Gretna DJ launches dance radio station

Ryan Johnstone was inspired to create GFM Dance after beginning a radio production and podcasting course at New College Lanarkshire.

The 16-year-old, who left Annan Academy in the summer, discovered a passion for radio during his time at school where he completed a music tech class and started to listen to radio stations playing dance music.

Ryan, whose favourite genre is 90s dance, said: “When I was younger my dad used to play this sort of music, I like it more than him now!

“I wanted to be a radio presenter after listening to Heart Dance. I was going to Glasgow to learn to do that, so I thought I would create a station for Gretna.

“I know the software that the college uses. I have to leave my PC on all the time so that it’s always playing.

“People seem to be impressed with it so far.”

GFM plays non-stop dance tunes, from across the decades, all day long, while Saturday presenting slots are currently filled by Ryan and his friend Lewis Tattersall.

Ryan added: “Lewis does every Saturday between 4 pm and 7 pm, and I do a breakfast show on Saturday from 7 am to 10 am then again at night from 7 pm to 11 pm.

“During my shows I’m talking and playing music, I also give shout outs to the listeners and stuff like that.

“And on a Sunday we have something where our listeners can request any sort of music for an hour, last Sunday it was Oasis.”

For the time being, Ryan continues to work on his dad’s farm near Gretna; he fits his college and presenting duties into the schedule.

He has plans to expand GFM and is saving up for better equipment, with an aim to get the station onto the DAB network.

Looking to the future, Ryan hopes to one day become a full-time radio DJ.

• YOU can listen to GFM Dance online here