Broadcast via NEXUS-IBA’s international transmitters on Shortwave and Medium Wave, via International Public Access Radio (IPAR), the radio program “16 Gwendoline Street” offers a rare blend of poetry, global music, and independent artistic exploration. Created and hosted by Stephen John Jones, the programme has evolved over the decades from humble, analogue beginnings on the Isle of Wight to a worldwide creative beacon received as far afield as New Zealand, Mongolia, and Ukraine.

Stephen, a lifelong curator and artist, found a unique home on NEXUS-IBA’s IRRS (the Italian Radio Relay Service) thanks to its commitment to free expression, independent media, and reaching global listeners through traditional radio frequencies. This blog post recounts his creative journey in his own words, a reflection on analogue charm, artistic perseverance, and the enduring relevance of Shortwave broadcasting.

Learn more on our Beyond Global Waves podcast (available from June 8, 2025)

From Curating Art to Creating Radio: Beginnings on the Isle of Wight

I moved to the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England in 1998, after spending ten years curating, travelling poetry and illustration exhibitions both nationally and internationally from Guildford in the English County of Surrey, as well as publishing these and writing articles. Working full time on both that and a day job, I thought I’d roll back and let the creating take a back seat.

Well, after six years, boredom crept in big time, and I needed something to fill the void.

Over the years, there had been some radio work, so I approached Ron and Alfredo to see if I could try a general Arts programme. I was promised free studio time on the Island, and all seemed fine until it didn’t materialise. I’d already decided to name the programme after the converted Victorian Villa, 39 Dover Street, which was my home and decided to press ahead with what I had to hand.

The Victorian villa at 39 Dover Street on the Isle of Wight, where the 16 Gwendoline Street radio show was first produced by Stephen John Jones

Early Equipment and the Making of a DIY Broadcast Studio

Initially, it was hard work and scrappy, as I only had an old tape recorder with a built-in microphone, but I sourced the 2006 initial version of Audio Record Wizard, which I still use today. It was easy to grasp, as is the latest. Originally, I had an hour on 5775 kHz, before a transmitter problem led to internet only, returning to Shortwave mainly on 9510 and 7290 and various medium wave frequencies locally in Italy, where I have been ever since. The purchase of a high-end Shure microphone and Teac W-865R dual cassette recorder, editor and copier later in 2006, made the sound better, before moving over to digital in September 2009 with a Zoom recorder, which I still use. It is finally starting to pop and grunt, which is pretty good use for 16 years and needs to be replaced. I am thinking of going back to analogue for a while, which has a clear sound. I have a lot of new cassette tapes in the studio, which, like vinyl, are currently making a comeback.

Returning to Shortwave: Embracing Analogue and Digital Tools

Over the years, the format has changed from time to time, but still remains Arts-based, although since the onset of the Pandemic and lack of events, the programme has focused upon a worldwide wandering of music exploration, featured artists and poetry when possible. We have currently reached Ecuador at the time of writing.

A Global Journey Through Poetry and Music

There have been a lot of highlights for me from the early days – for instance an interview with the Scottish Poet Norman MacCaig and readings from Penelope Shuttle, Pauline Stainer, Peter Dale, Karen Shenfeld, Anita Endrezze, Brian Hinton making his first for thirty years, and poetry and music from Joy Harjo and Linton Kwesi Johnson.
Reception Reports from Around the World: Shortwave’s International Reach

Then there was the pleasant surprise of getting the first reception report and QSL request, which I think came from Paris. Since then, they have been sent out all over Europe for Shortwave frequencies, and in Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Latvia and Holland for medium wave. The furthest have been to New Zealand, Japan, Eastern USA, Asiatic Russia (on the old Silk Road), Mongolia, Siberia and Israel. Interestingly, a number have come in from Eastern Ukraine and European Russia – including Moscow, recently. This has lifted the feel-good factor and the sense that people still think internationally and listen to and value Shortwave in the bleakest of times.

Artistic Freedom on Independent Radio via NEXUS-IBA

In 2011, the programme’s name changed to 16 Gwendoline Street when I moved back to Wales to start my retirement project after leaving Cardiff at the age of three. When will it end? Most people I know who have done the same seem to ask, in a good way!

To me, the importance of choosing IRRS has been the artistic freedom allowed. And the sense that no one is looking over your shoulder and judging you. Listeners, of course, have flexibility! What I’ve learnt most of all from all this is to persevere even if you feel like giving up.

Contact and Broadcast Information

For the  current frequencies and broadcast times, please refer to the official NEXUS-IBA schedule for the most up-to-date frequency listings.

You can contact 16 Gwendoline Street at gwendolinestreet (at) gmail (dot) com

Best wishes to everyone,

Stephen John Jones (Curator)