The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,Sorry - last guest was me!
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 08:29 AM

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 09:27 AM

It maybe me but I had the distict feeling from Mick & Lesters atitued that they may not want to continue with folkwaves. such a difference from James Mcefree on radio Leicester Wdnesday night of complete devastation of the demise of his show, Mick and Lester seemed very upbeat that it was fiishing. Just my observation !!!!!

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Dave Higham
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 10:12 AM

I haven't had the time this week to "listen again" to Folkwaves until today. What a blow. Until I got broadband 4 or 5 years ago I'd been totally out of touch with the UK folk scene since I moved to France in 1987. Folkwaves put me back in touch and I've listened almost every week since. Now it's being taken from me. Sickening. Yes, there are a few other local radio folk shows, but they are only very pale imitations (and one or two are dire). First Archie Fisher... now this.

It's true that Mick and Lester did sound very upbeat on Monday night, but I think they probably decided that that was the only way to go out, (it was their last live show) and not to let the bastards grind them down.

If you happen to read this, Mick and Lester, I'd just like to thank you for the pleasure your show has given me in the few years I've been able to listen.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 11:27 AM

Mick and Lester do read Mudcat. Thye've given me a lot of pleasure over the past few years and I shall miss them very much.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 09:10 AM

Hopefully this Friday's edition of Nottingham Post's specialist music columns dealing with Folk and Jazz will present a united front regarding the "Folkwaves" and "Jazz Incorporated" situation.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 01:12 AM

Reminder of the demo at Radio Derby, tonight 1900 ish (wrap up warm!)
The Facebook thread is now over 1300 people strong. Well worth looking at, lots of interesting viewpoints (not just rants either) and 2 interviews that Dave Eyre (Folkiedave here) did with me and Mick Peat last week on his Radio show.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: DG&D Dave
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 05:53 AM

I shall be there tonight.
Is it a live broadcast? I recall that one of the last two would be pre-recorded.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Gillie
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 06:03 AM

Cetainly tonight's has been recorded. Announced on the show, don't know about next weeks. Regards Gillie

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,S.G.
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 06:44 AM

Anybody checked the local East Midlands' stations schedules for the week beginning 3rd. January? It seems that between 7 o'clock and 9 each evening there will be "great early evening entertainment" presented by Richard Spurr followed by Amanda Bowman with much of the same between 9 and 1.(Except on Fridays when Dean Jackson takes over that slot). These are all BBC Radio Nottingham presenters with the usual, bland "Radio Two" style - and guess what? we are all invited to join in the conversations by phoning in on 0370 143 1333. So lets all do that eh?
Interesting to see that the centre for all of this wonderful new programming is Radio Nottingham - where was it that Stuart Thomas is based? So there we are; lots more of the same and an end to any specialist musio output; so much for clause 5.3!

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 06:45 AM

My understanding is that tonight has already been recorded and the last one on the 27th is live.

However, the press are there tonight!

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 07:04 AM

Try phoning them like I did, but they won't put you on, if they know you want to talk about Folkwaves. So you will need to be smarter than I was to get on. However if we bombarded the number, all their boring phone in people won't be able to get on.
Let's do a mass phoning whilst the first rogram is on.
What you must also realise is that Amanda Bouman has been bull ******** about standing in for Rob Underwood, when she knew full well that Rob had been taken off/axed from his program.
Radio Lincolnshire is now merged or working with Radio Humberside as I understand it. So I will be interested to know what Charlie Partridge is going to put in place of Folkwaves. Whatever it is, I will not be listening.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,S.G.
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 07:20 AM

It seems that the 7 till 10 slot on Radio Lincolnshire will be hosted by William Wright (though Radio Nottingham's Paul Robey sits in for the first programme on 3rd January) instead of Nottingham's Richard Spurr. They still get Amanda Bowman from 10, however. I feel sorry for Charlie Partridge if he's been backed into a corner over all of this because he really is a nice bloke. What a shame to be handed all of this retrograde "planning" - we might as well all listen to Radio Two - or is that the idea in the long run when the BBC start shutting local radio stations altogether. I have a feeling that in a few years time there will be around 10 regional stations with very limited (if any) local output. How's that for the licence payers! (being treated with the usual contempt of course) It's certainly a smack in the gob for all those of us who carried the torch of Community radio run by the BBC all those years ago.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,S.G.
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 07:31 AM

OOps - should have checked the Lincolnshire schedules more carefully as they do seem a little more varied than the other East Midlands stations, with a "BBC Introducing" programme on Fridays with Tom Morris presenting "some of the best music in Lincolnshire", so theres just a (vain) hope for some local output in that area with hopefully local musicians making a contribution. Hardly any consolation for the rest of us with the disappearance of "Folkwaves", but a glimmer of hope in Lincolnshire. I told you Charlie Partridge was a good bloke!

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 07:34 AM

I know Charlie is a nice bloke.

William Wright is a nice bloke as well.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Acorn4
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 08:05 AM

Hermitage Radio operates from NW Leicestershire and operates a 2 hour folk slot on Thursday nights.

http://www.hermitagefm.com/#/schedule/4544220344

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Acorn4
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 08:07 AM

... I realise this has already been mentioned but just a reminder.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: SylviaN
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 08:26 AM

See you all later this evening (06.56 for 19.00).

By the way "Guest", you are wrong on all counts.

Remember, if the good do nothing (and I'm talking peaceful protest here, don't want to get misunderstood), then we get walked all over.

Also, Mick and Lester do want to continue with the programme - I know this for a fact, as I know them both personally! They cannot head this campaign and they are absolutely thrilled about the support they are getting.

Sylvia

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: SylviaN
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 08:29 AM

By the way, "Guest", you are right to a certain extent about us being "nieve" - it is the Spanish for snow, which we will probably be getting, but not until Wednesday evening.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,AndyC
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 08:35 AM

The comment from BBC Audience Services that the change in programming will allow coverage of breaking news and events such as snow is complete rubbish - most evenings the 9pm bulletin is identical to the 7pm one - there hasn't been any breaking news, and any station can opt out of folkwaves if there is a major local crisis (radio derby did this a few years ago to cover flooding) just as they opt out to cover local football. I hope that whoever got that response from the BBC will reply back to them and tell them that they are basically lying to try to justify their decision.

A more formal complaint could be made to senior BBC management on the basis that it is only English stations that are gradually losing their specialist music programmes - as far as I know there is no threat to folk music etc on Radios Scotland, Wales or Ulster.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: mikesamwild
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 08:54 AM

Dave H in France Merry Christmas!

Dave Eyres programme can still be downloaded.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Folkiedave
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 01:41 AM

My radio show is archived - not sure how far it goes ba

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Folkiedave
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 01:45 AM

Let me try that again. My show is archived though I am not sure how far it goes back. Sometimes there are technical issues so it isn't perfect.

Last night there was a magnificent protest. How many local radio shows would muster almost 60 people on a freezing cold night to protest about its axing?

The difference between my show and Lester and Mick is that they started off with "Personent Hodie" and I started off with "I Want a Hippotamus for Christmas".

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,Granthampie
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 08:00 AM

A little slow off the mark here but I've only just heard about the axing of the show, which is just disgusting.

I've no idea if the BBC are likely to change their mind on this but like everyone else on here, I've emailed them and told them that they've lost "another" listener... I don't suppose they will lose any sleep over it.

I'll be listening to www.folkradio.co.uk from now on.

Have a wonderful Christmas all.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,Granthampie
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 11:06 AM

Response from Simon Cornes BBC Radio Derby
----------
Thanks for getting in touch about the planned changes to our evening schedule.

Over recent months we have carried out a full review of our schedule after 7pm and, driven primarily by a change in listeners' lifestyles, we have decided to make a number of major changes.

The end of the "9 to 5" culture and the rise in people using the internet in the evening has led to a decrease in people sitting down to watch television together and an increase in the audience available to listen to the radio. With almost all commercial radio in the East Midlands no longer local or even regional in the evening, we feel it is part of our public service remit to now broadcast more accessible local radio into the evening rather than super-serving fans of a particular genre of music.

Clearly the loyal fans of the current output will be extremely disappointed by the ending of some very long running programmes; however, we have taken these decisions in a bid to serve a wider number of East Midlands licence fee payers at a time of day when there is now a genuine lack of "local radio".

The new schedule will allow us to react to breaking news in the region in a way that is currently impossible, it will allow us to broadcast through until 1am and it will allow us to introduce fully local news, rather than regional news, late into the evening later in 2011.

If you wish to make further representations about the planned changes, then Stuart Thomas is the Head of Regional and Local Programmes for BBC East Midlands. He can be contacted at BBC, London Road , Nottingham , NG2 4UU .

Simon Cornes
Editor
BBC Radio Derby

-------------

to which I replied...

------------

well you can never have enough news and sport can you?

I assume that in not "super-serving fans of a particular genre of music", that you will be taking "Dhamaka", "The Beat", "The African and Caribbean Show", "A Touch of Soul", "Aaj Kal" off the air too?

or is it just British Culture you've got a problem with?

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,sheffstu
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 03:18 PM

The real reason that Folkwaves is ending is Mick and Pete's often repeated promise of a weekly playlist. This is obviously too much of a technical challenge for Radio Derby so they have binned the entire programme.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,sheffstu
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 04:33 PM

Where did Pete come from? Of course I mean Lester. I am glad I've got the last few years of the programme on minidisc. I will now have the chance to listen to them. Folkwaves was a fantastic and will be sorely missed.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,S.G.
Date: 22 Dec 10 - 04:54 AM

How are Messrs. Thomas, Cornes, Bettison etc. going to justify their decision to axe the 7 - 9 "specialist" music slot on East Midlands radio in the future? It is my understanding that the RAJAR figures for this time of the evening are, for all practical purposes, immeasurable. How will they know that they have achieved their objective? Do they have such confidence in their new strategy that they expect the figures to rise so dramatically that they will have the necessary evidence to wave in our faces? I don't think so.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,AndyC
Date: 22 Dec 10 - 07:49 AM

In response to Granthampie, you can't just say that this is the BBC being anti-British because they are dropping country, jazz and irish programmes as well. One of the programmes being retained - The Beat - is mostly indie, rock and dance music so is just as 'British' as Folkwaves, and the black and asian programmes have a news and community information element rather than just being specialist music.

Wgere I think there is a problem, as I've posted before, is that the BBC have boxes to tick to make sure they cover traditional music and culture in the celtic nations - there is no threat to the folk shows on Radios Scotland, Wales and Ulster - but not in England. There is no 'Radio England' so it is down to local radio to cover traditional English culture, but they don't seem to see it as part of their remit (so for example Radio Scotland keeps its weekly bagpipe programme but Radio Manchester can happily drop its weekly brass band programme). The only way to challenge this would be through the BBC Trust or the senoir managers.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 22 Dec 10 - 07:52 AM

As a matter of interest what is the definition of "Specialist" music?

Almost all music is definable as specialist in some aspect or another.
"Boy band" specialist.
"Girl band" specialist.
"Ballad" specialist.
"Punk" specialist.
"Rock" specialist.
"Religious" specialist.

The list is endless, and they are all banned according to their statement.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 22 Dec 10 - 09:28 AM

Specialist music is the term that those people who are too polite to call it "minority music" use:-)

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,Captain Jack Sparrow
Date: 22 Dec 10 - 10:30 AM

Mike Harding's Folk Blog is going to Davey Jones' locker too.

'Well, 2010 is drawing to a close and, I'm sorry to say, so is this blog. We hope to replace it with some more folky content in the future, but in the meantime I want to say "thank you" thanks to all of you for reading, and thanks to the great many guest bloggers who dropped by to give us an insight into their musical worlds.'

Mike Harding Folk Blog

I see that Mike is going out on tour in the Spring, for the first time in years. Possibly he knows something about the future of Folk On 2?

Subject: Folkwaves Farewell (for Now) Celebration
From: MikkinNotts
Date: 22 Dec 10 - 06:13 PM

Come along to the BBC Radio Derby studios on Monday 27th December and join fellow Folkwave fans in celebrating 25 years of the Folkwaves programme.
It will be a celebration in every sense of the word.......with music, dancing, ale and daft hats.
Bring your instruments, voices......oh, and you are encouraged (obliged really) to wear a daft hat, yes, even dafter than the ones you were wearing last Monday evening!
Let's give Mick and ...Lester the best show of appreciation we can manage.

More on Facebook.....

Facebook Event

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 02:31 PM

Folkwaves

Get it back on BBC

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,Guest - Pragmatist
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 09:20 PM

Mick & Lester's programme was probably the best folk programme in England. (I SAY WAS BECAUSE IT IS NOT GOING TO RETURN NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE COMPLAIN - I'D LOVE TO BE PROVED WRONG!)

I know from personal experience just how much dedication Mick & Lester put into ensuring that the programme went out live when it would have been a lot easier for them to put out a pre-recorded broadcast.

I firmly believe the music will, however, despite the media and the chancers return as strong, if not stronger, than it has been.

THIS MUSIC CAN STAND ON ITS OWN. IT DOES NOT NEED THE MEDIA, GRANTS, UPDATING OR ANY OF THE OTHER MODERNISMS WITHOUT WHICH NONE OF US CAN SUPPOSEDLY SURVIVE!

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 03:42 AM

The Nottingham Post's piece was actually published last night:-

End of era as plug pulled on jazz, folk and country

PRESENTERS ditched by BBC radio in the East Midlands in a shake-up of evening programming are "furious" about the changes.
From January 1, the specialist music shows, which are simultaneously broadcast across BBC Radio Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Lincoln, will be scrapped.
They include Jazz Incorporated, Folkwaves, Celtic Fringe and Country. Each was a weekly two-hour show, broadcast from 7pm to 9pm.
"I'm angry about it for a number of reasons," said Mick Smith, who has presented a country music show in the East Midlands for 34 years.
"We weren't consulted and allowed to put our case forward. And it's not to save money. I get about £70 for every two hour show."
He added: "They're retiring me and of course I'm sad to go but I'm angry about the way they handled it."
Jazz Incorporated presenter Chris Moore said: "It's the end of an era on our local radio.
"Past management, perhaps recognising the licence payer should have a choice, supported a jazz programme on Radio Nottingham in various forms for 38 years."
He said the programme's support for local jazz musicians and gigs would be missed.
"Despite me putting up a spirited defence, management had made their minds up that the licence payers in the East Midlands would be better served by extending the Radio Nottingham daytime programmes into the evening schedules."
Current afternoon presenter Richard Spurr will host a new show each weekday evening from 7pm to 10pm.
BBC spokesman Bryn George said: "After a wide ranging review of evening programmes in the East Midlands, we are extending the hours of broadcast to 1am and providing a new early-evening programme designed to appeal to a wider number of licence fee payers."
No-one from BBC Radio Nottingham management was prepared to be interviewed.
Jazz Incorporated and Mick Smith Country are broadcast from Nottingham, Celtic Fringe from Leicester and Folkwaves from Derby.
Mick Peat, who has been presenting Folkwaves for 22 years, said he and co-presenter Lester Simpson were notified two weeks ago.
"To take two hours of folk music off the air is a crime.
"I wonder if the people who make these decisions actually listen to anything other than pop music.
"All they are going to give us is bland radio after seven o'clock. I wouldn't mind if that included folk music but it won't.
"Folk music will die on local radio because no-one will play it, even though it's not a minority music any longer."
Local talent would no longer have an on-air presence, he said: "We promoted local talent and for many people it was a way of finding out where and when gigs were happening."
Post folk writer Dave Sutherland said: "Folkwaves has been good for the area especially in the promoting of many of our young performers.
"Mick and Lester will be sorely missed."
More than 1,400 have joined a Facebook group called Save Folkwaves.
Post jazz writer Alan Joyce added: "Local radio programmes dedicated to specialist musical genres, compiled by enthusiastic and knowledgeable presenters, will disappear forever."

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 12:52 PM

Hooray and up she rises

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Sugwash
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 07:08 PM

Peace on Earth and good will to all men - although personally I'd like to exclude the BBC local radio managers in the East Midlands.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,S.G.
Date: 26 Dec 10 - 04:06 PM

To Mick and Lester - buckets of thanks for all you have done for folk music over the last twenty-two years and more: you and "Folkwaves" are irreplaceable and I and I suspect many others, will not care whether or not the BBC "suits" can sleep at night or not. We are all the poorer for their criminal decision but it is clear that we can no longer rely on the BBC to help preserve our national music; certainly not on a local, grassroots level. So much will be lost with the final programme - there's no point in saying that it will be excellent, because all of them were. To add a lighter note to the proceedings, it will be, as those great mates of Mick and Lester, Roaring Jelly, said of their own demise, "It's the end of an earache"! Thanks a million, fellas, you are still the best.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 26 Dec 10 - 04:45 PM

Sugwash: Peace on Earth and good will to all men - although personally I'd like to exclude the BBC local radio managers in the East Midlands

You can legitimately do that...the correct translation of the original verse in the bible is "and on earth be peace to men of good will", NOT a blanket wish of peace to ALL men. So if you don't reckon the BBC local radio Managers are "men of good will" then don't wish 'em peace :-)

(posted by an atheist!)

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: RamblinStu
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 11:49 AM

I will be listening to Folkwaves tonight via tinternet.

Can't make it to Derby tonight but I'll be there in spirit.

I will also send some more emails of support, to them and the suits during the programme, be good if others do likewise. As a further reminder of the popularity of Folkwaves

Thanks Mick and Lester for the years of fun.

Stuart Pendrill

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 12:21 PM

Sorry I can't be there, but hope all goes well with the protest.

I will also be listening on the Internet.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 12:34 PM

My email to Simon Cornes at the BBC:


>>>>>Dear Simon,

My name is Lizzie Cornish and a few years back I started a 'live' messageboard thread for Folkwaves, on the BBC Radio 2 Folk & Acoustic Board.

Each Monday evening many of us would 'tune in' to the F&A board to listen live, around the world...folks from Canada and Florida joined in with me, as well as folks from all over the UK.

I'd recently become an English Folk Music convert, nay, GROUPIE, (lol), after finding this amazing music via a great band called Show of Hands, who of course now so often headline at every major folk festival in the UK, during the summer months.

Through them I dared to dip my toe into the waters of English Folk, because they removed the 'trainspotter' image of it, making it funky and fun...

Through them I also started to discover the heritage of The West Country..

I started to dip my toe in further, and the deeper I dipped the more amazed I became at some of the most beautiful music I'd ever heard. It was music that told of our traditions, as a Nation and a People..a living, moving, breathing History which brought the Past right out into the Present..

Well, I found John Tams, who of course, has won countless Radio 2 Folk Awards, as have Show of Hands..and through John I also discovered Barry Coope and....from there, the fabulous Coope Boyes & Simpson, with of course, Lester Simpson, who hosts Folkwaves, along with Mick Peat...

So, I gave their show a listen..and BOY!! did I LEARN oooodles of interesting information, alongside hearing some spectacular music, learning more about the traditions of my country, the history, the people..

I realised that I was listening to a radio programme that was incredibly special...and so I started the 'live' link-up on the Radio 2 Folk & Acoustic Board....

Within weeks the Folkwaves Thread had become the biggest thread on that board...and we even got a 'Listen Again' button added to Folkwaves, which Mel, the Smooth Ops host of that board, told us about, with great delight, knowing how pleased everyone would be.

It was something that had never happened before...this 'live' universal listening around the globe to Mick and Lester's show...and 'Ay Up Me Duck' became a national treasure phrase...as we'd all sit there listening to the many folk meetings, dances, festivals etc, which were taking place around the Derbyshire area...

It was such great fun, an absolute joy!

And then..Smooth Ops closed down the Folkwaves thread, saying their computer could no longer take the vast amount of messages on it..which of course was not true. But Folkwaves was turning into a Phenomenon, outstripping Smooth Ops own Mike Harding Show by miles..

Lester and Mike became our heroes..informing and igniting folks around the world to come together in their love of beautiful music and a grand sense of humour..

Now, I hear that Radio Derby has, for some extraordinary reason, decided to end Folkwaves, forever..

Why?

The word on the street, from the BBC is that you have to move with the times, focus on a new audience, make things more popular....and yet you already HAVE one of, if not THE MOST POPULAR folk radio programme in the country!

Why would you choose to destroy that?

Folk music is so much on the up at the moment. It's been growing for years and years, but now it's breaking through the wall that has been placed around it for decades. Many of our best musicians, singers and artists are within this talented world...It is a whole Movement! Our folk festivals sell out around the country, year upon year..bringing in tens of thousands of people to towns all over the nation.

It's a vibrant, colourful, rainbow world of talent..and one which I love with all my heart!

Heck, I wrote 15,000 words alone on the very first Sidmouth Folk Week a few years back, after Sidmouth International Festival had closed down..doing a 'live' write in on the F&A board as well.

To throw away one of the best and most popular folk programmes in the country makes no sense to me, or to the many thousands of people who've come together to try to save Folkwaves.

It's far more than a Programme, Simon...Folkwaves is a Community!

I've watched, over the past two decade or more, my country become lost...separated from its traditions, its history, its roots..and it has made me so desperately sad and worried...

Yet, these past few years I've also watched many people within the Folk World working their butts off to preserve those very traditions, the songs, the dances, the stories of the English People.

Ireland, Scotland and Wales are so PROUD of who they are, of their roots, but we are seemingly not allowed to be...and instead of protecting what we have left, we seem to be hellbent on wiping it out completely.

Folkwaves is a show run by intelligent and inspirational men, talented singers and musicians who are passionate, absolutely passionate about their passion...and Coope Boyes and Simpson, along with John Tams, Show of Hands and all the very many, many others work *their* backsides off to spread the word, the songs, the heritage of us all, to as many folks as they can reach.

Derbyshiire had 'a place on the map' in the International Marketplace of Radio, purely *because* of Folkwaves...

There have been petitions, letters, phone calls, threads on many music boards and even a Facebook page with hundreds of people rushing to sign up, all in a huge effort to save this wonderful programme.

Therefore, I urge you, from the bottom of your hearts, up at Radio Derby to reconsider your decision and save this programme for future generations who at present know so little of their past.

Yes, I'm passionate about Folkwaves, you bet I am! And one of the reasons is that I've learned such a lot from it..and I'm absolutely bloody passionate about Educating UP rather than this terrible Dumbing DOWN that has been such a huge part of our nation for so very long...

PLEASE, those within Radio Derby, PLEASE, PLEASE look again at this terrible decision...BE strong and proud, oh so PROUD of having THE BEST folk programme on the Planet...

Protect it!
Treasure it!
and most of all...
LOVE IT...

Love it as much as the rest of us do, out here!

With love and gentle smiles to you all, and with all my fingers and toes crossed that just for once, the *right* decision will be made by men and women who really do have the inner strength to recognise something very, very special within their programming.

Lizzie :0) <<<<


And if Mick and Lester ever get to read this, then THANK YOU for such a wonderful programme. We all love you dearly and will miss you like mad, but I'm sure that everyone here would wish you both much love and happiness for the future..and I sure as hell hope that maybe Simon reads his emails and Thinks Again!

Lizzie xxx

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,Pete Mann
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 03:18 PM

Very difficlult to follow the piece from Lizzie Cornish - she has got it all.

She is so right - the BBC is only interested in pumping out yet more low-quality music and chat. The trouble with folk music is that much of it has a message within the words - how many pop songs can claim that? The BBC seems to have assumed that all its audience are numptes with a low brain cell count.

The BBC say that they need to appeal to a wider audience - strange that, because if you visit areas of the BBC like BBC3, it is full of material aimed at minority audiences for instance alternative comedy. Much of it is garbage, yet we can't retain a programme of true quality, like 'Folkwaves'.

A sad day indeed.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Sugwash
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 05:22 PM

Hey Rob, an atheist who knows his Bible, hedging your bets a bit there. I guess you know what I meant though; whisky buggered up the usual academic rigour I strive to maintain.

To Mick and Lester, all the very best for the future, a future a good deal less bright without Folkwaves to listen to.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 05:43 PM

Mick and Lester finished their last programme buy playing The Voice Squads version of "The Parting Glass"
A very apposite choice.
RIP Folkwaves...

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: GUEST,Andrew Smith
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 01:36 AM

I listen to Folkwaves on the I Player whenever I can so am very sorry to learn of the demise of another specialist music programme. The BBC has made a big mistake. Heart-less I would say so I add my small voice to the large crowd of protesters.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: stevewise
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 10:03 AM

wow - what a great post from lizzie cornish. now that the last show has been broadcast, it must be time to start a 'bring back folkwaves' campaign? what would be the best forum for this? it's no good simply grumbling to each other. any bright ideas anyone?

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 10:40 AM

One idea might be to inundate the studio with campaigning emails every Monday evening expressing the lack of interest in the new programme, complaints about lack of folk music output etc. etc. - it costs nothing to do that.

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: stevewise
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 11:29 AM

I just listened to the final show via the iplayer. Did anyone else get tearful when they played The Parting Glass?

Subject: RE: The end of 'Folkwaves' on BBC
From: Bernard
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 11:43 AM

Hopefully the phoenix will rise from the ashes, possibly on a community radio channel... it worked for Sounds of Folk when Ali and I were booted out of BBC GMR for similar reasons - we're only a couple of weeks away from programme 200 on Oldham Community Radio 99.7fm.

Okay, I keep banging on about this, but as we've been through it and seen the other side of the argument I'm in a good position to see this objectively... we wouldn't want to go back to the Beeb, because community radio stations are friendlier!!

So come on, someone in community radio in the Derby area - sort out Folkwaves as a matter of urgency!

I did a quick search to see what community stations operate in the area, but all I got was hits for Radio Derby... so I've emailed OFCOM to ask the question.

When I hear something I'll let you know!