Episodes

  • Folk on Foot Classic: Olivia Chaney at the House on Hawnby Moor
    Mar 29 2026

    Enjoy this classic episode from September 2021.


    Olivia Chaney wrote many of the songs for her critically acclaimed second solo album whilst living alone without electricity or mains water at her family’s remote and crumbling farmhouse on Hawnby Moor in North Yorkshire. On a hot summer’s day, she takes Matthew Bannister back across the Moor, singing and playing along the way, circled by curlews and lapwings, to share the atmospheric isolation that brought her inspiration.

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    Find out more about Olivia at https://www.oliviachaney.com/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    46 mins
  • Lady Maisery in Petworth Park
    Mar 20 2026

    We’ve been trying to get Lady Maisery to walk with us on Folk on Foot for ages, so when Matthew heard they were playing a gig in the town of Petworth near where he lives in West Sussex, he invited them to join him in the spacious grounds of Petworth House. With the stately home and the Capability Brown designed landscape in the background, Hazel Askew, Hannah James and Rowan Rheingans brought harp, accordion, fiddle and banjo and added their soaring vocal harmonies. A fascinating insight into the talented musicians who make up one of our finest folk trios.


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    We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...


    Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot

    Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot

    Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com

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    Find out more about Lady Maisery at https://www.ladymaisery.com/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    57 mins
  • Official Folk Albums Chart Show—3rd March 2026
    Mar 3 2026

    This month’s show features music from Madra Salach, Ye Vagabonds, Tessa Rose Jackson, Rant, Eliza Marshall, Seth Lakeman and Miniseries. Lucy Shields has the album and gig news and Matthew announces the next episode of Folk on Foot.

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    We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...

    Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot

    Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot

    Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com

    Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot

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    Subscribe to the Folk Forecast to explore all the gigs and album news we ran through in the show: https://thefolkforecast.substack.com/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    46 mins
  • Folk on Foot Classic: Sandra Kerr (and Nancy Kerr) in Warkworth
    Feb 23 2026

    Enjoy this classic episode from January 2024.


    The beloved baggy cloth cat Bagpuss is fifty years old in 2024. We celebrate his birthday by visiting Sandra Kerr at her home in the Northumberland village of Warkworth. Sandra co-wrote and arranged the music for the series and provided some of the voices. In her cosy music room she shows us her Bagpuss souvenirs, reflects on the show’s enduring appeal and sings one of the songs. Then, on a walk along the River Coquet, Sandra looks back to the folk revival of the 1960s, recalling working as a nanny for Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in exchange for music lessons. Finally, she’s joined by her daughter Nancy Kerr to play traditional Northumbrian dance tunes. A warm, fascinating and entertaining meeting with one of the enduring stars of the folk world.

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    We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...

    Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot

    Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot

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    Find out more about Sandra at https://www.sandrakerr.net/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    59 mins
  • The Brothers Gillespie walking to Holy Island
    Feb 13 2026

    Join the Brothers Gillespie and their devoted fans on a walk across the sands from the Northumberland coast to Holy Island. As we follow in the footsteps of centuries of pilgrims, the Brothers' beautiful harmonies ring out across the waves and we hear stories of Saints Cuthbert and Aiden and King Oswald’s miraculous silver encased arm.


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    We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...


    Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot

    Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot

    Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com

    Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot


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    Find out more about the Brothers Gillespie at https://thebrothersgillespie.com/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • The Ffern Folk Guild in Devon with Alex Merry, Ben Edge, Charlie Cooper, Sam Lee and Zakia Sewell
    Jan 16 2026

    When Alex Merry of Boss Morris, artist Ben Edge, actor Charlie Cooper, singer and naturalist Sam Lee and broadcaster and author Zakia Sewell met in the spectacular Devon countryside to decide which folk projects should receive a share of a £50,000 grant from the organic perfume company Ffern, we couldn’t resist going along. We gathered these amazing talents around a campfire for a song from Sam. Then began a wide ranging discussion about why young people are increasingly fascinated by this country’s folk music and customs and why this connection matters. (Includes vivid descriptions of The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, The Padstow 'Obby 'Oss and the Flaming Tar Barrels of Ottery St. Mary).


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    We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...


    Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot

    Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot

    Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com

    Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot


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    Find out more about the Ffern Folk Guild at https://ffern.co/folk-foundation

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Winterfolk in West Yorkshire with O’Hooley and Tidow, Katie Spencer and Maddie Morris
    Dec 15 2025

    Throw another log on the fire, pour yourself a cup of something hot and cheering and come with us in search of Winterfolk in West Yorkshire. With Santa hat firmly in place, we walk with Katie Spencer in Golcar, meet up with Maddie Morris on their way to a Lefty Christmas gig and end up at a gorgeous Christmas homecoming concert with O’Hooley and Tidow in “The Cathedral of the Colne Valley” - St Bartholomew’s Church, Marsden. On the way we reflect on the meaning of Christmas, spare a thought for those without family and friends at this time of year and hear seasonal songs old and new. A warm glow is guaranteed.


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    We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...


    Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot

    Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot

    Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com

    Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot


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    Find out more about Katie at https://www.katiespencer.net/, Maddie at https://www.maddiemorrismusic.co.uk/ and O'Hooley & Tidow at https://ohooleyandtidow.com/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    54 mins
  • Gigspanner Big Band on “Turnstone”: Folk Album of the Year 2025 Nominee
    Dec 11 2025

    The Turnstone is an inquisitive bird that, as it name suggests, likes to overturn stones and seaweed in its search for food. That’s how the members of the Gigspanner Big Band see their hunt for the finest traditional songs to re-arrange, burnish and present for our delight. In this conversation with Matthew Bannister, the band’s Peter Knight, Hannah Martin and John Spiers share the stores behind the songs on their Folk Album of the Year nominated work “Turnstone”- and revel in the musical chemistry which allows the band to improvise much of their free flowing music.

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    We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...

    Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot

    Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot

    Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com

    Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot

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    Keep up to date with the Folk Album of the Year Award: https://www.folkonfoot.com/award

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    45 mins