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The Ferret has played a starring role as the build-up to BBC Radio 2 In The Park continues.
Jo Whiley was live on air from the iconic grassroots music venue tonight (Thursday 5 September).
William Wolstenholme co-hosted as the show went out simultaneously on Radio 2 and Radio Lancashire.
The Ferret was the perfect location for the broadcast, which featured three local acts that were hand-picked from BBC Introducing’s bank of artists.
Lancashire-based singer songwriter Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Lancaster electronic-pop trio LOWES, and Blackpool indie-boyband VALA performed in front of 30 lucky Radio 2 listeners, who had been picked via a ballot.
Each band performed one original song and one cover of an artist who will play at Moor Park this weekend.
After smashing their version of The Police’s Message in a Bottle out of the, er, park, LOWES were announced as Whiley’s first-ever Spotlight BBC Introducing Act.
The Ferret’s Director and Programme Manager, Matt Fawbert, was interviewed during the show. Matt explained how The Ferret had been saved earlier this year thanks to a huge community effort.
Read more: ‘Monumental moment’ for iconic Preston music venue The Ferret as future secured
Whiley replied: “It’s tricky to ask people to part with their money, but they came good, they cared.”
Wolstenholme went on to explain why The Ferret is such an important venue: “The passion that people have for The Ferret – it’s one of those places that define the culture and community around it. It’s a really central place.
“If The Ferret had gone, I really don’t know what the North West’s music world would have looked like. There would have been a gaping hole in the middle of it.
“I was so happy when The Ferret was saved because it kind of defines the Radio Lancashire programme that we do… Celebrating local music and playing as much variety of it as we can. Half of what we do is tell people where they can go and watch it. Every week I guarantee we mention The Ferret because everyone comes here.
“This is the place that will put you on if you’ve never played a gig before or if you’ve been gigging for 20 years. There’s such an openness to experimental, avant garde sounds, emerging talent and it’s right in the heart of Lancashire. It’s a wonderful place.”
You can listen to the show on BBC Sounds.
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