A NEW show celebrating the best of the local area and its music has launched on the recently formed Black Country Radio.

Founder of the Black Country Day and chairman of the popular local festival, Steve Edwards, has teamed up James Stevens, of The Empty Can band, for their ‘Night In’ show.

The two-hour programme, broadcast on Monday nights from 7pm, features local bands and performers as well as the duo promoting everything Black Country.

Steve, who also runs the Facebook page ‘The Only Way Is Dudley’, said: “For me, promoting the Black Country is something I am very passionate about.

“I got fed up of seeing people put the Black Country down all the time. I decided to look at the positives and build on them.

"I started Black Country Day to bring the community together. A year later, like minded community campaigners got together to discuss the idea of a Black Country Festival. In two years the Festival has gone from strength to strength, and now in 2015 we also have a Black Country radio station.”

Steve added: “The Bridge and Black Country Community Radio agreed to merge in the early hours of July 14, which ironically is Black Country Day.”

His co-host James has worked in the Black Country music scene for the past 20 years, and in 2012 his band – The Empty Can – recorded The Black Country Anthem.

James saw the song reach the UK Top 40 in 2014 and he also broke the World Record for the longest busking session earlier this year.

He said: “The Black Country has the best music scene in the country right now and we want to give the bands and musicians the opportunity of some radio play.

“Black Country Radio is a radio station that will support local talent.”

The ‘Black Country Night In’ show broadcasts on 102.5FM on DAB and online. The lads can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BlackCountryBlokes