The Mike Harding Show

11 May 2011 19:00 on BBC Radio 2.

Mike Harding presents a special edition of his folk and acoustic programme dedicated to the hugely influential singer and musician Martin Carthy. As he approaches his 70th birthday, Martin joins Mike for the entire programme and talks us through the many and varied stages of his remarkable career. The man who inspired Paul Simon and Bob Dylan takes us back to his early days in skiffle bands and London coffee bars, and re-traces his musical steps through periods with Dave Swarbrick, Steeleye Span, The Watersons, the Albion Country Band, Brass Monkey, Waterson:Carthy and The Imagined Village. Celebrated for his superb, percussive guitar playing and natural flair for arranging traditional songs, Martin Carthy was an important figure at the centre of the 1960s and 1970s folk revival in Britain. His scholarly method of learning songs from detailed source materials, combined with his compelling performances and definitive recordings, made him an inspiration to many on the folk scene and beyond. As husband to Norma Waterson, brother-in-law to Mike Waterson and the late Lal Waterson, and father to Eliza Carthy, he is part of England's "first family of folk", who've never been far from the heart of British folk music since The Watersons began recording in the mid 1960s. Martin joined the band alongside Norma, Mike and Lal in 1972. With Norma and Eliza he formed the successful Waterson:Carthy in the 1990s. Martin Carthy's innovative work with folk-rock pioneers Steeleye Span, folk and brass band Brass Monkey (formed in the early 80s) and multi-cultural fusion project The Imagined Village (formed in 2004) are testament to both his creativity and longevity as an artist. His honours and prizes include an MBE for services to music and three BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including one as recently as 2007 for his revived duo with Dave Swarbrick. As Martin releases a new career retrospective CD and prepares for an all-star birthday concert at London's Southbank Centre, he takes time out to reflect on the key moments of his 50-year career, illustrated by selected musical highlights.

Music played:

1. Brass Monkey — Sovay
Essential Martin Carthy, Topic TSCD770D
2. Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick — Prince Heathen
Essential Martin Carthy, Topic TSCD770D
3. The Imagined Village — John Barleycorn
The Imagined Village, Realworld CDRW147
4. Martin Carthy — Scarborough Fair
Essential Martin Carthy, Topic TSCD770D
5. Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick — Byker Hill
Essential Martin Carthy, Topic TSCD770D
6. Steeleye Span — Cold, Haily, Windy Night
Please To See The King, Shanachie SH 79075
7. The Watersons — The Prickle Holly Bush
Essential Martin Carthy, Topic TSCD770D
8. Brass Monkey — The Maid Of Australia
Flame Of Fire, Topic TSCD550
9. Waterson:Carthy — Rackabello
Essential Martin Carthy, Topic TSCD770D
10. Martin Carthy — Famous Flower Of Serving Men
Essential Martin Carthy, Topic TSCD770D
11. The Imagined Village — My Son John
Empire & Love, ECC ECC 002