Hot Press meets Phil Taggart

Meet Phil Taggart. Like a lot of readers, the Omagh-born ex-bass player for Belfast-based hopefuls Colenso Parade spent a chunk of his formative years glued to the radio, soaking up the nightly sermons from John Peel et al like a veritable sponge. So when he was offered the very same slot on BBC Radio One a matter of weeks ago (10pm – midnight, Monday – Thursday alongside co-presenter Alice Levine) you can imagine the broadcaster’s reaction. Spoiler alert: he was pretty damn chuffed.

“I know it makes it seem like a crap Disney film, but when I found out I was doing the show with Alice it felt like a dream come true,” enthuses Taggart, who turned heads with stints on Radio Ulster’s Across The Line and the dearly departed BBC Introducing In Northern Ireland. “The slot is the one I’ve always wanted – the one Colin Murray, John Peel and Grimmy had. Getting to follow in that lineage is so ridiculously unreal.”
Offering a much-needed Northern Irish flavour to the UK airwaves, the broadcaster formerly known as Philly co-hosts with red-haired Nottingham-born Alice Levine. Despite the show only being in its infancy, the pair have already drawn favourable comparisons to the much-loved radio tag team of Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley.
“Alice and myself were basically thrown together,” smiles Phil. “We met up, had a coffee, then literally 15 minutes later we were in the studio and it clicked. She’s dead funny and easy to get on with. She loves to chat and I like to chat. The only problem we might encounter is we may have to battle for the microphone every now and again.
“I still get people texting in every day saying they’d love to hear Colin Murray back on Radio One, or asking, ‘Who is this Scottish guy?’” he adds, laughing. “I think the Northern Irish accent has come as a bit of a shock to some of the listeners. I just have to speak verrrryy slowly. If I start going off on a tirade like I would in the pub in Omagh nobody would understand a word I’m saying.”
While Phil admits that he’s still getting used to living in the British capital, he also tells Hot Press that his move to London was something that he needed to do.
“I got to the point in Belfast where I had to go,” he reflects. “I was doing bits and pieces for Radio Ulster and DJing and playing in bands and stuff, but I knew I had to jump in with both feet first. I’m still settling in, but it’s exciting and fast-paced.”
Of course, moving away from Belfast meant the end for his childhood band Colenso Parade, but Taggart tells us that he has no regrets and left on good terms.
“Colenso Parade has been put on an iceberg and sent sailing into the sea,” he says. “The rest of the boys were really good about it – they kinda knew it was coming. We’d given it a good go but it didn’t work. We had nine years together as a band and we’re best friends and had some of the best times of our lives. We were all on the dole and playing music all the time and they’re such happy memories that I wouldn’t trade for the world.”
Speaking of local music, the broadcaster tips some up and coming NI bands for big things this year.
“There’s loads of exciting music coming from NI and I’m representing that on the radio because it needs to be played,” he states. “Axis Of are going to drop their first album and it’s going to be amazing. We played an exclusive track on the show recently and it’s going to be a biggie for them and it’s good to see those guys doing well.
“I’m really excited about Unknown too,” he continues. “He’s a producer from Belfast that has some tracks on YouTube and the hype around him is huge. It’s pure Burial vibes and his music’s real ambient, dancey stuff. Loads of labels are into him and he’ll probably get signed. Empty Lungs are going to have a great year too and I’m really enjoying SertOne’s stuff at the moment as well.”
With 2013 only just beginning, Philly is understandably ecstatic at the thought of spending the forthcoming year playing the best new music to millions of listeners every week and tells us that he’s looking forward to seeing the show grow.
“I want it to be the best it can be,” he says finally. “At the moment it’s just in its infancy. The next 12 months will see it mature. I want it to be entertaining but musically credible. I want it to be a really good new music programme that you can also get a laugh from. I don’t want it to be po-faced. The days of po-faced DJs ramming it down your throat are over.”

Phil Taggart presents the 10pm – midnight new music slot on BBC Radio One with Alice Levine from Monday – Thursday.