Bitching about the Mike Harding show

Subject: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST,MurkeyChris
Date: 14 Oct 04 - 11:13 AM

Just posted this on the BBC site and thought it was quite good so I thought I'd share it here:

You can imagine the conversation:

Random BBC lackey: Hey Mike, Paul Weller's recorded a traditional song on his new album!

Mike Harding: Oh brilliant! I was really worried I was going to fill that gap in the schedule with something by an actual folk musician. Now I can fit Paul Weller in with Barbara Dickson and a Shadows cover. This is great, I can almost pretend I'm not doing a bl**dy folk music show!

BBC lackey: But you'd better play something to keep the folkies quiet. What about 'Famous Flower of Serving Men' by Martin Carthy and 'Banks of the Nile' by Fotheringay?

Mike: Two folk songs? Is that really necessary? What about if I fill up the time it would have taken to play one of them by telling everyone how they have to text in to vote for which one of the two they want? Then we can play less folk music and make some money off the whinging g*ts!

BBC lackey: Brilliant idea Mike!

He he. Harsh but fair. On it's own I actually quite liked the Paul Weller track, and it would make an interesting diversion within a folk show (I recently slipped Led Zeppelin's 'The Battle of Evermore' into my folk radio show). By the desperate attempt at crossover appeal (including Barbara Dickson with Enya-itus) just cheapens it.

With folk music on the up again, is it not time for a folk music show for folkies? It could be on Radio 3 and presented by Eliza Carthy or that Scottish lady who does Celtic Connections on the Tele. Then we can leave Mike Harding serving the Radio 2 listeners who 'quite liked the Corrs' that the show is obviously aimed at.

Now I'm on Mudcat and not the heavily censored BBC boards I can also use this as a great plug for my online British folk radio show, 'Cool as Folk'. There's a thread about it here . If you agree with what's I've said above, hopefully you should like it.

Cheers, Chris

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: greg stephens
Date: 14 Oct 04 - 11:21 AM

As you say, a folk radio show that plays folk music so that people who like folk music could listen to it with pleasure is a great idea. I t is a huge pity that nobody has ever thought to try it.
   I am not particularly fascist in my tastes and like all sorts of music. But I dont necessarily want all the sorts of music that I like feaatured on sspecialist folk programmmes.Still less do I want all the other sorts of music that other people like featured on specialist folk programmes.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 14 Oct 04 - 12:04 PM

It was ever thus, even since the days of Country Swamps Folk!
Giok

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: MBSGeorge
Date: 14 Oct 04 - 12:09 PM

I've listened to the the Mike Harding show on and off for a few years and I've been very pleased with the variety of music that he plays. I think that instead of slagging off one of the few shows we have on national radio we should support it and if we want to hear something specific put it on a tape or cd and send it to him! I'm sure he would welcome any constructive oppinions from listeners.

George

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: greg stephens
Date: 14 Oct 04 - 12:30 PM

I agree, MBSGeorge. I was commenting on the suggestions posted on this thread, rather than agreeing with its provocative title. I think there is plenty of space for a programme like Mike Harding's on Radio 2, I am very fond of the guy and he plays good music. The trouble is, it is the BBC's only folk programme on the radio. Given that fact, the content of the programme is totally wrong, to my way of thinking.His programme is one of many possible formats for a show on the fringes of folk. It is not particularly good, as the single central flagship folk program. This a fault of the BBC's programmimg. It is not a criticism of Mike Harding.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Oct 04 - 12:42 PM

I and many others, have, for the last THREE request shows, sent emails asking that he play a track from the Duncan McFarlane Band CD "The Woodshed Boys" I have yet to hear a track.
Duncan himself has tried to orchestrate the same without success.
I fear MH or the powers that decide the play list are somewhat blinkered in their choice of tracks, I do hear the same limited number of performers week after week and when one considers the vast array of performers out there, a more widespread play is easily acheiveable, especially with the resources of a national radio network behind it

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST,MurkeyChris
Date: 14 Oct 04 - 04:22 PM

Yeah I tend to agree with Greg. For what it is, Mike Harding's show is good. It is aimed at people with a mild interest in 'folk, roots and acoustic' music, and plays mostly good music. But it is very limiting, and ignores a lot of good music because it isn't mainstream enough. There has been loads of constructive criticism of this, but nothing has changed. And the requests shows are quite a joke. I remember taping a request show and keeping it for a while. About a year later I heard another one and they played about 5 of the same songs! Like I said, the Mike Harding show does what it does adequately enough, and it's better than nothing, but I'm sure they'd be a market for an hour on Radio 3 which is less commercially minded.

Chris

Cool as Folk - The first ever radio show to play BELLOWhead!

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Compton
Date: 14 Oct 04 - 07:36 PM

MBSGeorge....I don't think Mike Harding would welcome constructive criticism from listeners. I think , as been said on umpteem other threads on Mudcat that Mike Harding has little or Bugger All to do with the content of the programme. He is there because the Beeb wanted a name that was some people might know. If he hadn't been available, Terry Wogan would have done just as well!

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST,skipy
Date: 14 Oct 04 - 08:01 PM

Bring back the local BBC folk programme!
Back in the early days of Folk for MS (years 1 & 2 -1990 & 1991)we held the event on a thursday night so that Radio Oxford could broadcast live from the venue (then Lain's barn). After two attempts to get a signal out they gave up & so did we. We moved to Friday nights but still depended on them as did many clubs, festival organisers (we where Stanford in the Vale in those days) , morris sides & dance organisers in the Oxford area for publicity. Although the diary article in the middle of the show was boring it was dripping with dates (not the fruit) times, venues, tele numbers etc. Sadly the prog. was axed. There is a need for local folk programmes, there are thousands of us out here and yet we seem to accept as individuals that we get Mike Harding or nothing. As for sending in a track and asking for it to be played has anyone ever done this & heard the track? Perhaps we should all send in a track - posting them on an agreed date and see what the reaction is! (I know, fired off from around the u/k on the same day as a salvo they will, due to our postal system arrive like buckshot fired at a calander).
So what did I do when they axed the Oxford folk prog? not a lot really! I just phoned up their office at the time that the prog. was due to start, made my thoughts clear to their answer machine & placed the phone next to a speaker on my stereo, for the duration of the prog. that replaced the folk prog. their answer machine recorded Jez Lowe. This did not bring the BBC crashing to it's knees!
There it is! I feel a little better now, but nothing has changed!
Nurse has just realised that I am out of bed again, so that all for..........................

pp skipy
signed Nurse

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: ThreeSheds
Date: 14 Oct 04 - 09:13 PM

I think Alan Titchmarsh of geology fame would do well fronting the Mike Harding prog

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Oct 04 - 10:51 PM

Ummmm....your pint (err point) IS?????

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 12:09 AM

about 4-5 years ago i was getting back into folk
after a gap of about 20 years.
I was glad to discover a regular BBC radio show
to help me rediscover what i'd been missing
and catch up with new artists..
but, had reservations when i discovered the host
was mike harding..
i had no real choice but to give him the benefit of the doubt,
so listened to his show for a couple of months
before i could'nt stand him any longer
and gave up..
He used to be a sh*te comedian..
still is.. and is an equally sh*te
folk presenter..
I simply tired of his facile 'celebrity personality'
style of presentation that seemed to be considered
more of an entertainment priority
than the musical content of the shows..
and was even more angered by his habit
of talking over live session recordings..
I cant stand mike ****ing harding..
folk music is tainted by association with the ****..
thank you for reading..

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST,jennifer
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 02:15 AM

And everything is "the best album I've heard in a long while" or "a cracking album" or if he really doesn't like it "a cracking little album".

Much prefer Mick Peat and Lester Simpson on Radio Derby on a Monday evening. Quite apart from their amusing attempts to work the studio equipment they actually disagree on a lot of things such as bagpipes so we get a fairly wide range of music especially when one of them goes on holiday.

I feel sorry for Mike H - his increasingly desperate monotone sounds like he's trying to get through each programme as quickly as possible.

Jennifer

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: muppitz
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 03:23 AM

I totally second you Jennifer, Mick Peat and Lester Simpson's show is much better, and the best part is that even if you don't live in the East Midlands, you can listen on the web!

Click here!

Muppitz x

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 04:17 AM

There actually was a great folk music programme on BBC radio Leeds/Humber, Henry Ayrtons Real Music Show, but he was playing too much real folk music so the BBC axed it.

Shame about Mike Harding, I suspect that he just plays what he's told
to play, he was a good performer and a good comedian but a lousy radio presenter, he continuously talks over his guests and everything he plays is " for my money, thats the best ever "

Jim Lloyd was the last good Folk on 2 presenter.

eric

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Fee
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 05:04 AM

Hmmm...I stopped listening to it to be honest, I do find it very samey and, as many have said above, the request shows are a bit of a joke!.

However, for all the constructive criticism I've seen over the past few years, of both Mike Harding's show and the attitude of the BBC toward traditional music in general (on both their own discussion boards and elsewhere) NOTHING ever seems to change!. OK they gave Eliza Carthy a WHOLE hour and half (!) to cover the entire British folk revival (!!) earlier this year...but that hardly redresses the balance does it??.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 05:34 AM

What might be productive is if Folk (of whatever sort most of us would recognise) were played on "normal" radio shows -- Wogan and the like. People with no experience of Folk would get exposed to it, and some of them would find they like it. That way, Folk would be on a footing closer to that or conventional music, and might well become more widely popular. Nothing wrong with specialist Folk shows (if we had any), but they only preach to the converted.

Steve

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Piers
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 05:43 AM

I have also stopped listening to Mike Harding's show, not just because of him being annoying, but because of the music he plays. All the regional radio trad/folk shows I've heard have better stuff on them.

He seems to be part of this project to make folky music the new pop, with charts for the best sellers, fawning teenagers asking for interviews round the backdoor of stadiums, brightly coloured magazines full of idolatrous praise for the next big thing. It's all rather distasteful I feel.


Piers

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 06:34 AM

I'm sure Mike does his best.

I don't know whether he gets told to play what he does.

I'm convinced its not really him. Its the whole situation thats gone tits up really. We have all these tv channels. Surely us lot should have one of them. if all these idiots making pornography can make a viable channel - surely all of us together should be able to support one decent radio station, and one tv channel.

What brought it home to me like being hit with a brick was when Roger Brooks died last year.... Many of us on the folk scene really loved Roger and his songs and yet he had gone his whole career never even getting on local folk radio. In my opimion he was the very best songwriter the folkscene produced in the 70's.

The same thing is happening now with Jack Hudson. It ain't right.

You can't lay it all at Mike Harding's door. he has the misfortune to be the face of folk music on the mighty institution, the BBC. he was a fine performer for many years on the folk scene, and if Paul weller's efforts seem to him to be of significance, well its not the end of the world.......it's folk Jim, but not as we know it.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST,Daisy
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 10:20 AM

By an amazing coincidence, I'm actually listening to this very show at the moment. As a Northumbrian piper, I'm very glad to hear the Kathryn Tickell piece.
But Jennifer, I have to agree about the hyperbole! Every single track is "the best X ever" or from "one of the best musicians in the whole of X"! I once counted the superlatives in one of his shows and was going to put it in a graph of 'wonderful', 'brilliant', 'fantastic's etc plotted against ordinary words and send it in.
I couldn't be bothered in the end though.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 15 Oct 04 - 11:15 AM

An ex-editor of Classic Boat magazine once wrote about 'Baltic Trader Syndrome'. This meant the regular pillorying he got from fanatics of the aformentioned craft for not featuring lots more articles about Baltic Traders, when they only made up less than one percent of his readership.

I suspect this hapless disc jockey is a victim of the same whinge from a minority minority. I was stuck in the car for last Wednesday's programme on the wireless, and it was better than the one before (just!) and the one after

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 11:43 AM

Greg, this thread (and others in the same vein) shouldn't be 'bitching about Mike Harding', but should be about the question (relevant here in Germany too): Who is public service broadcasting for? Mike is doing a programme that is meant to appeal to people outside the folk scene, and that's ok. However, do folkies not have the right to hear programmes that are a bit more tailored to their interests? We do pay our licence fee like anybody else, after all, and there were times when the public broadcasters accepted this. No longer, in these days of 'mass appeal', where audience figures seem to be accepted as the only guide to a programme's quality ...

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: BanjoRay
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 06:38 PM

The Mike Harding show is brilliant, an excellent example of what the broadcasting media should be doing for the folk music world. This favourable comment has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I should be on it next Wednesday, being interviewed (at Sidmouth this year)along with Debby McClatchy about the Old Time music scene in the UK.
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Teresa
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 07:15 PM

Oh, I was wondering what happened to debby. I'll have to give that a listen. I don't normally listen for the reasons stated above, but this one sounds neat.

T

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 16 Oct 04 - 10:04 PM

I prefer the Archie Fisher show on Radio Scotland. Whilst he does not play a lot of south of Engand folk music he has more variety in terms of the less well known Scottish and Irish bands. He had a good interview with Jez Lowe last week and he seems to feature a lot of stuff about events in Scotland.

I listen to MH each week just to hear whats going on as out here in China folk music programmes are as rare as rocking horse pooh.

Still trying to hear Murkey Chris's show.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 03:46 AM

The question should be, given that Smooth Operations produce the Mike Harding show and the Nick Barraclough show, why does the Mikes show have such a wide remit but Nick gets to play only country music?

eric

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 04:13 AM

Folk, Roots and Accoustic music, what's that then?

I bet many of the people posting above couldn't agree on that bit called Folk.

Do all those critics enjoy every song or tune at the folk club or every guest or every track on every CD by somebody they really like? I guess probably not, I certainly don't. A programme could not be made that would please all of the people all of the time. A programme could not be made that would please most of the people who are complaining in this thread.

As for the personal attacks well........ if you don't like his style fair enough. I have seen Mike in small clubs and large halls. We laughed until we ached and so did most of the people present. He is a very funny man. He also sings and plays a range of instruments well and has written some good songs and some funny plays but I guess none of that matters.

I don't really know him though I have chatted to him a few times across the years and have some knowledge of his involvement in other aspects of life. I have no reason to think other than that he is an honest straightforward bloke who happens to know a immense amount about folk music and the people who make it.

I understand that most programmes are a trade off between a number of people and the presenter is one of them. It sounds to me like Mike is playing the music he likes so I don't think somebody is telling him what to play.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 05:23 AM

If such is the case Les it should be called ' Mike Hardings Favourites '

eric

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 05:35 AM

Ok lets see what the extremes are here.

1. Mike Harding is doing what he is told to do

2. Mike Harding is playing what he likes with no reference to anything or anybody in the Folk world, whatever that is.

I think he strikes a reasonable balance between what is going on in the world of folk and is on view of it. A bit too countryish for me but there you go.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Eye Lander
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 05:55 AM

Well I personally have to say a BIG BIG thank you to Mike Harding, if it wasn't for his programme nearly 3 years ago now I would never have found the folk scene, so I am eternally grateful. Have any of you thought about writing to Smooth Operations with your complaints, rather than just slagging off the presenter? Do we actually know that Mike chooses the music? I do agree that there is too much non folky music being played now, but may be that's because I like the old traditional stuff now. I loved the prog on Bob Copper the other night now that's my sort of folk.

Jillie

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 09:51 AM

Well, of course the introductions are hyperbolic - what competent MC, live or on radio, is going to run down the act he/she is introducing? And there is so much good stuff going on in Britain (which some people think only has Celtic), that there is no justification for including rubbish in the show at all, so it must all be good...?

There are lots of good people who never get played, and I find the request selections pretty much in a rut. I just think it's a crying shame that the BBC gives so little air time to British folk music (even when you take Late Junction into account).

Kitty

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST,punkfolkroots rocker
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 10:26 AM

OK.. i've avoided his radioshow for a good 4 years now
because theres something about his presentational style
and 'humerous' personality
that rubs me up the wrong way..
and no..
i'm not a disgruntled isolationist trad folk purist by any means..
so does he still TALK OVER the intros and ends
of live sesion recordings....
i'm sure [if my memory is still reasonably functional..]
the last straw for me
was when he TALKED OVER the middle section
of a live song !!!!
maybe its a music biz anti-piracy legal requirement
forced on mike harding to deliberately
**** up the musical enjoyment
of home cassette and CD recorder owners..
or maybe he just considers himself more important
than the artists he's presenting..
and he couldn't care less about ruining
highly desirable commercially unavailable
live session recordings..
thanks for reading..
[yes.. its me again..]

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST,Miskin Man
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 01:12 PM

ok so far! I agree with everybody. and disagree with most!! I do not believe for one moment that poor old Mike gets to play only the tracks he likes. Thats why there are producers and researchers etc.He is a highly qualified and folk immersed front man, doing a very difficult job in the face of a constant tirade of abuse from the very people he is attempting to entertain. He has a great repertoire and some of his own songs are stunning. How many of those do we hear on the prog.? I would have given up ages ago. Just a quick clue to the content of the Nick Baraclough country show content could be in the title of the show!!
It is also of course Traditional that "we" complain about BBC folk output, surely you remember when "Country tried hard to meet Folk" and never quite did. The Beeb seem determined to indoctrinate us with country though ever since. It puts me in mind of another oxymoronic programme title" The organist entertains" but then I digress.
What relly annoys me is that with so little time for "our" folk music it is diluted by almost any pop, jazz or country track that can find an excuse to be included.
One answer of course is not to listen. Works for me most of the time! Instead have a listen to Frank Hennessey on Radio Wales - 3 yes three hours of mostly our music every week. With a show that long even I can bear the occasional "You shawt my dawg" song.
Best wishes all and be thankful that years ago Miskin was declared a Line Dance Free Zone. ( Tee Hee)
Andy

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 02:07 PM

I was with most of that but I think he does play a lot of good music. I guess some peoles likes are narrow? Nothing wrong with that at all, just an observation

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST,MurkeyChris
Date: 17 Oct 04 - 09:41 PM

I don't think it's is a case of people having narrow tastes . I have very eclectic music tastes (I'd list my top three artists as Richard Thompson, Peter Gabriel and Basement Jaxx). But what specialist radio shows do is provide a slot where we can listen to one genre of music. The Mike Harding Show plays 'folk, roots and acoustic music' which is fair enough but it's a pretty wide remit. Me and lots and lot of other people have an interest in music that is pretty firmly based in the traditions of Britain and Ireland, which is what I'm referring to when I say folk. There is a thriving folk scene that's having quite a renaissance at the moment, and yet still the BBC doesn't see fit to give us a show devoted to it. Good as a lot of the music Mike Harding plays is, the country/bluesy/poppy stuff squeezes out folk music that isn't going to get played anywhere else (except maybe Late Junction) and tracks by the likes of Sinead O'Connor and Paul Weller take time away from brilliant folk artists who have to struggle to gain any exposure.

Before you accuse me of conniving, I didn't deliberately start this thread to plug my show, it started as a genuine show of annoyance on the BBC website. But seeing as I'm here, feel free to check out my thread on it! It's called 'Cool as Folk' and I'm playing British folk music in it's many forms, from Martin Carthy to Martyn Bennett. I've posted some playlists there so you can see if what I'm playing beats what Mike is playing! Oh and I'm very receptive to requests and keen to plug new talent.

Chris

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 09:56 AM

Chris just hit the nail on the head. MH states at the outset that the show is for 'folk, roots and acoustic music'. Isn't that precisely what he plays?

If you don't like Mike, listen to Archie's programme, or Mick & Lester - both available over the internet and lots of good stuff on there.

Johnny (Strollin' and not Moanin') :0)

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST,Mike Harding
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 09:58 AM

Bugger off you lot!

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST,MurkeyChris
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 10:05 AM

He he sorry Mike. You know I'm just jealous really!

Put Archie's programme on a national radio station and I will listen!

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: John Routledge
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 10:23 AM

Shouldn't this thread be titled

"The sort of Folk Programme I would like to hear"

As pointed out by Chris MH does not purport to present a programme exclusively of Folk.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 12:09 PM

Well I like the programme anyway, and Mike is rather dishy isn't he?

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Chris Green
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 12:11 PM

I like some of the stuff Mike Harding plays, and I don't like some of it. It is, after all, a radio show and you can't please all of the people all of the time. He has a wide-ranging remit and I think does pretty well!

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 12:39 PM

John, Ted, Duelling, your posts are oases of sense and reason in the desert of bollocks this thread has become. I salute you, gentlemen.
SJ :0)

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: John J
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 12:53 PM

Every now and then I listen to the programme but it's yet to impress me with it's content. It's a shame because MH is a decent singer & musician, at least he was some years ago.

I now listen to BBC R Scotland (quite audible in Manchester with a decent radio) and RTE + some local BBC stations that have folk song and music programmes.

John

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 04:45 AM

A few years ago on BBC Radio 2 there were two country programmes and one folk programme, now we have two country programmes and Mike Harding's programme which plays everything, WHY ?

eric

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 04:53 AM

Murkey - "put archies show on a national radio station and I'll listen"

Archies show is available over the website - as is your show I believe. If you think its too much bother to listen to it that way, then how do you expect anyone to tune into your show? Could you get the 'listen again' to work soon as well.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Alio
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 05:07 AM

Murkey Chris - I played Bellowhead on my show quite a while ago - it was my album of the month when it came out!

It can be quite difficult getting the balance right if you're presenting a weekly show.

I do get to choose all my tracks (except those Laura selects for her weekly young person's slot) but I have to remind myself constantly that I need to provide a diverse range of "folk" material; it would be great if I could choose just what I particularly like to hear! I try to concentrate on / reflect what's going on in the Greater Manchester area - local clubs and festivals, artists residing in the area or performing in it etc..

But an hour goes all too quickly!!!

Ali

BBC GMR Sounds of Folk

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 09:59 AM

Conversely, Paul Jones' Blues programme, Next week ie 17th, features Shirley Collins! (Shome mishtake, Shirley!).

RtS
(First time Herself & I went out as a couple was to a Shirley & Dollly Collins concert in sunny Aberystwyth:it was supposed to be Arthur Brown but he cancelled -head on fire??!).

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Fee
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 10:09 AM

Slightly Off Topic...some confusion here, the BELLOWhead EP 'e.p.onymous' (J&J + 8 piece band do material from Bellow, but louder) isn't out until the end of October (I believe), whereas 'Bellow' has of course been out for ages....

Theres a posting by Squeezy in the BELLOWHEAD section of the Message Board about the EP:

http://www.squeezy.fsnet.co.uk/spiers_boden/


.....Now I'm off to find GMR on the Beeb website...:o)

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST,MurkeyChris
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 12:51 PM

Hey guest,

Good point, and I do mean to tune into GMR and Archies show, but like lots of people I don't have good enough Internet to listen from home. We've got broadband at uni which I use to listen back to programmes with a listen back feature, but it'd be nice if I could hear the kind of show I've been talking about on national radio.

The good news is the listen back feature for my show is working again so people can hear it any time all week online. Not as good as having a national show, but who knows in the future...!

Chris

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Ralphie
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 05:28 AM

A tangential moment here, If I may.
Take a look at the Late Junction, and Andy Kershaw programmes on BBC Radio 3. (Not to mention the good things that BBC TV 4 have done)
Life is much better for the the viewer/listener nowadays, than it has been for the last 30 years.
IMHO the MH show is an intro to "our kind of music" (to steal a David Jacobs catchphrase!)
I work there, but I tread very carefully....
Positive comments & suggestions to the various Beeb message boards are Firstly appreciated, and Secondly, acted upon.
Keep it positive guys and gals, and we will get more....
And a big up for the Radio Derby show....Shit Hot!!
Ralphie.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: pavane
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 11:01 AM

Unfortunately, the MH show is about the only one I get a chance to tune in to. I don't yet have broadband at home, as it was not available in our area until recently. And I work away from home all week, so I can't get anything else (no TV, no Internet).

I do have a number of old programs on tape, going back to Folk Song Cellar (C 1965?), and agree that some of these were DIRE! That doesn't mean that we couldn't do better, still using many of the relatively unknown performers who can be seen in the clubs, rather than the few 'celebs' on the current list.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 11:31 AM

It's like the proverbial curates egg - good in parts. The only thing we will never agreee on is which parts!

There is other folk played on Radio 2. The 1/2 hour odd slots they do are often folk related. Bob Harris plays a lot of folk - from all over the world (including England!) on his Friday and Saturday shows as well as in new country.

Most of the presenters do, quite often, play folk music. I have heard Mike Silver on the Wogan show, Les Barker played on Ken Bruce and Sarah Kennedy and even Steve Wright has been known to play Jim Moray!

OK - It's not ideal but we are getting there. Come the revolution brothers we will all wear arran pullies and beards. Even the women...

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Folkiedave
Date: 20 Oct 04 - 05:59 PM

Tonight Wednesday Radio three Late Junction - Kerfuffle (who might just make it to the final of the Young Tradition Awards if you can get a bet with a bookmaker take it!! Followed by Shirley and Dolly Collins at Sidmouth.

Brilliant. And that's only 30 mins into programme.

To anyone responsible - keep up the good work......

Dave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 06:24 AM

I've just sent this message to the BBC feedback page.

Whilst the current programme on Radio 2 (the Mike Harding show) is very popular with a lot of listeners, an additional programme which concentrates on the traditional music and song of the British Isles would be popular too. The current programme has a very wide remit and tends to concentrate on the more well known aspects of folk, roots and acoustic music; a more specialist programme could introduce less well known artists, cover festivals, concerts, clubs and sessions, thereby alerting listeners to more of what is going on around the country. Country music, which is not indigenous to these islands, has two programmes of one hour each. In the past, the BBC has championed traditional music by sponsoring collectors, such as the late Bob Copper (as featured recently in a documentary on BBC4) and to show that folk music is at least the equal of its modern American contemporary would be most welcome.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: muppett
Date: 21 Oct 04 - 06:35 AM

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 22 Oct 04 - 05:23 AM

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: muppett
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 08:20 AM

I'm listening to the recording of last night's show and he played the song that came 2nd (or last) in the text request. What do you read into that then !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 10:49 AM

Compare the similarly-billed Harding and Paul Jones programmes that advertised "including a chat with" a special guest.
Last week or the week before, Mike H's billed "special interview" slot devoted less than ten minutes in total out of the hour's show to Debby McClatchy and Banjo Ray between them (much of which time was taken up with playing album tracks), and what little chat there was, it was superficial at best;
whereas Paul Jones last week had a brilliant, informative and detailed chat with Shirley Collins about her American trip with Alan Lomax in '59 that took up the whole show.
Unless I've missed something really basic here, I think that comparison speaks volumes about how seriously the different programmes take their listeners. Need I say more?

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 01:37 PM

..and i still ask the same question
i asked earlier..
about the fundamental reason i can no longer
be bothered with Mike Hardings's show..

does he still show disrespect and disregard
for
artists and listeners

by TALKING OVER

live/studio session recordings..!!??

and thus ruining otherwise unobtainable music...

Btw.. one major issue about other regional shows
being available via overhyped internet broadband..
the sound quality can still be abysmal anddisapointing
to try to enjoy fully..

it seems modern technological progress
has taken us back closer to the days of crystal radio reception..

anyway, it would be more appropriate and convenient
if mick pete etc were more easily available
in 'hi fi' via sky satellite
or nationwide DAB..

[anyone know if real progress is being made in this direction..?]

cheers..

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 01:40 PM

I like Mike's show. It's not going to please everyone, but the music is good. We have terrible radio here in the states! BBC is a welcome change! In the old days it was the opposite I hear... I'm just a wee lad ya know.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 02:02 PM

Muppet-I heard it as well, I reckon that "text in for your track to be played" thing, was a complete bloody con!
for them that don't know what were on about=
Last week Mike Harding gave a special text number for people to get their choice [out of 2 selections!] played on air, last week they played the wnner, this week they played the runner up [Martin Carthy].

I reckon the text lark was a money making scam, with the money raised from texts either going to Mike Harding, Smooth Operations or the BBC.

you see a lot of this nowadays, ie on the BBC car programme Top Gear, they asked a ridiculousy easy question, ie What is that hot yellow thing that shines in the sky, and rhymes with bun
A-The Sun
B-Tony Blair
or C-A cheese and onion sandwidge?

texts cost a pound each, complete bloody con.

Anyway, mike harding show is crap, he describes everything as "Fantastic!, plays the same stuff all the time, [Eliza Carthy, Kate Rusby, or Cara Dillon], and he talks over the records.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 02:05 PM

Yes John, I heard that. He didn't play the Fotheringay tune, but he played Martin Carthy. I still thought it was a good show, but that perplexed me...

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 03:41 PM

The sun, jOhn.

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: muppett
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 09:01 AM

Here's a thought re the so called text in scam,

The programme runs for a little under an hour, so maybe The Martin Carthy song wasn't played originally because of time constraints ?

Subject: RE: Bitching about the Mike Harding show
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 07:06 PM

Programme minus news at the beginning and trailer for something in the middle that we are not interested in is about 57 mins, minus Banks of the Nile, about 48 mins, minus Famous Flower of Serving Men about 38 mins. Time for a few fantastics, bluegrass, country, American singer songwriter stuff, R&B, this weeks top ten, Kate Rusby, what we're having next week, plugs for Young Folk Oblivion award, plugs for Folk Oscars and there is still plenty of time left over for more of the best in folk, acoustic and roots music.