 | |
| Broadcast area | London,Merseyside |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 88.3 (as a pirate) 12A (London DAB), 10D (Merseyside, Cheshire & North Wales DAB) |
| Programming | |
| Format | House music,Old Skool |
| History | |
First air date | 8 May 1989 (as a pirate) 14 July 2018 (legally on DAB) |
| Links | |
| Website | centreforceradio |
Centreforce also known as88.3 Centreforce andCentreforce Radio is a formerpirate radio station, now legally broadcasting to London, North West England and North Wales onDAB radio. It was instrumental during theSecond Summer of Love period ofacid house andrave music culture in the UK.[1] The station is based inWaltham Abbey, Essex.
Centreforce first broadcast on 8 May 1989, from London Borough of Hackney then moved to Carpenters Road Stratford,Newham, East London on the frequency of 88.3 FM. In its short time on air (it ceased broadcasting little over a year later around June 1990), it became the "first seven day rave station",[2] and a pivotal part of the scene, promoting all of the bigM25 raves of the time such asGenesis, Energy,Sunrise, and Biology. Regular DJs on the station included one of the founders of the station Roger the Dodger ,Kenny Ken, Danielle & Rochelle,DJ Randall, Keith Mac, Gary D, DJ One, Corporation Dave, DJ Huggs, DJ Connie, Hermit, and Jazzy J. Linden C , Rob Acheson.
Centreforce was set up by Andy Swallow who also co-ran the Echoes nightclub in Bow, East London.[3] Swallow was also involved with the infamous football hooligan firmInter City Firm (ICF), and controversy around the ICF and its relationship to Centreforce regularly surfaced.[4]
After a brief return to the airwaves in 2007-2008 on 88.4FM, Centreforce teamed up withTime 107.5, a local legal radio station based inRomford, East London. Centreforce produced the weekend output on the station asCentreforce Sessions with shows and DJs includingJumping Jack Frost,Artful Dodger, Soul Syndicate (Peter P, Chris Phillips),Matt Jam Lamont, and Mr Buzzhard. This ran from June 2009 until April 2012 when a change of management at Time FM saw the relationship parting company.[5]
Having returned once again throughout 2017 hosting weekly shows online, as of December 2017 Centreforce announced that they had been awarded a licence to broadcast to London onDAB.[6] As of 14 July 2018, it commenced broadcasting on theSwitch London 2 digital radio network.[7] On 19 June 2020, the station launched on the Northeast Wales and West CheshireMuxCo radio network.[8]