MI AMIGO 50: The mythical offshore station Radio Mi Amigo by Sylvain Tack will return for one last time, during the Port Days of Terneuzen, in the Netherlands.
Programs will be made from a ship for three days, as was the case between 1974 and 1980. The programs can be listened to worldwide via the Internet and through various AM frequencies in the Netherlands and Flanders. 'Mi Amigo 50' will be the ultimate and definitive tribute to this Flemish/Dutch radio project that attracted millions of listeners.
But this has also proven to be a thorn in the foot of several governments. This has led to real man hunts, seizures, lawsuits and sensational reporting in the press of the time.
This third reunion, which is once again attended by numerous former employees, DJs, techs and people who’ve worked behind the scenes, is the final event half a century after it started.
After the previous days of memory of Ostende (2014) and Blankenberge (2019), it was this time the Dutch city of Terneuzen that was chosen. This port city is geographically quite central and therefore easily accessible for any fans who wish to relive the golden days of radio from yesteryear, and this time from very close.
Rebroadcasts are provided from the studio aboard the former pilot boat, the MV Castor. The audience can follow it all live.
Radio Mi Amigo began broadcasting on January 1, 1974 from the MV Mi Amigo. Commercial radio remained banned in Belgium, the only option was to operate from a ship in international waters. The initiator was Sylvain Tack. The man who had already invented Suzy Waffles and then ventured into the music world.
First as the manager of the late Paul Severs, then he founded a record label (Start, later Gnome) that housed stars such as Samantha, Joe Harris, John Horton, Ricky Gordon and Norbert. Next comes one of Europe's most modern recording studios and a weekly for the youth - Joepie - led by Guido Van Liefferinghe. A beautiful amalgamation to breathe new life into the dormant Flemish music scene.
However, as the public network BRT continued to stubbornly ignore Flemish music, Sylvain Tack copied the plans of Dutch radio Veronica, who had been on the air since 1960. He broadcasted from his own vessel. It worked, Radio Mi Amigo became an instant hit.
When the Netherlands amended their legislation in August 1974 and banned cooperation in the field of offshore radio, Sylvain Tack and part of the Mi Amigo team settled in Playa de Aro, Spain. Something that has continued to concern authorities. A real witch hunt against the employees, coming from four countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Britain follows.
However, Radio Mi Amigo survived until the fall of 1979, when technical issues onboard the radio vessel ended the story. In addition to the popular programs that attracted millions of listeners to the Netherlands, Mi Amigo was also a regularly repeated adventure in the press for years.
A radio that has not been broadcasting for 44 years, but whose name is still known, has many fans and appeals to the imagination. For the third time, Radio Mi Amigo broadcasts live the radio of the MV Castor, now anchored at the Oude Veerhaven in Terneuzen, during the 42nd edition of the local port days on June 28, 29 and 30.
As with previous reunions, former Mi Amigo employees have rolled up their sleeves to present you programs that will be covered by many LPAM radios across the Netherlands.
You can follow all the developments on the Facebook page "Mi Amigo50". You can listen to it streaming on the Mi Amigo 50 special website https://www.miamigoradio.be/
Contact the DJs on board: studio@miamigoradio.be .
(FB/Radio Magazine)
