'The Sound of the Nation - Live' - bringing Sixties pirate radio to life

'The Sound of the Nation - Live' is a stunning stage show that takes its name from a familiar jingle heard frequently on Radio Caroline in the Sixties.

The production brings to life the unique atmosphere and sounds of the pirate radio era. Audio-visual material combined with live music is enhanced by the talents of a troupe of energetic go-go dancers, wearing trendy Sixties gear.

Ian Forshaw and Keith Gunson, who front the resident band at Liverpool's Cavern Club, are long-time fans of Sixties pirate radio. With the line-up completed by drummer Peter Alcock and Tony Cook on keyboards, they named themselves Caroline 199 after the famous offshore radio station.

[Sound of the Nation]

It was Easter 1964 when Radio Caroline became the first commercial station to broadcast to Great Britain from international waters. The two Caroline stations became the sound of the nation when they transmitted to the north and south of the country, from ships anchored off the coast of Essex and off the Isle of Man. Being outside territorial waters meant they were not governed by the country's broadcasting regulations, which allowed only the BBC to entertain the nation. Soon, many other stations sailed in to join the pirate fleet, while other renegade broadcasters commandeered abandoned wartime forts. All the stations feature on film during the show.

'The Sound of the Nation - Live' has already proved immensely popular. When Caroline 199 premiered it at the Cavern Club on July 4th, tickets were snapped up within days. The next performance, at the Liverpool Adelphi on Friday, August 28th, will entertain a much larger audience as part of this year's Beatle Week. The Adelphi is the nerve centre of 'Let It Be Liverpool - the International Beatle Week Festival'. The band's intention is for the fans to experience what radio was like when the Fab Four ruled the airwaves and to understand the important role the pirates played in their musical career.

Doors open at 2.00pm, when the audience will be treated to a film show of original footage of the Sixties pirates accompanied by the fab music of the era. This presentation leads into the show itself, where Roger 'Twiggy' Day narrates the offshore radio story. Roger, who now works for BBC Radio Kent, started his broadcasting career in 1966 aboard Radio England and later jumped ship to Radio Caroline.

'The Sound of the Nation - Live' is a co-production of Caroline 199 and Radio London Ltd.

See our events page for Beatle Week booking information.

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