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´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3's Late Junction programme celebrates its 10th anniversary this September.

The iconic, award-winning programme, which first hit the airwaves in September 1999, has become a highlight of the Radio 3 schedule, and will mark a decade on the airwaves with a concert on 17 September at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Maida Vale Studios. The concert will be broadcast on Radio 3 later that evening in the usual Late Junction slot.

The evening of live music will be presented by Verity Sharp and Fiona Talkington, who have both presented Late Junction since the very beginning.

The anniversary studio session at Maida Vale will feature some of their favourite artists and reflect the breadth of artists that Late Junction programmes on a weekly basis.

The acts include Stian Carstensen, Ola Kvernberg, Max de Wardener's Cloud Bowls, and Tobias ben Jacob, Philip Henry and Hannah Martin.

Roger Wright, Controller of Radio 3 and Director of the Proms, comments: "Late Junction has gone from strength to strength and its eclectic programming has won awards, critical acclaim and a loyal listenership. Radio 3's Late Junction offers a way in to worlds of music which might not otherwise be heard at all."

Fiona Talkington comments: "Late Junction has become a way of life for me. I presented the very first programme on 13 September 1999. We were bowled over by the response from the public and musicians showing that people really do want to hear new things and be taken on musical journeys."

Verity Sharp comments: "For ten years we've been free to play the music of our choosing on the airwaves. A rare privilege, and the response has been overwhelming."

In February 2009 the programme pushed the creative boundaries further still and launched the monthly Late Junction sessions which bring together artists who have never previously collaborated and enable them to spend a day in the studio together. The recorded sessions are aired on the show soon afterwards.

One of the most successful to date was between Tunng and Tinariwen, who had never met before the Late Junction team brought them together for a session. As a result of this they went on to do a nationwide tour together.

Other sessions have included Wildbirds and Peacedrums with Micachu, Mercury Award nominees Sweet Billy Pilgrim with Adem and, most recently, Mira Calix with Malcolm Middleton.

The next Radio 3 Late Junction session will take place in October and brings together sonic pioneers Tortoise with Colin Newman, best known as front-man of legendary post punk band Wire.

Notes to Editors

Late Junction has received much critical acclaim over the year, below are just a few examples:

"Its eclecticism is near total: traditional music, roots, experimental, early classical" – Matt Seaton

"Late Junction, the most eclectically bonkers radio show since the death of John Peel" – Neil Pearson

"Late Junction is the home of all the music you don't hear anywhere else. It's the shining jewel of late-night radio" – Chris Maume (Independent on Sunday)

“Meanwhile, the station that supposedly embodies everything Glastonbury isn't – classical music, quiet reflection – quietly upped and did what counter-culture is supposed to do. Radio 3 nurtured younglings from across the globe, and brought them together for the purposes of creation. I am not trying to kick festival culture, but new ideas don't flourish in mud and drugs. They happen in quiet studios, on modest budgets" – Zoe Williams (Guardian)

A list of Late Junction's awards and nominations:

Broadcasting Press Guild Radio Awards 2009 Nomination for Radio Programme of the Year – Nomination

Sony Awards 2003 The Music Programming Award, Daily Sequences – Gold

Sony Awards 2002 The Music Programming Award, Daily Sequences – Bronze

Sony Awards 2001 Verity Sharp - Music Broadcaster of the Year – Silver

Broadcasting Press Guild Radio Awards 1999 Radio Programme of the Year – Winner

Molde Rose Award awarded to Fiona Talkington – the award was to commemorate her tireless championing of Norwegian music on the Late Junction show. It was only the second time that the award has been given to a non-Norwegian.

CF2/TH2