BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020

Subject: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 24 Jul 20 - 04:42 AM

BBC Radio 2 Virtual Folk Festival
8pm-10pm Saturday 01 August 2020

"Mark Radcliffe invites music lovers to join him under an imaginary big top and enjoy two hours of exclusive live performances from Yusuf Cat Stevens, Suzanne Vega, Kate Rusby, Fisherman’s Friends, Fara and more. Folk festivals have effectively disappeared this summer. To celebrate the much-missed experience, Mark will present a line-up of legends, folk stars, and talented newcomers.

"On what would have been the weekend of the 2020 Cambridge Folk Festival, Sidmouth Folk Festival and others, listeners can gather around Radio 2 to share Saturday night festival vibes and enjoy brand new performances recorded in artists' homes, plus stunning live highlights from Radio 2's archive.

"Yusuf Cat Stevens will headline the show with specially-recorded live versions of his beloved songs, including some from his multi-platinum selling, era-defining record Tea For The Tillerman. This September, Yusuf will release 'Tea For The Tillerman: Reimagined', which marks the album's 50th anniversary by recasting the songs for a new age.

"Yusuf was scheduled to headline the 2020 Cambridge Folk Festival before Covid-19 forced its cancellation. In 2015 he won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, and his classic song ‘Wild World’ was revealed to be Radio 2’s most-played folk track of all time. In this special show, Yusuf takes time to speak to Mark from his home in Dubai.

"Suzanne Vega also performs favourite tracks, new and old, from her base in New York. Kate Rusby performs music from her forthcoming covers album, Hand Me Down, which includes her popular version of The Bangles’ Manic Monday. Fisherman’s Friends, from Cornwall, are re-united post-lockdown, and Fara, the superb musicians from Orkney, collaborate remotely to join the festival line-up."

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 24 Jul 20 - 05:57 AM

Considering they were kind enough to mention Sidmouth, it's a pity this overlaps with Sidmouth's own virtual festival (5-9pm Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd).
Derek

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 24 Jul 20 - 06:11 AM

much-missed? exclusive? talented?
Gather round the radio- vibes- beloved- multi-platinum selling- specially-recorded, era- defining, classic, superb etc etc etc.......

Could there be a bit of hype here? - it's exactly the sort of commercial stuff I'd run a mile to avoid, still it's only an opinion.

'Mark Radcliffe invites music-lovers' is a kind offer, but this music lover says no thanks.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Jul 20 - 07:29 AM

i agree with jim bainbridge

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 24 Jul 20 - 07:59 AM

Well, it's not often that I agree with The Sandman but I share the sentiments of both above posts.

WTF has Yusuf Islam / Cat Stevens / Stevie Adams or whatever alias he choses next got to do with Folk Music ?

Seems nobody at the BBC knows the real thing any more now than they did in 2015. What a joke.

This is the second time today that I have been amused by the term "Folk"
I read this morning that Taylor Swift (who she?) has turned to folk music for her new album and has written all the songs herself. Also that she has even adopted the "folkie jumper look". So obviously she is authentic circa 1964 or so.

What crap!

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 24 Jul 20 - 07:59 AM

The BBC Folk Show With Mark Radcliffe returned to its former 9pm-10pm place on Wednesday 22 July;

Nancy Kerr, Martin Simpson and Tom A Wright talk about new electric folk band The Magpie Arc. They are joined in the cross-border band by Scottish musicians Adam Holmes (vocals and guitar) and Alex Hunter (bass). The Magpie Arc will release three EPs this year, beginning in September, followed by an album in 2021.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST,Roger
Date: 24 Jul 20 - 10:05 AM

Jim, Sandman and Hoot. Could'nt agree more.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 24 Jul 20 - 06:13 PM

To be fair, it’s a great idea, but I agree the guest list is a bit strange. ‘Wild World’ was a great pop record, but no folk fans regarded it as a folk song surely, even back in the day. Ms Swift obviously doesn’t get it either, if she is planning to write her own folk songs for her next offering.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 01 Aug 20 - 04:05 PM

Rather a dispiriting first hour, with nothing approaching either folk song or folk music.

Cat Stevens, Suzanne Vega, Fara and more from Fisherman's Friends still to come. Can they lift our spirits? I hope so.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Aug 20 - 04:51 PM

"Seems nobody at the BBC knows the real thing any more now than they did in 2015. What a joke."

There are plenty at the Beeb who know the real thing, they just all work on Radio 3.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: Joe G
Date: 01 Aug 20 - 06:41 PM

Spot on Guest! Or in local radio but they are mostly being axed sadly

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 02 Aug 20 - 06:04 AM

Sat through this mishmash - it was wallpaper but there are persons of my acquaintance who would assert they never heard a folk song all night. I'd have to agree with 'em!

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: Reinhard
Date: 02 Aug 20 - 07:11 AM

Nice precise moderation: "More traditional Scottish music from Orkney now, courtesy of Fara" (motormouth Radcliffe), "a set of three different melodies, all composed by members of the band" (Catriona

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: Reinhard
Date: 02 Aug 20 - 07:12 AM

... Cationa Price) - I hit return too early.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 02 Aug 20 - 07:31 AM

Heh, heh - oh Reinhard. You nailed it!

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Aug 20 - 09:25 AM

why, do they[the bbc] do this, bring back hold down a chord

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Aug 20 - 01:38 PM

they think they know what people want- mudcatters might not want it but they don't listen to us & the producers don't care as long as the figures are right....proved time and again

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST,jonesnudger
Date: 03 Aug 20 - 07:27 AM

Radio 2 has become symptomatic of how the "yoof" orientated out-of-touch/control, expensive BBC has become. "Inform, educate and entertain"? Forget it.

Subject: RE: BBC Radio 2 1 August 2020
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 03 Aug 20 - 08:21 AM

Is this really aimed at a younger audience? I don't think many young people would find it attractive.

The remit of Radio 2 is to be a distinctive mixed music and speech service, targeted at a broad audience, appealing to all age groups over 35.