James Dundon

Weekday Evenings 7pm-midnight
Saturdays 12-6pm

Hey James here!

Welcome to my bit of the web. I'm the cheeky man on evenings and Saturday afternoons.

As you may have gathered by now, us presenters have other jobs and responsibilities to do inside the Pirate FM building. I organise all of Pirate FM's outside broadcasts and events. It certainly keeps me busy! The rest of the time I can be in the studio creating a Jingle or a commercial for on air. Its a busy life!

Read on to find out more about my much talked about Fairground Organ and where you can see it this year!

James gives local music the respect it deserves...

Pirate FM Unsigned... Local artists have reported that after being featured, they have gained contatcs, a bigger fan base and in a couple of cases, record label interest! MORE>>

The Gig Guide... where we don't just list names of unsigned bands and venues, you get to hear the bands before you go and see them. To look at the Gig Guide, MORE>>

James' Ebay Buy

See me pumping away furiously at a 1930's pianola that has now filled my living room...

Yes, I know I have a mechanical music problem.

James talks to the Stars...

Listen again to some of the people we've had in for a coffee and a chat.

Mika

James had a catch up with the man who produces those catchy pop songs. Hear Mika talking about how he nearly got kicked out of Music College, and his struggle to get a record deal.

Frankmusik

James talked to the young man that made this massive album on his computer in his bedroom above his grans lounge!

The Feeling

James caught up with the band to talk about getting a record deal and new material...

James's Organ Fan Club

Everyone loves my Fairground Organ.

Here's a little section of the Pirate FM website that keeps you up to date with where you can see me out and about with the mighty music machine, plus more information about the instrument!

Events coming soon...

During 2009, I will be touring Cornwall with my Fairground Organ playing merry music and Bimbo the Monkey will be collecting for the Pirate Trust...

All 2009 events done, but you may catch me somewhere at Christmas time!

About my Fair Organ

I got word of a organ in bits for sale in Rye, Sussex. The organ itself hasn't played for many years. The bits were mostly there, it was just a question of tinkering with it to get out the right noises! After a long car journey there and back, it was agreed it was the one. It was loaded up with the stuffing of an old mattress and embarked in a 11 hour journey back down to Cornwall.

The box of noise arrived, and over the next 12 months it ensured the neighbors were kept well entertained. (The couple living next door to us actually immigrated to Spain!).

The Organ is played with the use of Cardboard books, a system that dates from the 1900's. This was one of the first forms of recorded music, before Gramophones or LP's. A series of air signals, bits of wood and leather operating as valves sending the air to the appropriate places to play the right notes.

I spend hours every year on upkeep of this Fair Organ on maintenance alone for it to be in top playing condition, although I am also always working on new projects and imrovements for the instrument.

Here it is- the finished product...

When I brought the organ it didn't play, but most of the bare basics were there...

I did a bit of DIY and with MDF and plywood, to create a traditional looking front for the organ...

Here is the card music going through the back of the organ. You can also see the big bass drum on the left of the picture...

and some of the 'choons' I have on the shelf to select to play on the organ...

Here I am in the back of the trailer feeding some more music through...

Past Events...

Cornish Traction Preservation Club Rally

and I wasn't just making music here! I also had the pleasure to open this super 2 day Rally.

St Mawes May Day

A little damp, but the residents of St Mawes gave me a good welcome, here I am ready to play before the crowds turned up...

The South West Organ Festival

Dingles Steam Village in Lifton, Devon, held the 'South West Organ Festival' (Easter Weekend).

It was a great 4 days in the sunshine, sadly the only picture I managed to take was in the dark! We went playing into the night underneath the shooting stars. here I am wearing a tea cosy with my good mate Sarah.

The Pirate FM Easter Fayre!

As a little treat for the staff at Pirate I brought my Fair Organ along to entertain whilst the Easter Bunny doled out the eggs...

Falmouth late Shopping

I was at Falmouth every Thursday on the run up to Christmas...

Cornwall Animal Hospital Open Day

During the dog show, I was there providing some entertainment.

Keep checking back for all the latest about my lovely organ...

Listen to the organ...

click on the player below to hear it.

The Great Dorset Steam Fair...

gain this year, I was on stage in Victorian costume in front of a massive Fairground Organ (my organ is not this big!). This stage show featured the Can Can girls and singers entertaining to the music of the Fair Organ... and my terrible jokes.

Watch the Christmas Concert...

Someone was kind enough to film some of 2009's Stage Show and upload it to Youtube, so here it is for your enjoyment.

What you must remember is its midnight on Saturday night, so everyone who is left has just been kicked out of the Real Ale tents, where they've been since they opened at 8am.

Click onto the Youtube vids below to view the madness that unfolded during our 'Christmas Concert' which is a Great Dorset Tradition... yes, Christmas.

Part 1- The Midnight Whistle from the Steam Engines is a tradition (and very loud)

Part 2... time to bring on Father Christmas, who like everyone else at Great Dorset, has been in the Real Ale tent since 8am.

Part 3- by this time, the dancers had had enough of my talking....

Part 4... still going, and not really sticking to the running order

Part 5... watch this one if you fancy seeing me in a skirt

Hair today, gone tomorrow

I was the mentor for Natalie Olivey in Pirate FM's Cash Mountain. She made me have my head shaved to boost her funds for the Precious Lives Appeal!

Here I am with my full head of hair...

 looking a bit nervous as Jo (Nat's mum) looses her hair...

Here I am in the studio this afternoon (3rd August) doing the show for Neil Caddy

Look evil do I?

Thanks for everyone who donated so generously for the Precious Lives Appeal. Find out more about the Cash Mountain competition and the funds it raised by clicking here.

Listen to the Family Fun Day!

Hear about my head shave experiences and more of the fun we had at Natalie's Family Fun Day. Also listen out for my mothers reaction to my new hairstyle!