If you like guitar music, Brum Radio’s Monday Night Indie Club is your kind of show. Presenter Sam Oliver shares more about the show and his views on the current scene.
Tell us something about yourself, your musical influences and interests.
I’m Sam, I’m 26 and I’m originally from Wigan but Birmingham has been home for the past four years. I’ve done radio on-and-off since I was 17, from student radio to producing for the likes of Capital FM and Free Radio.
I launched the Monday Night Indie Club in August, so it’s still a relatively new show! It’s an hour of indie belters featuring bands from Brum and beyond. My own music taste is very guitar-orientated, having been brought up on bands such as Blur, Oasis and Pulp – so it’s a perfect fit!
When for you was the best time for guitar music? Or does it remain constant?
A good question! I think it’s always evolving, so it totally depends on your taste! The era around 2004-2009 was brilliant for guitar bands and is probably my personal favourite; it coincided with me getting into music at that time too. You had the likes of The Killers, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys and loads more all coming through at the same time – a great era!
Has ‘indie’ become a mis-used or over-used term?
I quite like it (although it’s used in the name of my show, so I’m probably biased!). I think ‘indie’ is a lot broader now than it used to be. You can include shoegaze bands and more electronic-led stuff in that now too, so it’s a genre that keeps expanding.
Who is exciting you musically right now?
Inhaler are probably my go-to band at the moment! The DMAs continue to produce quality work too.
How do you see the Birmingham and West Midlands scene?
It’s thriving! It reminds me of around 2013-2014, when the likes of Peace and Swim Deep were smashing it form Brum on the national stage. I think we have the genesis of that again at the moment, with bands like Cage Park, The Clause, Overpass and Heart Machine all coming through and flying the flag for the West Midlands.
Is there anything you’re looking forward to in 2022, or would like to see happen?
More live music and festivals please! I think we’ve all missed them having gone through COVID and lockdowns in the past 18 months.
Thanks Sam! You can hear the Monday Night Indie Club on the first Monday each month at 8pm-9pm or listen again at the show page here.
