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NME 11/12/04

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The Beatscene - The Home of New Music in Scotland

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Jim Gellatly "The voice of new music in Scotland"

It was always music rather than radio that interested Jim Gellatly, one of Scotland's leading exponents of new music. Sure, he tried the band thing himself in his teens, but unable to play and certainly unable to sing (though he will deny this), it never really worked out.

His love of music really got a chance to blossom when he arrived in Inverness in the late 80's. Having completed a Media Studies course, Jim rather fancied the radio thing: "I thought that if I couldn't make music, perhaps I could tell people about great music. Broadcasting seemed a better bet than standing on the High Street telling passers-by to check out That Petrol Emotion."

Writing to just about every radio station in the UK, a handful of replies were promising, but only one was truly encouraging: "Moray Firth Radio in Inverness basically said, 'Come up for a couple of weeks. We can't pay you, but you can help out on a voluntary basis for the experience.' I ended up staying for rather longer, and it was indeed a great experience. I even managed to get paid after a while."

Before long Jim was presenting 2 weekly shows on Moray Firth Radio. He first took over 'The Headbanger's Show', causing outrage among its loyal listeners by playing too much punk. He then got the chance to create a show more to his own personal tastes, 'The Groove Machine'. Featuring new music with an alternative slant, plus local demos, it was an instant success.

In 1990, Jim was invited through to Northsound in Aberdeen. They were looking for someone to take over their indie show 'Different Wavelengths', and Jim fitted the bill perfectly.

As he did in Inverness, Jim was keen to get behind the local bands in Aberdeen. As word spread about his commitment to the scene, he was asked by the Aberdeen Evening Express to write their weekly music page.

Though he's the first to admit that his face is more suited to radio, Jim has also dipped his feet into the world of TV on several occasions. His debut however, is one he'd rather forget!

He explained: "I was twenty-one at the time, and hung out with a few people involved with the Green Party in Inverness. There was a General Election coming up, and in their wisdom the local party officials thought I'd be a good spokesman for them on Grampian TV's political discussion programme 'Crossfire'. Up against people like Nicola Sturgeon (now a leading-light in the SNP), I was well out of my depth. I actually joined the party, and read the manifesto for the first time, the night before the programme went out!"

In 1993, Jim returned to the TV screen in a more satisfying role, as the presenter of Aberdeen Cable's 'Sounds Live' series. He also introduced up-and-coming Scottish bands on stage at the Music Hall in Aberdeen for Grampian TV's 'Breakers', though Del Amitri's Justin Currie presented the shows for the television audience.

A few years later Jim presented several editions of the Grampian TV show Chartburn, which was networked across Scotland.

The launch of Beat 106 in November 1999, finally provided Jim with the chance to take his music to an even larger audience. Promising a mix of dance and "new rock", the new radio station was right up Jim's street.

Named the 'Beatscene', Jim's slot on Beat 106 captured the imagination of bands and music fans alike with nightly interviews and sessions, plus countless demos and first plays of Scotland's new music. The show firmly established Jim Gellatly as "The voice of new music in Scotland".

Following Beat 106's acquisition by Capital Radio PLC in July 2000, and a shift in the station's music policy, the Beatscene as it was came to an end in August that year.

Less than a month after doing his final show for Beat 106, Jim linked-up with the brand new internet radio project 'puremix.com'. Living in London during the week, and returning to Scotland at weekends, he continued to support new talent with a show dedicated to established rock and indie bands and new Scottish artists.

In January 2001 Jim returned to Beat 106 to present a weekly edition of The Beatscene Sunday nights, while continuing to work in London during the week.

With puremix joining the ever-growing list of dot.com casualties, Jim returned to Scotland with no regrets.

"I had a wonderful time in London, working with a great bunch of people. Perhaps puremix was just a bit too ahead of its time, and only time will tell if internet radio has a real future".

Jim returned to Beat 106 on a full-time basis later in 2001, and since then he's continued to fly the flag for new Scottish music.

He currently presents The Beatscene Monday to Thursday 10pm to 1am, with a mix of new music and established acts.

He said: "It's been brilliant to see the rise of acts like Snow Patrol and Franz Ferdinand, but that's just the crest of the wave. Scotland must have one of the most exciting music scenes in the world right now, and almost every week I'm coming across something special."

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