Does pirate radio culture live on?
- Text by Alex King
Before the internet burst onto the scene, London’s thriving pirate radio scene was the best place to discover exciting new music.
Underground broadcasts from stations like LWR, Invicta, Kiss and Choice helped support entire genres that were invisible to the mainstream.
Head down to the Southbank Centre on Sunday April 26, 2-8pm, for an afternoon of talks and DJ sets from the chroniclers and pioneers of pirate radio like, Dave VJ, author Lindsay Wesker and Gordon Mac, who helped build Kiss FM up from a Charlton squat-based pirate to one of the capital’s leading legal stations.
Together they’ll be discussing pirate radio’s legacy and asking if pirate culture continues to influence the music scene of today.
London Pirate Radio is a free event at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Front Room, Southbank on Sunday April 26, 2-8pm.
Latest on Huck
This erotic zine dismantles LGBTQ+ respectability politics
Zine Scene — Created by Megan Wallace and Jack Rowe, PULP is a new print publication that embraces the diverse and messy, yet pleasurable multitudes that sex and desire can take.
Written by: Isaac Muk
As Tbilisi’s famed nightclubs reawaken, a murky future awaits
Spaces Between the Beats — Since Georgia’s ruling party suspended plans for EU accession, protests have continued in the capital, with nightclubs shutting in solidarity. Victor Swezey reported on their New Year’s Eve reopening, finding a mix of anxiety, catharsis and defiance.
Written by: Victor Swezey
Los Angeles is burning: Rick Castro on fleeing his home once again
Braver New World — In 2020, the photographer fled the Bobcat Fire in San Bernardino to his East Hollywood home, sparking the inspiration for an unsettling photo series. Now, while preparing for its exhibition, he has had to leave once again, returning to the mountains.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Ghais Guevara: “Rap is a pinnacle of our culture”
What Made Me — In our new series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that have shaped who they are. First up, Philadelphian rap experimentalist Ghais Guevara.
Written by: Ghais Guevara
Gaza Biennale comes to London in ICA protest
Art and action — The global project, which presents the work of over 60 Palestinian artists, will be on view outside the art institution in protest of an exhibition funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai
Ragnar Axelsson’s thawing vision of Arctic life
At the Edge of the World — For over four decades, the Icelandic photographer has been journeying to the tip of the earth and documenting its communities. A new exhibition dives into his archive.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai