Eastside 89.7FM - Sydney

AT A GLANCE

Established: 1983
Web: www.eastsidefm.org
Streaming: No
Reach: Licensed for Sydney’s Eastern suburbs and city: 300,000
Listeners: 30,000 (approx)
Newsletter: Yes (email only)

MUSIC POLICY

Jazz and roots (from bebop and Latin, to contemporary jazz, blues and funk) form the basis of Eastside’s programming, however after 6pm contemporary styles and more youth oriented shows offer some well-respected programs covering world music, hip hop, Brazilian, Cuban and soul.

OTHER PROGRAMING

Eastside’s weekday jazz includes a mid-morning arts-spectrum covering theatre, books, cinema, exhibitions and events, as well as an afternoon magazine style ‘drive’ band mixing music with community interests. Many of the daytime programs are presented by well-known jazz figures (ie: Lloyd Swanton of The Necks and Yaron Hallis of ARIA winning gypsy band Monsieur Camembert). Weekends are predominantly set aside for cross-cultural and multi-language shows.

SHOWS OF INTEREST

• ‘The Big Payback’ Hip hop and its roots, tracing early electro and funk to modern urban styles
• ‘Vibez Brazil’ From modern capoeira and raggae, to samba and funk-rock, from Will.I.Am to Gilberto.
• ‘Groovescooter’ Long-running contemporary grooves show, spanning dub to electronica presented by a team of DJs.
• ‘Blow’ Contemporary jazz, much of it from Australia, presented by well known musicians Matt MacMahon and Dan Barnett
• ‘Cinemscape’ Presented by both a team of professionals and enthusiasts at Eastside, this respected film review show is also picked up by a large number of stations nationally each week via satellite.

REGULAR EVENTS

Normally one ‘Eastside Jazz’ concert and trivia fund-raiser a year. The station also has strong links with venues like The Basement and contemporary jazz label/gig promoters, Jazzgroove.