"The BBC DJ that discovered chart-toppers Ellie Goulding, Becky Hill & 220 Kid"
Some of the artists I've discovered...
Interviews
Sessions
Masterclass
Gig Guide
Andrew began working for BBC Hereford & Worcester in 1999, following a work experience placement. He’d also worked for four years as volunteer presenter, publicity officer and vice-chairman at Hereford Hospital Radio. Initially his job at the BBC was putting guests on-air, whether this would be for his home station or for the likes of BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, Newsbeat and the BBC World Service. During a visit to the Worcester studios, Andrew was asked if he'd like to be trained as a broadcast assistant – and three weeks later was looking after the general day-to-day running of the Hereford office.
Later work included live and pre-recorded interviews, the reading of market reports, the writing of news bulletins and ultimately two years as the main Hereford radiocar reporter at breakfast.
He began working for the BBC in Worcester in 2000, initially clipping news interviews on reel-to-reel and cart, but went on to become the first person on station to use a digital editing system. He also helped redevelop the station's What's On Guide, before covering a variety of roles including the production of religious content, weekend news bulletins and creating highlights for sport.
In 2001, Andrew started working at BBC Radio Gloucestershire on the breakfast show. He went on to re-record the entire station's jingle package and become an active reporter, as well as presenting travel news in the evenings.
Andrew is now in his 24th year with the BBC and continues to organise monthly recording sessions, hosts stages at a variety of music festivals, and has given live sessions to in excess of 2,000 artists.
Success Stories
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220 Kid (First-ever festivals and airplay)
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5parks (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Aaron Yorke (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Abby Inez (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Abel Gray (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Adult Play (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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AKA George (First-ever festivals, Glastonbury & several Radio 1 playlist tracks)
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Alex Hopkins (Alyx Holcombe BBC Radio 1 support)
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Alfie (Jaguar BBC Radio 1 support)
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Alfreeddah (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Ali Story (Jaguar BBC Radio 1 support)
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Americas, The (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Anna Silvers (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Annette Gregory (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Anomalies (Got them onto the BBC Radio 1 Playlist and their first-ever festival)
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Anto (Rickie, Melvin & Charlie BBC Radio 1 support)
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Appleby Kinsey (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Arcadia Roots (BBC Midlands Today feature)
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Audacity, The (Bethan Elfyn BBC Radio 1 support)
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Aymee Weir (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Bad Milk (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Bare Traps (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Bear Witness (Alyx Holcombe BBC Radio 1 support)
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Becky Hill (First ever airplay and festival booking)
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Becky Rose (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Bekah (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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Bekki Cameron (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Ben Crosland (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Ben Green (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Ben Hughes (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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Ben Stancombe (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Benji Tranter (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Beware The Bears (Gemma Bradley BBC Radio 1 support)
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Bo Rumba (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Bo Walton (Mark Forrest & Tom Robinson national radio support)
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Bren Haze (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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(The) Bug Club (Steve Lamacq BBC 6 Music support)
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Byron Hare (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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C Wright (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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Capas (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Camden Cox (BBC Radio 1 session)
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Carmen Lees-Green (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Carys Selvey (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Chasing The Fall (Alyx Holcombe BBC Radio 1 support)
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Cherryshoes (First-ever airplay and performed at T In The Park)
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Chikaya (Jamz Supernova BBC Radio 1xtra support)
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Chris Savor (Jaguar BBC Radio 1 support)
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Clark Carmody (First-ever festival gig)
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Clay & Cam (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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(The) Cool Greenhouse (Gemma Bradley BBC Radio 1 support)
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Crystal Teardrop (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Cut La Vis (Gemma Bradley BBC Radio 1 support)
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Daniel & The Scandals (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Dan Almond (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Dan Hattersley (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Danglo (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Dark Days (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Darling BOY (Steve Lamacq BBC 6 Music support)
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Das Sexy Clap (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Data (The Hot List BBC Sounds support)
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David Emkay (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Denon Reed (Gemma Bradley BBC Radio 1 support)
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Desert Boots (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Done By Sunrise (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Echo Gecco (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Eddy (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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Edge Project, The (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Ellie Goulding (First-ever airplay and live session)
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Emily Ewing (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Emily Nash (Added to the BBC Radio 1 playlist)
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Euan Blackman (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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FDLuxx (Theo Johnson BBC Radio 1Xtra support)
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Fictonian (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Fights & Fires (Steve Lamacq BBC 6 Music support)
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Fix Me, Margo (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Franklin (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Fraxure (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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FREnchfire (First-ever gig, a performace at The Big Chill and 1Xtra support)
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Gareth Forsyth (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Gathering Of Strangers (Alyx Holcombe BBC Radio 1 support)
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George Moir (BBC Radio 1 playlist)
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Georgina Upton (First-ever festival gig and a place on the BBC 1Xtra playlist)
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Giant & The Georges (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Gold Bloom (Alyx Holcombe BBC Radio 1 support)
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Gracie Beverley (Emily Pilbeam BBC 6 Music support)
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Grafton Ash (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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(The) Gravity Drive (BBC Radio 2 & BBC 6 Music sessions)
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Grimaldi Band, The (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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G:UEST (Gemma Bradley BBC Radio 1 support)
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Gwyn Ashton (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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H33RA (Jasmine Takhar Asian Network support)
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Hanz (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Hide Your Eyes (BBC Midlands Today feature)
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Howard James Kenny (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Humdrum Express, The (Steve Lamacq BBC 6 Music support)
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Hyde Project (Alyx Holcombe BBC Radio 1 support)
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Idris Jones (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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iLLUSION (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Inverted Echo (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Inwards (Jaguar BBC Radio 1 support)
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Ivory Wave (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Jake Of Diamonds / Jake Gamble (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Jakey Boy Hughes (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Jamie Hai (Jaguar BBC Radio 1 support)
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Jasper In The Company Of Others (Andrew's BBC 6 Music takeover)
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Jenn Getz & Alfie (Jaguar BBC Radio 1 support)
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Jeremy Johnson (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Jess Brett (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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JJ (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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JMaccc (Jasmine Takhar BBC Asian Network support)
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Joel Hoddell (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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JSN (Jasmine Takhar BBC Asian Network support)
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Kamos & Tripbuk (Support from Radio 1's Annie Nightingale)
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Karyo (Andrew's BBC 6 Music takeover)
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Katherine Priddy (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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KID 12 (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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Last Ronin (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Lakshmi (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Lauren Nicole (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Lauren Wright (First-ever airplay and added to the BBC Radio 1 playlist)
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Lawrence Taylor (Reading & Leeds national BBC support)
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Lisbee Stainton (Continuous airplay and early radio session opportunities)
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London Black (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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LOSTatHOME (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Lowlives (Alyx Holcombe BBC Radio 1 support)
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Lucia Nicole (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Lucy Deakin (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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Lucy Gidley (Tom Robison BBC 6 Music support)
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Lucy May Walker (Jeremy Vine BBC Radio 2 support)
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Luke Leighfield (Gave him his first-ever airplay and festival gigs)
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Manu Song & The Eco Reggae Experience (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Mark A Peters (BBC Radio 3 support)
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Matt Woosey (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Maxed Out (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Meg Chandler (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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Meg Scane (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Mesadorm (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Mirrortalk (Alyx Holcombe BBC Radio 1 support)
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Mitch Loveridge (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Molly Ann Ganderton (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Muchuu (Booked to support Florence & The Machine and landed on the Radio 1 playlist)
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Muddy Summers & The DFWs (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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New Consistent, The (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Nuns Of The Tundra (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Octophonic (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Ollie Heron (Jaguar BBC Radio 1 support)
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OMYO (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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(The) Oozes (BBC Radio 1's Future Sounds support)
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Outpost Drive (Emily Pilbeam BBC 6 Music support)
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Pandas & People (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Paul Menel (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Paul Tarry (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Paurosi (Theo Johnson BBC Radio 1Xtra support)
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Peace (First outdoor festival booking)
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Pegasus Bridge (First-ever festival booking & BBC Maida Vale session)
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Pencil Toes (Booked them for a BBC Radio 1 Maida Vale session)
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Pentire (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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Pollyanna Blue (Alyx Holcombe BBC Radio 1 support)
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Pr1nceMusic (Jasmine Takhar BBC Asian Network support)
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Population:7 (Andrew's BBC 6 Music takeover)
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Queen Cult (Alyx Holcombe BBC Radio 1 support)
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Rachel By The Stream (Andrew's BBC 6 Music takeover)
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Rahmanzbeatz (Jasmine Takhar BBC Asian Network support)
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Raye (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Rebekah Buffong (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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red:line:ratio (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Red Room Therapy (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Remi Harris (First-ever gigs, the Montreal Jazz Festival & The Royal Albert Hall)
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Riscas (First-ever airplay, festival slot and BBC Radio 1 playlist)
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Robinson (First-ever airplay and festival gig)
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Roving Crows (First-ever airplay, festival gigs and support to Jamie Cullum)
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Runrummer (Appeared at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend)
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Rubii (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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Saint Alto (Andrew's BBC 6 Music takeover)
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Sam Clines (Andrew's BBC 6 Music takeover)
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Sam Isaac (Chosen to play Glastonbury & The Electric Proms)
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Sam Holmes (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Sam Ostler (BBC Radio 2 support)
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Sarcoline (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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Sasha McVeigh (Bob Harris BBC Radio 2 support)
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Scarlette Says (Festival opportunity and BBC 1xtra playlist)
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Sebastian Tree (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Shaun Williams (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Sheddy Maria (Theo Johnson BBC Radio 1Xtra support)
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Shell McGahan (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Shiraz (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Shooze (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Silverlake (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Silver Lines, The (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Simpli (Andrew's BBC 6 Music takeover)
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Skewwhiff (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Ski Lift (Gemma Bradley BBC Radio 1 support)
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Sleuth (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Slippery Slope (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Smokiecoco (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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Sœur (First-ever airplay & festival gigs)
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Solar Eyes (Steve Lemacq BBC 6 Music support)
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Space Jump Salute (Annie Mac BBC Radio 1 support)
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Squidge (Alyx Holcombe BBC Radio 1 support)
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Stewart Wallace (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Stiff Joints, The (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Stone Mountain Sinners (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Stumbleine (Andrew's BBC 6 Music takeover)
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Subshift (Jess Iszatt BBC Radio 1 support)
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Subskii (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Swallows (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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Sxsha (Jaguar BBC Radio 1 support)
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Tale Lights (Georgey Spanswick national local radio support)
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Talons (BBC Maida Vale session)
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Teddy Matthews (Andrew's BBC 6 Music takeover)
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Tenz (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Thank The Academy (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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This Wicked Tongue (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Thought Bubble (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Tina V (Tom Robison BBC 6 Music support)
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Tokyo Marching Band (Andrew's BBC 6 Music takeover)
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Tom Forbes (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Trevor Babajack Stegar (Tom Robison BBC 6 Music support)
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Troy Redfern (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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UK Feds (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Undercover Hippy, The (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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USE (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Utelka (Jaguar BBC Radio 1 support)
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VH Yes (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Vinny Peculiar (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Virgin Marys (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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We Shall Meet In The Place Where There Is No Darkness (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Weirdo (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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West Midlands (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Wet Desert (Mark Forrest national local radio support)
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White Feather Collective (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Willow Robinson (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Xcursion (Andrew's BBC 6 Music takeover)
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Xsylum (Huw Stephens BBC Radio 1 support)
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Yellow Belly (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music support)
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Yogi P (Jaguar BBC Radio 1 support)
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Young Garbo (Steve Lamacq BBC 6 Music support)
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Zilch (Alyx Holcombe BBC Radio 1 support)
Four years later, Andrew was asked to present a new music programme for BBC Hereford & Worcester. At this time Andrew was also presenting six days a week – including regular cover work on the afternoon show, evenings, Saturday afternoons and throughout the bank holiday schedules. Andrew was also on-air during the 2007 summer floods and found himself presenting a news programme from 7pm until midnight receiving top praise from Mark Thompson, director-general of the BBC at the time, who said: “The feedback you’ve received from your audience has offered ample testimony of just how essential that service has been to so many people’s lives. We could never hope to keep them informed and connected were it not for the kind of efforts you've made, and the professionalism and creativity that you've demonstrated”. This resulted in the station receiving gold in the Sony Radio Academy Awards.
In 2006, Andrew began working for BBC Online, producing news articles, image galleries and local features. He helped reshape the systems that enabled local teams to publish photo galleries and his photos of The Big Chill and the Worcester Warriors would regularly attract more than 15,000 unique users per day – but his biggest achievements were during the 2007 summer floods where many of his images attracted a record audience of 6 million hits in a week. Andrew was also commissioned to create the ‘Music Map’ feature, exploring Herefordshire & Worcestershire's connection with iconic gigs and musicians.