The Last Word
Having said a final farewell to legendary radio show The Last Splash, Today FM’s Alison Curtis looks back on seven years at the cutting edge of Irish indie.
Craig Fitzpatrick, 10 Nov 2010
Last month, Hot Press exclusively revealed that the Hallowe’en broadcast of The Last Splash - the beloved indie-fest hosted by Alison Curtis every Sunday night on Today FM - would be the show’s last.
Explaining her decision, the Canadian presenter admitted; “The six-day workload has just been too much. Obviously, I started the morning show last year and presenting the two has been a lot of work. I’ve been finishing up late on Sunday night and then been straight back on first thing in the morning.”
Ths show has earned Curtis a place as one of the most respected figures on the Irish music scene, and she’s even been graced with three Best DJ Meteor nominations along the way.
“It is sad to see it go,” she says. “It’s been a big part of me for the last seven years. I know it sounds corny, but you really grow with the show, your musical tastes change. I was just thinking that it’s probably the oldest continuous indie show in Ireland. It’s kind of the granddaddy!”
It was May 2003 when The Last Splash first hit the airwaves and Josh Ritter, BellX1 and The Chalets had just released new records.
“It was very different,” Curtis remembers. “I’d just come from Phantom, which was still a pirate. Even the technology was so different. You were literally the first person to play a record. I’ve always been a big fan of The Flaws and Delorentos and just recently they both told me I was the first to play them. You wouldn’t know that yourself but they would keep track of that!
‘All of that changed with downloading. The sense of what’s alternative has changed a lot, you have Ian Dempsey playing The White Stripes and Florence & The Machine have come from quite left of centre.”
Since those early shows in 2003, The Last Splash has quadrupled its audience and consistently provided its listeners with fantastic new music, as well as exclusive interviews and sessions.
“The basis for the show was the mandate to play new, unheard Irish music. It’s been great to meet people, see shows and to introduce new bands that have gone on to great success. I’m proud of it.”
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