We have new jingles

It’s hardly the most exciting news in the world, but we’ve just uploaded a bunch of new jingles that you’ll be hearing on Shed FM over the next few days. Farah on the Breakfast show has got her own, and you’ll hear loads more new music as we’re adding to the playlist heavily…

That includes the likes of I Am Not Lefthanded, Jim Guittard, Eleni Mandell, The East Down and Morning Light, among others. As always, if you’re in a band and you think we should be playing your music – write to us at dj@shed.fm!

On the Shed this week: Tricity Vogue & Francis Powell

Tricity Vogue

Here in the Shed, we like to think that we give you something different to listen to. Something that you wouldn’t hear on your other, less interesting radio stations. And that’s why we’re bringing you the brilliant Tricity Vogue, a woman who describes her own music as “cheeky jazz”. Backed up by a seven-piece “slinktet” (her word, not ours), Tricity’s unique jazz/pop reminds us of nothing else on the Shed playlist, blending swing, jazz, latin and well – anything else. Sometimes she just pops up on stage with a ukulele, and sometimes she’s backed by the full band – whichever you get, you’ll always get that cheeky voice.

Tricity is otherwise known as Heather Tyrrell, and you’re bound to find her in London doing the cabaret circuit.

Francis Powell

We go back into the Paris Shed for a relatively short, but nonetheless fascinating conversation with Mr Francis Powell – otherwise known as DJ Wise, otherwise known as Ashram Oberoi, otherwise known as… well, you get the picture. Paris’ very own renaissance man, Francis Powell is an artist who never sets limits for himself.

Whether it be the written word, the paintbrush or the techno beat and sample, Francis has always been at the forefront of the Paris underground scene (if an underground scene could have a forefront), and tries to hide the fact that he once appeared as a gorilla on Top of the Pops.

Listen to Francis himself as well as some of his music, with Jonny Sly and Gareth Cartman in the Shed.

Karel Beer in the Comedy Chatcast

You may well be wondering who Karel Beer is – but for anyone in Paris, Karel is the lifeline to British comedy, and has been for many years.

This Paris Link podcast for Shed FM was recorded just over two years ago in the Paris Shed with Jonny Sly and Gareth Cartman, and is the second part of the Sunchase programme we featured last week. Karel joined us in the Shed to talk about his career, his life, his comedy, and how French and English attitudes to comedy differ.

It made for one of the most entertaining shows we ever made in the Paris Shed, thanks largely to Karel’s larger than life personality.

Listen to the Comedy Chatcast on Shed Fm at these times this week (BST):

Tuesday 21st: 6pm
Thursday 23rd: 7:55pm
Friday 24th: 7pm
Saturday 25th: 5:20pm

Rosemary & Clementine Gallot in the Shed

This week, we feature one of Shed FM’s favourite groups, Rosemary, who came into the Paris Shed for a live session replete with Cello. If at times the interview veers into French every now and again, do stick with it – the music is amazing, and lead singer Carol Dabin’s voice is one of the reasons for Rosemary’s rapid rise to fame in Paris.

Carol, who used to sing for Klub and Guinea Pigs, has finally found her true sound with Rosemary, whose music blends shades of dark and light, echoing Dolly and K’s Choice. In fact, of all the groups Carol has been a part of, this one reflects her more than any other, and is the most mature of all.

Rosemary are on myspace here, where you can stream their latest music and find interviews with the band (in French, this time).

In the second half of this episode, we talk to Clementine Gallot. This interview is a few years old now, just before she moved to New York, where Clementine has gone from strength to strength, writing for national newspapers in the UK and in New York.

You can follow Clementine on Twitter, and view her latest photos on Flickr.

Listen to Rosemary and Clementine at these times throughout the week (times are all BST):

Monday 11:55am, 7:00pm, Wednesday 10:00am, Friday 9:00am, 7:00pm, Saturday 4:00pm,  Sunday 12:50pm

The Sunchase Live in the Shed

This week we feature the brilliant Gregg M from Paris-based group The Sunchase, who came into the Paris Shed for one of the most revealing interviews and live sessions we’ve ever had.

He plays some of The Sunchase’s top songs in the company of your host Jonny Sly and co-host Gareth Cartman, and if you’re interested in hearing more from the group, download their albums from www.jamendo.com or visit their myspace site: http://www.myspace.com/thesunchase for streaming music.

Next week, this podcast will continue with an hour-long interview with Karel Beer, who is also in the Shed talking with Gregg M during this episode. Karel is one of Paris’ leading figures, and will tell us all about running an English-speaking comedy club in France, as well as some more about his early years.

Catch The Sunchase live throughout the week:

Tuesday 6pm, Wednesday 7:55pm, Friday 10:15am, Saturday 10:50am, Sunday 2:10pm

21 Love Hotel and Roman Payne in the Shed

This week we feature a live session from 21 Love Hotel and a live reading from Paris-based author Roman Payne.

21 Love Hotel are a couple from Paris whose inspiration very often comes to them in the kitchen or in front of the TV. Together, Clemence and Frederic play almost everything – although they do admit to having had a bit of help from people here and there. That doesn’t mean they’ve sought help for: vocals, guitars, japanese bells, organ, bird calls, piano, theremin, horsehair bow, electric bass, megaphone, pocket trumpet, electronic bow, alto sax, mandolin, percussions, glockenspiel, breath, music box and the broken metronome.

They came into the Shed to play one of the most alluring and entrancing sessions we’ve ever had, and don’t worry – the French conversation is rapidly translated by your host, Mr Jonny Sly!

Roman Payne was always a Paris Link magazine favourite, and remains a Shed favourite even today. His first novel, Crepuscule, was warmly received, and echoed many of the Russian greats. His poem/novella, The Basement Trains, was published around the same time as this podcast, and we get an exclusive reading of the whole book here from Roman.

Since then, Roman has gone from strength to strength, with his latest Paris-based novel, Rooftop Soliloquy, set for release this July via ModeRoom Publishing. So, it’s a perfect time to go back and hear from Roman himself – and make sure you visit his website…

Sophie Cappere LIVE in the Shed

Sophie Cappere joined us live in the Paris Shed just after the New Year to play three songs live, and chat with hosts Jonny Sly and Gareth Cartman.

Very little was known about Sophie back then – and very little is known about her even now. The elusive Ms Cappere, however, turns out to be one of the most accomplished recording artists who have ever come through the Shed doors.

Her first album, Parenthese Enchantee, is available for download on Jamendo.com in its entirity – free of charge. Sophie wrote all of the songs herself, and entered a studio to record them, with a resulting album that is as well produced and professional as any you’ll find in your local record store.

What’s even more amazing is that Sophie funded and oversaw the whole album herself. When she came into the Shed, she played throughout with a cold, and even agreed to be interviewed (almost) exclusively in English.

In the second part of this podcast, we also talk to Paris-based American actor Mike Stromme, who talks about life in the French capital, how he wound up in Paris, and what it’s like to be an American actor in France. Mike also takes us back to his days in LA, and Sophie stuck around for this second half of this fascinating podcast.

The Sophie / Mike podcasts will be running throughout the week on Shed.fm, from 19:00 BST every evening.