Wednesday, 22 April 2026

A mix for Andy Kershaw

This mix includes two tracks by Ted Hawkins who Andy Kershaw persuaded to come over to the UK after he saw him busking in his native USA. I saw Ted play a spellbinding gig in Edinburgh at the Queen's Hall. It was quite unlike any other gig I had seen or have been to since. The power and emotion of one man with an acoustic guitar was quite something to behold. 

Andy was a huge fan of Dylan so there's a song by him and his first job in the music world was, I think, as a roadie for Billy Bragg so he's on the playlist too. I read a tribute to Andy from Robyn Hitchcock. Sounds like the two of them were good friends. And at the end of the mix are two tracks by African musicians including the Bhundu Boys   

Listen to my selections on Mixcloud

Ted Hawkins - Watch Your Step
Bob Dylan - Farewell, Angelina
Billy Bragg - Moving The Goalposts
Spiro - Shaft
Jon Boden - When The Walls Come Tumbling Down
Coral Rojo - Vuela Golondrina
Robyn Hitchcock - I Often Dream of Trains
This Is The Kit - Take You To Sleep
17 Hippies - Kaukapol
Ted Hawkins - Peace and Happiness
Piers Faccini & Ballake Sissoko - By Your Hand
The Tiger Lillies - Golden Brown
Alison De Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves - Lonesome Blues
Bukka White - Parchman Farm Blues
Bhundu Boys - Hatisi Tose
Miriam Makeba - Umam'Uyajabula


 

Thursday, 16 April 2026

OTBT Irish music mix April 2026

Having heard of the death of Clannad singer Moya Brennan I've put together a mix of music by mostly Irish singers and bands. You can listen to it now on Mixcloud.

The Pogues - Dirty Old Town
The Dubliners - Whiskey in the Jar
Polly Barrett - P Stand For Paddy
Cara Dillon - Black is the Colour
Van Morrison - Dweller On The Threshold
Nuala Kennedy - Death and the Lady
The Alt - What Put The Blood
Clannad - Theme From Harry's Game
Karan Casey - The Fiddle and The Drum
Oisin Leech - Malin Gales (ft. Dónal Lunny, Tony Garnier, Roisin McGrory)
Kate Bush - Hello Earth
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh - Western Highway
Simon Murphy - Ghosts
Grainne Duffy - Killycrum
Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle w/ Heidi Talbot - Bedlam Boys 


Friday, 10 April 2026

Off The Beaten Tracks 13 April 2026

Playlist for my Ginger Feather FM show for the week starting Monday the 13th April. You can listen now on Mixcloud

The Unthanks play Lancaster Grand theatre on Friday the 1st of May. 

Show of Hands - Roots
ATFK - It's Meant To Feel Better Than It Looks
The Unthanks - Nobody Knew She Was There
Billy Bragg and The Blokes - England, Half English
Kathryn Roberts - Baby Can I Hold You
Belshazzar's Feast - The Wild Rover
The Haar - The Lakes of Pontchartrain
The Chair - The Dark Maid
The Alt - Falkirk Fair
Skipinnish - Alba
Ewen McLennan - Wild Mountain Thyme
Richard Thompson - Train Don't Leave
Bonnie Raitt - When The Spell is Broken
Tom Waits - Frank's Song 


Saturday, 4 April 2026

Easter Mix

I felt like putting a mix together with a vaguely religious theme for Easter weekend. 

Listen on Mixcloud 

Patti Smith - Gloria In Excelsis Deo
The Black Crowes - Good Friday
Nirvana - Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam
Raphael Rudd - Magic Grace
Frank Turner - Glory Hallelujah
Kula Shaker - Great Hosannah
John Mellencamp - John The Revelator
Manic Street Preachers - Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel
George Harrison - P2 Vatican Blues
John Lennon - God
Johnny Cash - Personal Jesus
Blind Boys of Alabama - Jesus Gonna Be Here
Jackie Venson - Down By The Riverside / Up Above My Head
Reverend Freakchild - Death Don't Have No Mercy
Bob Dylan - Gates of Eden 


Thursday, 2 April 2026

Off The Beaten Tracks 6 April 2026

To coincide with the Artemis II moon mission I've selected songs and instrumental pieces with a lunar theme including two numbers from Fairport's most recent studio album Shuffle and Go. 

Listen now on Mixcloud or from Monday on Ginger Feather FM

The Imagined Village - Space Girl 
John Renbourn & Wizz Jones - Balham Moon 
Fairport Convention - Moondust And Solitude 
Megan Henderson - Flight of Fancy 
Karine Polwart - Whole of The Moon 
Salt House - Staring At Stars 
Kate Rusby - Daughter of Heaven 
Eddi Reader - Moon River 
Bill Malkin & Band Wagon - Expecting To Fly 
Honey & The Bear - Everything Will Be Ok 
Bella Hardy - Full Moon Over Amsterdam 
RURA - Journeys Home 
Fairport Convention - Shuffle and Go