Lewisham's Sister Midnight launches community radio station focused on South East London

"We’re so excited to see how the station grows and to have a way for local people to get creatively involved with our work..."

Sister Midnight announces the launch of Sister Midnight FM (SMFM), an online community radio station with a unique focus on South East London and a commitment to community benefit and inclusivity.

Since 2021, Sister Midnight has been campaigning to create Lewisham's first community owned music venue. Led by three young women who have spearheaded the campaign for their local area - Lenny Watson, Sophie Farrell and London band Goat Girl's Lottie Pendlebury - Sister Midnight has massive plans to become one of the city's most forward-thinking, socially-beneficial creative spaces.

Taking root in the derelict former working men's club, The Brookdale Club in Catford Centre, Sister Midnight hopes to open by the end of 2023 and will be a democratically run, community owned business, giving the local community a voice and a say in how things will be done.

The new radio station, Sister Midnight FM, forms part of Sister Midnight’s strategy to become a cultural incubator for South East London, utilising the station as a platform for artistic development, sharing new work, and increasing participation in local music culture.

"Sister Midnight FM opens up a whole new world of possibilities for engaging and growing the Sister Midnight community - both in the present while we’re still working on opening our new music venue, and in the future once we’re up and running. We’re so excited to see how the station grows and to have a way for local people to get creatively involved with our work!”

Today SMFM launches with shows from Laani, DJ Gilla, Selextorhood Collective, Last Nubian, Rohan Rakhit, Deptford Northern Soul Club, All Centre, Deptford Ravens Football Team, the Lewisham Anti-Raids Group, Unit 137, Shovel Dance Collective, Village Cuts, and many more musicians, artists and storytellers.