The Old Songs Podcast

The Old Songs Podcast
  • 5.0 (4)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
The Old Songs Podcast

The Old Songs Podcast explores old songs – traditional, industrial, street ballads – one at a time. Learn where they came from, where they've been, who sung them and who sings them still. Most of the series is available on Mixcloud. Presented by traditional singer, Jon Wilks.

  1. The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep10 – ‘The Bury New Loom', ft. Jennifer Reid

    08/02/2023

    The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep10 – ‘The Bury New Loom', ft. Jennifer Reid

    Today, I'm talking to broadside ballads singer, Jennifer Reid. Although Jenn has been involved in researching and singing these songs for a decade, I'm ashamed to say that she only turned up on my radar when she appeared as the ballad-singing bar owner, Barb, in the recent BBC adaptation of The Gallows Pole. I've since discovered that she's a force to be reckoned with - one of the most passionate proponents of old songs that I've so far had the good fortune to meet. In this conversation, we d...

    45 min
  2. The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep9 – ‘Lord Douglas’, ft. Jim Moray

    06/08/2023

    The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep9 – ‘Lord Douglas’, ft. Jim Moray

    It’s been a while, hasn’t it? But, like buses, you wait ages for an Old Songs Podcast episode and then two come along in quick succession. Because this edition is the first in a two-part thing. Today, we’re chatting to Jim Moray about passing the two-decade mark as a professional musician, about one of my favourite of his traditional arrangements, the ballad 'Lord Douglas' [Roud 23], about a new album coming soon, and about an upcoming festival in his name. The second part to this podcast is ...

    1h 14m
  3. The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep8 – ‘Princess Royal’, ft. John Spiers

    01/28/2023

    The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep8 – ‘Princess Royal’, ft. John Spiers

    Episode 8 of the second series of The Old Songs Podcast, supported, so very kindly, by the English Folk Dance and Song Society, is an unusual one as it focuses on an old tune rather than an old song. Prepare yourself to delve into the background of one of the most well-known Morris dancing tunes, 'Princess Royal'. Joining Jon Wilks to discuss the tune is one of the country’s finest melodeon players, John Spiers, or "Squeezy" as he’s fondly known as on the English folk scene. Many of you ...

    58 min
  4. The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep7 – ‘The Gloucestershire Wassail / The Wassailing Song’, ft. Jon Wilks

    12/07/2022

    The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep7 – ‘The Gloucestershire Wassail / The Wassailing Song’, ft. Jon Wilks

    This Christmassy episode of the Old Songs Podcast turns the tables slightly, as Nick Hart interviews Jon Wilks about a traditional folk song of wintery note, 'The Gloucestershire Wassail' [Roud 209]. The pair chat about the history of the song, where it was collected, where it travelled to, what the lyrics might refer to, the definition of wassailing, and its connection to Britpop (or all things). Everything you ever wanted to know about 'The Wassailing Song' is right here in this episode, so...

    46 min
  5. The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep6 – ‘When I was on Horseback/ The Unfortunate Rake’, ft. Debbie Armour (Burd Ellen)

    11/23/2022

    The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep6 – ‘When I was on Horseback/ The Unfortunate Rake’, ft. Debbie Armour (Burd Ellen)

    Roud 2 goes under so many titles, it might be easier just to stick with 'Roud 2' and be done with it. Whether you know it as 'When I was on Horseback' or 'The Unfortunate Rake', or any of the other titles you may find, it's a grizzly old song with a fascinating history. And who better to discuss it with than Debbie Armour of Burd Ellen, always a fun person to chat with, not to mention an absolute font of folk knowledge. Debbie discusses the fact that it appears to be more than one song, the g...

    54 min
  6. The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep5 – ‘The Trees They Do Grow High’, ft. Emily Portman and Rob Harbron

    10/31/2022

    The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep5 – ‘The Trees They Do Grow High’, ft. Emily Portman and Rob Harbron

    Emily Portman, Rob Harbron and Jon Wilks discuss the traditional ballad, ‘The Trees They Do Grow High’ [Roud 31], a song that Emily and Rob have recorded for their new album, Time Was Away. Subjects covered include the duo’s first encounter with traditional folk music, their work with the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Emily’s interpretations of the song’s themes, its history, the source singer that Emily learned the song from, the modes and the melody, and how Rob goes about creating a...

    55 min
  7. The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep4 – ‘Shallow Brown’, ft. Angeline Morrison

    10/13/2022

    The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep4 – ‘Shallow Brown’, ft. Angeline Morrison

    'Shallow Brown' [Roud 2621] is a much-loved and rather mysterious traditional folk song. Collected on both coasts of the United States, as well as the South coast of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Canada, the most common versions of this mesmerising sea shanty hint at heart-breaking experiences of the transatlantic slave trade. In this, the fourth episode of the second series of The Old Songs Podcast, folk singers Angeline Morrison and Jon Wilks discuss the song's known history, the si...

    40 min
  8. The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep3 – ‘The Brisk Lad’, ft. Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith

    09/20/2022

    The Old Songs Podcast: Se2Ep3 – ‘The Brisk Lad’, ft. Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith

    'The Brisk Lad' [Roud 1667] was collected from Edith Sartin by the Hammond brothers in 1906 in Corscombe, Dorset. Also known as 'The Sheepstealer' and 'All I Have is My Own', it has been performed and recorded by many traditional folk singers over the ensuing century (and a bit). Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith chose to speak about the song here for its political content, and will be singing it at their Cecil Sharp House gig on October 5th (tickets are available here). Jimmy and Sid chat her...

    56 min
See All (23)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Old Songs Podcast explores old songs – traditional, industrial, street ballads – one at a time. Learn where they came from, where they've been, who sung them and who sings them still. Most of the series is available on Mixcloud. Presented by traditional singer, Jon Wilks.

Information

  • Creator
    The Old Songs Podcast
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2023
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 The Old Songs Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Old Songs Podcast

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