Gary Andrews
Monday - Saturday 14:00 - 18:00 - Chaine FM Afternoons
Monday 8th and 22nd - 23:00 - 01:00 Daytime DJs Unleashed
Gary hosts the busy afternoon show 14:00 - 18:00, 6 days a week. With years of experience built up on hospital radio, other short term radio stations and hosting/DJing at anything he is asked Gary is well prepared for his busy show.
Everyday on the show Gary will be talking to the representatives of the different community groups around Larne as well as a range of other guests. He'll also take a sideways look at those making the headlines.
Gary is also the On Air Director of Chaine FM so expect to hear the other guys insult him on a regular basis..
Gary wants to hear from you so pop him an email or text now.. oh and if you catch him out and about do say hello!
The Chaine FM Afternoon Show is sponsorsed by P&O Irish Sea.
Gary's 2008
Where have you been in 2008?
Is it really a year since we were last here?
Time has disappeared - been busy generally with the day job, Chaine Music and general life.
Done a load of travelling too. January; Rotterdam, Holland. February, London. April; booze cruise from Newcastle to Amsterdam. May; booze cruise from Rosslare to Roscoff France. July; holiday in the Baltic visiting Helsinki Finland, Stockholm Sweden and Tallinn Estonia. August took me to the Isle of Man and a long weekend visiting the South Coast of England (including a visit to the dump that is Hastings), France and Belgium. September took me to Prague for a week. October was close to home with a few days with my brother and his family in Scotland and finally November took me back to France, and also some time in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.
Err so yes 2008 was expensive! Being on Chaine FM throughout December will save me money at least!
Favourite song of 2008?
Hard to say - currently loving Razorlight Wire to Wire. Loved some of the remixes of Utah Saints Somethin' Good..
Personal highlight of 2008?
Probably all of my travelling but especially the great holiday to the Baltic in July. Really enjoyed Chaine Music Live in August - nothing to do with 14 hours in bars!
What is going to be different about your show on Chaine FM this year compared to last year?
Well I'm getting Sunday afternoons off - need some time to do those Christmas and domestic essentials. I'm also doing a couple of Monday nights which will allow me to be a bit more adventourous with my broadcasting. Hope to make the show better than ever.
In terms of the show - hoping to find time to have a little more fun with the listners including our text in challenge "what age are they?"
What are your plans for 2009?
Chaine Music wise we will be working on examining whether we can turn Chaine FM into a full-time community station (quite a complicated consideration) and also looking for some ideas to do something live music wise during the summer.
At a personal level who knows - would like to travel plenty again and maybe get a little more rest than in 2008!
Favourite moment of Chaine FM 2007?
Loved our live set from the Cornerboys, Olivia Nash was lovely too (hopefully having both back in this time). The first show was fun too when Sammy Wilson failed to show...Also loved listening to the other shows - won't single presenters out as most of the shows appealed in some way. Loved the handovers between Brendan and Peter and myself and Peter. Peter always has something to say on just about everything and once the microphone opened
The Lowdown on Gary
Name?
Gary Andrews
Age?
31.
Favourite Music/Artist/Track?
Into a bit of everything really except thrash metal and Irish Country. Love a lot of 70s/80s music. Also love my dance and Indie tunes, which I’m pretty sure is a direct result of being a 90s teenager. Current loves include the new Stonebridge album. All time favourites include; Moby: Everytime You Touch Me (such an uplifting tune), Stardust: Music Sounds Better With You and Oasis: Wonderwall. Current favourites are Flux by Bloc Party and dare I name them Timbaland; Apologise and Kylie Minogue; 2 Hearts.
Favourite thing about Larne?
Probably the promenade and Antrim Coast Road…pity I’m too lazy/busy/tired to enjoy it more.
So what brought you to Chaine FM?
Well aside from the fact I’m the licensee for the station…I got involved with Radio Moyle, Larne’s hospital radio station, back in 1996, becoming Programme Controller/Station Manager in 2001. Ever since I have been involved with Radio Moyle there had been talk of running a short-term radio station over Larne but we never quite got around to it, not least due to the fact there were legal and ethical issues about a hospital radio station with a charitable status doing so. However, knowing that the future of Radio Moyle was in doubt with the question mark hanging over Inver House we started thinking about the future and together with some friends formed Chaine Music to promote music through broadcast, performance and participation. (That said Radio Moyle is still running). And thanks to our friends at the National Lottery Awards for All grant scheme and our advertisers/sponsors here we are now with Chaine FM.
As well as presenting a variety of shows on Radio Moyle, including most of the Roadshows, I have also worked on similar stations to Chaine FM in Carrickfergus such as Vibe FM, Castle FM and Carrickfergus FM – I think I’ve covered virtually every show on those stations at some point. I’ve also been DJing out and about in recent years so you may well have heard me before!
Who on the radio inspired you?
A whole range of people – it was probably mid-90s Radio 1 that made me want to do radio – people like Simon Mayo, Kevin Greening (RIP - shocked and gutted at his loss), Nicky Campbell and Mark Radcliffe. Chuck into that Pete Tong, Robin Banks, Nick Abbot, Terry Wogan, Chris Evans and even Gerry Anderson and you have the people I’ve loved listening to and who have inspired me in some way or another. I’ve also been inspired by the production values of Xfm, Kiss and the short-lived New Atlantic 252 – I suspect some of this can be found in the jingle packages commissioned for Chaine FM. Actually speaking of Atlantic 252 I suspect my presentation style is partly inspired by a Scottish guy called Matt Finlay who used to present there.
Give us one embarrassing story about you?
Over the years Radio Moyle has provided discos and roadshows to the wider Larne community. One night whilst looking after a school disco I made a huge error….having been asked to judge the fancy dress competition I picked out a young lad dressed as a pirate as best boy…when I invited him forward to collect his prize I was horrified when he said he was a little girl…. What made it worse was that in my panic I very nearly made a rather unfortunate comment about boys dressed up as girls….
What’s your idea of a good night out?
Definitely those closest to me being there – some good food, then out somewhere with a good, friendly atmosphere and great music. Oh not to mention a few drinks! Sounds a bit lame but I’ve reached a point now where a night out at a club has little appeal – I’d far rather have a cheesy DJ playing songs you can sing along to (and that’s not shameless self promotion) or a band playing. I always enjoy being out with the other folk from Chaine Music – probably seems rather hard to believe but we all actually get on very well and are good friends. I know that a night out with Brendan, Murray, Darren etc is always going to be fun.
Favourite drink?
I’d have to say Red wine is my tipple of choice…especially when DJing as it means fewer toilet stops than beer! Also love strong European lagers, Vodka and white, Guinness, Gin, Cheeky Vimtos… And when I’m not boozing (remember we should all drink in moderation kids…) love a nice coffee and that new Lucozade Energy really does it for me too...
Dream date?
21/02/05 or Judith Chalmers..
Favourite holiday destination?
I’ve been in Bergen, Norway twice now and love it. Huge fan of Scandinavia and the Baltic States in general – really loved Estonia this year. Next year have plans for a short tour taking in Poland, Sweden, Finland, Latvia and Estonia. Oh and been very impressed by Albania and Santorini too..
In their own words:
Tries to be a nice person but let down by a very dark sense of humour.
