This summer huge crowds gathered at Glastonbury Festival to sing along to a set of 'Assembly Bangers'; beloved songs from primary school. Musician and music teacher James B. Partridge led the field with classics including 'One More Step Along the World I Go', 'He's Got the Whole World in his Hands' and 'Lord of the Dance'. The popularity of these songs goes beyond music festivals, and this autumn in his Homecoming concert Mal Pope will include an 'Assembly Banger' slot with singer and songwriter Graham Kendrick, composer of 'Shine Jesus Shine'. The popularity of primary school songs has taken many by surprise and this week Azim Ahmed sets out to explore why so many people love singing tunes from their youth.

Azim speaks to James B. Partridge who explains that he began recording ‘Assembly Bangers’ during the Covid lockdown — and was astonished at how popular they became. Alongside his teaching commitments he's also planning a nationwide tour this Christmas. We’ll visit the Freedom Festival in Carmarthen, an event run by the Diocese of St. David's, where the Crowfoot band performs an 'Assembly Banger' slot and we'll hear from the audience there. We'll speak to Mal Pope and Graham Kendrick about the importance of communal singing, and lastly we'll visit Clyro Church in Wales Primary School to find out which songs children love today and which ones could be the 'Assembly Bangers' of the future.