Happy 40th birthday RDU

• New exhibition charts 40 years of RDU

• Live gigs, live music and live radio broadcasts from the Museum

• Canterbury story of survival and ingenuity

Celebrate 40 years of iconic Christchurch radio station, RDU98.5FM in a new exhibition at Canterbury Museum opening 18 March 2016.

Alternative Radio: RDU98.5FM since 1976, charts the history of the South Island’s longest-running independent radio station, starting with its birth on 23 February 1976 for a few short weeks during student orientation at the University of Canterbury.

Museum Director, Anthony Wright says the exhibition, a collaboration between the Museum and RDU98.5FM, tells a great Canterbury story of survival and ingenuity and will create a number of “firsts” for the Museum including live gigs, live music and live broadcasts in the Museum’s Special Exhibitions Hall.

“We’re very excited by the public programme and events being hosted by the Museum as part of the exhibition. With live ticketed performances by some of Christchurch’s best-loved musicians, plus live broadcasts from a purpose-built studio in the Museum and sessions just for kids, there’ll be something for everyone.”

In another first for the Museum, visitors will be able to access additional digital content - audio, video, music and stories - through a free RDU App. “Remember to bring headphones to get the most out of the audio content,” says Anthony Wright.

RDU98.5FM Director, James Meharry, says that RDU has always been inclusive, supporting all forms of alternative music.

“Every week we fill our programme with specialist, genre-focused shows delivered live on air by 120 dedicated volunteer hosts. With thousands of hosts, workers and volunteers through the doors and more than 100,000 listeners in the last 40 years, RDU98.5FM has been a part of life for many Cantabrians, here and abroad.”

Within a few short years of starting out, RDU had earned a reputation for showcasing New Zealand bands which hadn’t yet achieved mainstream radio play. It supported the emerging Flying Nun record label bands, and was the only radio station in Christchurch to unleash the world of early electronica. 1990s rave, trip hop, acid house, the funk house movement, roots music and all forms of bass music found a home on RDU.

RDU was just one of the many organisations displaced by the Canterbury earthquakes, losing its studio at the University. It rose to the challenge with one of the most industrious, budget-minded, seriously-stylish and No 8 wire outcomes from the Christchurch earthquakes – the RDUnit, an innovative radio broadcasting studio set up inside a horse truck. The RDUnit, which captured the imagination of a city in transition, will be on display as part of the exhibition.

Alternative Radio is powered by Meridian Energy with generous support from the University of Canterbury Students’ Association, NZI, Broker Web, the Rata Foundation and Christchurch City Council.

For details of the public programme and events go to www.canterburymuseum.com and www.rdu.org.nz.

Tickets for the live gigs on sale at www.dashtickets.co.nz from 18 March 2016.

ENDS

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