Last year, Reginald D Hunter returned home as the rather unlikely guide to the music of the southern American states. He led a three part series, Songs of the South, which was an equally unlikely success.

Now he has completed the 2,000 mile trip along the US border with Mexico in Songs of the Border. It should have been shown at 9pm on BBC2 last night, but was volleyed out of court by the men's doubles from Wimbledon. Second service was planned for Friday night at 00.15, but look out for re-arranged times.

The BBC says;

Against the backdrop of President Trump's much-trumpeted wall, Reginald D Hunter takes a 2,000-mile road trip along the US-Mexico border to explore how romance and reality play out musically where third-world Mexico meets first-world USA on this broken road to the American dream.

Classic American pop and country portray Mexico as a land of escape and romance, but also of danger - think of Marty Robbins's El Paso, The Drifters' Mexican Divorce or Ry Cooder's Across the Borderline. Against this evocative western soundtrack, Hunter explores the border music as it is today, much of it created by musicians drawn from the 36 million Mexican-Americans who are US citizens.

Robin Hood tales of Mexican cartels, South American dance, Tex-Mex accordion, Mexican-American rap, border fence sound art and country music of both Mexican and American flavours shed fascinating insight into the topical issues of immigration, drug smuggling and Mexican-American identity, and throw the western songwriter's dream of Mexico as a place of romance, fun and escape into sharp relief.

Reg's natural empathy and gentle humanity guides on this cinematic journey, featuring Lyle Lovett, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Frontera Bugalu, Calexico, Carrie Rodriguez, Asleep at the Wheel, Los Texmaniacs, Glenn Weyant, Eva Ybarra and Cecy B.

The Pink 'Un says; *****

Anyone allergic to accordions is urged to avoid Songs of the Border. For everyone else it's a tuneful guide to the unique sounds emanating from the contested land between Mexico and the US. On a 2,000-mile road trip, Hunter speaks to musicians and canvasses opinion about the much-Trumpeted wall.

Texan Lyle Lovett, who sings like a man with a nice voice suffering from constipation, jolts him with his views. "People don't always answer as you would," says Hunter. [He] meets Los Tucanes de Tijuana, "Mexico's Rolling Stones", - if you can imagine Mick et al with moustaches and big black hats. And an accordion. SF

I can't wait!