There is no denying that student-run radio often gets a bad rep. At times, it will feel like somebody has just recorded a really annoying conversation between two BESS students at the back of your lecture. Those conversations, however, do not adequately reflect the talent that can be found on student radio.
Trinity FM, like any family, has its own black sheep. Many of the people who run and work for the station are truly talented and have a real passion for audio media. To enjoy this, I’d recommend that you first get yourself off campus for 10 minutes and scavenge some good coffee or tea. I suggest Coffee Angel, they’re the best place close to campus. Second, abscond yourself off to the upper floors of the Arts Block. If you’re still hearing Americans asking about the Book of Kells and “the restroom”, keep climbing the stairs. When you hit tired-looking academics and the art history notice board, hunker down, take a seat or a quiet nook and listen.
These days, we are deluged with podcasts with flashy titles, liberal guests and crisp sound. Instead, I’d choose Trinity FM. The segments can be a bit ropey around the edges, but the creation is nice and the people handing it over to you care passionately. One gets the impression of a band of millennial radio pirates, rebel music choice in one hand and a flat white in another.
Mondays at 10pm Scott King hosts Raiders of the Pop Charts, presenting hits centred around the 80s. Wednesdays at 4pm broadcasts Irish and Unsigned. Hosted by Adam Geraghty, it’s a slot dedicated to the best and most diverse in contemporary unsigned Irish music. If you’re impartial to a bit of positivity and have a penchant for a bit of musical theatre talk, why not try out Soundheim, which runs on Thursdays at 4pm. Their Friday slot at 10pm is hexed by The B Witching Hour and hosted by society chair, Claire Martin. Its vibe is perfect for a chilled end to the college week.
The station stores all their recorded shows on Mixcloud. Like any commercial radio station, they do have a definable brand and their product is something akin to college society culture. Yet, what Trinity FM offers is a band of just about everyone’s music-mad cousin with those iconic white earphones dangling from their ears and fixing their dodgy fringe. Trinity FM broadcasts, chats and plays the latest tunes, right up until those essay deadlines go flying by.
Trinity FM broadcast on 97.3 from 3pm to 12am, Monday to Friday.
