AN AUDIENCE WITH
MIKE SWEENEY
COMING IN 2019
“Mike joined Piccadilly Radio in 1980 after playing with his new wave punk band, The Salford Jets, at a station road-show in Manchester. It was for this road-show that Mike voiced a promo that caught the attention of the Programme Controller.”
Mike was the first mainstream commercial radio presenter with a regional accent, helping to pave the way for - amongst others - Gary Crowley, Terry Christian, Chris Evans and Mark ‘n Lard. Hailing from a working class background, Mike had worked as a coalminer, on the docks and on numerous building sites, all whilst playing regularly in bands. It was with The Salford Jets that he finally found success, with recording contracts, a hit single and television performances, shortly followed by his big break onto the airwaves of Manchester.
Mike Sweeney with Noel Gallagher
Eighteen years later, Mike had built up a massive following in the North-West. Listeners were drawn to his forthright, opinionated and honest views that were delivered with humour and warmth. In his time at Piccadilly Radio, Mike worked his way through every daytime show, including ten years as the host of the Breakfast show. From 1983 onwards, Mike developed and presented ‘Sweeney’s Sixties Classics,’ which was the first specialist sixties programme on commercial radio. Mike also made enough of an impression on Chris Evans during his tenure at “Picc” to warrant a chapter in his autobiography !!
In 1998 Mike was given the opportunity to join Capital Radio’s classic hits station – Capital Gold - in London. In his ten years at Capital Gold, Mike fronted all of the daytime slots. ‘Sweeney’s Sixties Classics’ also made the journey from Manchester to London with Mike and remained on-air till 2009. In 1999 and 2000 ‘Sweeney’s Sixties Classics’ was a finalist in the New York Radio Awards. In 2001 the show took one extra step and won a New York Gold. In 2002 Mike won the Silver Music Broadcaster Award at the Sonys, the radio industry’s BAFTA’s. In 2008 Mike was nominated for radio presenter of the year by X-trax Magazine.
From 2006-2008 Mike presented the Sunday Breakfast Show on XFM Manchester. During this period, Mike was honoured to be a co-presenter on the late Tony Wilson’s legendary music show.
“In addition to his radio work Mike has also presented several TV programmes including The Young Enterprise Show for BBC North-West, Elvis Has Just Left The Building for Sky, a classic car series (also for Sky), and The Manchester United Debate Show on Channel M.”
In April 2008, Mike joined the Guardian Media Group as part of the launch team for Rock Radio , The UK’s first classic rock station. Mike presented the Breakfast programme and received The GMG ‘Presenter Of The Year’ award at the end of 2009. In 2011 Mike was given a “Lifetime Achievement Award” by The Radio Academy and in Nov 2012 was awarded The Variety Children’s Charity ‘Radio Industry Legend’ Award. On Christmas Day 2012 Mike co-presented ‘Radio 2012’ on BBC 5 Live
2013 Saw Mike Presenting ‘Sweeney’s Million Sellers’ nationally on Smooth Radio 70s and Sweeney’s 60s classics was re-launched Sunday afternoon on BBC Radio Manchester.
At the start of 2014 Mike realised a career ambition when he joined BBC Radio Manchester full time to present The Morning Programme.
Mike was nominated for two major awards in the October and November of 2017 .. An ‘Aria’ (formally The Sony Awards), the radio BAFTA’s and a ‘Gillard’ The BBC equivalent. Mike won bronze in the former and gold in the latter.
On the music front Mike fronted 60’s hit band The Mindbenders (Groovy Kind Of Love) through the 80’s, 90’s and 2,000’s and still does the occasional date with the Salford Jets. His new project for 2018 is ‘Mike Sweeney’s Manchester Beat’. A musical celebration of the great Manchester bands of The 60’s
Born in Salford, Mike still loves playing football, and over 30 years ago played for Bury in the Central League (including a game against the Man Utd reserve team where he taught striker Mark Hughes everything he knows) Recently he’s been turning out with Paul Scholes’ 8-a-side team!!!! Mike is married to wife Viv and has three children, Dylan, Siobhan and Niamh plus granddaughter Isabella.
If you would like to book Mike Sweeney please either send an email or telephone:
Stret on +44 (0) 7919 598 779 contact@purpleuniverse.co.uk
Robin Arnold +44 (0) 7891095858 rwaconsultants1@gmail.com