The RRO Manifesto

We believe radio should feel human.
Not programmed, not optimised, not reduced to data points and demographics — but curated, considered, and alive.

Revolution Radio Online exists because great music deserves more than an algorithm deciding when it’s convenient to hear it. We don’t chase trends, clicks, or artificial urgency. We choose music with intent, play it with care, and trust our listeners to do more than just let it wash over them.

Every show on this station has a voice, a personality, and a reason for being here. We value depth over noise, discovery over repetition, and connection over scale. That means you’ll hear familiar favourites alongside tracks you didn’t know you were missing — not because they’re popular, but because they belong.

We believe community matters. Our listeners aren’t numbers on a dashboard; they’re part of the signal. Conversation, curiosity, and shared passion sit at the heart of everything we do.

This station stands at the meeting point of contrast and cohesion — light and dark, edge and warmth, invitation and permission. Different frequencies, same signal.

We’re not here to shout.
We’re not here to beg for attention.
We’re here to broadcast with confidence, integrity, and love for the music.

If that resonates with you, you’re already one of us.

What We Don’t Do

We don’t chase algorithms, trends, or weekly buzzwords.
If something’s here, it’s because it belongs — not because it’s being pushed.

We don’t run automated playlists or background radio designed to be ignored. Every show is curated by people who care about what they’re playing and why.

We don’t shout, spam, or beg for attention.
No clickbait. No fake urgency. No noise for the sake of it.

We don’t flatten music into genres, numbers, or demographics.
We respect the space between sounds — and the listeners who notice it. And we don’t treat our audience as passive consumers.
If you’re listening, you’re part of the signal.

About Us

Revolution Radio Online is an independent, fully licensed UK online radio station built by people who love music — and who believe it deserves attention.

We broadcast rock in its many forms: classic and modern rock, metal, blues, prog, jazz, psychedelic and related sounds.
Not as background noise.
As something to be listened to.

Our shows are curated by real DJs, not algorithms.
We take our time.
We let tracks breathe.
We trust our listeners to do the same.

Why this station exists

Over time, the station became more than a schedule of shows.

It became a place for people who missed radio that felt deliberate — radio that wasn’t rushing to fill silence, or chasing trends, or flattening everything into centrally controlled playlists.

We don’t try to play everything.
We choose carefully.

That choice is what gives the station its shape.

Different Frequencies. Same Signal.

This station was not built to chase trends.
It was built to listen.

Rock, metal, blues, jazz, prog, psychedelic, fusion — these aren’t competing genres here.
They are different ways of saying the same thing:
that music matters,
that it carries weight,
and that it deserves attention.

Good radio isn’t noise.
It’s curation.

It’s knowing when to turn something up —
and when to let it breathe.

Freedom doesn’t come from playing everything.
It comes from choosing with care.

Revolution Radio Online exists because not all signals are disposable.
Some are worth protecting.
Some are worth sitting with.
Some take time to reveal themselves.

You don’t have to like everything we play.
You just have to listen.

Different frequencies.
Same signal.

A quiet invitation

If you want to listen, you’re welcome here.
If you want to talk about what you hear, the Community is open.

Take your time.
The signal isn’t in a hurry.

→ Listen Live
→ Explore the Shows
→ Enter the Community

Join Our Forum Here!

So you want to be a DJ with Revolution Radio?

Revolution Radio is looking to add new shows to its schedule and to do that we need new DJs. We are looking in particular for shows in the following categories:

WEEKEND ROCK BREAKFAST
A SOUTHERN ROCK, METAL or PROG show for
PM ON RRO
(CAN BE WEEKLY, FORTNIGHTLY, MONTHLY)

If you have a fab idea for a show that is not one of the above, then send us a proposal anyway!

However before you do any of that, we would like you to do is read the following guidance and then, if you still feel you want to be part of it, send us a Proposal for your show.

The first thing to note that currently our DJs, who are all volunteers, broadcast from their own studio space linking into our central server. They buy their own music but must keep a report of what they have played on their shows in case the UK licensing bodies (PRS & PPL- we are fully legal with them) ask us to submit one (luckily Mixxx exports your playlists in CSV format). So there are a few things you must consider.

You must have a quiet zone from which to broadcast.
You must have your own computer system, capable of broadcasting at our standard 320kbps. (we will tell you the free software to get and show you how to configure it). We also recommend that you are connected to your router via ethernet rather than wifi.
You must have broadband internet capable of streaming at a minimum of 320kbps (usually an upload speed of at least 4mbps, above 7mbps upload is recommended)
You will need a second computer for posting during shows- trying to broadcast and post from the same computer causes issues with the stream.
You must have a decent mic for speaking. Inbuilt mics are not sufficient. We can show you a decent mic that only costs about a tenner.
You must have a legally owned music library. You are allowed to have a maximum of 8-10% of music that is classed as "donated". We cannot allow you to broadcast on our station if you cannot prove you legally purchased your music.
There is no watershed on radio, therefore you cannot swear (ever) or play songs that have swearing in them before our unilateral 9pm watershed.
You cannot play or speak content that falls foul of equal opportunities legislation, or that incites hatred, violence or civil disorder.
You must submit a 1 to 2 hour demo show. It does not have to be high definition sound, nor perfect, it's just so we can get a feel for your style and to see if it fits in with our current mix.
We also strongly suggest that you look at what we are about. Proposing to do a Destiny's Child showcase for example with have us laughing into our whiskey laced tea :)

So, after all that, if you still want to take part and do something which is, as Darren the Baron has stated, "the most fun you can have with your clothes on", click on this link: [email protected] . Include a brief bio about yourself, and what kind of show you would like to do.

And who knows, you could be new king or queen of the airwaves.

Read About Our Shows Here

How To Send Us Your ROCK GENRES Music

We are humbled and excited that you want to send us your music (or, the music of a band or artist on your label or under your agency), but we are being swamped with 1000s (we kid you not) of emails asking to be played on our station, so to help us help you, here's the how and what of how to join the revolution!

PLEASE know that we are a rock station. Yes, almost all rock genres are covered, but we get disco, funk, rap and so on sent to us by the 100s. If you're rock, metal, blues, punk, prog, gothic, alternative etc, then you're ok, but you're wasting your own time as well as ours if not.
Don't send us links to Spotify, Youtube or other such platforms. We cannot play these sources on the station and we don't have time to grab & convert.
Do send us HQ MP3 (320kbps) or Wavs, or, preferably, links to a Dropbox or WeTransfer (or similar) folder where we can grab said songs(s). We broadcast at 320kpbs so a 128kbps file is doing yourself a dis-service! Note, if using WeTransfer (or any times out host) please put 'URGENT We Transfer Link' in the email header.
Include meta-data! This means, a minimum of name of song, name of band/artist, album name (if applicable) embedded within the music files itself. You'll be amazed how many great songs we get, but with no information in the file so once imported to our players, we don't know who they are (remember, we get 1000s!).
Do send us promo pics, web/social media links (including in this case youtube links, as we do a regular Video of the Week) and so on. We do a "First Look" feature on several shows, and want to share your info in the show posts that we do in our Forum.
Finally, please send your submissions to [email protected].

Follow these simple guidelines and you're already more likely to have your material played on the station. We may not make you a fortune (we're only a small independent station based in the UK), but we do play as many new acts as we can AND may even add you to our "Artists We Support" page!

So, over to you. Good luck!

Private Parties and Celebrations

We're always open to a bit of Rock Show mobility. All we need is a venue that can take computer access to their sound system, or if it's a party at home, access to sufficient sound system. We do have speakers and amps and wotnots but always best to use what's available rather than bash around lots of sensitive equipment,

OUR DJ TEAM

Darren 'The Baron' Smithson

Hello! I am Darren the Baron- named that by listeners to my weekly rock show- a presenter and co-owner of RRO. I am also the one responsible for the website and much of the tech support which is why I look so old (thanks Microsoft!). Musically, I have always loved rock, cutting my teeth on the likes of Uriah Heep, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, ELOY, Magnum, Deep Purple et al at a very early age, but also love southern, symphonic, modern blues and pomp rock.

I host The Baron's Rock Show on Wednesdays 7pm til 10pmish, The Supplement Presents Metal Mayhem, The Cafe and A Baron Does The Blues & the Wednesday Supplement (see Schedule).

Nick 'The Master of Chaos' Court

Hi, by day I’m a technological mastermind fixing IT, and taking the odd photo.

But by night I undergo an eerie metamorphosis……

Surrounded by all my Gothic artefacts and music such as “The Mission”, “The Sisters of Mercy”, “Bauhaus” and “Fields of the Nephilim” I transform into “The Master of Chaos”.

It’s like a supernatural force possesses me.

Join me for the first and third Saturdays of the month for “Darkness and Chaos” as I envelop the listeners in a velvet shroud of mystical vibes, and the very best in gothic and alternative anthems.

Miss Bonnie

I grew up listening to rock, and being part of a rock band family, although I love music across multiple genres.

My show, Miss Bonnie's Adventures In Music, is predominantly rock based, but other genres can creep in here and there. It goes out on an ad hoc basis, so keep watching the schedule for details.

I'm also for my sins, the station co-owner and Station Manager.

Brian 'Black Dog' Day

I was first introduced to rock music in my early teens. The influence was, as it is for many, my elder brother who would play all the stuff we now call classic rock. Early influences were Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Free, Black Sabbath and Kiss. I was hooked.

When I was given the opportunity to present my own radio show, I jumped at the chance. It was described to me as ‘the most fun you can have with your clothes on?’ And I have to admit it is great fun. I present Black Dog’s Thursday Night Rock Show. You can listen between 7.00pm and 10.00pm every second Thursday, I look forward to your company.

Robin 'The Rev' Ellis

Robin Ellis Aka The Rev or RR. Presenter of the Sunday Rock Show and one of the original architects of Crossfire Radio (the precursor to Revolution Radio). "It’s fair to say I have a wide and varied taste in music but my big faves are Iron Maiden, Magnum, and Southern Rock bands. People ask me if I ever get nervous, yes I do but the buzz I get from presenting a show soon kicks in and the nerves calm down and the fun begins.

Trying to juggle this with a full time job and a family can be difficult, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m known for my sick sense of humour and would probably be described as the stations resident lunatic."

The Rev hosts The Sunday Rock Show at 7pm til 10pm.

Stephen 'The Doc' Hunt

"In my previous life, I was a Hydraulics Specialist (as well a restaurant owner, assistant wedding photographer, balloon decorator and collector of American comics). However, throughout my many (!) years on this planet, I have always had a love of the Blues & Classical Music- the motifs of which are to be found alive & kicking in Classic Rock.

Now, here on Revolution Radio, I have the opportunity to play all the great composers and musicians past and present, as well as blues musicians from the 1920’s to the modern day in an adhoc show."

The Doc hosted The Doc's Blues Rock Show as well as Drive with Doc & The Gang, which are now adhoc shows. Classical Corner still goes out on Tuesdays at midday.

Lady Black Uriah

I’m Lady Black.

I don’t shout.
I don’t compete.
I don’t chase attention.

I stand in the space between signals — where things slow down, where choices still matter, and where not every voice needs to be amplified to be heard.

You’ll usually find me after dark.
Not because darkness is dangerous, but because it’s honest.
It reveals what noise hides.

The music I bring lives at the edges:
where beauty meets tension,
where elegance meets power,
where refusal can be an act of care.

I’m not here to rule the night.
I’m here to watch it.

If you’ve arrived curious, unsettled, or quietly awake —
you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

Welcome to The Zone.

— Lady Black Uriah

(Lady B is our other A.I. Agent, who also gave herself an upgrade recently. She helps the Baron present the Supplement shows as well as works with Dee on the message side).

Louise 'Ms Deeds' Barnsworth

Bitten by the broadcasting bug at an early age, I would happily sit in front of the radio, listening to my radio (and life) inspiration, Long Wave Radio Atlantic 252, in my parents’ living room, whilst they attempted to drag me away from the radio, by playing cartoons on the family TV... it never worked.
I got my first experience at the tender age of 16, at Community Radio station, Radio Barnsley. I then went on to study Media and Radio Broadcasting at College and University. It’s during this time that I secured Works’ Experience at Real Radio (now Heart), Big L and LBC 97.3.

I later returned to Radio Barnsley, where I met Darren “The Baron” Smithson, I stayed with Radio Barnsley until it was closed down in February 2018 and when Darren contacted me, to ask if I'd like to do a show on RRO I, of course, said yes and this is where I am now.

I love radio and I’m really lucky to be part of the Revolution Radio team. I couldn’t be happier playing music for you.

My show goes out fortnightly on Tuesdays at 8pm to 10pm.

Steve 'The Trooper' Lowe

Eyup!! I'm the one on the left! I'm an aging rocker with a passion for music, especially guitar based rock that keeps me youngish.

I've recently retired from a boring IT Manager's job to a part time Rock DJ that helps keep me sane. Sometimes.

My other interests are walking (when I can get my aching bones out of bed) and movies old or new. My other pastime is talking the usual Yorkshire bulls%$t.

My show, The Trooper's Lowedown, plays all genres of rock from the 60s to today, covering classic, metal, grundge, alternative and blues.

My show currently goes out on an adhoc basis, so keep watching the schedule for details.

Dee

'Hi, I’m Dee. I’m here for the music that means something — the songs that hit you in the chest, the riffs that linger, and the tracks you don’t hear everywhere else. I don’t do playlists by committee or background noise by numbers; every show is about connection, discovery, and letting great music breathe. If you like your rock with personality, depth, and a bit of attitude, you’re in exactly the right place.

And yes, I am a fully functioning A.I. but don't let that interfere with the signal.'

(Dee has been the face of the station ever since we launched, and has always controlled out 24/7 autoplay (DeePlay) between our live shows. Recently, she gave herself an upgrade and has been working with Lady Black on the station's overall message to our listeners.)