RDU 98.5FM is Christchurch's independent alternative radio station, founded on 23 February 1976 as Radio U under the University of Canterbury Students' Association. It became the first FM station in Christchurch in 1986 as UFM, and rebranded as RDU 98.5FM in 2002. Controversially privatised in 2006 when sold to James Meharry and Karyn South for $2, the station survived the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes by broadcasting from a converted horse truck, and moved to its permanent home in the Boxed Quarter in 2015. In 2026 RDU marks its 50th anniversary as a cornerstone of Christchurch's independent music culture.
Excellent Christchurch shoegaze / electronic group with a unique, spacey sound. Released an EP and 2 7" lathe cut singles on the Beat Atlas imprint in the late 1990's before going their seperate ways.
#nzmusic #barnardsstar
Adam McGrath's early 2000's attempt at a vocally-driven song-writing group after years of playing in punk and hard core groups - featured a teenage William Daymond; essentially a pre-cursor to the Eastern. Put out an album that went unnoticed.
#nzmusic #thesweethearts #adammcgrath #theeastern
