a bit of a bumpy ride of late, Andy took a sabbatical last year, I won't say why as it isn't my place to do so, and Bainy carried on with a succession of guest co-presenters. Andy returned to presenting duty before Christmas, reuniting the team for the Christmas special and their now traditional 'Festive Thirty', but Bainy had already given his notice, and the Boxing Day show was to be his last. Andy carried on with Notts Live, and tonight was the first of the rebranded Nottingham Live. It's not only a perfect progression, it makes logical sense too. People often confuse Notts Live, the radio show, with Nottingham Live, the online magazine, so a teaming up of the two is a marriage made in heaven. So tonight I was looking forward to listening to the all new, rebranded, new format, year zero show. My two mates, Andy and Nottingham Live owner Darren, together on the show, I couldn't wait to hear what was in store for us the listener.

It turns out that what was in store for the listener, was my unexpected return to Trent Sound Towers, (not an actual tower). I woke up to a text message from Andy to say that he had resigned from Trent Sound with immediate effect, and would I do it. Then my phone bleeped again, the station boss Andy Lloyd asking if I had heard the news, and do I want the show. He pointed out that it fitted in quite well with what I am currently doing, but to be honest, I don't know if I could commit to it. Nor do I think I really want to, I found The Sunday Alternative stressful, and have a lot of other commitments. On the other hand, I tend to thrive on stress, but at the time of writing this blog, I am still undecided about whether or not I really want the arse-ache of three hours of live radio with all the work that goes into it. I know that a hell of a lot of preparation goes into the show, with a live session every week, interview guests, and new music, on top of that there's writing a new blurb every week for the Trent Sound website. When the show is over, there's the blog, and the tending of the Facebook page. Do I want to put myself through all that bollocks again? Probably. Although I did take full control of The Sunday Alternative so it wouldn't be like that this time around.

For the sake of the show, I did offer to do tonight. I had forgotten how much of an adrenaline rush you get on live radio, (I am trying to sort out a live edition of the American show if logistically possible), and how radio never leaves you. There were slight problems with the interview guests turning up late and no fucking sound engineer turning up to produce the live music session, but we managed to steer ourselves out of the shit and make an enjoyable show.

Andy won't have made this decision lightly, as he is a radio man like me. My departure from Trent Sound was pretty much down to my flying off the handle and flouncing off, but Andy had at least taken the time to think about it properly. If you heard the show, you will have heard the statement that he wrote and I read out, and all we can do is wish him all the best for the future, whatever his future may entail.

Fine broadcasters, good men, and good friends the pair of them. Nottingham Live will roll on, whoever the permanent presenters are, because the show is only as good as the music, and luckily we are in the best city in the UK for music.

17th June 2012 with Andy Haynes, part one. Parts two and three will follow straight after if you leave Mixcloud running.

The original Notts Live, Andy Haynes (glasses) and Bainy (worried expression)

A new era. The Union, Darren, Me

===

My daily blog can be delivered straight to your Kindle for 99p a month (link)

My daily blog is available as an audio book, either free or name your price (link)