If you're not already in the know, Midlands Rush is a local radio station based in Shropshire which brings a mixture of Underground and Commercial Dance sounds including Drum & Bass, House, Trance, Bassline House, Hip Hop, Funk, Hardcore and Techno to your radio.
Midlands Rush was the brainchild of a few young individuals, which started off as a casual chat amongst mates one night on the way back from a house party way back in 2004. Disgusted by the lack and dismissal of underground music on the radio in their area, they decided to give things a go after the late Dimension FM closed down - the station that most of the group had listened to through their youth. The first broadcast was Jaunuary 2004 under the name of Rush FM Shropshire, and was on air for just a couple of hours. This became a regular occurance on a Saturday. Rush FM Shropshire broadcasted on and off up until December 2005 and then was put to bed due to other commitments and priorities at the time.
It wasn't until October 2006 that the individuals reformed - some original, some new faces - and decided to give things another go under the name Midlands Rush. The station was an instant hit and is now widely listened to across the Shropshire and West Midlands area.
There are many reasons why Midlands Rush was started, but they all come back to two main objects: Music and the Community.
The original reason for forming was to share our music that we love with the Midlands, providing people with the missing genres from your normal radio station, and to get ourselves heard.
The station has always pushed DJs, Producers, MC's, Nights and any sort of talent it's come across, providing a platform to deliver to the audiences of Shropshire and the West Midlands. DJs of all age ranges, backgrounds, race and genres have graced Midlands Rush.
We have also been a firm believer in setting people off on the right track in life and turning away from violence and crime. Music is a way of expressing yourself, a hobby, an interest. It's a simple fact that youths do not have sufficient activites, especially in the Shropshire area, making them frustrated and turning them to violence and crime. Many a performer have told us how they used to get into trouble at school or out on the streets, and how music provided a way of getting them out of this situation and bringing the best out of them. Although we can't always stamp this out totally, we can say - with confidence - that we have helped youths turn away from violence and crime by providing something which is of their interest - the music scene, keeping them off the streets.
We have promoted projects such as Talk to Frank - a drugs advice campaign run by the Government to educate individuals on the risks of taking drugs, and the Think! Don't Drink and Drive campaigns to encourage drivers not to over-intoxicate whilst planning to drive. These campaigns were both targeted towards youths and older generations.
We are looking in 2010 to set up a charity event during the day bringing entertainment and music to people of all ages. Talks are being held with local promoters as we speak, and more info will be announced as it happens! Don't forget if you want to get involved you can message us on the Contact page of the website.
And as always from Midlands Rush, you can expect the music and the vibe we're known for.
