The Brisk Lad is a 19th Century Dorset song of defiance in the face of poverty. Henry Parker transports it to the bleak moors of his native West Yorkshire in spectacular folk-rock style.

We talk about the song's origins and significance, and about the influence that the landscape and the seasons have on his own song writing. Along the way we discuss his journey from heavy metal to folk, the golden age of folk-rock, and Henry shares the recipe for a balm to soothe all your ailments - the 10th Century "Nine Herbs Charm".

Music
All the music in this episode comes from Henry Parker's second album, Lammas Fair, released on 5th November 2021. Alongside The Brisk Lad, the episode features extracts from Blackthorn, Lammas Fair, Return to the Sky, Travelling for a Living, and Nine Herbs Charm.

The album is available on Bandcamp  and you can find out more about Henry's music, including tour dates, on his website https://henryparkermusic.co.uk/