Petition - folk on BBC radio

Subject: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Watson
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 11:02 AM

Smallpiper put this on Folkinfo, but I haven't seen anything about it here:
There is a petition doing the rounds to bring back folk music on the radio in Yorkshire. To sign the petition go to this site: http://www.petitiononline.com/flkradio/petition.html

Lets bring our local folk radio show back!


If you care about folk music, if you want the BBC to know you that it matters to you, especially if you are in Humberside or Yorkshire, please sign.

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: BanjoRay
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 12:27 PM

Thanks, Watson - just signed it - I live in Doncaster
Ray

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Willa
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 01:38 PM

Many people signed this at Cleethorpes FF, where Jacey spoke about the petition and passed it round. I think local folk clubs ae also passing copies round. Please sign online,folks, if you've not seen a copy yet!

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 06:47 AM

up we go to the top

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: GUEST,Lidy
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 07:12 AM

I'll sign it- I'm not even in the area to hear it, but anything to get folk more airtime.
Also, has anyone noticed the BBC's current fling with folk? It reminds me of the seasons of showings they do, like when they get obsessed with the Asian community or Black London. It's trendy for a while, then it it's "covered" and they can move on. Well, just like the Asian community and the ethnic diversity in my beautiful city, music is there ALL THE TIME and develops and ebbs and flows and is constantly fascinating and wonderful. It's like, please, can't we just have a bit more consistency? I'd love to see a decent trad/world music show once a week, I'd happily video it if it was on at some sub-human hour... There's so much rubbish on that could just be removed from the schedules. I don't need another man to tell me how neutral colours will make my home more "saleable". If I haven't picked that up by now, I must be incredibly stupid. I don't need to watch the same history series repeated again. Why can't they just get a load of musicians to do what they do best on telly? Rant over. Now I'm going to write a letter to the same effect to the BBC.
Lidy

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: John J
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 11:30 AM

It would be nice if we could have a folk prog on BBC national radio too. The powers that be seem to think they have one, but I've not heard on since Jim Lloyd retired.
I'll sign the petition gladly.

Good luck!

John

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: smallpiper
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 12:25 PM

Try Radio two on a wednesday evening Mike harding has a bash at one and I'm prety sure its national.

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: smallpiper
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 12:29 PM

...... and thanks Watson I was going to post the petition but forgot to (saved me a job and feelings of guit for not getting around to it when I said I would)

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: GUEST,Lidy
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 05:57 PM

Smallpiper, I rather think John J may have tried it and is in fact making a derogatory comment... Correct me if I'm wrong!
Lidy

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: John J
Date: 13 Jun 03 - 12:36 PM

Ooooooh Lidy!! How could you suggest such a thing?

John

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 13 Jun 03 - 04:52 PM

It's up to 566 signatures now.

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: GUEST,John J...notaguest
Date: 14 Jun 03 - 05:44 PM

Hello Eric

John

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Ed.
Date: 14 Jun 03 - 07:34 PM

Hello John (and Eric)

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Watson
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 05:16 AM

Slowly the number is creeping up - 569 now.

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 05:27 AM

Heloo,Eric,John,John,&,Ed.
Is,there,a,good,reason,why,Mike-Harding,
has,to,mention,Cara-Dillon,every,single,week?
I've,nothing,against,Cara,Dillon,but,there,are,loads,
of,other,good,people,that,never,get,a,mention.

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: GUEST,Lidy
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 07:49 AM

As if a small amount of derogatoriness (? what is the noun of that?) might creep in when discussing Mr H...
John from Hull- is your keyboard confused? When i read your posts i find myself trying to give them a weird rhythm cos of all the commas. Maybe that's intentional?
Lidy

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 08:05 AM

heloo.my,keyborad,is,busted.
but,why,is,heawlays,going,on,aboot,cara-dillon?

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From:
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 10:55 AM

Hello John J and Ed and Joh9n. I suspect Mike Hardingknows very little about what's happening in the real grass roots folk scene. He does stick to the "big" names and only slowly do others get a mention. There are so many really good performers that don't get a chance this way. Which is why a local radio programme is so important.

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Watson
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 12:38 PM

I think Mr. Harding knows a lot about 'the real grass roots folk scene' but he's only the presenter - the programme is put together by the production company, and it's made for national radio, so it focusses on national and international performers and the more commercial aspects of folk.
Local radio has a different agenda and that's why we want to keep it.

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: mandomad
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 02:30 PM

Why Henry Ayrton, A fine presenter, yes, But bring back Dave Burland, or Tony Capstick, someone with a bit of WIT!!!
    Then I'll sign.

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Watson
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 11:50 AM

Sure, it would be good to have Dave Burland and Tony Capstick back on the radio - start another petition if you want to, but I would have thought it's worth signing anyway, just to let someone know that it's important to us to have folk on local radio.
How many folk shows are left now? I can think of Alio's new show in Manchester, Mick Peat in Derby, Genevieve Tudor in Shropshire and Johnny Coppin in Gloucester - we can't afford to lose any more and it's worth the effort of putting your name on a petition to try to get one back.

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 03:15 PM

Anyone here tonights show?
Less than 1 minute into the show he mentioned Cara Dillon!
I don't think there has been a show this year, ehere he hasn't mentioned her at least once!

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 03:33 PM

Qoute from Mike Harding="this years Sidmouth Festival is the 49th, and next years will be the 50th"!
He's been listening to Murray Walker too much!

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: GUEST,eliza c
Date: 13 Aug 03 - 04:17 PM

i'll be there
cheers, e

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Oaklet
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 03:14 AM

Just got to 613

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: fogie
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 04:27 AM

I think Mike does the best he can with 55 minutes trying to keep as many factions happy as possible, and we've got Genevieve on Sunday locally.If you want more local stations folk you can get them through BBCi on the net- I just listened to last nights show from Sidmouth. Talking about the BBC did anyone feel agrieved as I did about the cancelling of the Thomas Hardy prog on BBC2 last night for soccer- whats the point of buying a Radio Times if they change the progs.I really wanted to watch that having spent all last week doing West Gallery stuff.

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Peterr
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 07:36 AM

And I set my video for the Hardy programme!

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: GUEST,leo condie
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 08:29 AM

i've got no beef with mike, but its a shame that even what is supposed to be the dedicated BBC folk show plays a lot of country, blues, and so on. now i enjoy these genres at times, but it'd be nice to have a dedicated british folk program. it wouldn't be THAT hard to fill up, would it?

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Alio
Date: 14 Aug 03 - 11:21 AM

It's not! 55 minutes (by the time the news has finished) goes so quickly! There are so many good artists and so little time.

Ali

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 03:06 AM

Folk is out of the light music ghetto at last. Radio 3 treats it as just another branch of music and you will find it slipped in between Stradella and Stockhausen rather than being put in a special box to keep the non folkies away.

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 03:50 AM

fogie and Peterr

Have you written to the BBC to express your displeasure at finding a programme you actually wanted to watch taken off?

BBC Television (Programme comments)
Television Centre
Wood Lane
London
W12 7RJ

Ask them for an explanation and when the programme you wanted to watch will be rescheduled; and when you get a reply, write again complaining about it. Someone told me they don't take notice of your first letter other than to send a reply. A second letter is considered a complaint.

There seems to be a lot of people who moan at the content of the Mike Harding show. I've spoken to Mike in the past about it and to be fair to him he told me that he doesn't have a lot of say - if any - as to what he plays. His producer puts the playlist together and he has to go off that. I think Mike's playlist would be totally different.

Email Mike and give him your suggestions for what you want to hear - [e-mail] Ask him to pass your email on to his producer for his comments (I'm afraid I don't know his name and the BBC website doesn't give any clues!)

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers

Mark

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Watson
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 05:36 AM

Mike's producer is John Leonard of Smooth Operations.
You could complain, but...

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: MairSea
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 05:52 AM

Probably the wrong thread for this but I noticed this morning that there is to be a program about Martin Carthy on the new BBC4 channel tonight at 7pm. Bit of bad planning that as a lot of folkies will be on their way or just going out to their local clubs at that time! I have a feeling that it could be a repeat programme but still ......

Love and Peace

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: nickp
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 07:28 AM

MairSea, almost certain it's a repeat. But then there's an hour of Cambridge FF from 9 to 10 featuring Linda Thompson amongst others

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: Leo Condie
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 09:14 AM

except linda thompson didn't play the Cambridge FF.

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: GUEST,skippy
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 03:33 PM

have signed it & printed it off - will pass it around White Horse FF this week end & get others to sign.
Keep up the good work
Skippy

Subject: RE: Petition - folk on BBC radio
From: rodentred
Date: 15 Aug 03 - 06:29 PM

Alistair Anderson does a nice folk programme on the North night network 9-10 on Sunday nights. He give perhaps too much exposure to a limited number of artists (Maddy Prior, Bob Fox) but still it's folk and relevant to the region. Well worth a listen if you are in range. The BBC does not seem to advertise it very well on their other whats-on programmes however.