Solar Radio

Solar Radio is a specialist music station with a long association with soul, jazz-funk and related dance sounds. Its broadcaster's site describes a selection that can also include disco, R&B and soulful house. The live player carries the station's current programme, giving listeners a way into music beyond a general hit format.

The station began in London in 1984, drawing on DJs involved in the city's club and soul-radio scenes. Its music policy continues to pair new releases with established soul recordings. That history explains the combination of archive favourites and current music, rather than a format confined to one decade.

Gary Spence presents the Sweet Rhythms Chart and Afternoon Delight. Jazzie B hosts the Back II Life Show, Lisa I'Anson presents California Soul and Ralph Tee contributes Luxury Soul. Colin Hughes's Strawberry Jazz, Angus Kemp's Gospel Sunrise and Richard Searling's Cellar Full of Soul add more specific interests to the programme.

Artist conversation is also part of Solar's output: Richard Marzetti's studio interview with Bluey from Incognito is one example. Away from the studio, the broadcaster organises soul cruises and marked its fortieth anniversary with a Dingwalls celebration supporting charities. Solar's reach includes DAB in London, Norwich and Brighton, but its defining continuity is musical. The relationship between soul classics, new records and individual selectors has remained central through the move from its early London broadcasts to a wider digital audience.