Things change as night falls!

They certainly do here at Boom. Our evening programmes have a rather different feel – and we’re often asked why that is.

As ever, we are driven by our listener tastes and behaviour.  We know that in the evening, audience levels for Boom - just like for the majority of radio stations - will be lower. After all, it’s when many people are most likely to be busy doing other things, whether it’s having your evening meal or putting on the TV - just as the BBC and the commercial TV companies wheel out their big dramas and soaps.  

So, we know that at that time of day many of Boom Radio’s regular weekly listeners are not listening to Boom – or indeed listening to radio at all. Just as most of BBC Radio 2’s weekly listeners are doing other things than listening to Radio 2.

So, we do something a little different with what’s often called ‘destination programming’ -  something just that little bit special which some listeners may make that little extra effort to listen to attentively if they wish. Rather like how John Peel’s programme used to occupy the late slot on Radio 1 years ago – when Tony Blackburn’s audience were likely doing other things.

And – as it’s special – we accept it may not be to everyone’s taste. That’s fine!

Radio is a free buffet and not every diner will enjoy every dish – but those who do like the sound of our special evening offerings are probably free to listen should they choose. The programmes will, therefore, earn us an unhealthy share of the actual available evening radio audience.

Our Easy Hour has been in place from 8.00 - 9.00 since we launched – a Mike Wyer idea originally which has grown to 7 days a week. It was well-received at the start and continues to be. An hour of fine, high-quality easy melodies at a particular time of night. Easier than the rest of the day, but very distinct from the offering on our sister station, Boom Light. We fondly recall the genuine email from a listener who loved the programme so much, she asked us to move it to suit her earlier mealtime.

On Sunday evenings (repeated Thursdays), the Choices programme is the one time of the week when we talk more. Phil Riley invites those from our generation who’ve achieved much in their field to share their life and pick tracks that mean a lot to them. From Bruce Welch to Junior Campbell; Jan Leeming to Madeline Bell and Paul Nicholas. The programme is so different from all else we do that it seemed to take listeners by surprise when we began – but it’s settled in now and we receive a lot of really positive feedback.

We don’t have too many specialist music programmes – but we do squeeze in two hours of Soul on a Saturday from 7.00. The programme was earmarked to have a presenter originally, but for various reasons that didn't happen. It therefore began with music back-to-back five years ago – and the response has been astounding as it really seems to fit that Saturday evening mood. To quote the feedback you often shout ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ so we don’t plan to change that show – and our content director Paul Robey continues to caress the music choices for Saturday Soul by hand each week with some huge favourites mixed in with those Boom surprises.

Most recently, Malcolm Prince, Paul O’ Grady’s much-loved producer, moved to front of stage on Wednesdays to host Malcolm’s Musicals & Movies – a weekly hour of iconic showstoppers, majestic overtures, and fabulous finales. It’s early days, but we’re really pleased – and we know Malcolm wants to thank you for your warm comments.

And, of course, there's David Hamilton's famous Million Sellers programmes of which he's rightly very proud. They were produced more than twenty years ago and they are duly retrieved from the archives on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

The evenings also give us ample scope for the one-off specials  – whether we’re celebrating 70 years of Eurovision with Dana, marking 200 years of the modern railway with Les Ross - or spending an utterly compelling two hours with Sandie Shaw.

The other very deliberate benefit to us is that the character and colour of all this very distinctive programming gives good cause to press columnists to write about us. To a brave new independent station like Boom, that coverage - and related social media - is invaluable in helping us spread the word to those who have yet to hear about the station.

And, of course, after this varied array of programming, you can relax with Diana Luke, Graham Torrington or take a Sunday night journey into the World of Bill Bingham.

At Boom, we have always tried to deliver a rich offering - consistent yet surprising – and our evening programmes are part of that promise. Do keep your ears open and dip in when you hear about something that appeals - and join our exclusive evening clan.