Show 8 14/06/2008

I must have a deep-seated need to embarrass myself through the broadcasting of dodgy impressions. Having just about survived a live edition of Theme Time Radio Minute last week, on Saturday morning I stumbled upon the backing music used by the late Alan 'Fluff' Freeman, famous for saying "not 'arf" a lot on his Radio 1 (and later Radio 2) show Pick of the Pops, which he presented for an incredible 143 years.

Intending to demonstrate RaW Folk's broad coverage of folk music in its 399 minutes of airtime before Saturday's final show - and contemplating the prospect of a couple of hours editing together a montage to accompany an a-z rundown - I decided much time and effort could be saved by borrowing Fluff's Pick of the Pops chart countdown music. And having come so far, how could I not throw a quick "not 'arf" into the mix?

So Raw Folk's A to Z, co-presented by a mediocre Alan Freeman impression and a very mediocre Chris Jones, can be downloaded here [link expired].

Alright?

Right!


Music Played
Time Artist - Song (Album)

18:07 Pogues - Rainy Night in Soho (Rum, Sodomy & the Lash)
18:13 Karine Polwart - Daisy (Scribbled in Chalk)
18:17 Billy Bragg - A New England (Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy)
18:20 Oysterband - Love Will Tear Us Apart (ft. June Tabor) [live] (The Big Session Volume 1)

Folk On / Folk Off
18:26 k.d. lang - Constant Craving (Ingénue)

18:30 Luka Bloom - Monsoon [live] (Amsterdam)
18:34 June Tabor - A Place Called England (A Quiet Eye)
18:38 Kate Rusby - Who Knows Where the Time Goes? [single]
18:44 Judy Collins - Both Sides Now (Wildflowers)
18:48 Peter von Poehl - The Story of the Impossible (Going to Where the Tea-Trees Are)
18:52 Fionn Regan - Be Good or Be Gone (The End of History)
18:56 Chris Bathgate - Serpentine (A Cork Tale Wake)

Show 7 07/06/2008

Fantastic music this week, although apparently it was tough going again for Internet listeners ...buffering...

Music Played
Time Artist - Song (Album)

18:03 Anna Massie - Trip to Windsor (Glad Company)
18:06 Steve Earle & Sharon Shannon - Galway Girl [single]

Featured Album: Kate Rusby - The Girl Who Couldn't Fly
18:12 Kate Rusby - Game of All Fours
18:15 Kate Rusby - Elfin Knight

18:20 Bob Dylan - Oxford Town (The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)
Theme Time Radio Minute Live (Dust Bowls)
18:23 Woody Guthrie - Dust Bowl Blues

18:26 Jaymay - Corduroy (Autumn Fallin' (Bonus Disc))
18:30 Bon Iver - Skinny Love (For Emma, Forever Ago)

Folk On / Folk Off
18:35 Beach Boys - Sloop John B (Pet Sounds)

18:39 Bruce Springsteen - Old Dan Tucker (We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions)

Featured Album: Kate Rusby - The Girl Who Couldn't Fly
18:43 Kate Rusby - No Names
18:47 Kate Rusby - Fare Thee Well

18:51 Luka Bloom - Monsoon [live] (Amsterdam)
18:54 Malinky - The Bonnie Lass o'Fyvie (Last Leaves)

Show 6 31/05/2008

Music Played
Time Artist - Song (Album)

18:03 Bellowhead - Hopkinson's Favourite (Burlesque)
18:07 Steeleye Span - Hard Times of Old England (All Around My Hat)
18:13 Chumbawamba - Bankrobber (A Singsong and A Scrap)

Album of the Week: Nick Drake - Bryter Layter
18:15 Nick Drake - Northern Sky
18:20 Nick Drake - At the Chime of a City Clock

18:25 Martha Tilston - Artificial (Of Milkmaids and Architects)

18:30 Bob Dylan - Lay Lady Lay (Nashville Skyline)
Theme Time Radio Minute (Mountains)
18:35 Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Fly Away Home (Men from Earth)

Album of the Week: Nick Drake - Bryter Layter
18:39 Nick Drake - Hazey Jane II

Folk On / Folk Off
18:45 XTC - All You Pretty Girls (The Big Express)

18:50 Eliza Carthy - Rolling Sea (Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys)

Album of the Week: Nick Drake - Bryter Layter
18:54 Nick Drake - Poor Boy

Show 5 24/05/2008

Music Played
Time Artist - Song (Album)

18:03 Rachel Unthank & the Winterset - Lull II: My Lad's a Canny Lad (The Bairns)
18:04 Jock Tamson's Bairns - Donal Don / Piper's Cave (May You Never Lack a Scone)
18:11 Jim Moray - Barbara Allen (Jim Moray)

Album of the Week: Joni Mitchell - Ladies of the Canyon
18:16 Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi
18:19 Joni Mitchell - Ladies of the Canyon

18:22 Johnny Flynn - Tickle Me Pink (A Larum)
18:27 Bob Dylan - Girl from the North Country (The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)
18:31 Bob Dylan - Country Pie (Nashville Skyline)
18:33 Julie Fowlis - Biodh An Deoch Seo `N Laimh Mo Ruin (Mar A Tha Mo Cridhe)

Album of the Week: Joni Mitchell - Ladies of the Canyon
18:38 Joni Mitchell - Morning Morgantown
18:42 Joni Mitchell - Rainy Night House

Folk On / Folk Off
18:47 Hot Chip - Made in the Dark (Made in the Dark)

18:50 Pogues - Dirty Old Town (Rum, Sodomy & the Lash)
18:55 Bon Iver - Skinny Love (For Emma, Forever Ago)
18:57 Show of Hands - If I Needed Someone (Witness)

Show 4 17/05/2008

RaW Folk's fourth show spanned a classic spectrum, from the sublime (music) to the ridiculous (speech)... unfortunately the latter is preserved in the download version [link expired] - music, as I've mentioned, must be restricted to ten second clips. Still worth a listen to jog your memory!

If you caught the show on Saturday, I'd be very interested to read any opinions you have regarding the new Eliza Carthy track, Mr Magnifico. I've listened a few times now and I'm still not quite sure what to make of it - taking storytelling through song a step too far, perhaps? Or do you think it's innovative and engaging - and I just don't get it?

Plus don't forget to vote in this week's Folk On / Folk Off poll (top left of this blog's homepage). The track in question is Homesick by Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience and the poll closes at midday this Saturday (24th May). Results to be announced on the next show!

Music Played
Time Artist - Song (Album)

Album of the Week: Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
18:03 Simon & Garfunkel - Scarborough Fair / Canticle

18:07 Seth Lakeman - Kitty Jay (Kitty Jay)

Album of the Week: Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
18:13 Simon & Garfunkel - A Simple Desultory Philippic (or how I was Robert McNamara'd into Submission)
Theme Time Radio Minute (Crying)
18:17 Bruce Springsteen - O Mary Don't You Weep (We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions)

18:23 Waterboys - Raggle Taggle Gypsy (Room to Roam)

Album of the Week: Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
18:27 Simon & Garfunkel - Cloudy
18:29 Simon & Garfunkel - Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall

18:32 Karine Polwart - Daisy (Scribbled in Chalk)

Folk On / Folk Off
18:36 Kings of Convenience - Homesick (Riot on an Empty Street)

18:40 Kathryn Williams & Neill MacColl - Grey Goes (Two)
18:44 Salsa Celtica - Grey Gallito (The Grey Cockerel) (El Camino)
18:51 Eliza Carthy - Mr Magnifico (Dreams of Breathing Underwater)

Album of the Week: Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
18:56 Simon & Garfunkel - A Poem on the Underground Wall
18:58 Simon & Garfunkel - 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

Show 3 10/05/2008

The broadcast passed smoothly enough this week but technical difficulties hampered the recording, meaning the download is short and sweet. Clicketh here [link expired].
Sir Bob chose "Kite" as his theme - playing Eddi Reader - and Angus & Julia Stone were voted a Folk On hit. Tracklisting below.

Music Played
Time Artist - Song (Album)

18:03 Pogues - Fiesta (If I Should Fall from Grace with God)
18:08 Kate Rusby - Who Knows Where the Time Goes? [single]

Album of the Week: Seth Lakeman - Freedom Fields
18:13 Seth Lakeman - The White Hare
18:17 Seth Lakeman - Final Lot

18:20 Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin' (The Times They Are A-Changin')
Theme Time Radio Minute (Kite)
18:24 Eddi Reader - Kiteflyer's Hill (Angels & Electricity)

Album of the Week: Seth Lakeman - Freedom Fields
18:30 Seth Lakeman - Lady of the Sea
18:34 Seth Lakeman - The Charmer

Folk On / Folk Off
18:38 Angus & Julia Stone - Private Lawns (Chocolates and Cigarettes EP)

18:42 Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick - Oh Dear Oh! (Life and Limb)

Album of the Week: Seth Lakeman - Freedom Fields
18:45 Seth Lakeman - Take No Rogues
18:49 Seth Lakeman - The Setting of the Sun

18:53 Prelude - After the Goldrush (After the Goldrush)
18:57 City Waites - Two Magicians (The English Tradition)

M'aidez!

If you would like to recommend an artist you think I should be playing, or request a specific track, then please do so by commenting below. I can't promise anything but all suggestions are gratefully received - thanks for helping out.

Enjoy the May bank holiday festivities, should you be partaking. I will be celebrating later by seeing Kate Rusby live. Until then - can anyone see a maypole?

Show 2 03/05/2008

Interesting show this week, characterised by brass, politics, shameless advertising of this blog and downright bungling to finish. Tracklisting below - download the abridgement here [link expired].

Music Played
Time Artist - Song (Album)

18:03 Luka Bloom - Peace on Earth (Innocence)

Featured Album: Bellowhead - Burlesque
18:06 Bellowhead - Jordan 4:08

18:10 Mr. David Viner - Corrina, Corrina (Mr. David Viner)
18:15 Karine Polwart - Sorry (This Earthly Spell)

Featured Album: Bellowhead - Burlesque
18:19 Bellowhead - One May Morning Early
18:22 Bellowhead - Sloe Gin

18:28 Bob Dylan - It Ain't Me Babe (Another Side of Bob Dylan)
Theme Time Radio Minute (Colour)
18:33 Billy Bragg - From Red to Blue (William Bloke)

Folk On / Folk Off
18:37 Tilly & the Wall - Rainbows in the Dark (Bottoms of Barrels)

Featured Album: Bellowhead - Burlesque
18:43 Bellowhead - Rigs of the Time
18:46 Bellowhead - London Town

18:50 Ralph McTell - Streets of London (Spiral Staircase)
18:58 Luka Bloom - City of Chicago (Innocence)

Luka Bloom at Warwick Arts Centre 27/04/2008

My nonchalance in buying a ticket for Luka Bloom's visit to Warwick Arts Centre on Sunday evening was borne out of an ignorance that appeared to have kept all other teenagers away. I had just a passing acquaintance with a couple of tracks - most familiarly 'Exploring the Blue' - but sufficient interest to judge attendance worthwhile, or at least, worth a fiver.

Born Barry Moore, ten years the junior of brother Christy, Bloom adopted his new moniker on a flight to New York in 1987. Repeated tours of the USA, Australia and Europe followed, including support slots for the Pogues and the Dixie Chicks among others. Now a dozen albums later, this intimate theatre gig was the last night of his first UK tour in ten years - and there can't have been a better one all run.

From the moment of his briskly cheery entrance, accompanied by attentive applause, to the deific closing notes of encore Sunny Sailor Boy that heralded a final swelling ovation (he played right through the interval), Bloom enraptured and enthralled the crowd. He exuded warmth, wit, sincerity and incredible skill. In truth, I cannot begin to describe the mesmeric, beautiful and engaging quality of this performance - let's just call it bloody good.

Particular highlights were instrumental Peace on Earth (see below), Radio 4 documentary-inspired Monsoon, audience sing-along Eastbound Train, rousing set-closer You Couldn't Have Come At A Better Time and the indisputably logical No Matter Where You Go, There You Are - but to elevate these at the expense of all others would be most unfair. There was not a dull, duff or difficult song to be heard and if you ever have the opportunity to see him live, do not spurn it lightly (the next chance, for the geographically mobile, comes at Belgium's Labadoux Festival on Friday).

At the post-show signing I couldn't resist a cheeky shot at booking a RaW Folk session upon any future return (he is looking to make up for lost time in the UK with further gigs aplenty). He shook my hand and made my week.


Luka Bloom performing Peace on Earth from new CD/DVD release The Man Is Alive.

Show 1 26/04/2008

The first show was broadcast live from 1800-1900 on Saturday 26th April. A downloadable version can be accessed here [link expired]. Unfortunately full songs must be removed for legal reasons but Theme Time Radio Minute remains and the track listing is reproduced below for reference. Happy listening!

Music Played
Time Artist - Song (Album)

18:03 Nick Drake - Introduction (Bryter Later)
18:05 Richard Thompson - Needle & Thread (Sweet Warrior)
18:12 Eliza Carthy - Miller & the Lass (Rice)

Featured Album: Chumbawamba - The Boy Bands Have Won
18:15 Chumbawamba - Words Can Save Us
18:17 Chumbawamba - Add Me

18:20 Bob Dylan - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright (The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)
Theme Time Radio Minute (Arrows)
18:26 Aberfeldy - Love Is An Arrow (Young Forever)

Featured Album: Chumbawamba - The Boy Bands Have Won
18:29 Chumbawamba - El Fusilado
18:32 Chumbawamba - (Words Flew) Right Around the World
18:33 Chumbawamba - To a Little Radio

Folk On or Folk Off (Working Title)
18:37 Beautiful South - This Old Skin (Golddiggas, Headnodders & Pholk Songs)

18:42 Martin Simpson - Little Musgrave (Prodigal Son)

Featured Album: Chumbawamba - The Boy Bands Have Won
18:48 Chumbawamba - Word Bomber
18:51 Chumbawamba - Charlie
18:54 Chumbawamba - Fine Line

18:55 Show of Hands - Roots (Witness)