Gentlefolk2 Programmes

If you scroll down the page you'll find all the programmes from up to the last twelve months.
If you go to other pages while the programme's playing, it will stop because you're not on the page where the programme "lives". Other links, such as the ones to artists' websites, open a new window so the programme will carry on playing.

In the 20 year period between the end of the first and the start of the second World Wars, an incredible amount and huge variety of music was produced. This programme highlights folk-ish and acoustic post-war recordings of some of these wonderful songs and tunes, by some of the greats of songwriting and by others long forgotten but for the classic music they left behind.

Here are links to performers mentioned this month
Leon Redbone   Birch Pereira & The Gin Joints  Eric Clapton   Bianco
Jerry Garcia & David Grisman  Quicksilver   Arlo Guthrie   Outrageous Fortune

I may be biassed but I think there are some outstanding pieces of music on the programme this month. There are some you won't have heard before which I hope will make you say "Wow!" In particular, several female singers, all with amazing vocies in different ways; one of the best acappella groups I've ever heard and - a rare event - a group I like so much I'm playing two tracks from their album. Surely you want to listen after a build-up like that...?

Here are links to performers mentioned this month.
James Taylor   Matthews Southern Comfort   Beth Nielsen Chapman   Kabantu   Lizzy Hardingham   Talon   Iain Coleman & Jackie Baxter   The Real Group   Patty Larkin   Steve Tilston   Rory Block

It's the sixth anniversary of Gentlefolk2 so this is a programme of songs with numbers. "Now We Are Six" (apart from being a book by A. A. Milne) was also the title of an album by Steeleye Span, which unsurprisingly, was their sixth, but the title track is one that's not being played. There's also a challenge, asking you to make a total of all the numbers that you hear in the song titles and the names of the performers (some have numbers in them too.)
Plus you might like to work out what's interesting about this month's image.

Here are links to performers mentioned this month.
Nick Drake   Steeleye Span   Jim Kweskin   The Once   Dave Fry   Ringo Starr
Forefront   Susan Robinson   Shawn Colvin   Tom Waits   Oscar Brand

A mixed-bag, pot-pourri, multi-grain, all sorts, random rag-bag, Forrest Gump "Ya never know whatcha gonna get" type of programme. You'll find recently written songs, pieces from the 19th and 18th centuries, one about a famous writer, one based on lines from a very famous book, two songs about stones (who would have thought..?) and a song about songs.
The August image is "Heatwave" by Viv Wheatley.

Here are links to performers mentioned this month.
Kuschty Rye   The Melancholy Brothers   Odette Michell   Winter Wilson
Alan Whitbread   David Qualey   Paul McCartney   Thrup'nny Bits
Warwick University Peterloo songs   Jonathan Edwards

Songs about birds and the songs of birds: there are so many to choose from, this is only a small selection and even now it's a slightly longer programme than usual, nearly ten minutes over the hour. There are some classics about the lark and the nightingale but some pieces you won't have heard before.
The theme music is tune called "Waterlight" written by Norman Wheatley, performed by Ian Stephenson. Here are links to performers mentioned this month, those who have websites that is.
Rowan Godel   Simon & Garfunkel   Alison Moorer   Arcelia   Tom Paxton   Paul McCartney   Robin Williamson   June Tabor & Quercus
Emmylou Harris   John Watterson (Fake Thackray)

A selection of folk-ish songs which ask various questions: "Where Have..?" "Who's Gonna..?" "When Will..?" "Why Walk..?" "Is That..?" and many more. The next question is: will there be any answers?
The June image is "Country Lane" by Paul Talbot-Greaves
The theme music is tune called "Waterlight" written by Norman Wheatley, performed by Ian Stephenson
Here are links to the websites of performers & places mentioned this month
Malvina Reynolds   Sensible Shoes   Melissa Harding   The Everly Brothers   Tom Paxton   Nick Drake   Eric Clapton   Mike Harding   Peggy Lee
James Taylor   Eddie Lastra   Dana & Susan Robinson

There seem to be more folk style songs about May than any other month and there are three on this programme; one of them is an unaccompanied less-than-serious song. There's also more on the theme of borrowing tunes and lines for other songs.
The May image is "May Blossom" by Zoe Norman (with a name like that...)
The theme music is tune called "Waterlight" written by Norman Wheatley, performed by Ian Stephenson
Here are links to the websites of performers & places mentioned this month
Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer  Ride, Norman, Ride teaching video  Jim Rooney  Maria Muldaur  The Dovetail Trio  The Clancy Brothers  Bob Dylan
Lucy Kaplansky  Linda Ronstadt  Ann Savoy  Chris Wood   Silvington
Sadie & Jay  Steeleye Span

The usual mixture of music and songs except that I won't be announcing who's playing before you hear the song. You'll have the duration of the track to see if you can spot who it is and then I'll tell you straightaway afterwards. Some will be artists you'll know and might recognise some of them won't be. The usual list of links to performers' websites is at the bottom of this page. Tom Paxton is mentioned but I'm not playing anything by him - he's far too easy too recognise - but he is touring the UK again during the month.
The April image is once again by Rik Middleton which is called "Primroses".
The theme music is tune called "Waterlight" written by Norman Wheatley, performed by Ian Stephenson
Tom Paxton & The Don Juans 2019 tour dates

A recurring topic of using bits from other songs, sometimes a whole tune
Famous people who play the ukulele and a song about how to tune it
Something delightful - but unpronounceable - in Gaelic
A silly song from the 20s and a new version of a famous one from the 40s
An epic fable based in somewhere far away in a time long ago...
The March image is "Stormy Skies" by Rik Middleton
Here are links to the websites of performers mentioned this month:
Dana & Susan Robinson   Happy Traum   The Band    Gareth Davies-Jones
Jesse Winchester   Julie Fowlis   Bruce Watson   The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
George Harrison   Coope, Boyes & Simpson

An hour of music from lots of instruments apart from the guitar!
At least twenty four non-guitar music makers from accordion to trombone
   and many more in between. There's a silly song on a melodeon,
   an instrumental on fiddle and piano and something called a bandoneon...
The February image is "Riverside" by Rik Middleton.
Here are links to the websites of performers mentioned this month:
The Carolina Chocolate Drops   John Kirkpatrick    Plainsong  
Tim O’Brien   Judy Collins   The Continental Drifters   Tom McConville  
Steamchicken   Damien Clarke   The Nightwatch  
Swan & Dyer   Eliza Carthy   The Skeptics

Several songs suitable for the month and the season
Three songs which are distinctly less than serious - one from the 50s
A well-known song by one of the founder members of Steeleye Span
A song about and then by Jake Thackray
A tribute to Bill Caddick - one of his best known songs
The January image is "Winter Fields" by Viv Wheatley (Click on it to see a
larger image.)
Here are links to the websites of performers & places mentioned this month
The Albion Christmas Band   John Buckley   The Lost Notes   John Tams
Jake Thackray   John Watterson (Fake Thackray)   Kimber’s Men
The Red Lion Folk Club  The Trials Of Cato   Dana & Susan Robinson

Performers not associated with trad material doing great arrangements
One song with traditional words to a new tune and another, vice versa
An unaccompanied arrangement which still manages to sound modern
A brand new version of a very old song, never heard before
Here are links to the websites of the performers in the December 18 G2
Steve Tilston   Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle   Art Garfunkel   The Once    Steamchicken    Plainsong  Gene Clark   The Teacups   Maria Barham
Rosie Doonan & Ben Murray    Harp And A Monkey

Colin Hay   Rhiannon Giddens   Van Morrison   Herdman, Hills & Mangsen   Eliza Carthy   Ralph McTell
Wizz Jones   Derroll Adams   Eric Clapton   Iain Matthews