BBC Radio Bristol Introducing

Richard Pitt and Gary Smith will continue to host the show, which explores alternative music with a focus on local bands and gigs.

The pair have been long-term supporters of the music scene in the area.

Now, as part of BBC Introducing, the BBC's commitment to new music and emerging bands, they are using that knowledge and commitment to help spread the word about great Bristol bands to a wider audience.

With the Introducing network, local bands can get national exposure.

Richard and Gary have already provided national station BBC Radio 1 with a number of features on Bristol's music scene and helped get local bands played on the station.

With BBC Radio Bristol Introducing on the scene this is likely to happen more often.

Eclectic tastes

The two of them like a lot of different kinds of music, not just guitar-based bands, and say their somewhat eclectic tastes are stimulated if the music is anything from entertaining to original, experimental, inventive, complicated, simple or just something they can dance to.

And they occasionally throw in some old stuff to show where it all fits together!

The show features guests and specially recorded sessions, interviews with some of the bigger named bands playing in the area, plus a lot of locally-made music - and you'll get recommendations for gigs in the week ahead.

And if you are in a band or make music yourself, then send Richard and Gary your material.

The address is Richard Pitt & Gary Smith, BBC Radio Bristol Introducing, PO Box 194, Bristol BS99 7QT.

The show is on-air in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday from 1am until 3am, but if that is too late for you, then you can always catch up using the iPlayer any time during the week.