David Coleman

For ten years David was the person crouched behind the mixing desk at the city’s basement venues — the one the bands thanked first and the audiences never saw. In 2008 Copperline offered him a microphone instead, and Live Music has been the station’s beating heart ever since.

His rule is famous: three songs, straight to tape, mistakes stay in. Bands arrive nervous and leave converted; more than one now-famous act played their first-ever session on David’s watch and still sends him demos first. The “Answer for Your Lyrics” inquisition — one line, fully explained — has ended exactly zero friendships and started dozens of arguments.

He also keeps the overnight logbook, covering the small hours when the rota gaps. Ask him about the night the transmitter iced over and he will talk for an hour. Let him.