Frank Turner's Tales From No Man's Land

More stories from our team... Omid tells his story to Abi. Abi tells Omid’s story to Sean, then Sean to Kai, Kai to Sikisa and Sikisa to Helen… each time with hilarious misrememberings, improvisations, stumbles, fumbles and laughs. Six comedians have a funny story to tell. Can they pass the story along the chain without completely twisting the tale? But this isn’t like the game you play at school where you only whisper short sentences. Each episode is a complete, beautifully written story, with each retelling getting funnier (and weirder!) as it passes on. And boy, does season one of Please Tell Me A Story feature an all star comedy cast: Omid Djalili, Abi Clarke, Seán Burke, Kai Samra, Sikisa, and Helen Bauer. Join them as the story gets weird… 

A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts

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This episode is about a woman whose love of music was so powerful that she uprooted her life for it. Pannonica Rothschild, or 'Nica' became the black sheep of her famous banking family after she was consumed by a newfound passion for bebop. She ditched her family, relocated from France to New York, and spent the rest of her life as a jazz patroness; befriending many prominent jazz musicians such as Thelonius Monk and Charlie Parker. She was affectionately known as ‘The Jazz Baroness’.

Joining Frank to discuss Nica's legacy is broadcaster and singer Jumoké Fashola.

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Frank meets with record producer Catherine J Marks at Assault and Battery studios in North-West London where he recorded his album No Man's Land. The pair breakdown the recording process behind the song Silent Key and the story of the woman who inspired it; astronaut and teacher Christa McAuliffe, who was killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster.

You can buy and stream Frank's album No Man's Land here

This episode was produced by Hayley Clarke and the executive producer was Peggy Sutton. There was additional production from Paul Smith, Steve Ackerman, Josh Gibbs and Charlie Caplowe. Tales from No Man’s Land is produced by Frank Turner, Xtra Mile Recordings and Somethin’ Else.

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Frank is joined by poet, playwright and translator Sasha Dugdale to discuss the woman behind the song I Believed You, William Blake. Catherine Blake was the wife of the great visionary, painter and poet, who played a crucial role in his life. As well as running the household and keeping him (relatively) sane, she took an active role in his art; assisting with painting, printing and engraving. During his lifetime William Blake enjoyed very little success. It was Catherine who, after his death, began the process of his public rehabilitation and rise to fame. It’s perhaps down to her that we know about him at all.

This episode features an extract from Sasha Dugdale's book Joy. Published by Carcanet Press, it received the 2016 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem.

You can buy and stream Frank's album No Man's Land here.

This episode was produced by Hayley Clarke and the executive producer was Peggy Sutton. There was additional production from Paul Smith, Steve Ackerman, Josh Gibbs and Charlie Caplowe. Tales from No Man’s Land is produced by Frank Turner, Xtra Mile Recordings and Somethin’ Else.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kassiani is one of only two women to have been written about from the Byzantine era, which is a somewhat forgotten about period in history. She is most famously known for quipping at the Emperor Theophilos at a bridal show before going on to become an abbess, poet and hymnographer, whose songs are still sung in Greek Orthodox Churches today. Despite being from a distant time, her character shines through in her work. Her quick-witted humour and somewhat rebellious one liners are what brought her to Frank's attention including the phrase "I hate silence, when it is time to speak". Frank recruits the help of self-professed ‘Byzantinist’ and Professor Liz James from the University of Sussex to tell the story behind the song The Hymn of Kassiani.

You can pre-order Frank's album No Man's Land here

This episode was produced by Hayley Clarke and the executive producer was Peggy Sutton. There was additional production from Paul Smith, Steve Ackerman, Josh Gibbs and Charlie Caplowe. Tales from No Man’s Land is produced by Frank Turner, Xtra Mile Recordings and Somethin’ Else.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.