Midge Ure to present Scala Radio's The Space from January 4th 2021
Ure will combine calming classical with music from fellow pop and rock counterparts including Eno, Peter Gabriel and Jonny Greenwood
Last updated 15th Jan 2021
As Scala Radio focuses its January programming around the theme 'Be Healthy, Be Happy', we're delighted to welcome a new guest presenter to our ranks - British artist Midge Ure, who starts in the new year on 4th January, curating tracks for our evening programme, The Space.
Midge really needs very little introduction. Having already achieved huge success in the 70s and 80s, by the time his single If I Was went to No.1 in 1985 he had crammed several musical lifetimes into a 10 year professional career - Slik, The Rich Kids, Thin Lizzy, Visage, Ultravox and of course the most famous one-off group in musical history, Band Aid.
Now joining Scala Radio as a guest host throughout January, Midge will bring his vast musical experience as he curates the atmospheric sounds of The Space. Midge will be specially selecting classically-inspired pieces and sharing anecdotes from his expansive career. You can expect to hear calming music from fellow pop and rock counterparts including Brian Eno, Sigur Rós, Air, Peter Gabriel and Jonny Greenwood alongside classical favourites by the likes of Grieg and Debussy.
Speaking about the new show, Midge said, “I think like me, many people are probably quite guilty of spending far too much time looking at screens in 2020 when we’ve been limited of other forms of real-life entertainment or contact.
"It will be the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind from the computer, tablet and mobile phone. I hope as January draws in, you’ll join me in taking a break from the noise in the evenings and just sit back and allow yourself to be carried away by some gorgeous music.”
Listen to The Space on Scala Radio, guest hosted by Midge Ure from Monday 4th January from 10pm on weekdays.
Midge also spoke to Total TV Guide about his show, reminiscing about where his love of music had begun - with classical musical, particularly Tchaikovsky, being a favourite.
"Music can take you out of the reality you're in. I lived in a tenement slum on the outskirts of Glasgow until I was 10 and one of the first pieces of music I remember on the radio was an instrumental called Sleep Walk by a couple of New Yorkers called Santo & Johnny. It was otherworldly
"I also recall driving my little transit van from Inverness to Glasgow in the middle of the night after doing a couple of shows, with the band sleeping in the back, and I had Ziggy Stardust by [David Bowie] playing. It took me to a whole different planet and as a songwriter I still have that ambient thing going on in my head - I paint pictures."
He teased a little about listeners can look forward to on his show, "I've been ridiculously fortunate in my career. I've survived 40-odd years in an industry that most people are lucky to last a couple of years in, and met interesting people. Working with George Martin was a wonderful thing, a cross between your father and your favourite teacher, so if I'm playing a piece of music he had a hand in, I'll share some little insights. I think people will find that interesting without it turning into some weird name-dropping scenario."