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PODCAST

Folk on Foot

Matthew Bannister

“Modest people, playing gorgeous music, speaking articulately about areas they love. Fabulously calming” – one listener’s description of this multi-award-winning podcast in which Matthew Bannister goes walking with top folk musicians in the landscapes that have inspired them. “A restorative breathing space in sound” – The Telegraph. “Immaculately produced” – The Times Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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All Episodes

50:29

Folk on Foot Classic: Kris Drever on Orkney

Folk on Foot ·

2025/09/28

Enjoy this classic episode from January 2020.The guitarist, singer and songwriter Kris Drever was born and brought up on Orkney, the archipelago off the Northern coast of Scotland which is steeped in history. The walk starts in the main town of Kirkwall with its huge sandstone cathedral commemorating St Magnus who came to an untimely end. In the graveyard Kris sings “Winter Moon”. Then they head off to the shores of the great natural harbour at Scapa Flow where Kris performs his powerful song about

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57:10

Cerys Hafana at Corris Uchaf

Folk on Foot ·

2025/09/18

The latest album from Welsh triple harpist Cerys Hafana is called “Angel”. It’s inspired by the story of an old man who goes for a walk in the forest and hears an angel singing so beautifully it makes him fall asleep for three hundred and fifty years. That’s almost what happened to me on our glorious summer walk with Cerys near Corris Uchaf in mid Wales. We stumbled across a strange concrete replica of an Italian village, found the remains of disused mines and sat by tumbling streams to experience

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57:29

Official Folk Albums Chart Show—2nd September 2025

Folk on Foot ·

2025/09/02

Matthew’s guest on this month’s show is the singer/songwriter Kellie While who is chair of the judges for the newly announced Folk Album of the Year Award. She shares the thinking behind the award and offers some advice if you’re considering entering. There are also 6 new entries in the chart and a new number one. We’ll have music from Amelia Coburn, Spafford Campbell, The Swaps, Skerryvore, Gaz Brookfield, Yoshika Colwell and the New Eves.---We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show

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53:47

Folk on Foot Classic: Kitty Macfarlane on the...

Folk on Foot ·

2025/08/24

Enjoy this classic episode from July 2020.Kitty Macfarlane is known for her pure voice, poetic song writing and passion for the natural world. On this unexpectedly sunny January walk, she and Matthew Bannister climb the historic Burrow Mump Hill. Here she sings a song inspired by the view, “Man Friendship”.As they walk along the nearby river, Kitty stops to sing her song about migration: “Glass Eel”. Then it’s off to her favourite bird sanctuary where they observe many different species and she

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1:01:48

Alex Rex and Lavinia Blackwall in Govan and Carbeth

Folk on Foot ·

2025/08/14

Former Trembling Bells bandmates Alex Rex and Lavinia Blackwall take us first to Govan Old Church in Glasgow to see ancient Viking burial stones - and sing in unaccompanied harmony in the glorious acoustic. Then its off to the hutting community at Carbeth in the countryside outside the city where residents lovingly decorate their wooden homes. Alex shows us the hut he’s curating in memory of his younger brother Alastair who sadly died, while Lavinia introduces us to her partner in life and music

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53:15

Official Folk Albums Chart Show — 5th August 2025

Folk on Foot ·

2025/08/05

This month’s show features music from Billie Marten, Poor Creature, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Allo Darlin’, Ann Liu Cannon, California Irish, Bonnie Dobson & The Hanging Stars, Me Lost Me and Ruth Lyon. Lucy Shields has the album preview – and Matthew will be announcing the next episode of Folk on Foot.---We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfootOr just buy us a coffee:

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57:01

Folk on Foot Classic: Johnny Flynn on the Hackney...

Folk on Foot ·

2025/07/27

Enjoy this classic episode from September 2020.In our first post lockdown episode, actor and musician Johnny Flynn takes Matthew Bannister for a walk on the Hackney Marshes, a huge expanse of public land which has no fewer than 88 football pitches alongside a nature reserve which has grown up in disused gravel pits. As well as singing his distinctive, haunting songs, Johnny relates his near miss with a bear on the Camino to Santiago, reflects on discovering the music of Bob Dylan as a teenager and

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1:09:26

Chris Packham & Martin Simpson in the New Forest

Folk on Foot ·

2025/07/17

Where does Chris Packham want his ashes scattered after he dies? Find out as he takes Martin Simpson and host Matthew Bannister for an enlightening walk in sun-dappled woodland near his home in the New Forest. He points out a goshawk on her nest and other glorious flora and fauna and is delighted when Martin sings his songs “Ken Small” and “Skydancers”. The most emotional moment comes when Martin sings “Ridgeway” under the special tree where Chris wants his ashes scattered (along with those of his

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56:38

Official Folk Albums Chart Show—8th July 2025

Folk on Foot ·

2025/07/08

This month’s show features music from Quinie, Odette Michell, Haress, Lavinia Blackwall, Sam Kelly, Chloë Foy, The Wandering Hearts, Will Varley and Jacob Alon. Lucy Shields previews forthcoming releases and has the gig news and Matthew announces the next episode of Folk on Foot.---We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfootOr just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfootSign up

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43:17

Folk on Foot Classic: Duncan Chisholm at Sandwood Bay

Folk on Foot ·

2025/06/22

Enjoy this classic episode from August 2019.Sandwood Bay, at the far North Western tip of Scotland near Cape Wrath, is one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK. This wild, isolated place inspired the Scottish fiddle player and composer Duncan Chisholm’s album “Sandwood”.He takes Matthew on the four-mile walk from the nearest road to experience the stark beauty of white sand, ancient rocks and rolling waves, telling stories of storms, hauntings and the remains of a Viking longship hidden under the

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44:19

Simon Armitage and LYR on Cuckoo Day in Marsden

Folk on Foot ·

2025/06/12

The Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and his band LYR perform poems and music inspired by the stories told by the people of the West Yorkshire Village of Marsden, where Simon grew up. It’s all part of the annual “Cuckoo Day” festival in the village, celebrating the myth that local people thought they could keep the spring going all year round if they could only capture a cuckoo. Amongst the poetry there are outbreaks of morris dancing, organ playing and the emotional story of a mangle.---We rely on

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1:04:06

Official Folk Albums Chart Show—3rd June 2025

Folk on Foot ·

2025/06/03

The great Peggy Seeger is Matthew’s guest on this month’s show as she prepares to celebrate her 90th birthday later this month. She says her current tour and album will be her last, so what will she miss about performing? Has her lifetime of protesting secured progress? And does she feel that time is running out for her? There’s also music from Kate Rusby, Skinny Lister, Merry Hell, Màiri Morrison, Alasdair Roberts and Pete Johnston, Iona Lane and Capercaillie.---We rely on support from our

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1:06:03

Folk on Foot Classic: Raynor Winn and the Gigspanner...

Folk on Foot ·

2025/05/25

Enjoy this classic episode from May 2022. Raynor Winn’s best-selling book “The Salt Path” tells how she and her husband Moth became homeless just as he was diagnosed with a terminal neuro-degenerative disease. Despite this, they set off to walk the 630 challenging miles of the South West Coast Path. The redemptive story of their dogged determination, loving relationship and close connection with the natural world made the book a best seller.Now Raynor has teamed up with Peter Knight’s brilliant

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55:16

Goblin Band in the City of London

Folk on Foot ·

2025/05/15

Come with us on a fascinating walk in the historic City of London with rising stars of the folk world Goblin Band. From an ancient church ringing to the Castleton Carol, via an underground car park where the remains of the Roman Wall form the backdrop to “The Twa Corbies” and onto the banks of the River Thames for some mudlarking and a beautiful “Grey Funnel Line”, these talented young performers share their passion for passing on traditional music to a new generation of listeners.---We rely on

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54:55

Official Folk Albums Chart Show—6th May 2025

Folk on Foot ·

2025/05/06

Richard Dawson is Matthew’s guest on this month’s show, talking about his family home being struck by lightning, the temptations of the Boxing Day sales and the joy of his allotment - all subjects of songs from his album End of the Middle. There’s also music from Mumford and Sons, Butler, Blake & Grant, Toria Wooff, Liz Overs, Ferocious Dog and Naima Bock.---We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...Become a member and get great

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43:29

Folk on Foot Classic: Sam Lee singing with...

Folk on Foot ·

2025/04/27

Enjoy this classic episode from August 2018Mercury music prize nominee Sam Lee is a folk singer, a countryman and an impresario. In this episode of Folk on Foot he invites Matthew to join him in a Sussex wood in the middle of the night as he leads a group of people on a silent walk to hear him sing with a nightingale. The next day Sam and Matthew retrace their steps in daylight, reflecting on the power of this mystical experience.---We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the

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49:21

Georgia Shackleton on the Norfolk Coast

Folk on Foot ·

2025/04/17

A violin made from the floorboards of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s home - a climb to the top of the Happisburgh lighthouse - and a song about whales stranded on the shore - just three of the highlights of this glorious sunny seaside walk with the Norfolk singer and fiddle player Georgia Shackleton. So kick off your shoes, roll up your trousers or hitch up your skirts and paddle along the beach with us.---We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do

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1:19:31

Official Folk Albums Chart Show—8th April 2025

Folk on Foot ·

2025/04/08

Matthew's guests on this month’s show are Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver talking about their innovative and inspiring album Hinterland. There’s also music from The Wellermen, Polly Paulusma, Chris Brain, Reg Meuross, Jenn Butterworth, Clara Mann, Joshua Burnside, Jim Ghedi, The Levellers Collective, Thea Gilmore and Constant Follower. Lucy Shields previews the new album releases and has the gig news.---We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please

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1:08:09

Folk on Foot Classic: Richard Thompson in Muswell...

Folk on Foot ·

2025/03/30

Enjoy this classic episode from December 2020The legendary guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson takes Matthew Bannister for a walk around the areas of London where he grew up, began playing the guitar, formed Fairport Convention (inventing English folk rock)and joined the vibrant music scene of the 1960s.On the steps of his old school in Highgate Richard sings“Man With Money” by the Everly Brothers. In Highgate Woods he sings his classic lament for lost love and the travelling life: “Beeswing”

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51:00

Bonus Episode: Ashley Hutchings in conversation at...

Folk on Foot ·

2025/03/24

Bob Dylan described Ashley Hutchings as “The Godfather of English Folk Rock -he gave us a genre we couldn’t refuse”. Bass player Ashley was behind the formation of three great bands: Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion Band. As he celebrates his 80th birthday, Ashley joins Matthew Bannister on stage at Cecil Sharp House to look back on his life. He recalls the heady days of the 1960s, supporting Pink Floyd, being joined on stage by Jimi Hendrix, seeing Paul Simon play in a Soho folk

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