Dan Mangan and Side Door, Immerse Retreats Switzerland

Canadian musician Dan Mangan launched his virtual booking and ticketing platform Side Door in early 2019. It's an app that works a bit like Airbnb, matching performers with hosts for shows in settings like bookshops, backyards, warehouses, living rooms - basically any place you can turn into a small venue. The idea was to build a friendly and transparent global marketplace that fosters a thriving middle class of artistry, giving artists more control and removing some of the industry's "gatekeepers". When Covid hit, Side Door quickly moved online and now offers concerts on Zoom. It's a unique experience, because not only do you get to see and interact with the artists, you can do the same with the other audience members (while being able to peek into hundreds of living rooms around the world, if they've turned their cameras on). Anna Wirz talked to Dan about his experience doing Zoom concerts, possible scenarios for the future of live music, and how music fans can support artists. Listen to the interview here.

Bergli Books publisher Richard Harvell came in to talk about this autumn's Immerse Retreats in Switzerland. They’re an active, interesting way to get inspired by life in Switzerland, and the two retreats are planned with corona in mind, with smaller groups of fewer than 30 people, free cancellation, and social distancing. Join bestselling author Diccon Bewes for three unforgettable days in the Alps on September 25-27 and October 23-25. The all-inclusive retreats include: two nights in a four-star hotel, all your meals, three afternoons of activities, local transport - and four captivating seminars with Diccon about Swiss history and culture. Also, don't forget that you get a 10% discount on Bergli Books if you enter the code "radiox" when ordering books! Listen to his interview here.

Our music this week featured Dan Mangan as well as songs released in recent months. We played:

Dan Mangan - Troubled Mind

Dan Mangan - Robots

Frank Turner - I Still Believe (Live In Newcastle)

Glass Animals - It's All So Incredibly Loud

Biig Piig - Switch

Snow Patrol and The Saturday Songwriters - Reaching Out To You

Spiritbox - Holy Roller