Hosting an Underground Community Radio Show - Workshops with Trust FM
Description
This winter, You Are Here is hosting a series of cozy creative workshops at our new HQ in the city. Come learn something new and meet some lovely people!
These workshops are designed to be welcoming, relaxed, and low-pressure — perfect for absolute beginners as well as people looking to connect with their creativity or try something different this winter.
Our space is alcohol-free, open to people aged 16+, and focused on creating a comfortable and inclusive environment where you can experiment, make mistakes, and enjoy the process.
PLUS! participants will have the opportunity to share their work at our Show n Tell on Sunday 2 August if they’d like to.
HOSTING AN UNDERGROUND COMMUNITY RADIO SHOW with TRUST FM
A collection of experienced radio show hosts share their tips and tricks on how to plan for and host an ongoing online radio show.
The workshops will include;
An introduction to Trust.FM and the community building behind Canberra’s new underground radio station
A behind the scenes look into how a community radio station operates
A deep dive into the artistic side of having a radio show
The logistics of curating, uploading and tagging a playlist, recording and uploading a pre-recorded show and broadcasting live
Each of the three workshops will feature an experienced radio show host from the Canberra community, focusing on a different aspect of hosting an underground community radio show. You can choose to come to any or all of the workshops in the series.
The workshops will run for about 2 hours, from 6:30pm-8:30pm. The Trust FM lounge will be open from 6:00pm if you'd like to arrive early to settle in.
More details below!
Tickets
Tickets are available on a "Name Your Price" basis - that is, you can choose the price you would like to pay, based on your own budget.
Profits from workshops contribute to creating affordable space in the city for artists, and You Are Here's artist development programs. Thank you for supporting the arts!!
If you’d like to check whether this workshop is right for you, or discuss accessibility requirements, email us at producers@youareherecanberra.com.au — we’re happy to chat.
What's Covered In Each Workshop
Workshop 01 — The Foundation
16 July 2026
Join Trust.FM radio hosts Mitch (Thorough), Jemist and Genevieve for this hands-on session. Dive into what actually makes a track underground versus commercial, through real debate rather than textbook rules, before moving into the practical craft of sourcing, organising, and tagging music. Participants will build their first playlist, learn the platforms diggers use (Bandcamp, Discogs, Juno and more), and explore how energy, BPM, and theme shape a set that feels intentional. By the end, everyone leaves with the start of their own curated show and a week to expand it into a full 1 to 2 hour set.
Workshop 02 — Your Voice
23 July 2026
Join Trust.FM radio hosts Joe (r00ts radio), Nick (Soundboy Nick) Marteen (LiquidSunshine) and Amy (Wovxn) for this workshop finding your voice. This one is all about stepping into the mic: crafting a show identity, experimenting with tone (from calm and grounded to funny and flirty), and mastering the stings, IDs, and sweeps that give a show its signature feel. Participants will also practice speaking naturally on air, planning monologues, pacing their delivery, and learning how to run a smooth interview segment with guests. Everyone leaves with a station intro, a sting, and their own monologue or interview segment added to their show.
Workshop 03 — Going Live
30 July 2026
Station directors Aakanksha, Jordan and Mitch will conduct the final workshop for the series on hosting an underground radio show. This session covers how to apply for a broadcast slot, what the station looks for in hosts, and how scheduling works. Participants get hands on with the Radio Cult platform for broadcasting and managing their show page, learn how to build trust and reputation within the station community, and get oriented in the trust.fm Discord, including the channels, support, and culture that keep the community running.
FAQs
- What is Blank Cultural Platform?
Blank Cultural Platform is a new initiative to activate underutilised office spaces at 131 City Walk with arts activity.
You Are Here is working closely with The Blank Corporation to make it happen.
- Will there be food and drinks available?
We have a little kitchenette where you can make a cuppa. If you need something more substantial, there's plenty of restaurants nearby where you can grab dinner before the workshop!
- Where is the venue?
Blank Cultural Platform is in the middle of the city, on the corner of 131 City Walk and 2 Mort Street, right above King O'Malley's pub.
This workshop is in the Trust FM lounge on Level 1.
Enter through the sliding glass doors on the City Walk side near Kingo's, and take the escalator, stairs, or lift up to Level 1 (the lift is around to the left of the pub section, if you have come in from City Walk)
- Can I park at the venue?
There is no parking in the immediate vicinity of the venue. You can park at the Canberra Centre or there is some on-street parking around Braddon.
- Is there public transport close by?
Yes! We are located right in the middle of the city bus interchange, and a short distance from the Alinga Street light rail stop.
- Is the buidling accessible?
It is an older building with imperfect accessibility.
The Trust FM lounge is on Level 1. There is a lift available, but it is quite small, so wheelchair users generally can't turn around within it, and will need to "reverse" out.
There is an accessible bathroom on Level 1.
If you would like more info or to discuss your access requirements, please email producers@youareherecanberra.com.au
- Are accessibility resources available?
We have a small budget to provide requested accessibility resources to participants.
If you would like to request any specific resources to make the workshops accessible for you, please email producers@youareherecanberra.com.au to make your request, and we'll let you know if it's within our capacity to provide it! Don't be shy, we'd love to provide what you need if we can!
Free Companion/Carer tickets are available for any participant requiring their support person to attend.
Trust FM Crew
Jordan Harrison
Founder of Trustcafeclub and Trust FM, Jordan has been dancing, mixing, and organizing underground music events in and around the Canberra community since 2010.
Aakanksha Sidhu
Aakanksha Sidhu works as the Manager of Operations at A New Approach (ANA), Australia's national arts and culture think tank. Prior to her role with ANA, she worked in diverse roles across the creative industries, including in fashion, music, performing arts, and arts education. She worked across regions in South, East and West Asia and Europe, establishing a foothold in Australia since 2019. Outside of her role at ANA, she works as an artist manager, promoter and curator across music, visual arts and dance through her artist management agency, Daalee. She ia also the co-founder of Canberra’s new underground community online radio station, Trust.FM. She also volunteers on the Boards of GUTSDance (Northern Territory) and MusicACT (Canberra). Aakanksha holds a unique cultural perspective that has cultivated her passion for independent artistry, cultural policy and socio-cultural equity through creativity and art.
For over 15 years, Mitch Lamb has been a key figure in shaping Canberra's electronic music scene. Performing under aliases like Skin & Bones, Skinny, and Thorough, he's brought vibrancy to the capital's nightlife through a string of long-lived residencies at Canberra nightclubs and appearances at music festivals and doofs. As a co-founder of the Canberra House Social, Mitch pioneered a DIY events renaissance, uplifting local DJs and artists through over 40 innovative events in non-conventional venues. Now in his facilitory era, Mitch champions and supports emerging festivals, events and venues - most recently as a director for Free Range and Trust FM. Currently, Mitch applies his industry insights to drug harm reduction services, focusing on festival crowd care and drug checking services. His work with the MusicACT Committee continues to champion the growth and recognition of Canberra's electronic music community.
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