Tell us about yourself
I am a music-loving local who lives in Sunbury with my wife and twin boys. Since 2019, I have been presenting In the Jailhouse Tonight on Sunbury Radio.
The show gets its name from my fascination with songs about prison. But, for the record, I am not a current or former prisoner, nor a current or former prison guard.
Despite having no musical talent myself, I love listening to, and talking about, music. I have previously written two editions of The Guardian‘s online weekly music feature, Readers Recommend, and have had an article (unsurprisingly about a prison song) published in the Historical Society of the Northern Territory‘s annual peer reviewed journal.
Outside of music, I enjoy sport, participating in competition tennis each week, and my weekends usually involve taking my children to their various sporting activities. I am keen follower of the Melbourne Renegades in the BBL.
Tell us all about your show
In The Jail House Tonight leans toward new alt-country and americana music, but also may feature country, folk, rock, blues, soul and associated genres. Sometimes the familiar, sometimes the obscure. Often new music, sometimes old. Sometimes based around a particular theme, but not always.
You never quite know what you are going to get, but expect to hear great music, stories about the songs and the people who made them, and on most weeks even an interview with a special guest musician.
What’s your all-time favourite album?
A tough one, so many to choose from, but probably Abbey Road by The Beatles.
Do you play a musical instrument?
My musical instrument ambitions screeched to a halt after one year of violin lessons in primary school. It’s unlikely that I’d still be able to scratch out a horrible version of Mary Had a Little Lamb on the violin anymore, but you just never know!
What’s your favourite movie or TV show?
Forrest Gump.
What’s your advice to those thinking of volunteering at Sunbury Radio?
If you are thinking about getting involved, I would just recommend you to go for it! Prior to starting with Sunbury Radio, I had no experience or skills in radio (some might argue I still don’t), I merely had an interest in talking about music. It’s relatively easy to pick up the skills and there are many volunteers at the station who are more than willing to support and help you out along the way.
Community radio has great potential to support local communities and provide opportunities for musicians to get their music out to the people. I genuinely believe that being involved in the radio station has kept me more in touch my local community, particularly through being involved with special outside broadcasts such as the Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services and music festivals etc.
I am not going to lie, being involved is a big time commitment, particularly to do the job well, but it is also incredibly rewarding.
Follow Dean on… Facebook
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