Bauer Media have today announced details of special live music programming across six of their national radio stations this upcoming Easter Bank holiday.

Absolute Radio, Jazz FM, KISS, Kerrang! Radio, Scala Radio and Planet Rock will all broadcast content supported by the Audio Content Fund, which made grants available to help support audiences during Coronavirus restrictions.

The stations are set to broadcast 52 hours of live music over the weekend, in a series of ‘virtual festivals’ designed to fill the gap left by the cancellation of gigs and festivals around the country. Teaming up with four production companies - TBI Media, Somethin’ Else, Listen, and We Are Grape Bauer will bring listeners a series of special performances from artists and DJs, all recorded in their own homes.

The KISS Network – comprised of KISS, KISSTORY, and KISS Fresh – will broadcast continuous DJ mixes for 33 hours, starting at 3pm on Good Friday, with big name DJs on KISS, nostalgic names on KISSTORY, and up-and-coming talent on KISS Fresh including an opportunity for listeners to send in their own bedroom mixes. The five other stations will play curated three-hour selections of live music from 7pm on Easter Saturday or Easter Monday.

Steve Parkinson, Group Managing Director of National Radio at Bauer Media said: “While venues and clubs are closed, we saw a fantastic opportunity to bring the live music experience right into our listeners homes. Thanks to the incredible support of the Audio Content Fund, our music-loving audiences will be able to enjoy a Bank Holiday weekend full of live performances and DJ sets, and we’re really proud to work with our production partners TBI Media, Somethin’ Else, Listen, and We Are Grape to deliver this.”

Sam Bailey, Managing Director of the Audio Content Fund, said: “The purpose of this round was to ask suppliers and stations to think about the gaps these restrictions had left in their audience’s lives - filling the airwaves with comedy and live music is the perfect response to this. This urgent funding round continues to prove very popular, and I can’t wait to announce further projects in the coming weeks.”

The Audio Content Fund is financed by the UK Government and this special round of grants was launched following discussions with Radiocentre, AudioUK, and DCMS. The funding round remains open, operating on a rolling basis until the Audio Content Fund determine it is no longer necessary. For more information on the ACF and their panel, please visit www.audiocontentfund.org.uk

Details of all the Bauer Radio programming is below, with listeners able to find all stations at planetradio.co.uk, on their mobile app store or by asking their smart speaker to play the ‘station name’.

Good Friday 10 April - Easter Saturday 11 April

KISSfest: The World’s Biggest Radio Rave - Starts 3pm Good Friday until 9pm Saturday 11 April, kissfmuk.com

Easter Weekend is a firm date in the music event calendar, and with everything cancelled there’s a hole in many of our lives. However, you can join KISS FM, KISS Fresh and KISSTORY in the world’s BIGGEST radio rave next weekend. With over 30 hours of radio raving lined up, you can get down to sets from the likes of Fatboy Slim, David Guetta, Dead Maus, Calvin Harris, Hannah Wants, Jaguar Skills and loads more.

Head to KISS FM to hear all the biggest superstar DJ’s, while KISSTORY will be doing what it does best and getting nostalgic with mixes from the likes of Roger Sanchez, Todd Terry, Artful Dodger and Basement Jaxx. KISS Fresh meanwhile promises the best up and coming talent, plus you can take part! Submit your own mix to KISS Fresh and you might make a star appearance on the station. You won’t want to miss this!

How to listen: You can find KISS on FM in many parts of the UK - including London and Bristol - on DAB digital radio nationwide or digital TV. KISSTORY is also on DAB digital radio and you can play all three stations, including KISS Fresh by asking your smart speaker, downloading the KISS KUBE app, or listening online at kissfmuk.com

Saturday 11 April

Scala Radio presents: Scala Radio Sessions Live - 7-10pm scalaradio.co.uk

Bring the glorious atmosphere of a classical concert right into your living room with the Scala Radio Sessions Live. The three-hour programme will feature live performances from some of Scala Radio’s favourite artists, all recorded remotely from their homes and broadcast into our yours.

How to listen: Find us on your DAB digital radio, ask your smart speaker to ‘Play Scala Radio’, download the Scala Radio mobile app or listen online at scalaradio.co.uk.

Planet Rock Sessions Live - 7-10pm, planetrock.com

If you’re a rock fan it’s likely you’re still feeling downtrodden after many acts have been forced to cancel tours, and festivals postponed or cancelled. Planet Rock are here to give you your fix of live music with a series of live performances all recorded remotely and broadcast over the Easter Weekend.

How to listen: Find us on your DAB digital radio, ask your smart speaker to ‘Play Planet Rock’, download the Planet Rock mobile app or listen online at planetrock.com.

Kerrang! Radio Sessions Live - 7-10pm, kerrangradio.co.uk

With the live scene having ground to a halt as a result of the Coronavirus crisis, you can get your fix of live music while they're stuck at home through a series of live performances recorded remotely and broadcast on Easter Weekend. Have a headbanger Saturday and listen to this lively three hour programme.

How to listen: Ask your smart speaker to ‘Play Kerrang! Radio’, download the Kerrang! Radio mobile app or listen online at kerrangradio.co.uk

Easter Monday 13 April

Absolute Radio present the Front Room Festival – 7-10pm, absoluteradio.co.uk

Glastonbury, Download and The Isle of Wight Festival may all be cancelled for this year, but you can spend your Easter Monday being part of a multi-generational live music festival, thanks to Absolute Radio. Why not dig out your wellies or your glitter face paint to get firmly in the spirit, as the radio station keeps you entertained with 3 hours of live music. Over a dozen artists will perform sets recorded in their own homes - from acoustic sets in the kitchen, to full performances in home studios – and there’ll also be ‘backstage’ interviews. The event aims to draw all people together in a time when we’re apart – join in!

How to listen: Listen to Absolute Radio on 105.8FM in London and the South-East, nationally on DAB or 1215AM, via the official mobile app, digital TV, voice-activated device, or online at absoluteradio.co.uk

Jazz FM’s Virtual Jazz Festival – 7-10pm, www.jazzfm.com

Calling all jazz fans! You can be joined by some of the most amazing home-grown talent alongside the world’s biggest jazz stars in the comfort of your own home, thanks to Jazz FM’s Virtual Jazz Festival on Easter Monday. This extraordinary three-hour programme will feature exclusive performances and interviews from these finest Jazz musicians, all recorded from their homes and personal studios wherever they may be in the world.

How to listen: Listen to Jazz FM on your DAB digital radio, digital TV, ask your smart speaker to ‘Play Jazz FM’, download the Jazz FM mobile app or listen online at jazzfm.com

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