Our Prague New Year SpecialOver the festive period I travelled to Prague, with mini-disk in hand, this weeks podcast is an audio diary of that holiday, with recordings of folk - blues and gypsy performers on Charles Bridge,church recitals, our mystery ghostwalk and other interesting facts on the history of this beautiful town. Music from Czech Republic: Lindsay D'Arcy - Life Sized Pan Svahilski - Balaton Poitin - Toutoring Two Mighty Men - Year Poetry: Nic Treadwell - Christmas In Prague

Music from: Ryan Smith - All I Want Jimmie Bratcher - Midnight Clear Moses - Breath Of Bells Twinmaker - I Hate ChristmasRoadside Attractions - What Santa Wants Spoken Word: Elvis McGonagall - Driving Over A Cliff At Christmas Nic Treadwell The Parsons At Christmas (Part Two)(bed music on Parsons by Julie Melton - Silent Night / Doug Boldt - Everyday Has It's Key aka The Twelve Days Of Christmas Steve Clark - I Want My Star Mags Scorey - The Bethlehem Times Reporter Nic Treadwell - Turning On Turner

Music from:Tom Shad - A Podcast Christmas Theme The Hot Rods - Dear Santa Claus Cult Of Wedge - Exploiting Christmas Alison Crowe - In The Bleak Midwinter Rag And Bone - Maria Daines Lord Weatherby - Santa Claus Is Freaking Me Out Spoken Word: Elvis McGonagall - Christmas In The Country No.1 & No.2 Nic Treadwell - The Parsons At Christmas (Part One)(bed music used on Parsons by Julie Melton - Silent Night / Doug Boldt - Deck The Halls With We Wish You A Merry Xmas Mags Scorey - Ian The Innkeeper

Music from: Michelle Hotaling - Underestimate Triplanetary - Every Monkey Is A Star Listen Wih Sarah - Windmill Eric Saitz - Let Me Love You Samba Mapangala & Orc Virunga - Siku Ya Mwisho Alice Peacock - Only A Memory Andy Doonan - What I Once Had Poetry from: Ann Wilson - The Designer , The Resting Bench , Smoking and The Sanctuary. More information on Ann's collaboration with band Clutter @ Earth Monkey Productions

Music from: Mel Brown & The Homewreckers - Take Your Time Carol Douglas / Maria Daines - Va Rog Va Rog John Ramono - Dah Dah Dah Nick Saunders - Resonance Sir Donald Tovey - The Bride Of Dionysus Screaming Mimi - Gumshoe Poetry from: Beowulf "Wulfie" Mayfield - Chemical Warfare, Beware Of The Bear, Shopping List For A Bad Day & Shopping List For A Really Bad Day. Check out Beowulf's Podcast

Music from: Au Revoir Simone - Through The Backyards The Mauves - Thumbs Up And Go P.A.I.N. - A-Z Nightinglaes - UK Randy Mom Epidemic James Starbuck - House Cult Of Wedge - Arts Song Dogmixer - Soul Brain Poetry from: AYM performs Up North and Prehistoric Blues

Mentioned in the Podcast: Wrote Under: Sunday Express

Special Guest Songwriter Aaron Yorke Aaron is a deeply gifted songwriter who wears his heart on his sleeve. Very influenced by artists like David Gray and Tom Baxter, his latest album "Taking The Time To Heal" is a mature collection of songs about the human condition. Aaron has the rare ability to share the intimate moments of his life with his audience, through this sharing experience he leads you through some difficult soul searching songs. The process is a rewarding experience for the listener as you come away with a feeling of kinship, that here is someone here who can put into words what you are feeling, who can express a certain moment in your life through his music. In our conversation at the Midlands Arts Centre on the occasion of his album release, we talk about songwriting, promotion, autism and home recording. Plus from gig Aaron performs When A Relationship Ends and Have You Felt Beautiful Lately. Aaron also has a myspace page.

Music from: Freddie Stevenson - Chinese Mr D & The Honky Tonks - Coming Or Going Kelly Lee Evans - Let's Call A Truce Tonight Poetry from Niall O'Sullivan - Hard Is The Journey & Broccoli

Music from: Dawn Crusade - Dufus Petunia - Shauna Burns Magic Lantern - Women And Children Taking The Time To Heal - Aaron Yorke One On The Floor - Syngularity feat Thevi Olin The Dusty Old Freight Train - Stephen Cohen Poetry from Cynthia French performs Chocolate , Pocket Rocket

Special Studio Guest Paul Murpy

This weeks podcast is given over entirely to my special guest Paul Murphy, a singer and songwriter who has been writing and performing over the past four decades. He was born in Belfast and came to England in 1966 as a 16 year-old-with just a guitar and a handful of songs.

From the beginning he was determined to write songs that had integrity and drew on real experience. During those formative early years on the road he hung out with the likes of Lemmy from Motorhead and Van Morrison.

Paul has called Birmingham home for over 30 years and has been a vocal supporter of songwriting and live music in his adopted city. In 1996 he established SongwritersCafe, which for several years provided a valuable showcase for up and coming artists as well as featuring turns from more established acts such as Ocean Colour Scene who invited Paul to support them on an Irish tour.

Until recently Paul has focused almost exclusively on live, intimate performances that allow for his huge capacity for spontaneity. 'On the spot' songs have long been a hallmark of his gigs. So also is spoken word, poetry or talking blues. He says: "The thing with live performance is that like theatre it's in the moment, unique, unchangeable and for a procrastinator like me that is huge liberation."

In this interview Paul talks about his full and varied career in music, from his beginnings in Ireland, coming to England in 66, performing at the Marquee Club, developing his songwriting / poetry skills, setting up the now famous Songwriters Cafe in Birmingham to his present live work, including raucous guest slots with gypsy and klezmer influenced 14 piece band The Destroyers. Paul has recently been working on recording four decades worth of original songs. Here he performs new songs College Square & Hometown, as well as spoken pieces Shoplifters Talking Blues & Dark Road.

You can find more information about Paul at http://www.myspace.com/paulmurphysings & at C21Vox You can also view a video of Paul performing with the Destroyers on Halloween at Google Video

Another excellent batch of songs and poetry. From the intimate evocative nay mystical sounds of Marissa Nadler to the world beats of Alain Nkossi Konda and the positive vibes of poetry from Celestial Dancer. All this plus one of my teenage musical heros Howard Jones who has just made a song available on the podsafe music network...Music from: Alice Peacock - Different From The Rest Marybeth D'Amico - Leaving Alain Nkossi Konda - Mokili Yikes McGee - Coup D'etat Marissa Nadler - Under An Old Umbrella Howard Jones - Building Your Own Future Poetry from: Celestial Dancer with Premonition & Going Home