Huw Stephens
Encyclopedia
Huw Stephens is a radio presenter currently broadcasting shows on BBC Radio 1
.
, Wales
, the son of the author and literary journalist Meic Stephens
. He joined Radio 1 at the age of 17 in 1999 as part of the station's new regional output where he hosted the Wales
opt-out with Bethan Elfyn
, he became the youngest ever Radio 1 presenter. Before this he was a DJ on Rookwood Sound Hospital Radio in Llandaff, Cardiff.
as part of the station's One Music strand, which was intended to keep the spirit of Peel's show going with DJ's Rob da Bank and Ras Kwame. Huw now broadcasts in a twice weekly slot Wednesday at 9pm and at Midnight. He also stands in for various presenters both during the day and night time on the station.
He is a fluent Welsh speaker and as well as Radio 1 he is also a presenter of BBC Radio Cymru
's music strand C2
, on Monday evenings at 10pm. He also presents Bandit
, a television show on Welsh language channel S4C
which showcases Welsh language music talent. He founded the Boobytrap Singles Club which released limited singles by Mclusky
, The Keys and Zabrinski
amongst others. Huw is one of the founders of the Welsh language Am label, which releases include those from Mr Huw, Radio Luxembourg and Threatmantics
. In 2009 he released a compilation, Music Sounds Better With Huw Volume 1 via Wichita Recordings, on iTunes. It featured 21 up and coming artists, including Gold Panda, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Banjo or Freakout and Young Fathers.
He also presents the Radio 1 "Huw Stephens Podcast" weekly free podcast. The Introducing Stage showcases new unsigned and emerging music at Reading and Leeds Festivals, Glastonbury, One Big Weekend and T in the Park. He has also invited bands and artists to play at Sonar and Groningen. From its first year, Huw curated the Lake Stage at Latitude festival in Suffolk.
In 2005 Stephens became the compere and DJ for the main stage of The Reading Festival. He has DJ'd at Sonar
, Glastonbury, Camp Bestival, Big Chill, Field Day and the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
He has also contributed to the Western Mail, Kruger Magazine, Independent, Mirror, NME
and guest edited the Guardian music blog. He is the voice of the Discovery Shed television channel.
He is represented by Wise Buddah Management.
In 2007 he established a new music festival for Cardiff. The Sŵn
Festival took place on 9–11 November across 13 venues in the city. The next Swn is on 20–23 October 2011. Swn (Pronounced 'soon') is the Welsh word for sound, and brings some of the most exciting new bands, DJs and performers from Wales, the UK and elsewhere together with art and films in Cardiff City Centre's venues.
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
.
Early life and career
Stephens was born in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, the son of the author and literary journalist Meic Stephens
Meic Stephens
Meic Stephens is a Welsh author and literary journalist. Stephens studied at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, the University College of North Wales, Bangor, and at the University of Rennes in France. From 1967 until 1990 Stephens was Literature Director of the Welsh Arts Council...
. He joined Radio 1 at the age of 17 in 1999 as part of the station's new regional output where he hosted the Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
opt-out with Bethan Elfyn
Bethan Elfyn
Bethan Elfyn is a Welsh radio and television presenter.Bethan was born in Bangor, Gwynedd, was brought up in Newtown, Powys, and now lives in Cardiff. She is a fluent Welsh speaker and has appeared as a panellist on Welsh language channel S4C's music talent show Waw Ffactor...
, he became the youngest ever Radio 1 presenter. Before this he was a DJ on Rookwood Sound Hospital Radio in Llandaff, Cardiff.
Broadcast career
In 2005, Stephens gained a national slot when he became one of the replacements for the late John PeelJohn Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
as part of the station's One Music strand, which was intended to keep the spirit of Peel's show going with DJ's Rob da Bank and Ras Kwame. Huw now broadcasts in a twice weekly slot Wednesday at 9pm and at Midnight. He also stands in for various presenters both during the day and night time on the station.
He is a fluent Welsh speaker and as well as Radio 1 he is also a presenter of BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Cymru is BBC Cymru's Welsh-language radio station, broadcasting throughout Wales from studios in Cardiff, Bangor, and Aberystwyth on FM since 1977. At the time of its launch it was one of the few FM-only radio services in the UK...
's music strand C2
C2 (radio)
C2 is a Welsh language music and youth strand on BBC Radio Cymru, broadcast on weeknights between 8pm and 1am from BBC Cymru's studios in Cardiff and Bangor....
, on Monday evenings at 10pm. He also presents Bandit
Bandit (TV series)
Bandit is a Welsh language music television show on S4C, produced by Boomerang. It includes, live performances, videos and interviews and is presented by Huw Stephens, Sarra Elgan, and Huw Evans...
, a television show on Welsh language channel S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
which showcases Welsh language music talent. He founded the Boobytrap Singles Club which released limited singles by Mclusky
Mclusky
Mclusky , originally known as Best, were a three-piece post-hardcore group formed in Cardiff, Wales. The group consisted of Englishman Andy "Falco" Falkous from Newcastle Upon Tyne, Jonathan Chapple and Jack Egglestone , who replaced previous drummer Matthew Harding in late...
, The Keys and Zabrinski
Zabrinski
Zabrinski were an alternative rock band from Carmarthen, Wales. They formed in the late 1990s and released four albums before splitting up in 2007.-History:...
amongst others. Huw is one of the founders of the Welsh language Am label, which releases include those from Mr Huw, Radio Luxembourg and Threatmantics
Threatmantics
Threatmantics are a band from Cardiff, Wales. The band's current members are Heddwyn Davies , Andrew Lewis , Gareth Middleton & Huw Alun Davies ....
. In 2009 he released a compilation, Music Sounds Better With Huw Volume 1 via Wichita Recordings, on iTunes. It featured 21 up and coming artists, including Gold Panda, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Banjo or Freakout and Young Fathers.
He also presents the Radio 1 "Huw Stephens Podcast" weekly free podcast. The Introducing Stage showcases new unsigned and emerging music at Reading and Leeds Festivals, Glastonbury, One Big Weekend and T in the Park. He has also invited bands and artists to play at Sonar and Groningen. From its first year, Huw curated the Lake Stage at Latitude festival in Suffolk.
In 2005 Stephens became the compere and DJ for the main stage of The Reading Festival. He has DJ'd at Sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
, Glastonbury, Camp Bestival, Big Chill, Field Day and the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
He has also contributed to the Western Mail, Kruger Magazine, Independent, Mirror, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
and guest edited the Guardian music blog. He is the voice of the Discovery Shed television channel.
He is represented by Wise Buddah Management.
In 2007 he established a new music festival for Cardiff. The Sŵn
Swn
The Sŵn Festival is a music festival curated by BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens and Cardiff-based promoter John Rostron, which takes place annually in Stephens' hometown of Cardiff, Wales. The first Sŵn Festival took place on the 9–11 November 2007...
Festival took place on 9–11 November across 13 venues in the city. The next Swn is on 20–23 October 2011. Swn (Pronounced 'soon') is the Welsh word for sound, and brings some of the most exciting new bands, DJs and performers from Wales, the UK and elsewhere together with art and films in Cardiff City Centre's venues.