BBC Radio in major schedule shake up as new weekly show launches and top actor hosts special documentary
THE UK’s biggest digital-only radio station has announced a major shake-up with a schedule that includes a Hollywood actor.
BBC Radio 6 Music, which attracts an average of 2.7 million listeners, kicks off its new season with a celebration of Jeff Buckley’s iconic album Grace, which was released 30 years ago.
Critics view the work, which came out in August 1994, as one of the greatest albums of all time.
Award-winning actor and musician Guy Pearce will present Jeff Buckley Forever, an exploration of the late singer’s much-praised music.
It will feature previously unheard interviews, as well as contributions from other artists inspired by him, his family and friends.
The star-studded line-up of contributors to the programme, which airs on 15 September, includes Chrissie Hynde, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, Elvis Costello, Jimmy Page, Nitin Sawhney, Patti Smith and Peter Gabriel among others.
Grace – the only album released by the American singer-songwriter before his untimely death in 1997 – includes Buckley’s cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, as well as the songs Last Goodbye and Lover, You Should’ve Come Over.
Guy says he is “lifted and floored” every time he listens to the album.
“I was one of those people who was immediately transfixed when I first heard Grace and it’s no exaggeration to say the album changed my life.”
Elsewhere, Tom Ravenscroft – son of legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who passed away in 2004 – rifles through more of his father’s legendary music collection for a new eight-part series of The Peel Collection.
Guests include Fatboy Slim, Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso and actor Johnny Flynn.
BBC Radio 6 will also see the launch of a new Artist in Residence series featuring Julian Casablancas, frontman of The Strokes and The Voidz.
Also featuring in the series are Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe; and avant-garde artist, musician and filmmaker Laurie Anderson.
Rounding off the new schedule, DJ Zakia Sewell is joining the ranks of 6 Music presenters with a new late evening weekly show.
Dream Time, described as providing music to “soothe the soul” starts on Sunday, 22 September.
Zakia says: “Dream Time on Sunday nights is all about music that transports listeners to other places and spaces – expect eclectic selections, from ambient to jazz and global sounds: music to ease the mind, soothe the soul, and open portals to new dimensions.”