Mike Harding fights back?

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: Girl Friday
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 10:29 AM

Mumblin' Len and I very much enjoyed the new show. Long may it run.

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: GUEST,achmelvich
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 09:47 AM

radio scotland good for music -'another country' with ricky ross (mostly americana/alt country)
and 'travelling folk'

also there is a good tribute to michael marra on i-player just now and there are often one off interesting programmes

and a guid new year to youse all!

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: GUEST,moira(flyingcat)
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 05:40 AM

I think "impson" is quite good actually!

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 01:53 AM

Ah, sorry -Lester Simpson, with an S.

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 02 Jan 13 - 01:52 AM

The Folkwaves team of Mick Peat and Lester impson did a few editions via the UK folk music site, but didn't manage to make it work financially and produced their last show in early December. They never sorted out getting the show onto iTunes (which certainly made it less attractive for me personally), but I don't know the details of why they stopped.

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: GUEST,Folknacious
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 04:40 PM

Just because someone has found out how to play their favourite tracks online, doesn't mean they have the lifetime experience, contacts, skills or dedication that Mike has

Very true and there are some dreadful ones, but there are also several other very experienced ex-BBC broadcasters who have gone the online route. Ian Anderson has been doing Froots Radio for many years, and Mark Coles also started a very good world music podcast when dropped by the BBC World Service last year. I heard rumours that the ex BBC Midlands Folkwaves people are doing one as well, but haven't got around to looking for it yet. Does anybody have a link?

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: Bernard
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 01:54 PM

Mike has proved, like the rest of us ex-Beeb folk, that we don't need the Beeb to be able to produce high quality folk programming.

You only need to look at the Folk Northwest magazine (and website) to see that there is a great deal of non-beeb folk 'radio'.

Some of it is air-based radio, some of it is podcasted, and some is in both formats.

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: Uncle Tone
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 12:47 PM

Why would other podcasters deserve equal recognition to Mike Harding? Just because someone has found out how to play their favourite tracks online, doesn't mean they have the lifetime experience, contacts, skills or dedication that Mike has.

I agree there are very good folk podcasts out there, and this venture might draw attention to them, but there are some quite amateurishly bad ones too.

Tone (ex Chiltern Radio Folk Hour and Horizon Radio Audio Graffiti)

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 10:34 PM

I'm no more likely to listen to Harding on line than I was on the BBC. But one good thing which may come out of this is that listeners who've never tried a podcast before will discover that it's really quite easy and so get around to investigating some of the other internet broadcasters. Some people have been podcasting for years, with less conservative music that would never have been played on Folk On 2. They deserve at least equal recognition.

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 11:39 AM

Great start, thanks

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: Joe Nicholson
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 09:12 AM

Just listened in really enjoyed it keep up the good work

Joe N

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 09:07 AM

Sounds great!!

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: Silas
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 08:32 AM

Have a bit of patience - it was a first time outing and it crashed due to an unexpected number trying to listen at the same time. It is now working very well, you can listen anytime you like and as often as you like.

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 08:26 AM

Let's hope they get the hosting sorted out for future shows, as it crashed with 27000 live listeners yesterday.

It will also be good when the promised iTunes exposure kicks in, as (I suspect) a whole load more people will subscribe and listen at their convenience on the move than they will necessarily spend an hour a week listening to it directly from the website.

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 08:08 AM

Sorry, I am suffering from fatfingersyndrome again.

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 07:46 AM

Will they be selling advertising space. if so, I could spare a tenner

Something restrained and tasteful eg.

Big Al Whittle - International heart throb, the voice of modern folk music, toady to the stars! will buy you a drink if you give him a gig. No reasonable offer refused.

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 07:39 AM

Thanks SWilas, it's on my list of favourites now

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: Mr Red
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 07:32 AM

BLICKIE FOR PODCAST

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: Mr Red
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 07:30 AM

podcasting and time-shift listening.

Way to go.

Mike is nothing if not knowledgeable on the subject. And a funny man when he chooses.

Subject: RE: Mike Harding fights back?
From: Silas
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 07:28 AM

And bloody good it is too; you can get it here http://www.mikehardingfolkshow.com/podcast-01/

Subject: Mike Harding fights back?
From: s&r
Date: 31 Dec 12 - 07:23 AM

5 pm tonight - The Mike Harding Folk Show Goes Global


On 30th Dec 2012 at 5p.m. Mike Harding's new, free, podcast Folk Show will stream out live across the world at
After 15 years at the helm of BBC Radio 2's flagship folk programme, Mike Harding now brings his passion for the music that matters to a worldwide, internet, podcast and syndicated radio audience.


Continuing to focus on the very best from the world of Folk, Roots and Acoustic music, Mike's unique understanding of the music, its traditions and its sources will be at the heart of the new show which will appeal to folk fans young and old.


The Mike Harding Folk Show retains all the great things about his previous programmes: the new music, the classic oldies, the emerging left of field talent coming from small labels, and will be adding to that pages of information on tours, new releases, artists' websites, record distributors, folk news, festival listings and anything else that captures his imagination.


Over 15 years, Mike's Radio 2 Folk Show built an audience from 70,000 to in excess of 800,000 and many of his loyal listeners, as well as friends and colleagues from the folk world are backing this new move. "I've been overwhelmed by the support I've had in the past few months, and this new show is incredibly exciting, giving me a chance to champion the music that I – and many others care so passionately about".


The move is backed by Whistledown Productions, the Radio Academy's "2012 Independent of the Year", who will co-produce the show with Mike.
Managing Director, David Prest says "So many people have grown into, and learnt about folk music through Mike's shows. His passion is infectious –whatever way you listen to it."


The show will be streamed live each Sunday at 5 pm and will broadcast 24/7 as an hour plus of the best in folk, roots and acoustic music.
After 7 days the show will be archived as a podcast download and the next show will begin streaming at 5 p.m. the following Sunday.


The programme will also be syndicated to radio stations around the world, through the Public Radio Exchange.




As Mike says: "Folk music isn't something that people have on in the background like musical wallpaper. It isn't something that needs a load of flash production or a "showbiz" platform. It is the music of the people and for the people – people see it as their music and they are incredibly devoted to it. I see it as my job to carry on doing what I've been doing all my life in folk clubs and pubs and, for the last 15 years on the BBC, and that is to share this wonderful music with the people it belongs to – the listeners."