x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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.

music music interviews

All Episodes

52:11

The Dance of the Commons at the Englefield Estate

Folk on Foot ·

2022/09/15

On a hot August day, scores of walkers in weird, wacky and wonderful costumes inspired by old English traditions, accompanied by morris dancers and musicians, set off to stage a peaceful and joyful mass trespass. Led by Herne the Hunter (Book of Trespass author Nick Hayes) and singer Sam Lee, they targeted the Englefield Estate near Reading, thousands of acres owned by Lord Benyon, the government minister for rural affairs. In this episode, we hear them dance into the estate, explain why they

en

48:57

Bonus Episode: Maddy Prior and Peter Knight in...

Folk on Foot ·

2022/09/12

Singer Maddy Prior and violinist Peter Knight were at the heart of the success of folk rock pioneers Steeleye Span. In this candid interview with Matthew Bannister on stage at the Indoor Festival of Folk at Cecil Sharp House, they recall the heady days of rock n roll excess during the 1970s and movingly describe the role of music in their lives. Peter reveals he once appeared on Top of the Pops dressed as a Womble and Maddy describes the gig where they dropped thousands of pound notes onto the heads

en

01:07:23

Fay Hield at the Soundpost Weekend in Dungworth

Folk on Foot ·

2022/08/11

The singer, songwriter and academic Fay Hield invites us to a Soundpost Singing Weekend in the village of Dungworth on the outskirts of Sheffield. Guests include Sean Cooney of the Young’uns and Rowan Rheingans who wrote special songs for the event. But mostly we walk in the surrounding countryside with Fay and her dog, hearing her sing, learning about her life in music and debating the big issues like “what is folk music?” and “why does it matter?” --- Delve deeper into the Folk on Foot world and

en

01:30:46

The Musical Village of Pathhead, Midlothian

Folk on Foot ·

2022/07/15

Join us on a walk around the unassuming village of Pathhead, Midlothian, just south of Edinburgh, which is home to a whole galaxy of Scottish musicians. We start with singer songwriter Karine Polwart, who takes us to meet pianist Dave Milligan and his partner the harpist Corrina Hewat. Then it’s round the corner to see singer and multi-instrumentalist Inge Thomson, her partner Martin Green (of Lau) and their son Ewen, who plays mandolin. They hand us on to bass player Tom Lyne who also creates music

en

54:20

Jamie Webster in Liverpool

Folk on Foot ·

2022/06/16

“My city, my people, my heart” – Jamie Webster loves his home city of Liverpool – and Liverpool loves Jamie Webster. The young singer and songwriter started out performing chants for fans of Liverpool FC, which led to a gig in front of 60,000 at the Champions League Final and a meeting with manager Jurgen Klopp. Now his songs of working-class life have made Jamie a local hero with two hit albums under his belt. In this episode he takes us to a community centre called “the Florrie” where he

en

01:06:00

Raynor Winn and the Gigspanner Big Band on the South...

Folk on Foot ·

2022/05/12

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 Gigspanner Big Band to create a new show

en

56:30

Grace Petrie in Leicester

Folk on Foot ·

2022/04/14

Grace Petrie sometimes introduces herself on stage as “a socialist, feminist, lesbian protest singer”. Her acutely observed songs range from political and passionate to personal and profound. She’s also been known to turn her hand to comedy. In this walk through her home city of Leicester she tells Matthew Bannister about her childhood and musical journey, reflects on what it means always to be on “The Losing Side” in politics and reveals the poignant story behind a visit to IKEA. --- Delve deeper

en

54:03

Johnny Kalsi in Southall

Folk on Foot ·

2022/03/11

The drummer Johnny Kalsi (The Dhol Foundation, Transglobal Underground, Afro Celt Sound System, Imagined Village) takes us for a walk round Southall - an area of West London known as “Little India”. We visit a Sikh temple, marvel at the sumptuous fabrics and glittering jewellery in the bridal shops on the High Street and drop in to his favourite restaurant for “food like you’ve never tasted before”. But above all we head to two music shops where Johnny gives a bravura demonstration of how to play

en

55:37

Maurice Henderson & Ewen Thomson on Shetland

Folk on Foot ·

2022/02/18

We’re back on the glorious Shetland Isles for this episode and who better to show us around than the renowned local fiddle player Maurice Henderson (of Fiddlers Bid) and his friend the luthier and guitarist from Fair Isle Ewen Thomson? After Ewen demonstrates how to make a great violin, they take us to the beach where they tell folk tales, play traditional dance tunes and introduce us to the sea birds. --- Access exclusive films of Maurice and Ewan performing along our walk, along with over 150

en

01:34:29

Official Folk Albums Chart of the Year Show 2021

Folk on Foot ·

2022/02/02

Join us for a very special show streamed live from Cecil Sharp House. The show looks back at the highlights of 2021, the very first full year of The Official Folk Albums Chart. Hosted by Matthew Bannister with guest co-host Kitty Macfarlane, the show features live performances and interviews with artists that have featured in the chart over the past year including Spiers and Boden, Katherine Priddy, Gwenifer Raymond, Spell Songs and The Longest Johns. --- Access over 150 performances from dozens of

en

52:36

Kathryn Tickell & her Dad by the River Rede

Folk on Foot ·

2022/01/14

“He said you could pluck songs out of the air - pluck them out of the air - and sing them bonny”. The great Northumbrian pipe player Kathryn Tickell describes the River Rede near her home as the backdrop and soundscape to her life. On its bank, she is joined by her Dad Mike to perform music, songs and stories inspired by the beautiful county where he brought her up and introduced her to the folk tradition. --- Access exclusive films of Kathryn performing by the river, along with over 150 other

en

59:32

Declan O‘Rourke in Kinvara

Folk on Foot ·

2021/12/17

The acclaimed singer and songwriter Declan O’Rourke takes us for a scenic walk near his home in the beautiful fishing village of Kinvara on the west coast of Ireland, singing songs inspired by the area as he goes. Declan’s grandfather, an artist, was born and brought up in Kinvara. On our walk, Declan reflects on his first performance at an open mic night in Dublin where he suffered “an instant addiction” to singing live, on his fascination with the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s and 50s and on

en

58:43

The Ciderhouse Rebellion & Jessie Summerhayes in the...

Folk on Foot ·

2021/11/12

In the shadow of the disused ironstone kilns of the Rosedale Valley in North Yorkshire, Ciderhouse Rebellion - fiddle player Adam Summerhayes and accordionist Murray Grainger - conjure up a soundscape of rare beauty - improvised on the spot. Then they add evocative poetry from Adam’s daughter Jessie to create, in words and music, a picture of the harshness of Victorian industry in the midst of the beauty of nature. --- Access exclusive films of Ciderhouse Rebellion performing along our walk, along

en

57:26

Edgelarks at Scorhill Stone Circle

Folk on Foot ·

2021/10/14

A Bronze Age site on Dartmoor, six musical instruments, a feather, harmonica-enhanced beatboxing, a stone that is said to increase fertility, a fast flowing river, a baby and a caring grandmother - all ingredients of a wonderful walk with the award-winning duo Edgelarks (Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin). --- Access exclusive films of Edgelarks performing along our walk, along with over 100 other performances from dozens of artists, by signing up to Folk On Foot On Film:

en

44:59

Olivia Chaney at the House on Hawnby Moor

Folk on Foot ·

2021/09/16

Olivia Chaney wrote many of the songs for her critically acclaimed second solo album whilst living alone without electricity or mains water at her family’s remote and crumbling farmhouse on Hawnby Moor in North Yorkshire. On a hot summer’s day, she takes Matthew Bannister back across the Moor, singing and playing along the way, circled by curlews and lapwings, to share the atmospheric isolation that brought her inspiration. --- Access exclusive films of Olivia performing along our walk, along with

en

01:09:28

Robert Macfarlane & Johnny Flynn at Wandlebury

Folk on Foot ·

2021/08/12

Question: What do you get when you go walking with the nature writer Robert Macfarlane and the actor and musician Johnny Flynn on a scorching hot summer's day in Wandlebury? Answer: A Neolithic track, an Iron Age fort, a Roman road, a holm oak, cow pats, a mighty avenue of sun-dappled beech, a buzzard, a grasshopper orchestra, a dragonfly, the stories of a mysterious white horse and a dread augury and countless busy, buzzing bees. Oh, and no fewer than six extraordinary songs performed along the

en

55:33

Jenny Sturgeon in Shetland

Folk on Foot ·

2021/07/15

The singer, songwriter and artist Jenny Sturgeon has made her home on Shetland, a group of wild and wonderful islands in the North Atlantic. Her latest album “The Living Mountain” was inspired by the classic book about the Cairngorms by Nan Shepherd. On our atmospheric walk, with seabirds calling and waves crashing, Jenny reflects on finding inspiration for her music in nature as she performs songs from “The Living Mountain” and a new composition written in lockdown. --- Access exclusive films of

en

53:23

Sam Sweeney at Swift's Hill

Folk on Foot ·

2021/06/17

The wonderful English fiddle player Sam Sweeney has been a key member of Bellowhead, Leveret, Eliza Carthy’s Wayward Band and many other collaborations. He’s also made two acclaimed solo albums. He takes us up to the top of Swift’s Hill, where he plays the tune of the same name. Along the way he tells stories of his hero Dave Swarbrick, his unfinished First World War violin and learning to play the bagpipes in six weeks. --- Access six exclusive films of Sam performing along our walk, along with

en

54:06

Jim Ghedi (and Friends) in Crookes and the Moss Valley

Folk on Foot ·

2021/05/13

A finger style guitarist with a uniquely impassioned vocal style, Jim Ghedi was born and brought up in the Crookes area of Sheffield. He takes Matthew Bannister to his Nan and Grandad’s terraced house where he heard a lot of Irish music as a child. Jim rejected folk music at first, but found his way back to it as a teenager. Now he’s steeped in the tradition, citing the guitar playing of Bert Jansch and the singing of Norma Waterson as influences. At a beautiful vantage point at the top of one of

en

50:36

Germa Adan in the Sandwell Valley

Folk on Foot ·

2021/04/15

The singer, fiddle, guitar and ukulele player Germa Adan was born in Haiti, grew up in Florida and now lives in the UK. She says the RSPB reserve in the Sandwell Valley has been her place of calm during the lockdowns – where she goes to contemplate and recharge. Germa is a rising star on the folk scene with a beguiling and original style. --- Access five exclusive films of Germa performing along our walk, along with over 100 other performances from dozens of artists, by signing up to Folk On Foot On

en

153 results

Similar Podcasts

Pasquale Maassen Soundcloud

Pasquale Maassen

Marian Klose

Marian Klose

sevenism

sevenism

Dean Delray"s LET THERE BE TALK

Cactus Radio Network

Word In Your Ear

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold