Huntingdon Community Radio (HCR104fm) is launching a marathon broadcast on Friday, 29th March with a one-off special in a bid to raise awareness of autism in the community in advance of World Autism Acceptance Week which starts on 2nd April.
HCR104fm’s schedule will be taken over for 12 hours from noon until midnight by its Spotlight Team, curating a day of dedicated programming featuring guests and live music.
Matt will be presenting live on-air for the full 12 hours assisted by producers Mel, Martin and Paul. They hope to raise money for the National Autistic Society as well as broadcasting a diverse range of music – including many local artists, discussion and interviews.
Starting at noon, The Friday Supplement will feature a guide to local arts events, together with comedian Becky Jade. Following this, Music in Video Games featuring an interview with Music Designer and Composer Annina Melissa, plus live music from Cambridge-based The British IBM, an Indie Rock band and retro gaming enthusiasts.
At 2:00 pm, Matt dusts down and revives for one day only, the old HCR104fm favourite Brief Encounters, a show loosely based on Desert Island Discs. He will be asking local BID (Business Improvement District) Town Manager Paul Sweeney what his favourite tracks are and will find out more about Huntingdon commercial environment.
There’ll also be Festival Favourites. This segment of the marathon will feature artists who have appeared at local festivals, plus a guide to what’s coming up this year. The Team will also speak to Marketing Director Fionnuala Lennon about the Ely (Cambridgeshire)Folk Festival.
Later in the afternoon, there will be special programmes around the genres of film music – including analysis from Spotlight‘s regular film critic Elliott, a 90s Daytime Dance Decades special and The Mindful Mixtape – a peaceful playlist of relaxing, thoughtful tracks.
At 7:00 pm, HCR104fm’s community access strand Over To You will include an interview with the Autism Centre of Excellence in Cambridge. The marathon broadcast concludes with a four-hour Spotlight All Night – an extended edition of the station’s local arts show – featuring live music from Soloman Smith, Jo Ash, Chris Fox, Rhys Wilson, Stella Hensley and Chris Newman.*
The Spotlight Marathon Team says: “It’s been a lot of hard work getting the marathon broadcast together but we really do want to promote an awareness and an acceptance of autism. It’s what Community Radio is all about! At the same time we hope to entertain our listeners and if we raise any money, that will be a bonus!”
* Lineup subject to change. Listen online at hcrfm.co.uk, locally in Huntingdon on FM104 or via HCRfm’s mobile app.
Anyone wishing to donate to the National Autistic Society can do so via Just Giving here:
12 Hour Radio Presenting Marathon is fundraising for National Autistic Society (autism.org.uk)