Absolute Radio 15: Here's how we're celebrating
Thanks for coming along for the ride
Last updated 27th Sep 2023
Absolute Radio turns 15 on Friday 29th September and across the month we’ll be bringing you loads of amazing programmes to celebrate the birthday and to thank you for being part of the Absolute Radio family.
We've got classic Absolute Radio Live gigs from the vault, incredible and insightful documentaries about the likes of Ringo Starr among others, our incredible 15th birthday gig starring James, our comedy night and, of course, our vote to determine the best song of the last 15 years... Here's everything you need to know about what's coming up this month.
Absolute Radio's 15th birthday: Here's how we're celebrating
Birthday gig and comedy gig
We started the month with a very special announcement about our birthday gig. Iconic band James will perform at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire - a venue that epitomises everything we stand for at Absolute Radio. We've also announced details about our comedy night at the London Palladium, plus the full line-up has been confirmed. Keep listening to the Dave Berry Breakfast show for everything you need to know.
Absolute Radio Live
We love live music and we know you do too. So, across the month we've been bringing you some classic Absolute Radio live performances including Coldplay, Stereophonics, Wet Leg, Sleeper, Liam Gallagher and Florence and The Machine.
But, it all kicked off on Thursday 7th of September at 7pm, when we brought you Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, live from the O2 Academy in Bournemouth. This was the gig we did recently and you'll hear the Chief performing and chatting with Richie Firth and Sarah Champion.
Tim Burgess' Listening Party
We turned the tables on Tim Burgess when he became the guest on his Listening Party. On Sunday 10th September at 10pm, he joined Danielle Perry for a special programme where he talked us through Tellin' Stories. This closed season two of the show.
Insightful documentaries
We love bringing you the amazing stories about the artists, albums and genres which make up Absolute Radio and this month, we'll have five special documentaries. It started with a focus on the legend that is Ringo Starr as Dan Noble de-bunks the myth that he wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles. Leona Graham looks at the resurgence of Heavy Metal and how it's reaching new audiences.
Dolly Parton is one of the contributors to Made in Nashville which looks at the well-worn path that Country musicians tread in their bid for fame. Ross Buchanan looks at the science behind Ed Sheeran's song-writing prowess and asks the question of whether there's an exact formula to his success. We end with the story of how Wham! changed the world with China's first ever music concert. You can hear the Absolute Radio stories every Sunday night from 8pm.
Greatest Song of the Last 15 Years Vote
As we approach the birthday itself, Ben Burrell will count down the Greatest Song of the Last 15 Years which you've been voting for. The winner will be announced on Friday 29th September which is our actual birthday, and on that day we're handing the station over to you to choose the music from 10am.
Leona Graham will team up with Claire Sturgess for the morning show and then Sarah Champion joins Ben Burrell for the afternoon before Bush and Richie's jukebox. We're also inviting some friends round for a proper party – The Dixon Brothers from our sister station KISS will be doing a very special three-hour show which will be 80s versus 90s versus 00s.
Those are some of the highlights, but there’s lots more to come too. Five Words, Five Grand returns to the Dave Berry Breakfast Show and you’ll have loads of chances to win our very special birthday mugs.