Ali O'Brien's
Sounds of Folk
Now on Radio Britfolk
Each programme runs for a week from the date shown,
after which the archive is available only to Radio Britfolk subscribers.
Ali O'Brien's 'Sounds of Folk', was, until April 2006, a weekly feature on BBC GMR (now BBC Radio Manchester). The programme ran for three years, and featured interviews and music from local, national and international folk performers. Ali's team included Laura Hockenhull, Jenny McCormick and producer Bernard Cromarty, with a brief appearance by James Percival. The programme was usually broadcast live from BBC GMR Studio 3, and most of the guests chose to perform live on air. Occasionally we pre-recorded interviews 'on location', and we now use the same equipment to produce the Radio Britfolk programmes in our new studio - in Bernard's attic... Rawson Studios!!
Some of our guests joined us via a telephone link, and we have the technology to continue this - Uiscedwr (Meltham, near Huddersfield) and Jennifer Cutting (Washington D.C.!) have already recorded interviews for Sounds of Folk! In fact, here are the first few seconds of the very first interview (not actually used in the programme)... Ali sounds amazed that it actually worked first time!
Ali is Director of Saddleworth Folk Festival (website), and has been involved in folk since around 1970. For a time she was the organiser of the successful Cross Keys Folk Club at Uppermill.
Bernard is involved with the running of the Railway folk club, Heatley, the Open Door folk club in Werneth, Oldham, Songs in the Snug at the Railway, Heatley, and is Chief Musician with the Earl of Stamford Morris.
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This edition of Sounds of Folk goes all festive!
Our Christmas and New Year Album is St. Agnes' Fountain and Acoustic Carols for Christmas.
Other artistes featured in programme 15:|
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In our New Year edition of Sounds of Folk we continue with the festivities!
Our Christmas and New Year Album is St. Agnes' Fountain and Acoustic Carols for Christmas.
Other artistes featured in programme 16:|
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This edition of the programme introduces Ali and Bernard, and features artistes performing at Festival of the Peak in Derbyshire over the weekend of 9th – 11th June – website: Festival of the Peak, and tracks from our 'CD of the Month' for May – Eric Bogle's 'At This Stage'.
Other artistes featured in programme 1:
Programme two showcases some of the artists who'll be appearing at the Four Fools Folk Festival in Lancashire over the weekend of June 23rd – 25th (website www.four-fools.co.uk).
Our 'Album of the Month' for May: Eric Bogle – 'At This Stage'
Other artistes featured in programme 2:A retrospective look at The Alison Arms Free Festival (over the weekend of 9th – 11th June) and Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival (over the weekend of 16th – 18th June) is the subject of our third 'Sounds of Folk'.
Okay, the festivals have already happened, but you can listen to what you missed, and make sure you don't miss out in 2007!
Our 'Album of the Month' is Kerfuffle's new album – 'Links'
Other artistes featured in programme 3:The Railway Folk Club's Lymm Festival guest list (over the week 30th June – 6th July) is featured in our fourth 'Sounds of Folk'.
The festival starts in the middle of the week that our programme is 'live', so you can have an idea of what is coming (or you have just missed!).
Our 'Album of the Month' is Kerfuffle's new album – 'Links'
Other artistes featured in programme 4:Saddleworth Festival is featured in 'Sounds of Folk' Programme 5, and runs over the last weekend in July this year - Friday 28th – Sunday 30th.
Our 'Album of the Month' for July is Pete Castle's album The Outlandish Knight.
We also feature our first guests, Anna Esslemont and Cormac Byrne of Uiscedwr, who joined us by telephone from Meltham (near Huddersfield).
Other artistes featured in programme 5:
Unfortunately, Ali is unwell, and has had a couple of trips to hospital. We all wish her a speedy recovery.
Bernard stepped in as 'deputy' at the last minute to present this edition of Sounds of Folk, and will also present Programme 7. Ali may recover sufficiently for a brief contribution to Programme 8, but we'll have to wait and see...
Our 'Album of the Month' for July is Pete Castle's album The Outlandish Knight.
We also feature our second guest, Jennifer Cutting, who joined us by telephone from Washington DC! Ali recorded this interview just before she was taken ill.
Make sure you don't miss our taster of some of the acts appearing at Sidmouth this year...!
Other artistes featured in programme 6:
Ali is recovering from quite a serious emergency operation, so Bernard is once again in the driving seat.
Our 'Album of the Month' for August is Uiscedwr's album Circle.
We should have featured an interview with Dom Collins (y'know, 'im from Ancoats!), but we'll wait until Ali is feeling fighting fit before we re-schedule. However, we are including a song from Dom's 'Live at the DSS' album! Oh, that's Droylsden Sports and Social!
Make sure you don't miss our taster of some of the acts appearing at Whitby this year...!
Other artistes featured in programme 7:
Welcome back, Ali! Well, almost - this edition of Sounds of Folk was recorded in Ali's living room, as she was unfit to travel to the studio.
Our 'Album of the Month' for August is Uiscedwr's album Circle.
Make sure you don't miss our taster of some of the acts appearing at Fylde this year...!
Other artistes featured in programme 8:
Ali's well and truly back in the driving seat, although not yet fully recovered from her surgery.
Our 'Album of the Month' for September is Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher with Fit for Reclining.
Make sure you don't miss our taster of some of the acts appearing at Otley this year...!
Other artistes featured in programme 9:
Ali's well and truly back in the driving seat, and feeling better every day! Thanks to everyone who has been sending cards and flowers - but so far, no Jamiesons!!
Our 'Album of the Month' for September is Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher with Fit for Reclining.
Other artistes featured in programme 10:
Ali is still on the road to recovery, but we're not taking any chances and recorded this edition of Sounds of Folk in her house again! The programme showcases two Manchester festivals, the Open Door Folk Club Extravaganza 11 and Swinton Folk Day.
Our 'Album of the Month' for September is Show of Hands with Witness.
Other artistes featured in programme 11:
Another helping of the best in Folk - some new, some old.
Our 'Album of the Month' for October is Show of Hands and Witness.
Other artistes featured in programme 12:
In this edition of Sounds of Folk we showcase artistes appearing at Bedworth Festival
Our 'Album of the Month' for November is John Wright and The Gypsy Life.
Other artistes featured in programme 13:
In this edition of Sounds of Folk we showcase artistes appearing at Haddenham Festival
Our 'Album of the Month' for November is John Wright and The Gypsy Life.
Other artistes featured in programme 14:
This edition of Sounds of Folk goes all festive!
Our Christmas and New Year Album is St. Agnes' Fountain and Acoustic Carols for Christmas.
Other artistes featured in programme 15:
In our New Year edition of Sounds of Folk we continue with the festivities!
Our Christmas and New Year Album is St. Agnes' Fountain and Acoustic Carols for Christmas.
Other artistes featured in programme 16:
Lots of music for all tastes - let us know if we haven't played your favourites yet!
Our Album of the Month for January is the 3 CD compilation from Fellside, celebrating 30 years in the business – 'Landmarks'.
Other artistes featured in programme 17:
Lots of music for all tastes - let us know if we haven't played your favourites yet!
Our Album of the Month for January is the 3 CD compilation from Fellside, celebrating 30 years in the business – 'Landmarks'.
Other artistes featured in programme 18: