Opinions required - new folk radio prog

Subject: Opinions required - new folk radio prog
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 30 May 04 - 06:41 PM

OK - not just folk - but the subject line is restricted in length!

I am pitching an idea to a local radio community radio station (with internet broadcast) and would appreciate some feedback to support the "bid".

The idea is for a programme dedicated to British-based folk/roots/acoustic/singer-songwriter material.

While I have nothing against non-British music - most of my collection and most of my radio listening is non-British music (Gillian Welch, Woody Mann etc) - it is apparent that with so much British radio airtime being given to USA produced folk/roots/acoustic music very little is left for the superb range of home grown talent.

It is great to see artists like Angie Palmer getting some airplay at last, but it is also disapointing to see so many others being overlooked. I don't blame the existing programmes who are supportive of these genres (Mike Harding, Bob Harris etc) they have to reflect a broad range of interests, but I think there is a gap for a programme focused on home grown talent.

What do you think? Would you listen to such a show? Does something already exist which I don't know about? Do you listen to internet radio at all?

Any comments would be really useful, and will help to focus and support the "pitch".

All the best
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Subject: RE: Opinions required - new folk radio prog
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 May 04 - 06:53 PM

sounds a pretty cool idea to me. the playlists of harding, harris and co are pretty unadventurous. witness the jack hudson thread. As stunningly talented man - probably the most immediately beautiful voice on the folk scene, great guitar picker and song writer and totally and scandalously neglected by the festival organisers and needless to say the folk establishment - so ably represented by the beeb in its various forms local and national, and folk roots mag. if we are to have a democracy rather than the endlessly repeated voices of self interest we need more shops in the market place.
good luck with your venture!

Subject: RE: Opinions required - new folk radio prog
From: GUEST,Fieldvole
Date: 30 May 04 - 08:15 PM

Hi Cittern

I wouldn't use the internet radio side of things, but I would certainly listen to a radio program of this type (assuming I could
receive it in my area).

I do think that something else is needed and hope you succeed with
your venture.

Best of luck

Cheers

Fieldvole

Subject: RE: Opinions required - new folk radio prog
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 31 May 04 - 03:14 AM

Well we all know that the English acoustic scene has consistently undersold itself. The reasons are complex and debatable.

However what is undeniable is that those of us who have lasted the course - that is spent the last forty years or so hoping that the situation would somehow right itself - we have witnessed collectively the best of English musical talent ignored and sidelined in obscurity. Now after a lifetime of neglect, many are dying in obascurity in the way that American blues legends did - and we put that down to racism in the 1960's.

That is to say the English public never got to hear the best songs, the funniest comedians, the most gifted musicians. It is not that they were rejected - they just simply never had a chance - they never even were offered a platform.

When I was a kid there was a sociology textbook called the The Rise of the Meritocracy which offered a formula

Ability x Effort = Achievement

For English musicians , this has never been true. We are still somehow lumbered with a coterie of of under achievers who couldn't devise two minutes of memorable music if their lives depended on it. They hoover up the arts council grants, the top festival bookings, their record companies make sure they get all the column inches in our folk magazines.

If you can do anything to redress the balance with a radio station, please do.

Roll on the meritocracy.

Subject: RE: Opinions required - new folk radio prog
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 31 May 04 - 06:59 AM

I can only listen via the internet, so I would be happy to tune iun that way.

I think it would also be great to push those artists who do not get any air time on the Beeb.

Subject: RE: Opinions required - new folk radio prog
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 31 May 04 - 11:52 AM

Having helped start a radio show in the middle of the USA, all I can say is, "Full speed ahead!" Go for it. In my case, we play all sorts of music. Some of it is American, some is Australian, some is Irish, some English, and some is from who knows where! I and two friends sit down for an hour and enjoy the selections each of us have brought to the table. We talk briefly between songs and comment of the songs. We are on the net on Saturday evenings at 7PM Central Daylight Savings Time, and can be found at www.yourfolkconnection.org.
We are starting our 9th year.

Subject: RE: Opinions required - new folk radio prog
From: GUEST,Al
Date: 31 May 04 - 03:49 PM

I just got back from broadcasting my LPFM radio show in California when I saw this thread. Please, go for it. Community radio stations are wonderful, and may represent the last remaining non-corporate venue for unvarnished music and opinion programs. And, most community stations tend toward blues and rock, so your focus on folk would help round out the programming. I personally never listen to internet radio. I've never been able to get the darn thing to work. Al

Subject: RE: Opinions required - new folk radio prog
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 May 04 - 04:13 PM

Mike Harding , Bob Hariss , Andy Kershaw and even Radio Three gives English music the odd bit of airplay but you have to listen to a lot of NON folkie to get the odd bits . A program of ALL brit Folk would definately not be amiss in this corner . Best of Luck .

Subject: RE: Opinions required - new folk radio prog
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 07:16 AM

Thanks for the feedback. All useful comments to back up the pitch.

I'm having a chat with someone from the station in the next week or so - hopefully will have an announcement sometime later in the year!

All the best
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Subject: RE: Opinions required - new folk radio prog
From: GUEST,JOHN FROM ELSIE`S BAND
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 07:05 AM

When we were a lot younger the BBC radio programmes were a great deal more important to the listening public as t.v. in the UK, having started in the 1930`s, was still in its early development. Programmes such as "Family Favourites", "Forces Favourites", "Variety Band Box" and others provided the widest choice of popular music covering every sort within that genre from dedicated childrens songs to the most up to date big band jazz, from ballards through country western to traditional folk music. Children were given the opportunity to hear and so come to appreciate this full range of music which would reflect on the knowledge of music in later life. I feel some sort of regime would not go amiss nowadays.