Joe Cleere: 'I'm always recycling, swapping and bartering stuff online'

I'm looking for old radios that people don't use anymore. Like the old-fashioned transistor-type radios in particular rather than a hi-fi system with separate speakers. I need them for a stage show that's part of a live tour I'm planning with my band, Cleere. Basically, we're putting together another tour after Christmas when we release our new album and we had this idea to collect 40 radios and stack them on stage, like an art installation. Then instead of sending out a song through a PA system, we could rig it so one song in particular would play via the radios, which means the audience get to hear it on the radio for the first time. If it works, it could be really cool.

We've been touring with Keith Barry for the last few months, as his support act opening the show. We don't play covers. It's all original music – mostly rock and acoustic rock. Live music and magic may seem like a funny mix but they've been working really well together. People come to the Keith Barry show because he's an amazing illusionist and they only expect the magic element so when we come on stage to play they're surprised. But it definitely works. People like it. The night is all about entertainment. And from my end of things, it gets the word out as well. People come up to chat to me at the end the set. So it's been great exposure.

It all came about after we supported The Script in the Sugar Club about a year ago. From there we got a gig with the singer-songwriter Ruth-Ann. Then Keith was at Ruth-Ann's gig and he liked what he heard so he asked us to come on tour. So far, we've toured with Keith for the full month of September. We've got another few dates in November with him.

As most people know, his grandad died, so we had to postpone some of the dates but we'll be doing those re-scheduled dates over the next few weeks.

I played my first gig at 12 years old and I'm 23 now, so I've been gigging and playing music for years. I was in the 2fm song contest in 2000 and won it in 2006. We built a studio with the winnings and recorded an album in two years. Just before supporting Keith on his tour, we did a short tour of Ireland and we actually gave away 10,000 free copies of our single 'Queue'. At the moment we're not signed to a label. We're still trying to get a record deal or management.

In terms of a response from the ad, we haven't had any replies or offers of radios so far. But this is the first week. It's only up a few days. I actually use the classifieds loads. Outside of the band and playing music, I do a lot of art stuff as well. I'm a production manager for arts performances in the George Bernard Shaw Theatre in Carlow Arts Centre, so a lot of the time I have to advertise for some really unusual stuff. For one artist in particular I needed 500 pairs of second-hand shoes, which was quite a challenge but I pulled it off.

I use a lot of the online sites like eBay, Buy & Sell and Adverts.ie to buy stuff, collect random things that people don't want anymore, or to sell gear that I don't need. I'm always recycling, swapping and bartering stuff online. It's always worked well for me. So hopefully this time won't be any different and people will send 40 radios our way for our next tour.

By the way, anyone who donates a radio will get two free tickets to our next show in Dublin on the new tour. So they can see their old radios get a new lease of life. They can apply here: www.radios.joe-cleere.com.