Adam Walton
Encyclopedia
Adam Walton is an alternative DJ for BBC Radio Wales
. He was brought up in Nannerch
, near Mold
, North Wales
.
Having played in local pop/indie
bands in the late 1980s to the early 1990s, such as Metroland and The Immediate, Adam got his first job as a DJ after telling BBC producer Alan Daulby his radio station was 'shit'. Adam presented his first show 'Burst' in summer 1991 on the now defunct BBC Radio Clwyd, which ran as a six week pilot. The first record Adam played on that very first show was 'Indian Rope' by The Charlatans. Adam was not asked back for another two years, but in autumn 1993 he began his career with BBC Radio Wales, presenting 'Revolution', a twice weekly show airing new and alternative music with bands in session. The show was tireless in its aim to be at the front of breaking new bands and Gorkys Zygotic Mynci, 60ft Dolls, Catatonia
and Stereophonics
all received their first airplay or sessions thanks to Adam.
In 1999 he set up Whipcord Records and released singles by the bands Out and Big Leaves
.
Adam subsequently presented 'The Musical Mystery Tour' moving from weekdays and onto a Sunday night. The show's format was similar, but with far more emphasis on finding new Welsh music. The show has been an active participant in BBC Radio Wales
' 'Here For You' strategy: taking outside broadcasts to Rhyl (July '05 - the Pipettes
, the Heights, David Wrench
), Aberdare (February '06 - the Hot Puppies, Dirty Perfect, Psychic Spies), Menai Bridge (May '06 - bravecaptain, Acid Casuals, Akira the Don
), Holyhead (February '05 - Weapons of Mass Belief, Inferno and Skinflick).
Huw Williams, former frontman with doyens of the indie C86
scene the Pooh Sticks, was the most enduring contributor to the show, filling the role as 'Minister for Cool Welsh Pop' between 1996 and July 2006. Other regular contributors on the show include acclaimed DJ, remixer and producer Soundhog
; fanzine writer and music archivist Neil Crud and renowned exponents of the world's finest techno, Acid Casuals, who provide the show with a half hour mix every month. He also presents 'Mouse Mat' on the same station; a show dedicated to the technicalities of the computer age. You will also hear his voice pop up on various other radio shows.
Up until January 2006 Walton was also a regular columnist for the Daily Post
newspaper, sharing his family life with the readers. He is also a DJ at Telford's Warehouse
in Chester
and can be found most Friday nights drowning in Guinness playing various obscure records.
In June 2006, Adam took over presentation duties for BBC Radio Wales' 'Studio X' program. The show plays a mixture of more commercial music than Adam's other programme, alongside far-ranging interviews on new technology, the paranormal, and popular science.
BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales is the BBC's national radio station broadcasting to Wales in the English language. Operated by BBC Wales, it began broadcasting on 12 November 1978 following the demise of the old "Radio 4 Wales" when BBC Radio 4 became a national network and moved from medium wave to long wave...
. He was brought up in Nannerch
Nannerch
Nannerch is a village in Flintshire, north-east Wales. It is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. At the 2001 Census the population of Nannerch was 531.-History:...
, near Mold
Mold, Flintshire
Mold is a town in Flintshire, North Wales, on the River Alyn. It is the administrative seat of Flintshire County Council, and was also the county town of Clwyd from 1974 to 1996...
, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
.
Having played in local pop/indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
bands in the late 1980s to the early 1990s, such as Metroland and The Immediate, Adam got his first job as a DJ after telling BBC producer Alan Daulby his radio station was 'shit'. Adam presented his first show 'Burst' in summer 1991 on the now defunct BBC Radio Clwyd, which ran as a six week pilot. The first record Adam played on that very first show was 'Indian Rope' by The Charlatans. Adam was not asked back for another two years, but in autumn 1993 he began his career with BBC Radio Wales, presenting 'Revolution', a twice weekly show airing new and alternative music with bands in session. The show was tireless in its aim to be at the front of breaking new bands and Gorkys Zygotic Mynci, 60ft Dolls, Catatonia
Catatonia
Catatonia is a state of neurogenic motor immobility, and behavioral abnormality manifested by stupor. It was first described in 1874: Die Katatonie oder das Spannungsirresein ....
and Stereophonics
Stereophonics
The Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band now living in turners x that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in Cynon Valley, Wales. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones, drummer Javier Weyler, guitarist and backing...
all received their first airplay or sessions thanks to Adam.
In 1999 he set up Whipcord Records and released singles by the bands Out and Big Leaves
Big Leaves
Big Leaves were a Welsh rock band formed in 1988, originally named Beganifs. They disbanded in 2003, with two members subsequently forming Sibrydion.-History:...
.
Adam subsequently presented 'The Musical Mystery Tour' moving from weekdays and onto a Sunday night. The show's format was similar, but with far more emphasis on finding new Welsh music. The show has been an active participant in BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales is the BBC's national radio station broadcasting to Wales in the English language. Operated by BBC Wales, it began broadcasting on 12 November 1978 following the demise of the old "Radio 4 Wales" when BBC Radio 4 became a national network and moved from medium wave to long wave...
' 'Here For You' strategy: taking outside broadcasts to Rhyl (July '05 - the Pipettes
The Pipettes
The Pipettes are a British indie pop girl group formed in 2003 in Brighton by "svengali" Robert "Monster Bobby" Barry. The group has released two albums, We Are the Pipettes, and Earth vs...
, the Heights, David Wrench
David Wrench
David Wrench is a singer, musician and studio producer/ sound engineer from Anglesey, Wales. His music has ranged from camp synth pop to Doom inspired Folk....
), Aberdare (February '06 - the Hot Puppies, Dirty Perfect, Psychic Spies), Menai Bridge (May '06 - bravecaptain, Acid Casuals, Akira the Don
Akira the Don
Akira The Don is an independent British musician. Born in West Bromwich and raised in North Wales, in recent years he has lived in Hackney, East London....
), Holyhead (February '05 - Weapons of Mass Belief, Inferno and Skinflick).
Huw Williams, former frontman with doyens of the indie C86
C86 (music)
C86 is a cassette compilation released by the British music magazine NME in 1986, featuring new bands licensed from independent labels of the time. As a phrase, C86 quickly evolved into shorthand for a guitar-based musical genre characterised by "jangly" guitars and fey melodies, although other...
scene the Pooh Sticks, was the most enduring contributor to the show, filling the role as 'Minister for Cool Welsh Pop' between 1996 and July 2006. Other regular contributors on the show include acclaimed DJ, remixer and producer Soundhog
Soundhog
Soundhog is a DJ, producer and composer of a number of acclaimed Bastard Pop songs. Based in North Wales, he is distinguished by his encyclopaedic knowledge of popular music, which he draws on to concoct "A vs B" tracks that often cast familiar pop, hip hop and R'n'B vocals in a whole new light by...
; fanzine writer and music archivist Neil Crud and renowned exponents of the world's finest techno, Acid Casuals, who provide the show with a half hour mix every month. He also presents 'Mouse Mat' on the same station; a show dedicated to the technicalities of the computer age. You will also hear his voice pop up on various other radio shows.
Up until January 2006 Walton was also a regular columnist for the Daily Post
Liverpool Daily Post
The Liverpool Daily Post is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Friday and is published in Merseyside, Cheshire, and North Wales editions, and is a morning paper...
newspaper, sharing his family life with the readers. He is also a DJ at Telford's Warehouse
Telford's Warehouse
Telford's Warehouse is located between Raymond Street and Tower Wharf, Chester, Cheshire, England, alongside the Shropshire Union Canal. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
in Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
and can be found most Friday nights drowning in Guinness playing various obscure records.
In June 2006, Adam took over presentation duties for BBC Radio Wales' 'Studio X' program. The show plays a mixture of more commercial music than Adam's other programme, alongside far-ranging interviews on new technology, the paranormal, and popular science.