Old Time Music on BBC 4

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: GUEST,Banjo Ray
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 07:13 PM

Norah Jones definitely ain't folk - and I don't think she's American either or have I got that wrong?
I only saw one bit of folk on the programme - the Carolina Chocolate Drops.
Ray

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 04:45 PM

(I've just sent a note to Joe suggesting this thread and the BBC4 Folk America series thread be combined. When I started the other I first did a filter search for "Folk America" and missed this one... they don't overlap much in chronology of posts, yet.)

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: BB
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 02:22 PM

That 'Later... Folk America' seemed to me to contain very little that was recognisable as 'folk' even in its widest sense. It must have been put together by the same people who worked on Folk Britannia!

Barbara

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Rain Dog
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 04:24 AM

Just a reminder about the programs which will be on BBC4 tonight

You can check the website for details of when they will be repeated


19:30–20:00 Transatlantic Sessions
Series 1, Episode 3
3/6. Featuring Karen Matheson, Mary Black, Emmylou Harris, Rufus Wainwright and Davy Spillane. (R)

20:00–21:00 BBC Four Sessions Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen sings songs made famous by Pete Seeger in the 50s. (R)

21:00–22:00 Folk America
This Land is Your Land 2/3.
The 1930s saw folk redefined as the voice of protest under the aegis of Woody Guthrie.

22:00–23:00 Later... Folk America
Includes Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Norah Jones, Odetta and Emmylou Harris.

23:00–00:10 Arena
Woody Guthrie
Documentary on the life of Woody Guthrie, the travelling folk songwriter and singer.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 11:40 AM

nteresting and inormative???
This keyboard is missing out letters!
It should have read "interesting and informative".
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 11:38 AM

I enjoyed the documentary, which I found nteresting and inormative, putting into a social/historical and geographical perspective varous performers I am aware of from old recording. We recorded it via thBB timing on the digibox, but as is too often the case, the BEEB ran their programmes nowhere near their advertised timings, so it cut off the very end of the documentary and didn't start recording again until some time in the adverts. Why do the non-commercial BBC seem to have longer advert breaks between programmes than the commercial stations? Particularly annoying when the advert is about two minutes long and for the programme which is just about to start, so it starts minutes late and your recording misses the last two minutes...
As for the concert, I didn't think much of it. The "old time" content wasn't a patch on the quality of the performers we see at the Gainsborough Old Time festival.
Will be watching the next installments on Friday.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 08:26 AM

JFT record. Programme 3 of Folk America will be broadcast a week on Friday. I haven't got the Radio Times to hand but there's a programme on 60s protest singers on the same night, which may or may not be worth watching. The one to watch out for though is a programme of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee in concert. New York, I think.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 03:55 PM

Thanks for the tip. Not having BBC4 it was good to be able to watch the whole programme on lne. The quality of this programme was far better than I was expecting the people involved obviously knew who to consult. Was it Tony Russell ? Whoever it was the BBC are to be congratulated on a great job.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Rain Dog
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 07:36 AM

I enjoyed the Folk America and Bussard documentaries

The BBC have a Folk America site with some extra video.

I think that you will only be able to see the video if you are in the UK

Folk America

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 09:52 AM

historic programmes were far more interesting IMHO. SeaSick Steve on acoustic guitar was better than I hoped but the three-string electric and the rest of the ensemble - I didn't manage two tunes.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: GUEST,Harry.
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 07:34 AM

C W Stoneking...

A brillliant nights entertainment!

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: wyrdolafr
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 06:21 AM

Saw the repeat of this last night and I'm looking forward to the next episode.

Whilst it's unlikely, it would good if this was released in DVD format together with Folk Britannia mini-series. I know the latter wasn't that popular with some on here, but I thought it was interesting and entertaining.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: greg stephens
Date: 25 Jan 09 - 03:00 PM

The boys and girls on the concert programme seemed a bit too clean for the music, with the exception of the rather fun Australian voodoo boy, who was alarming in an excellent way.I cxan't remember his name, CW something.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: oombanjo
Date: 25 Jan 09 - 02:57 PM

It was a great night of tv and a good Ltr of wine.cheers oombanjo

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Will Fly
Date: 25 Jan 09 - 07:34 AM

Th one who kept his bodily fluids to himself...

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 25 Jan 09 - 05:05 AM

Just to confirm, episode 2 of Folk America will be broadcast this coming Friday 30th Jan. Also scheduled for the same evening is a documentary on Woody Guthrie. If it's the same one that Arena showed about 30 years ago, it will be very well worth watching.

BTW., Cigar smoking Joe Bussard. Was anyone else struck by his resemblance to Sterling Hayden in the part of General Jack D Ripper in the film Doctor Strangelove?

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 05:28 PM

Wasn't it good? I loved it.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 11:42 AM

The Library of Congress archive, plus Sharp's efforts etc., will probably be covered in the next episode.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 11:02 AM

I heartily agree with all the above but I am a little surprised there was no mention of the archiving of the folk music in the U.S. by Cecil Sharp, or did i miss it?

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Will Fly
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 10:53 AM

It was great to see Joe playing air guitar, air double bass, air clarinet, air cornet, etc. - a real enthusiast! (Just watched the recording made last night..).

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 10:49 AM

Re Joe Bussard and his collection. A very large amount of his collection has sort of been archived. Where do you think all those reliable companies that issue amazing good quality re-issue CD's get their "originals"? Joe is the source for a very large number.

An amazing guy to whom we all owe a very large apreciation.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 06:50 AM

What a cracking pair of programmes; the Folk America and Desperate Man Blues docs of course. I have the Seasick Steve programmes saved and will likewise save my judgement until I've watched them.

Anyway, Folk America must be about the best music documentary I've ever seen. I don't buy their thesis, that the American folk revival had its roots in the race/country records business. But otherwise truly excellent.

I wondered about the cigar as well. Not just the fact that it might burn Joe's basement down, but the fact that swirling clouds of smoke will get drawn, vortex like, onto those precious shellac grooves.

As it happens, the previous night I'd had a pretty nasty run in with some punter who doesn't like the fact that I've been recording a local jazz band for posterity - with the band's permission of course. I know. What the hell's it got to do with him? So it was nice to remember that there are people like Joe Bussard who've spent their lives saving the music that we all love.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: greg stephens
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 06:49 AM

I think Joe should be allowed to smoke in his own archive! What a bloke. Terrific programme.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Banjiman
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 06:33 AM

Excellent evenings entertainment.... not often I sit in front of the TV from 7.30 until midnight. Great Blues and Old Time.... I learned a thing or two as well.

Can't imagine any other TV station being able to put something like this on. Not often you feel like your licence fee is being well spent.

More Please.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: NormanD
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 05:21 AM

Joe Brussard - what a guy!

Shame there was no mention of his record label Fonotone, which issues (does it still?) new recordings of old-time music on 78rpm. The box set compilation (on CD, despite what Joe thinks of that format) is essential listening. But maybe that's another programme?

One comment about his massive archive - please don't smoke in there, Joe! Now, I'm not an anti-smoker, but I'm mindful of a misplaced spark or a smouldering cigar butt causing a national tragedy.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 05:14 AM

That Joe Bussard seems like a national treasure. I hope there's arrangements for his collection to be archived safely (with appropriate access!)when he joins the great session in the sky.

Amazing how many of the names he mentioned I recognised - and I'm not a specialist. Also how carefully NLCR must have studied to get the sound they did.

Great stuff.
Paws

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: BB
Date: 24 Jan 09 - 04:31 AM

I agree with the comments about the programmes - some excellent stuff on there, and people I've not come across before.

Pity the Beeb couldn't do as good a programme on British folk music - this seemed to take a completely different attitude towards it.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 07:19 PM

WooHoo! I recognised two of the players in the Barbican program - I jammed with them at Augusta Heritage last August. Chance McCoy, the first fiddler on - and Joe Bass, the guy who plays bass with the with the Wiyos. Both terrific musicians. It's great to see so many young Americans playing some terrific Old Time - it's alive and kicking.
Ray

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: DMcG
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 06:05 PM

I watched the 'American Folk' and the following programme of American Folk recorded at the Barbican. Much of the BBC4 material is repeated: be certain to catch both these excellent programmes if you missed them.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Will Fly
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 05:03 PM

Just watched the American Folk programme - some great stuff being played and talked about. Sober commentary and thoughtful script.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: G-Force
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 11:47 AM

I think the Transatlantic Sessions series currently being repeated is the second (of three) from, guessing, mid-1990's?

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Les from Hull
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 11:40 AM

hup!

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Rain Dog
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 09:04 AM

Just Bumping this thread up the list

BBC4 TV tonight 23.1.09

19:30–20:00 Transatlantic Sessions
Series 1, Episode 2
2/6. Featuring country singers, musicians and songwriters from Scotland, Ireland and America. (R)

20:00–20:30 Seasick Steve: Bringing it All Back Home
Bluesman Seasick Steve takes a trip back to his old stomping grounds in the Deep South.

20:30–21:00 Reading and Leeds Festival
2008, 23/01/2009
Seasick Steve and his band bring their brand of delta blues to the Reading festival.

21:00–22:00 Folk America
Birth of a Nation
1/3. In the 1920s, the likes of the Carter Family ushered in a golden age of folk music. 22:00–23:00 Folk America at the Barbican: Hollerers, Stompers and Old-Time Ramblers
With Seasick Steve, The Wiyos, Cedric Watson and Bijoux Creole, CW Stoneking, Diana Jones.

23:00–23:55 Desperate Man Blues
The story of a pioneer in the preservation of 78rpm records and American roots music.

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 12:08 PM

Excellent. I'll do the same as Greg.
Ray

Subject: RE: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: greg stephens
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 11:55 AM

This looks fantastic. Thanks for alerting us. I have booked a night in.

Subject: Old Time Music on BBC 4
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 11:25 AM

I've just tried posting a message on this subject and it doesn't appear to have landed. My apologies if it turns up subsequently.

Anyway, next Friday, Jan 23rd, BBC 4 tv are running a night of programmes devoted to American folk/old time music. Aficianados of the latter wil particularly want to catch:-

Folk America. Part one of a new three part series. The first episode deals with the race and old time records industry of the 1920s, and features Dock Boggs, Dave Macon and Mississippi John Hurt.

Desperate Man Blues. This is the award winning 2003 documentary on blues and old time record collector, Joe Bussard.