PMS

Roger Hill has presented the alternative music programme on BBC Radio Merseyside since 1982, and overseen most of its developments and changes. He has also broadcast on architecture and other arts-related subjects for Radio Merseyside and contributed to network BBC on Radios1,3, 4 and 5. Whilst his broadcasting commitments have continued Roger has pursued parallel careers in theatre, the arts and performance. He has been Associate Director of the Liverpool Everyman Theatre, a prime mover, from the 1980’s when he was Youth Theatre Organizer at that theatre, of the Youth Theatre movement in the UK and internationally. He is currently President of the National Association Of Youth Theatres, and his association with NAYT dates from 1983 when he was its founding Chairman. He lectured for 7 years at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts as part of the Community Arts Department. As an arts consultant he has worked for the Arts Council, The Council of Europe and many overseas bodies, producing several influential reports on arts development and young people. He currently works as a Live Artist with residencies at the Liverpool Bluecoat Arts Center and the Cable Factory in Helsinki in his portfolio, alongside his continuing theatre and consultancy work.

Originally from Leicester, Roger has lived in Liverpool since 1978 and traveled widely including two round-the-world trips, and he saw in the Millennium on the Great Wall Of China.

Hailing from the deepest darkest depths of West Yorkshire, Karen Timms first moved to Liverpool in 1997 to study at the University of Liverpool.

It was here that she met her fellow members of infamous punk band Flamingo 50. With Karen bashing away on bass, the trio staked their claim in world domination by rocking around the UK and France with the likes of Le Tigre and Nerf Herder, and playing festivals including Ladyfest, Widstock, Munkyfest and Punk Aid.

After a four year stint with the '50 and several near death experiences, Karen joined the psychedelic Victorian pop noir band Lovecraft, who she currently performs and drinks tea with on a regular basis.

Karen's fascination with music was explored from an early age, learning to read musical notation as soon as she could read the English language. Expanding on those trusty adolescent recorder and clarinet lessons, her musical tastes now include thrash metal from the San Francisco Bay area of the late 1980s, the post Riot Grrrl music of the late 90s and noughties, Claude Debussy, Steve Reich, Björk and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.

Karen is currently studying for a degree in Music and Music Technology at Liverpool Hope University, studying electro-acoustic and acousmatic composition with sonic arts composer Ian Percy, and hopes to graduate in the summer of 2008.

Chris is the DJ and promoter of Liverpool’s Adult Books night (Saturdays at Le Bateau, Duke St), mixing glam rock, punk, new wave and electro with the best of today. He was previously resident DJ at Korova’s Evol club, and has done various other guests spots across Merseyside.

Chris also writes and performs his own music in various guises, including the bands Automation and Sex Education. The resulting album from this, ‘Give Me Sex Education’, is available on Itunes. He is currently working on new material, which he hopes to premier live this autumn.

Previously, he promoted the live night ‘Pin Ups’ as a platform for emerging bands in Merseyside, and is currently involved in helping new acts at Wirral’s ace recording and rehearsal studios Fallen Industries.

Colin has been on a quite wondrous musical journey since he started teaching himself Piano and Guitar at age 20.  It was when he purchased a 4 track tape recorder that he truly fell in love with recording music.  Living with an old school friend who just happened to be the most naturally gifted songwriter, the project U-nuclear was born and spawned over 200 songs  that got a London labels interest who then wanted them to perform at the televised showcase on the Musicians Channel.  This was a perfect time to disband, so they did.  Yet that very special album 'Fall-Out' remains. 

Wanting to be around music at every opportunity, he went to music college and formed a live band called 'The Marmalade Dream'  then later 'Buttercup', he quite liked being a front man, and felt completely at home on that stage, perhaps a little too much, as the performances involved the caterpillar breakdance and screaming at the audiences, to crawling under the stage and crying nursery rhymes.  When that got too much for some in the band they left, and he went on to form 'White Trash ana Halfcast'.  This band started out as a techno ska band, but there were bits of everything in there.  Within 3 months of being formed they signed a management deal with Monochrome who also had the very fine SCCC on their books.  The band matured fast and furious, becoming a tight unit and performing to sell out crowds in London and Liverpool.  With front man antics toned down to the occasional preist collar and megaphoned Germanic rant, the band made some giant leaps from that strobe lit college practise room.  Then as all bands do and should, they split up.

The dole were kind enough to send him to LIPA to study the business side of music, and this is where something quite strange happened.  He was chosen to have an 'Individual Session' with the head patron Sir Paul McCartney.  For a surreal 20 minutes they jammed and chatted and one of those unreal life experiences that doesn't hit you for a year happens.

It was a strange dream where his niece told him his name was 'Peggy Brainchild' that he found a vessel for his solo recordings.  Toying with identities is a common habit for him, and you see that in a lot of his projects.  Peggy Brainchild sticks with you, and there is some mysticism as you digest the strange blend of music.  Each song seems to have a different character and feeling to it.  Not just albums of 1 good song and ten samey sounding sub standard ones.  There are some interesting sounds and styles very evident.

After 4 years at college and studying under such legends as Supercharge frontman, Andy Parker.  He was given a pair of suede shoes by the man himself.  They are the coolest shoes he has ever owned.  Uni was the next step of the journey moving to Liverpool from the other side of the water.  In need of somewhere to live and not having a band, he was asked to look after a massive empty 15 bedroom house round the corner from where John Lennon grew up.  This was the perfect place to cook up some new songs and prepare to make a live band that will better everything achieved so far. 

With his guitarist from the early Buttercup days to the recently disbanded White Trash ana Halfcast, they found a musical gem in a young sax and keys player, and the three of them went about writing and recording the 'Our Lady Vain' demos.  And later in the year when the bass fell into place, and the drums brought the songs to an energetic life, they had themselves a live band like no other.  They made a massive impact from their first gig, getting the interest of Oasis manager Alan Mghee and playing at his famed 'Greasy Lips' night.  This band chapter is still being written..........

After leaving the mansion with an album full of songs, and some amazing memories, he went to Cornwall.  Surrounded by harbors and fresh air, friendly people and wonderfully unique buildings.  The inspiration for Lost at Sea started to brew, so he moved close to the city centre and started to put things into place.  A home studio to record, a venue to showcase and an online shop to sell and distribute.  With an ethos that encourages collaborations and community, it is that ethos that has attracted such wonderful musicians and writers to the label and helped it evolve as much as it has.