Be Somerset Radio

Be Somerset Radio Big-hearted radio from the heart of Somerset.

A new radio station on the way, with evening broadcasts online 💛 For now, hear some cracking interviews on our website.

09/10/2025

We’ve got a great chat for you. Ian’s been catching up with songwriter, guitarist and producer Richard Hawley. Richard’s music is not only truly timeless, but listening to him in conversation has restored our faith!

Richard’s playing a sold out gig at The Grand Pier tomorrow night, but have a listen to him chatting about the 20 year anniversary of his incredible album, Coles Corner, and lots more besides… including the dangers of the waltzers! 😉

Here’s a clip of how the song Coles Corner came about, and to listen to the full conversation just head here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/richard-hawley-coles-corner-is-20

05/10/2025

Now this is perfect for today… a poem about knitting from Robin Ince! He shared it when chatting with Ian about a digital EP of eclectic poems that’s a sonic companion to Robin’s book Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal.

Robin has teamed up with musician Rachel Taylor-Beales to create the EP, which invites us to renew our imaginations and embrace the wide, weird, and wondrous spectrum of what it means to be human.

You can listen to the chat and find out more about it all, here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/normally-weird-and-weirdly-normal-robin-ince-and-rachel-taylor-beales

27/09/2025

Planning your weekend? Well, It’s the final weekend of Somerset Open Studios, a chance to head out across the county, visit artists, and chat with them about what they create.

Recently Jenna did just that with Printmaker Jackie Curtis and created some prints from seed heads, skeletal leaves and other things Jackie had foraged for.

It was fascinating and fun seeing the process.

Here’s a clip of what they got up to, and to hear the conversation and printmaking experience in full, just head here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/somerset-open-studios-getting-to-the-heart-of-the-art

The conversation with Jackie starts at around 14 minutes and 15 seconds in.

Over Somerset Art Weeks so far, these shows have had just over 16,000 listens, so thank you so much to you if you’ve listened to them 💛

Jackie is at Venue 106 in Bawdrip and we're sure she’d love a visit 😊

25/09/2025

Have you heard Jenna's Somerset Open Studios shows yet? They’re packed with great artist conversation.

One of those is with the brilliant TTina Salvidgewho has recreated her studio virtually this Somerset Art Weeks, and taken it to SSomerset Film at The Engine Roomin Bridgwater!

Not only that, but it’s got 3 portals that explore Tina’s memories. It’s fun and fascinating, and one of the the portals takes you somewhere very sci-fi!

Take a listen to this clip - not least for the mention of the “Mash get Smash” spaceman!

The last day to experience Tina’s virtual studio is tomorrow, so take a trip to The Engine Room, put on a VR headset (or just experience it on screen) and have a play!

You can also listen to their full conversation here:

https://lnkd.in/gqyWzud4

Tina’s chat is 37 minutes into the show.

SSomerset Art Works


https://www.besomerset.com/post/somerset-open-studios-getting-to-the-heart-of-the-art

Episode 2 of ‘The Heart of the Art’, Somerset Art Weeks Open Studios show is out… and it’s another cracker! You can list...
22/09/2025

Episode 2 of ‘The Heart of the Art’, Somerset Art Weeks Open Studios show is out… and it’s another cracker!

You can listen to it here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/open-studios-heart-of-the-art-show-two

It features:

Bay Tree Willow - Jo Entwhistle talks about her willow practice and Jenna and Jo make a birdhouse together.

Josh White and April Pebble at Rock Farm Collective, who chat about the collective of artists just outside Shepton, as well as their own work with wood and glass. Jenna also tries her hand at some traditional glass painting.

Paul Newman, who chats about curating Somerset Art Works 30 year anniversary exhibition, Lustre, at The Musgrove Gallery at Musgrove Park Hospital.

Georgina Towler, Alison Jacobs Artist Melanie Deegan, and Sue at Albatross Print Studio at East Quay, Watchet who chat about their studios, what you can find there when you visit, and what the event means to them.

Have a great week. The last day of Open Studios is Sunday. Hope you get the chance to get out and experience some fantastic art ❤️

17/09/2025

One of Jenna's favourite conversations has been with Michael Rosen and Michael is at Westlands Yeovil this evening, with his show, Getting Through It.

Here's a clip of Michael sharing what the show is about. To hear our full conversation, you can head to Be Somerset Radio, here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/michael-rosen-getting-through-it

Final tickets for this evening's show in Yeovil are here:

https://www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk/whats-on/talks/michael-rosens-double-bill-of-poetry/9822

Our first Somerset Art Weeks Open Studios ‘Heart of the Art’ show for this year is now available for you to listen to he...
14/09/2025

Our first Somerset Art Weeks Open Studios ‘Heart of the Art’ show for this year is now available for you to listen to here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/somerset-open-studios-getting-to-the-heart-of-the-art

It includes:

* Somerset Art Works Co-chair and Founder of Close galleries, Freeny Yianni, (Venue 54)
* Printmaker Jackie Curtis whose work is inspired by nature, the land in Somerset and beautiful foraged materials (Venue 106). We get ink on our hands!
* Multimedia artist Tina Salvidge who has created an amazing virtual reality experience including sci-fi inspired elements, transporting her studio digitally to the Engine Room in Bridgwater (Venue 102)
* Artist Jo Lathwood, whose wonderful exhibition 'Down the Hatch' at East Quay, Watchet explores the history and role of women in British pub culture... and features some very exciting cauldrons! East Quay curator George Harwood Smith also shares his insights (Venue 90)

Happy Somerset Art Weeks!😍
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09/09/2025

A feast of chat to get your teeth into! 😍

For all you fantastic e-newsletter subscribers, your Be Somerset round up has just landed in your inbox. Thanks for being the best!☀️

If you’d like to join our growing community, just head here:

https://www.besomerset.com/be-in-the-know

02/09/2025

What does it mean when a supermarket door opens for a pigeon, but not for you? 😉

What do you do when you’re playing a Craggy Island priest, you’re browsing the Doc Marten’s in a shoe shop in your lunch hour, and you get offered a pair for free for being a man of the cloth?

Just a couple of the things comedian, actor, and author Ardal O'Hanlon chats with Jenna about ahead of his latest stand up tour ‘Not Himself’. He’s bringing it to Yeovil Westlands on October 22nd.

This is a chat that's guaranteed to put a smile on your face and you can hear it here, whenever you fancy it:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/ardal-o-hanlon-not-himself

24/08/2025

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend! ☀️

Here’s a treat for you. A place of beauty, history, creativity, nature and adventure, nestled in the heart of Somerset.

Join Jenna to explore Oakhill Ponds as she meets owner and custodian of the land, Amanda Miles.

From checking out the 18th century grotto, to a pretty narrow stone tunnel behind the waterfall, and having a cold water dip in the spring fed pond, it’s the perfect weekend listen.

Hear it in full on besomerset.com, here:

https://www.besomerset.com/post/oakhill-ponds-a-hidden-somerset-gem

Jenna will also share highlights tomorrow from 10am on BBC Radio Somerset.

Have a great rest of the Bank Holiday ☀️

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