FolkCast

FolkCast - the podcast that brings you the latest sounds from the worlds of folk, folk-rock, singer-songwriter and other roots-type musical genres.

Theme Music: Fisherman’s Priest by Ken Nicol

Produced and presented by Folkie Phil Widdows

Sons Of The Soil (The Ploughboys’ Song) by Garry Blakeley

from the album “The Wheel Of The Year” (2012)

Calm Your Demons by Nick Edward Harris

from the album “The Tall Trees” (2015)

Ain’t No Grave by Zeptepi

(live version on the EP “Live 07​.​06​.​2014”)

Rags And Bones by Jo Carley and The Old Dry Skulls

from the EP “Rags And Bones” (2014)

Hanging Johnny/Nail ‘Em Up by Jay Terrestrial and Firepit Collective

from the album “To The Lost” (2014)

The Folk Laureate

The Ballad of Blaster Jack by Dave Alton

(An original poem inspired by true events)

with Sandblaster’s Blues by Terry Easton

from the album “Claremont 2:05pm”

Take Me To The Sea by The Reid Jamieson Band

from the album “Juniper’s Kitchen” (2014)

Mori No Kuma San (The Bear in The Woods) by Sean Moyses and Ken Aoki

from the album “Plectrum Banjo x 2” (2014)

Wishfully Dreaming by John Jenkins

Unreleased

Right Here by Daria Kulesh

from the album “Eternal Child” (2015)

Shadows & Sparks by Anne-Marie Sanderson

from the EP “Shadows & Sparks” (2015)

Babba presents The Story Behind The Song

Too Close To The Wind

Song written by Stuart Marson, performed by Bandersnatch

from the album “Round And Round” (2006)

Farewell by Skipinnish

from the album “Western Ocean” (2014)

For full details and links to artists’ websites, see the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

The updated revision of FolkCast’s music for a fiery New Year’s Eve, full of drinking songs, tradition, jigs, reels, hangovers and repentance! This is an updated and revised edition of 2012’s show. Latest revision: December 2014

Music featured:

Landlord by Blackbeard’s Tea Party

Bring Us In Good Ale by Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band

The Stonehaven Fireballs by Life And Times

100 Pipers / Rockin’ All Over The World by The Red Hot Chilli Pipers

The Drinkers by Swill And The Swaggerband

Just The One by The Levellers

One Last Drink by Enter The Haggis

This Last Year by Krista Di Gregorio

New Year by 100 Mile House

Tar Barrel In Dale by The Unthanks

New Year’s Day by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Auld Lang Syne by Caroline Herring

One Good Year by Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston

Carol For The New Year by Nowell Sing We Clear

Hogmanay by Peter Nardini

Drinking Song and Stool Of Repentance by The Duncan McFarlane Acoustic Band

Happy New Year by Frank Turner and Jon Snodgrass

New Year’s Song by Over The Rhine

Auld Lang Syne by Jimi Hendrix

The FolkCast Festive Selection Box - bursting with good things for the season of Christmas, Yule and Saturnalia, with specially selected music and readings.

Produced and presented by Folkie Phil Widdows featuring Babba and special guest star Ashley Hutchings with an exclusive appearance by Santa Claus.

Introduction (from “Santa’s Workshop” 1932)

Could It Be Christmas by Jon Lindsay, single release (2011)

“Aren’t we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa!” ~ Bart Simpson.

The Reindeer Boogie by Hank Snow, single release (1953)

Sleigh Ride by Christmas Accordion, single release , with “Sly Little Santa” by Mrs CS Stone (1912) .

Father Christmas Down Hounslow High Street by Robb Johnson & The Irregulars – from the album “The Ghost Of Love - A Christmas Song Suite” (2009)

St Benedict’s Christmas Fair by Lisa Redford, single release (2013)

“Shoes”, written and read by Ashley Hutchings, with Christmas Shoes by Saxophone Dreamsound, from the album Sax Christmas (2014) into All I Want For Christmas Is Some Rockin’ Shoes by Johnny Aitken, single release (2009)

“If ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ were candles and nuts we’d all have a merry Christmas!”

Christmas At Sea by The Longest Johns, from the EP “Christmas At Sea” (2013)

Winter by John Smith, from the album The Fox And The Monk (2006)

Christmas In No Man’s Land by Maggie Boyle, from the album “Won’t You Come Away” (2012)

Silent Night by Andrews Massey, from the album Make Merry (2013) with “The Star”, written and read by Ashley Hutchings.

Silent Night by Anne Marie Sanderson, single release (2014) with all proceeds to Amnesty International.

Someone by Barry Allen, from the album “Where The Heart Is” (2012)

Keep The Flame by Johnny Coppin, single release (2011),

This Time Of Year (Second Version) by Runrig, from the album Stepping Down The Glory Road (2013)

“The Queen’s Christmas Message” read by Babba.

Christmas Rose by Blackheart, single release (2012)

“Burn Logs Burn” written and read by Ashley Hutchings into Burn Logs Burn, by The Albion Christmas Band, from the album “A Sound In The Frosty Air” (2011)

Footprints by Bella Hardy, from the album Bright Morning Star (2012)

“Smoking Bishop” read by Phil & Babba, to Punch by Lunasa, from the album “The Kinnitty Sessions” (2004)

“Eggnog 1887” read by Babba & Phil.

Who Spiked The Eggnog? by Straight No Chaser, from the album “Christmas Cheers” (2009)

The Little Drummer Boy by Ringo Starr, from the album I Wanna Be Santa Claus (1999)

Carol Of The Bells by Marillion, single release (2014)

“Extract from ‘Orlando’ by Virginia Woolf”, written and read by Ashley Hutchings.

God Rest Ye by Andrews Massey, from the album Make Merry (2013)

“Tinsel” read by Phil & Babba

Snow White Lies by Zoe Wren, from the album The FolkStock Christmas Present (2014)

“Boxing Day” read by Phil & Babba

The Wren Boys’ Song by Nowell Sing We Clear, from the album “Nowell Sing We Four” (2007)

Good King Wenceslas by Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer, from the album “A Sound Of Christmas Past” (2014)

Send Phil Some Brandy by Wood, Wire And Words - specially recorded for FolkCast (2014)

For full details and links to artists’ websites, see the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

Merry Christmas from Everyone at FolkCast. It’s our finger in YULE ear!

New releases from the worlds of folk, folk-rock, singer-songwriter and other roots-type musical genres, plus Babba looks at the history, heritage and differences between Father Christmas and Santa Claus.

FolkCast is produced and presented by Phil Widdows

Music featured:

Three Sailors by Heg & The Wolf Chorus from the EP “A Tale Of Sailors”

Lazarus Dance by Jez Lowe from the album “The Ballad Beyond”

The Shaming Of Agnes Leman by The Familiars from the album “Martyred Hearts”

The Rise And The Fall by Iain Till from the EP “The Rise And The Fall”

Carry The Fire by Jeremy Tuplin from the EP “Carry The Fire”

For The Love Of A Lady by Norm Straus from the album “The Color Of Everything”

Spellbound Or Hellbound by Any O’Neill & CeeCee from the album “Admissions”

Mr Senator by Ryan Fox (single release)

Trading in Futures by Until The Bird from the album “Pale Clouded Yellow”

Babba presents…

THE STORY BEHIND THE SEASONAL FOLK CHARACTER

“Father Christmas versus Santa Claus”

including music by

Diana Ross & The Supremes - Greg Lake - Houghton Weavers - Kludo White - Lord Weatherby - Jon Lajole

The Cafe Song by Pete Morton from the album “Economy”

Just The One by The Levellers and Bellowhead from the album “Just The One”

Sleeping In The Gutter by The Blue Pig Orchestra from the album “From The Storm”

Drink Up & Go by Heed The Thunder from the album “Cokaigne”

For full details and links to artists’ websites, see the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

A storming collection of songs, poetry and prose for the winter 2014/15

Drive The Cold Winter Away by Green Diesel

from the album “Wayfarers All”

Winter Singing by The Imagined Village

from the album “Bending The Dark”

The Running Fox by The Young ‘Uns

from the album “Never Forget”

Sparrow by Peter Lacey

from the album “Last Leaf”

Song For A Winter’s Night by Reid Jamieson

from the album “Songs For A Winter’s Night”

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December

A magical thing

And sweet to remember.

‘We are nearer to Spring

Than we were in September,’

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December.

~ Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing

Winter King by Ninebarrow

from the album “When The Blackthorn Burns”

When Springtime Comes Around by Mark Ellis

from the album “When Springtime Comes Around”

A Season In Your Arms by Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar

from the album “The Call”

December Song by KC Barber

from the album “Cold Wind Blowing”

“The shed of leaves became a cascade of red and gold and after a time the trees stood skeletal against a sky of weathered tin. The land lay bled of its colors. The nights lengthened, went darker, brightened in their clustered stars. The chilled air smelled of woodsmoke, of distances and passing time. Frost glimmered on the morning fields. Crows called across the pewter afternoons.”

~ James Carlos Blake, Wildwood Boys

Through The Winter by George Boomsma

from the EP “Through The Winter”

“He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter….

In winter the stars seem to have rekindled their fires, the moon achieves a fuller triumph, and the heavens wear a look of a more exalted simplicity.”

~ John Burroughs, The Snow-Walkers

Red Deer White Snow by Stooshie

from the album “Stydd”

“I put up a petition annually, for as much snow, hail, frost, or storm, of one kind or other, as the skies can possibly afford us.

Surely every body is aware of the divine pleasures which attend a winter fire-side: candles at four o’clock, warm hearth-rugs, tea,

a fair tea-maker, shutters closed, curtains flowing in ample draperies on the floor, whilst the wind and rain are raging audibly without…”

~ Thomas De Quincey, Confessions of an English Opium-Eater

Weather by Rainbow Chasers

from the album “Chimes At Midnight”

Icicles by Miranda Sykes

from the album “Bliss”

The days are short,

The sun a spark

Hung thin between

The dark and dark.

Fat snowy footsteps

Track the floor,

And parkas pile up

Near the door.

The river is

A frozen place

Held still beneath

The trees’ black lace.

The sky is low.

The wind is gray.

The radiator

Purrs all day.

~ John Updyke, January

Gloomy Winter by Shine

from the album “Sugarcane”

“The English winter—ending in July, To recommence in August…”

~ Lord Byron

“There are two seasons in Scotland: June and Winter.”

~ Billy Connolly

Highland Snow by Andi Butler

from the album “Six Songs”

“Winter is not a season; it’s an occupation.”

~ Sinclair Lewis

Winter Fever by Kyle Carey

from the album “North Star”

Think of winter and think of snows

but in England that’s not how it goes.

Here blizzards are as rare as a placid child,

English winters are wet and mild

and wild with gales and gnawing damp

that dull the days and put a cramp

on life out of doors. So we don’t dash

through crystal drifts but trudge and splash

as the rain and drizzle floods and flows

and dewdrops drip from off our nose.

Then, soaked and raw, we go home quick

… and turn the heating up a click.

~ Phil Widdows, English Winter

January Sky by Charlie Mosbrook

from the album “Something To Believe”

“Winter is nature’s way of saying, ‘Up yours!’.”

~ Robert Byrne

Harbour View Hotel by Duncan McCrone

from the album “Colourblind”

“February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March.”

~ Dr. J.R. Stockton

Storm by Nigel Brown

from the album “Mother Ivey”

See the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

In this show, as well as some of the latest releases from the folkosphere, we focus on heroes with a collection of new songs for the season of remembrance, and also with a very special Story Behind The Song, our exclusive feature which briefs you about an historical event which has been memorialised in song - and this month it's an event that didn't just inspire one song but an entire concept album!

FolkCast is produced and presented by Phil Widdows.

MUSIC FEATURED:

There's A Ghost In Our House by Merry Hell

from the EP "There's A Ghost In Our House"

Bonfires by The Men They Couldn't Hang

from the album "The Defiant"

Mad Tom Of Bedlam by Green Diesel

from the album "Wayfairers All"

Better Be Smart by Rainbow Chasers

from the album "Chimes At Midnight"

No One Naas Us Anymore by The Ree-Vahs!

from the EP "Geordieland"

Crew Of The Damned by Brillig

Single release

Amber Sky by Nigel Brown

from the album “Mother Ivey”

Dave’s Brain by Terry Easton

from the album “Claremont 2:05 P.M.”

Place Above The Clouds by Guy Calhoun

from the album “Somewhere You Can Go”

Elizabeth Spells Death by The Elizabethan Session

from the album “The Elizabethan Session

Where Have All The Flowers Gone? by The Armistice Pals

Single release

The Men Who Marched Away by Blast From The Past

from the album The Men Who Marched Away (Songs Of The Great War)

The Gamekeeper by Show Of Hands

from the album “Centenary: Words and Music of the Great War”

Babba presents “The Story Behind The Song”: Soul Savers by The Cork Jacket Crew

The Green Gowned Lass / Danger Mouse / Dan Breen’s by The Alt

from the album “The Alt”

For full details and links to artists’ websites, see the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

Greetings, and welcome to the FolkCast Halloween Scream for 2014, a special show featuring My Babies…, an original tale of terror about a folk tradition which, for some, has a gruesome intensity.

So, this is not suitable for those of a nervous disposition, or whose imaginations tend to get the better of them when darkness falls, the wind howls, and when the veil between the worlds becomes thinnest.

It’s not something to play to your babies, either. Not yet. Save it until they are old enough to know that what they imagine and what is real are not always the same thing. Not … always.

BUT, if you’re willing to take the risk of a shiver or a shock, please - lock all your doors and windows, turn off all distractions, sit back and be comfortable for the next 20 minutes while I tell you all about My Babies…

+~+

My Babies… is written, presented and produced by Phil Widdows

Intro music taken from: Jack-O-Lantern Waltz by The Similar Trends – from the album ‘Man In The Moon’

-

“Earth/Moon Dance Music”: The Hangman’s Waltz by Daisy Chapman – from the album ‘Shameless Winter’

-

Closing Song: The Pumpkin Song (I Long To Be A Jack-O’-Lantern) by Paul Borgese and the Strawberry Traffic Jam – from the album ‘Songs For Halloween’

See our website: www.folkcast.co.uk

We dip into a stack full of new releases, and Babba goes back to the end of the Middle Ages to show why life in England was no bed of Roses…

Raising Hell by The Men They Couldn’t Hang

from the album “The Defiant”

Santa Ana by The Blue Pig Orchestra

from the album “From The Storm”

Fire Down Below by Hex

from the album “Husk And Bark”

A River Runs Between by The Changing Room

from the EP “A River Runs Between”

Where Eagles Fly by Lee Madison

from the album “Weightless”

Old Fashioned Pound Notes by Christopher James Sheridan

from the EP "Old Fashioned Pound Notes"

What Would William Morris Say? by Reg Meuross

from the album "England Green & England Grey"

Phone Tapping by Eamon Friel

from the EP "Phone Tapping"

The Woolgather by Ange Hardy

from the album "The Lament Of The Black Sheep"

Off To The Market by Kelly Oliver

from the album "This Land"

The Southcliffe Jig by Green Diesel

from the album “Wayfarers All”

Cabbage by Threepenny Bit

from the album “Pantomime Cannon”

Las Ramblas by The Hut People

from the album “Cabinet Of Curiosities”

Johnny Robson by The Willows

from the album “Amidst Fiery Skies”

Babba presents THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG

Tewkesbury Tale by The Legendary Ten Seconds

Being the story of the battle that blew the half-time whistle on the Wars Of The Roses

It Would Not Be A Rose by Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker

from the album “Nothing Can Bring Back The Hour”

I See A Bottle Of Wine by Ivor Game

from the album “Dizzy Spells”

A hand-gathered harvest of music and poetry for the season.

Take a walk with us from September to December, through Halloween and Guy Fawkes’ Night.

Presented and produced by Phil Widdows, featuring readings by Babba and Phil.

Golden Sun by Phil Manzenera

from the album “Vozero”

Silver And Gold by Kim Lowings & The Greenwood

from the album “This Life”

Out Of Season by John Conolly

from the album “Send Us A Postcard”

Small High Whistle From A Bird by Maia

from the album “Maia”

September Road by Jane Thomason

from the album “September Road”

Harvest Moon by Peter Lacey

from the album “Last Leaf”

Summer Fades by Smoke Fairies

from the album “Through Low Light And Trees”

The Man In Green by Show Of Hands

from the album “Lie Of The Land”

Trees Turn To Fire by Jon Budworth

from the album “Trees Turn To Fire”

Autumn Sounds by The Vessels

from the album “The Vessels”

England’s Skies by David Gibb & Elly Lucas

from the album “Up Through The Woods”

Setting Sun by Salt House

from the album “Lay Your Dark Low”

Birdsong by Ninebarrow

from the album “When The Blackthorn Burns”

Autumn Leaves by Feast Of Fiddles

from the album “Still Live”

Autumn Leaves by Deborah Rose

from the album “Soul Be My Soul”

Harvest by Nick Cook

from the album “Mistaken”

October Sky by Taylor Brown Trio

from the album “Notebook”

Soul, Soul by John Kirkpatrick

from the album “Every Mortal Place”

We’ll Be Ghosts by Brooke Bentham

single release

The Ghost On The Moors by Ange Hardy

from the album “Bare Foot Folk”

Penny For The Guy by Danny Carnahan and Robin Petrie with The Missing Pieces

from the album “Cut And Run”

A Cob-Coaling Medley by The Oldham Tinkers

from the album “Best O’ T’ Bunch”

December Snow by The Moody Blues

from the album “December”

For full details and links to artists’ websites, see the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk

It’s our hundredth monthly podcast and in a celebration extravaganza we have special guests, exclusive new music, some of the biggest songs in the folk canon and our unique poetry and history features. All this and more in this month’s edition of … FolkCast!

The Baker’s Daughter by Merry Hell

As yet unreleased - FolkCast exclusive

Tamlin by Mary Jane

from the album “Solstice”

Sister by Luke Jackson

from the album “Fumes And Faith”

Mistaken by Nick Cook

from the album “Mistaken”

The FolkLoreate: Callum And The Fiddle by Dave Alton

…based on a Highland Folktale “Macuisne’s Fiddler”

Featuring excerpts from: Fiddle On The Washboard by The Albion Band; Various tunes by Bruce Molsky; PDC (Pretty Damn Cosmic) by Ric Sanders;

No Man’s Jig / Hanoverian Dance / Three Jolly Sheepskins by Eliza Carthy

Robin Goodfellow by Arnwyn

Hear more Arnwyn music on SoundCloud

The Lads In Their Hundreds by Show Of Hands & Imelda Staunton

from the album “Centenary: Words And Music Of The Great War”

Lift You Up And Let You Fly by Sarah McQuaid

from the album “The Plum Tree And The Rose”

John Barleycorn by Fay Brotherhood

from the album “Whispers in the Boughs”

The Gallows Of Bannadok by Ken Nicol

As yet unreleased - FolkCast exclusive

Babba presents: The Story Behind The Song

Thomas The Rhymer - an ancient tale of prophecy, music and kidnapping by fairy folk…

featuring music and vocals by: Ewan McColl - Steeleye Span - Ross Ainsley - Corrina Hewat

Thomas The Rhymer by Flame Proof Moth

from the album “Live In The Thames, Vol 1”

Matty Groves by Damh The Bard

from the album “Tales From The Crow Man”

For full details and links to artists’ websites, see the ShowNotes at www.folkcast.co.uk