Steve Barker

Back in 1980, Steve Barker presented "Spin Off", the first alternative music show at Radio Blackburn, and this evolved into "On The Wire", first broadcast on BBC Radio Lancashire on 16 September 1984. Adrian Sherwood, Keith LeBlanc, Depeche Mode and Lee Scratch Perry were among the first guests in the classic Sunday afternoon 3 hour slot. Way back in the 20th Century, Steve aired the first UK radio plays of Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and 808 State's "Pacific State" and his uncompromising laconic style of playing full track new releases by little known artists endeared him to his audience for three hours on a Sunday afternoon. But times, broadcasting and the BBC change and OTW was almost axed until someone realised it was a unique BBC product. Steve and other contributors to the show were saved but with a 2 hour show moving around the schedule until eventually settling into a midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning slot. It is the longest running UK alternative music show and still at the cutting edge, thanks to a modest almost shy Steve Barker being a very clued-up man when it comes to quality music. Steve also writes for The Wire magazine, collaborates with musicians (especially dub) and occasionally DJs at special events. Since the start of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, BBC Local Radio schedules were cut back and On The Wire came off-air, but Steve and the other contributors continue to record from home and publish a show every week on mixcloud, often longer and more freeform than the constraints of the BBC local radio schedule would allow. At time of writing On The Wire has returned to the BBC.