The Unthanks (Big Band) at the Bridgewater Hall last night with the Royal Northern Sinfonia.  28 people on stage...so God knows how they make much cash at under £40 a pop, but good on them.

Just absolutely gorgeous as you'd imagine.  There was quite a lot of emotion around (my Sue's Pa died a couple of weeks ago) so tissues were required at times.  Just very occasionally the subtlety of the band got lost but overall I'd say it was a resounding success.

My favourite live band of the moment by a country mile (although if pushed, I'd probably choose to see the 4/5 piece in a small venue like the Trades Club....

Sounds like a good evening.  Hope you enjoy it, David!

Touch and go for a while, but I think we will make it to Manchester Bridgewater Hall for the Unthanks in large format orchestral mode tonight (bit different from the Trades Club the other week).  It's a 20th Anniversary bash (good piece in Mojo btw if that's your thang).

And a summary of the conversation for those who like to keep a finger of the fast-forward button. One of the things I like - perversely - about David Hepworth is his refusal to do any research on his interviewees, and yet plough fearlessly toward them (like many gentlemen of his age) in the absolute certainty of his own rightness. Oddly, this makes him an ideal avatar for civilians coming to the subject for the first time.

 

Tonight, 9pm 'til 11pm : Scattering The Roots with Dan Ogus...two hours of the finest folk, roots, blues, etc...plenty of etc...

I've been sifting through my cavernous vaults to bring you some excellent music both new and vintage every Wednesday evening from 9pm 'til 11pm.

The next show goes out tonight, 9pm 'til 11pm (after Express FM Country), featuring the following artists :

Arielle, Jinder, Niall Kelly, Becky Jerams, Matthew Shepherd, Sandy Denny, Rich Jacques, Neil Young, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elton John, Emmylou Harris, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Blair Dunlop, Matthew Perryman Jones, Bri Murphy, Clive Gregson, Doobie Brothers, Sarah Dearlove, Micah Dorsey, Heart, Shawn Colvin, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Eagles...

Listen tonight, 9pm 'til 11pm on Portsmouth's Express FM, on DAB and online here :

https://www.expressfm.com/programmes/scattering-the-roots/

My dear friend and talented musician (stage name Toli Nameless) posted this on her FB, thought I’d share since she did some work with Sly & Robbie-

As one of the classic Jamaican musicians who took the time to mentor to myself and countless others... You will be sorely missed and irreplaceable at best. Sly Dunbar listened to every single demo that was handed to him. He gave his own version of feedback and with his, also gone too soon bassist partner, Robbie Shakespeare. They provided to the world moments to live and feel the joyfulness of musical frequency. Here's to all kinds of music and here's to you. Sly Dunbar has left this world in a much better vibration, one drop (rhythm) at a time. <3

"When you buy a reggae record, there's a 90% chance the drummer is Sly Dunbar," producer Brian Eno told the New Music New York festival in 1979. Legend indeed...RIP Sly.

Sly Dunbar, drumming half of the legendary Sly and Robbie, whose CV included such artists as Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Culture, Black Uhuru, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Jimmy Cliff, Mighty Diamonds, Sugar Minott, Grace Jones, Serge Gainsbourg, Bob Dylan, Sinéad O'Connor, Ian Dury, Joan Armatrading, Yoko Ono, the list goes on and on. Rest in peace, you legend.

Jules

A mix this week on Ginger Feather FM. Tune in at 8pm to hear...

Bert Jansch, Cara Dillon, Davy Graham, Eddi Reader, The Imagined Village, GNOSS, Leveret, Ninebarrow, Macmaster Hay, The Young 'Uns, Steeleye Span [ft David Bowie], Tide Lines, Gilmore Roberts and Darwin Song Project

https://www.internet-radio.com/station/gingerfeatherfm/

Forgot to mention : the tape is 40 years old.  1986 Pentangle.