Mike Mason

Mike has been in the radio industry for around 20 years both on and off air. Off air Mike was a technical engineer for a local radio group, but having a long life passion for music, Mike was itching to get on the airwaves. Since then, Mike has had the pleasure of broadcasting on a number of commercial radio stations across the North-West of England, as well as supporting voluntary community radio too.

 

Rob Lees

Rob has been a DJ since his early teens. His first time introducing a record on air was on BBC GMR back in 1999. Rob was a mobile DJ for 20 years, performing predominately at weddings. He also played at a number of clubs across the North-West. Rob has a full time job working as an airline pilot, currently flying the Boeing 777 for a leading airline in the Middle East.

Rob has an extensive knowledge of all genres played on Panacea Radio and is a keen collector of 12″ singles. Being an international airline pilot, Rob regularly trawls through record shops worldwide, finding more music to add to his collection.

Rob Lees is one of the founding members of Panacea along with Mike Mason.

 

Gary Prescott

Gary was born in Southport, the home of one of the best soul music weekenders. This inspired Gary from an early age and has been collecting soul music since the early 80s. Being an avid listener to soul radio shows influenced Gary massively and shaped his love of Rare Groove, 2 Step and 80s/90s/00s contemporary smooth mellow grooves.

The passion for this type of music is still present today and influences Gary in the music he plays. Gary is a regular resident at local soul gigs and is often a name at soul weekender gigs. Gary has been around radio in some format since the late 80s and in the last decade has had the pleasure of presenting his own shows. 

If you love your warm, sophisticated and mellow mid tempo grooves, classics, rare and underplayed music from these beautiful music genres, you can catch Gary here on Panacea every Sundays at 8pm.

 

Mike Stephens

Mike Stephens is a resident of Soul Central, a long-running night at Band On The Wall, Manchester. He is known for delivering a slick blend of 80's/90's R&B, Modern Soul, Classic Grooves and Contemporary Soul. With a passion for classic and modern Soul, he’s built a reputation for tight mixing and crowd-engaging sets that span decades of R&B, Funk and Soul.

 

David Lawrenson

David Lawrenson has been presenting on the radio for a long time and has presented on a variety of stations in the North of England. He has always had radio passion and has been working in radio production for just as long.

When not on the radio, David puts his voice to work as a voiceover artist, spins records and fills dancefloors as a professional DJ. He also causes chaos as a children’s entertainer!

 

Sam Brown

Sam Brown has long been regarded as one of Manchester's pioneering Soul DJ's. Sam has worked for numerous radio stations across the UK, including Key 103 and Jazz FM. Sam began his DJ live in the 80's at the now defunct Placemate 7 as their official Jazz Funk DJ.

Over the last 20 years, Sam has worked with and promoted some of the biggest names in the Soul and Jazz Funk fraternity, including Patti LaBelle, The Whispers, LL Cool J, Alexander O'Neal, Shalamar, Odyssey, Joyce Sims & Meli'sa Morgan. 
Sam's love for Soul & Funk goes back to the start of the Soul movement. 

 

Tony Shawcross

Tony got into soul music in the early 70’s, enjoying sounds by The Intruders, Al Green, Marvin Gaye and many other legendary artists.  This passion for soul led to weekly trips to Wigan Casino and The Ritz All-Dayer in Manchester along with regular trips to Blackpool Mecca and The Cats Whiskas in Burnley to listen to Northern Soul and the crossover of the music into modern contemporary tunes.

In the late 70’s, Tony pursued his ambition by having an opportunity to get behind the decks at The Rainbow rooms in Eccles, Manchester, playing Northern Soul from an extensive collection.  He was hooked! 

Tony gradually moved on to Jazz, Funk and the Modern Soul genres and played predominantly at local events around the North West and Cheshire.  His radio career started 10 years ago with a residential set on stations in both Manchester and London.

Tony has played at many weekenders and Festivals including Prestatyn, Manchester International Soul Festival, Irlam Live and The International Soul Festival in Blackpool.

 

Steve Aggasild

Steve, born & raised in Aberdeen, Scotland, started djing doing mobile discos at around 16, but his early interest in soul music really took place in the early 70's hearing the early Motown & Stax & then the Philly songs on radio that really got him hooked.

Infrequent visits to the legendary all-dayers at The Highland Room at Blackpool Mecca & Manchester Ritz was, despite the incredibly long journey back in the mid 70's, responsible for the increased thirst to hear more music, despite the geographical disadvantage of staying in the North East Of Scotland.

Mobile djing led to a path in radio, firstly hospital broadcasting then when Aberdeen was awarded it's own licence to broadcast in mid 1981, and already knowing some of the presenters there, he started hassling them to get in front of the management. A desire to play soul music on radio & much patience led to the first soul show on Aberdeen’s Northsound Radio in April 1982 where, through some station idents that were recorded for him, he quickly became known as The Soul Master, which still sticks to this day.

Through full time overseas work commitments, sadly Steve eventually had to leave Northsound in 2012, coinciding with the 30th anniversary with the station, a record which to this day is hard to beat.

Steve also previously presented shows on Soul 24/7, BBC Radio Scotland, Soul Café Radio (NYC) & a few others.

Steve presents SoulAndJazzFlavas, playing fresh New Soul, Soulful Gospel & Jazz on Panacea every Tuesday night between 8pm & 10pm.

 

Steve Howie

Since 1998, Steve Howie has brought together the finest classic and modern soul, jazz funk, acid jazz and soulful house into a weekly show packed with new releases and timeless tracks. 

Guests on Steves show have included Jean Paul "Bluey" Maunick (Incognito), Frank McComb (vocalist and pianist), Christian Urich (Tortured Soul), John Morales (DJ & producer), Dan Goldman (JD73) and Maysa Leak (Incognito & solo artist). 

Listen to Grooveline - Soul & Groove to Move, every Saturday from 8pm

 

Jay Martin

Jay has a lot of DJ experience and a wealth of musical knowledge. He started working as a DJ in his mid-20’s and ran his own mobile DJ business working across the North-West. As he developed as a DJ he ended up getting a warm up slot a The Paradox in Aintree, Liverpool. Jay got an understanding of various DJ styles which helped him to decide what kind of DJ he wanted to be.

Jay was given the opportunity to work as a volunteer for Radio City 96.7 along with working on various roadshows. He was introduced to a variety of presenters and worked alongside them on various shows. Eventually, Jay moved to Warrington and worked as a DJ at various late night venues across the town including; PJ’s, The Postern Gate and Breeze Bar. Jay achieved an excellent reputation as an all round DJ.After a stint as a mobile DJ he went into a non-radio career whilst developing a deep love of 80's Soul music and Jazz Funk. More recently he has returned behind the microphone on his local volunteer run station and after many years of friendship with Panacea Radio, Rob is delighted to join our on air team too. Rob presents our Soul Train every Tuesday evening between 8pm and 10pm.

 

Neil James

Neil's first love with music was a huge passion for radio. As an accomplished DJ, his dream came true, playing the UK circuit since the age of 16, travelling around the country, playing music in bars, clubs and hotels. He quickly understood how to play for the crowd.

Fast forward a few years, Neil says "Becoming a presenter on the radio was just another dream come true. This is something that I wanted to do from a young age".

Neil lives in Warrington, Cheshire. He has a full-time job, running a kitchen company with his wife Carole. He loves a loud night out, going to gigs and loves a good holiday or 2!

Neil loves all genres of music but holds a special passion for Soul and especially anything with a groove. His love of Jazz Funk & 70's Disco has filled dancefloors all over. Neil is excited to showcase these amazing genres of music on Panacea Soul Radio.

 

PJ Stokes

From a very early age, PJ has held a real passion for Soul music, with a particular feel for Philly and Seventies Soul. Growing up listening to this music gave him the drive to go out onto the music scene as a Soul singer, to which he still does today. Throughout his musical journey, PJ has developed a love and respect for an array of artists across all the genres of the Soul world, such as, The Temptations, Earth Wind & Fire, The Stylistics, The O'Jays, The Trammps, through to Shalamar and Luther Vandross, plus many more from the Soul family.

 

Simon Richie

Simon first caught the radio bug in 1999 when he joined Hope FM for a 28 day broadcast in the summer doing a Saturday show. Since then he was involved with 16 – 25 year olds in Berkshire, UK, helping to facilitate a youth radio station, and also in 2006 another youth radio station involving young people on a short term mission with YWAM. He was also involved in hospital radio in Nuneaton, England for 3 years presenting request shows, breakfast show.

Simon presents the mid-morning show Tuesday to Thursday, 10-12.

 

Elliot Guy

Elliot is 19 and first stepping in to radio through work experience at a local radio station in his home town. After running a pilot hour, he fell in love with radio presenting and now has shows on both Panacea and his local station.

 

Chris Hampson

Chris brings you a fine selection of Soul, Funk & Groove for your Sunday afternoon while you're prepping the Sunday roast.

Chris is an electrician by trade and having a huge passion for the music we play, Chris had to bring his spark to Panacea. Chris enjoys family time, walking the dog and the occasional glass of red wine.

 

John Heyes

It was in the Funky House era of the 2000s that turned John onto all things disco. Taking a moment to search out the original version of a big track of the time led John down a disco ball shaped rabbit hole discovering old tracks that where once club hits before he was even born, and a realisation that what we see in clubland today always leads him back to those great days of the 70s & 80s.

Fast forward to today and the disco sound is as revered as ever with the genre reimagined in the form of the “disco edit “ bringing the music to a new and eager audience. John's “One Foot In The Disco” show here on Panacea brings you the best of the best Disco tunes and rarities along with some newer sounds too.

 

Ruby Lane

After gaining a PhD in Drug Discovery at The University of Manchester, Ruby worked in early-phase oncology research before turning to academia where she found her calling in the lecture hall and the lab. When not in the lab or marking coursework, Ruby’s love of Soul music has lead her to Panacea Soul for a new found hobby.

 

Keith Marley

Keith Marley has been Djing for over 30 years, spinning vinyl across the musical genres, but his real passion is Reggae music. His vast record collection spans the history of Reggae music covering Ska, through Rock Steady, Roots Reggae, Dub and Dancehall. Keith has supported major Reggae legends including: Big Youth, Horace Andy, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Julian Marley, Dillinger, Yellowman, Black Uhuru and many more. His 'No Pop No Style' radio show focuses on Roots Reggae and Dub, and is a strictly vinyl selection. Keith is a club DJ based in Merseyside. His 'No Pop No Style' residency at Liverpool's Kazimier Garden is in its third year.