WM Presenters

Thursdays 10pm - midnight on 95.6FM

Airing live every Thursday night from 10pm, BBC WM Introducing is your weekly dose of the bands and singer-songwriters currently making waves across the region.

From hard rock and drum & bass to indie pop and acoustic folk, Brett & Lou bring you the most varied play-list on local radio, a rundown of all the latest gig and festival news, chat to a range of music industry insiders and welcome bands and artists to play live from the BBC WM studios.

To find out more about BBC WM Introducing, click:

Brett Birks

A local lad through-and-through, Brett was born in Stourbridge and attended the University of Birmingham before he jetted off to Philadelphia in the United States for 12 months in 2003.

BBC WM's Brett Birks

After a year of, in his own words, "travelling, partying and generally delaying getting a proper job for as long as possible", Brett returned home to pursue a career in journalism, landing work experience with BBC WM in January 2006.

He works as a producer and writer for the BBC Birmingham and Black Country websites and was thrilled when BBC WM asked him to present a music programme.

"I was overwhelmed and very, very nervous!" he laughs. "Now though I'm very proud as the show seems to have gained great momentum and has become very popular. I feel like we're really making a difference – giving unsigned bands and artists a chance to have their material broadcast on BBC radio."

Brett loves classic rock music and can still remember buying his first album when he was 12 years old.

"It was called 'God Fodder' by a Stourbridge band called Ned's Atomic Dustbin. They achieved quite a bit of success in the early 90s. It's ironic really that Ned's were the first album I ever bought given that I'm now involved with a local music programme!

"I love how interactive BBC WM Introducing is. Texts, calls, e-mails; the response has been massive. It's your music and your show – we just try and keep it as lively and entertaining as possible. And despite all our bickering, I love working with Louise. Don't tell her that though, will you?!"

BBC WM's Louise Brierley

Louise Brierley

Lou was born in Liverpool but grew up in Cambridge earning a degree in history from Lancaster University. She caught the journalism bug after spending two weeks on work experience with BBC Watchdog.

A spell in commercial radio followed, before Lou joined the BBC WM newsroom in 2006. As well as her Thursday night commitments, she can be heard throughout the week on BBC WM programming reading news bulletins.

Music is one of Lou's main passions: "I love all types of music, always have. Everything from Kasabian to Swedish House Mafia. I've actually just spent the weekend in Sheffield watching Oasis which was an amazing gig."

Lou is equally at home checking out the latest unsigned band in one of Birmingham's many music venues or out clubbing all night to the beats of famous DJs.

Like Brett, she was delighted to be asked to present BBC WM Introducing:

"It's great to be pioneering a new show in the West Midlands to help local talent. I love the live sessions. Already we've had some of the best bands and singer-songwriters from the area play on the show and have lots more to come.

Brett & Louise in the BBC WM studios

“Working with Brett? He's alright, I suppose. He does buy me bottles of water occasionally. No, I'm kidding! It's great working with Brett. We have such different tastes in music so it brings a new dynamic to the show.

"Brett's so laid back but I'm quite highly strung so we work very well together!"

To contact Brett & Louise: