Keith Martin reflects on two decades of Soul, Disco and radio success.
Newcastle’s soul community came together recently to celebrate a landmark anniversary for one of the North East’s most iconic radio shows, Steppin’ Out, at a special anniversary Soul Session held at Pilgrim, Newcastle.
The event welcomed music lovers from across the region for an afternoon and evening of classic soul, disco, funk and Motown, paying tribute to a show that has become synonymous with quality music, unforgettable interviews and a passionate community of listeners.
Founded by broadcaster and soul music enthusiast Keith Martin, Steppin’ Out first aired in 2005 after what Keith describes as years of persistence and determination.
After regularly submitting demo tapes in pursuit of his ambition to present a radio show, a chance meeting with several radio presenters while working at a Newcastle venue led to an opportunity to host a one-hour Tamla Motown programme on Magic 1152. Originally intended as a short-term feature, the programme quickly evolved into something much bigger.
Within weeks, Keith was invited to broadcast live and expand the playlist beyond Motown, blending disco, funk, soul, Northern Soul and club classics with selections from his own extensive record collection.
That programme became Steppin’ Out.
Broadcasting every Saturday evening from 6pm to 10pm, the show quickly developed a loyal following, becoming the soundtrack to thousands of Saturday nights across the North East.
Keith’s vision extended beyond simply playing great music. From the very beginning, he wanted listeners to hear directly from the artists behind the songs. His first major interview featured Jeffrey Daniel of Shalamar, the legendary dancer credited with creating the backslide that inspired Michael Jackson’s moonwalk.
Over the years, Steppin’ Out welcomed an extraordinary list of guests including legendary songwriting duo Gamble & Huff and even Gregory Porter, long before he became a Grammy Award-winning international star.
The show’s success saw it expand onto the Bauer Media Magic Network in 2006, broadcasting across eight stations throughout the North of England before Keith went on to host Soulful Sunday and later The Soul Show across the Big City Network, reaching audiences across England and Scotland.
Although Keith left the network in 2017, Steppin’ Out continued its journey and today is broadcast every Friday evening between 6pm and 10pm on Frisk Groove, part of the Frisk Radio family, staying true to the format that first captured listeners more than two decades ago while embracing modern soulful and disco house alongside timeless classics.
Reflecting on the journey, Keith said: “I knew we had something special, I just didn’t know how special. I’m incredibly proud of the journey Steppin’ Out has taken and I still have the same enthusiasm today as I did during that very first nervous broadcast back in 2005.”
The anniversary celebration at Pilgrim was more than just a party – it was a celebration of the friendships, memories and shared love of soul music that Steppin’ Out has created over the past 21 years.
As disco and soul continue to inspire new generations of music lovers and producers alike, Keith’s passion remains unchanged, ensuring Steppin’ Out continues to introduce audiences to the music that first inspired him as a teenager.
Keith concluded: “For thousands of listeners, Steppin’ Out has never simply been a radio show. It has become a weekly tradition, a community and one of the North East’s longestrunning celebrations of soul, disco and Motown music.”
To tune in, download the Frisk player app from FriskRadio.com and select Frisk Groove. Friday’s 6-10pm.
keith@keithmartinevents.co.uk
07590 283 600