The Angus presenter of the UK’s longest-running jazz show is back on the airwaves after his programme was controversially axed.
Alan Steadman was left shocked when his award-winning show was axed by Tay AM at the end of June when the station cut its local programmes for networked ones.
However, after a break from the airwaves for the first time since 1983, Alan will be back this Sunday, after Dundee rivals Wave 102 snapped up his show.
The veteran DJ had been with Radio Tay for all but the first couple of years of its existence and the weekly show reached a milestone in January when it celebrated its 30th birthday.
Jazz Waves is credited with being the longest-running jazz music show presented continuously by the same DJ in the UK, and possibly in Europe.
He told The Courier: “I was very disappointed when my weekly jazz show was dropped by Radio Tay after 30 years when a new schedule of networked programmes was introduced.
“But that disappointment turned to joy when Wave 102 moved quickly to take the programme, ensuring that the UK’s longest-running jazz show will continue.”
Born in Forfar, Alan lives in Kirriemuir and went to Webster’s Seminary School, now Webster’s High, starting off his broadcasting career in hospital radio.
And it was while he was doing hospital radio in Edinburgh that he sent a tape to Radio Tay. He then got a call from the station and was asked if he could start a week on Monday.
He said: “The jazz scene in Dundee is slowly rebuilding, with regular weekly and monthly gigs and the festival in November. A radio show that can be heard both locally and further afield, online, is an integral part of that renaissance.” Alan also organises the monthly jazz night at Hospitalfield House in Arbroath, which gets no arts funding and is not run for profit. Jazz events at Hospitalfield House burst on to the Angus music scene 21 years ago.
The monthly jazz night is always in high demand, with capacity crowds and quality acts from America, Europe and the UK topping the bill.
Jazz Waves will start this Sunday between 8pm and 10pm.