Radio Nova's documentary The Trashcan Sinatras has earned a place on the shortlist for the 2025 New York Festivals Radio Awards, standing among the finest radio productions worldwide. This recognition comes as no surprise to those familiar with the station’s dedication to celebrating the unsung stories of music history.
Aired in May 2024, The Trashcan Sinatras previously took home a silver at the 2025 IMRO Radio Awards, an achievement that signaled the documentary's ability to resonate with listeners through both its narrative depth and musical insight. The program delves into the remarkable, if often underappreciated, career of Scottish indie band The Trashcan Sinatras — a group that has traversed a journey as melancholic and resilient as their most beloved songs.
Formed in Irvine, Scotland, and led by Frank Reader — brother of Fairground Attraction’s Eddi Reader — The Trashcan Sinatras first tasted success under the wing of Go! Discs, a label known for nurturing distinctive British talent. Their debut single captured the admiration of the NME, achieving the coveted Single of the Week accolade, while their first album sold a remarkable 350,000 copies. Yet, as swiftly as acclaim arrived, it slipped away. Dropped by their label and stripped of their studio, the band found themselves busking on the London Underground, a humbling contrast to their earlier heights.
But it was the internet that offered salvation, connecting The Trashcan Sinatras to a loyal, global fan base and granting them the opportunity to continue making music despite bankruptcy and illness. The documentary weaves together interviews, archival recordings, and reflections that paint a poignant portrait of a band whose survival is as significant as their songs.
The winners of the New York Festivals Radio Awards will be revealed during the Storytellers Gala virtual ceremony on May 22nd. Regardless of the result, the inclusion of The Trashcan Sinatras on this international stage is a testament to the power of radio storytelling — a medium that, like the band it celebrates, endures against the odds.
