Absolute Radio will be broadcasting live from the Isle of Wight Festival all weekend with exclusive artist interviews and live, uninterrupted stage sets from the star studded line-up.
DJ’s Pete Donaldson and Sarah Champion will be bringing you all of the latest backstage gossip every day, taking to the airwaves on the Friday night and all day Saturday and Sunday. DJ Andy Bush will also be on the Island for the first time with a special Saturday and Sunday morning show to tee up Pete and Sarah.
We caught up with Pete and Sarah and asked them about their Festival experiences…
Q: What do you love about festivals?
Sarah: What I love most are those moments you can’t possibly predict… Let’s face it there are givens at every festival, mud is a given, stinky porta-loos a given, someone passed out by noon – all part of it, but it’s moments like The Killers covering ‘I think we’re alone now’ just as the sun sets or turning round in the Absolute Radio Camper Van to see Debbie Harry hurtling towards you in a golf buggy, those are the moments that stay with you.
Q: How do you prepare for an interview? Any special routine?
Pete: Twitter. Instagram. Always worth a good old trawl! Asking a member of a band about the time they tried Viagra ice-cream knocks them right out of their comfort zone and makes for a better interview. Either that or they just get really mad and get you in a headlock, which is obviously a good listen as well.
Q: Favourite memory from the Isle of Wight?
Sarah: I have so many great memories, seeing The Stones headline was pretty special, Mick Jagger just blew everyone out the park… In terms of on air though one of my favourite memories is the year Pete and I co-hosted the festival for the first time; we’d met literally on the journey over to the Isle so didn’t have long to build much of a rapport, we got through the weekends worth of shows unscathed until our very last link when both of our headphones died at exactly the same time… they made a kind of farting noise in our ears and I’ll never forget the look of pure panic in Pete’s eyes leaving me to end with ‘I think this is the Kings Of Leon BYEEEE!’ I still have that link somewhere and it makes me laugh every time I hear it.
Q: Any advice for aspiring radio presenters?
Sarah: Persistence is key, don’t be put off by rejection, keep plugging away… Be prepared to work for no pay then low pay and unsociable hours are guaranteed! I’ve worked the last Five Christmas Days but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Pete: Work experience, and knowing how to operate in a studio environment I guess while you’re performing your duties. And backing the heck out of yourself. Regarding working Christmas day, it’s the only way to ensure Sarah stays off the Advocaat until after 12…
Q: What do you love about radio?
Sarah: I love the buzz of broadcasting live, there’s nothing like it, if something goes wrong you just have to deal with it (see above!) I love that connection you have with listeners and genuinely, when I give a great prize away and it’s made that person’s day/week/month/year it honestly makes mine too. I remember Mark Goodier telling me when I was still working in local radio that once you fall in love with radio you never really fall out of love with radio – ten years on I’m still completely besotted.
Pete: Again, the immediacy – people who come from television instantly fall in love with the medium because once the show’s over – it’s out there…done. Also, I’m too ugly for telly so it suits me down to the ground.
There will be tons of added content and extra coverage for mobile and online too at www.absoluteradio.co.uk ,You Tube, Facebook and Twitter @absoluteradio with exclusive video interviews, news and more.
Absolute Radio Live from the Isle of Wight Festival 2014.
