Calling all folk artists from Britain and Ireland! Entries are now open for the Folk Album of the Year Award 2026. Thanks to our brilliant partners at @soundrootsuk.bsky.social. Find out more and enter your album at folkonfoot.com/award
Matthew Bannister
@matthewbannister.bsky.social
Broadcaster. Host of Last Word on BBC Radio 4 and my own multi award winning Folk on Foot podcast (@folkonfoot.com). Posts all personal.
A goddess who was turned into an owl inspired this song by Emily Portman. Her album “Dominion of Spells” is new in this month’s Official Folk Albums Chart. ▶️ Watch the full Chart Show here: youtu.be/jrAhPb0rqWk
The highest new entry in this month’s Official Folk Albums Chart is “Holywell” by Damien Dempsey, featuring traditional songs that “bring healing to his soul”. ▶️ Watch the full show here: youtu.be/jrAhPb0rqWk
It's almost time! Join us on YouTube from 7pm, as we count down this month's Official Folk Albums Chart. Plus, be one of the first to hear our exciting news about the 2026 Folk Album of the Year Award. 🏆🎶 Tune in here: youtu.be/jrAhPb0rqWk
Official Folk Albums Chart Show—4th August 2026
YouTube video by Folk On Foot
youtu.be
On this month’s Chart Show, Kellie While joins Matthew with news about the 2026 Folk Album of the Year Award. Plus, there's music from Sam Carter, Emily Portman, Peggy Seeger, Natalie Wildgoose, Phil Odgers and John Kettle, Fink and Damien Dempsey. ▶️ Watch from 7pm: youtu.be/jrAhPb0rqWk
The new Prime Minister is writing a "10-year plan" for the UK. The arts & culture MUST be part of it. I've signed @campaignforthearts.org's petition urging @andyburnham.bsky.social to revitalise the arts – to revitalise the whole nation 🌱 Join me: www.campaignforthearts.org/petitions/10-year-plan/
Prime Minister – put the arts in your 10-year plan for the UK | Campaign for the Arts
Sign our petition urging the UK Government to build a country where the arts are available from childhood, accessible to all and thriving everywhere.
campaignforthearts.org
The new Prime Minister is writing a "10-year plan" for the UK. @andyburnham.bsky.social the arts and culture MUST be part of it. We've launched an urgent petition to make sure the arts can play their part in revitalising the nation 🌱 Add your name ✏️ www.campaignforthearts.org/petitions/10...
In this classic episode of Folk on Foot, @caradillonsings.bsky.social and her husband and collaborator Sam Lakeman show Matthew around Dungiven in Northern Ireland, where Cara grew up. It's a fascinating episode, filled with songs and stories. 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/4bf703
Rob Cowen’s evocative description of the Thornborough Henges, re-imagined by the artist Imogen Taylor in this lovely animation. Find out more in our latest episode here: pod.fo/e/44c958 @robcowen.bsky.social @johnnyflynnmusic.bsky.social
🍺 On our walk with @robcowen.bsky.social at the Thornborough Henges, @johnnyflynnmusic.bsky.social recalls a close encounter with one of his favourite poets - Edward Thomas. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: pod.fo/e/44c958
Sitting in the centre of one of the ancient Thornborough Henges, @johnnyflynnmusic.bsky.social sings “Murmuration”. It’s one of many highlights of our walk with Johnny and award winning author, @robcowen.bsky.social. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: pod.fo/e/44c958
On our walk with @robcowen.bsky.social at the ancient Thornborough Henges in Yorkshire, @johnnyflynnmusic.bsky.social conjures “The Ghost of O’Donahue”. 👻🎶 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: pod.fo/e/44c958
⭕ Why are the Thornborough Henges in Yorkshire so special? @robcowen.bsky.social explains as we walk with him and @johnnyflynnmusic.bsky.social in our new episode, out now. 🎧Listen at pod.fo/e/44c958
We had a fascinating walk in these mystical places. Do have a listen..
Folk on Foot@folkonfoot.com · 4w ago🆕 New episode out now. Join us on a journey back to Neolithic times, as the award-winning author @robcowen.bsky.social and his friend, the actor and singer @johnnyflynnmusic.bsky.social, walk, talk, sing and play at the ancient Thornborough Henges in Yorkshire. 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/44c958
"You knock out the tiny, tiny gem of the Nottingham New Theatre, and suddenly the University itself loses its soul." Great interview with Ruth Wilson about the campaign to save Nottingham New Theatre on today’s Jeremy Vine Show. Starts at 00’31’46”. at www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Jeremy Vine - Security and boredom - BBC Sounds
Jeremy discusses security, theatre, motability and boredom.
bbc.co.uk
Frankie Archer’s electrifying debut album is a new entry at #8 in this month’s Official Folk Albums Chart. ▶️ Watch the full show here: youtu.be/oUud4tKckAE
And we're off! Tune in on YouTube now for this month's Official Folk Albums Chart Show. youtu.be/oUud4tKckAE?...
Official Folk Albums Chart Show—7th July 2026
YouTube video by Folk On Foot
youtu.be
This month's Official Folk Albums Chart Show features music from Frankie Archer, Karine Polwart & Pippa Murphy, Teddy Thompson, Adam Ross, Clementine Lovell, Tide Lines, @ryanyoungfiddle.bsky.social and @lauracannellmusic.bsky.social. ▶️ Watch on YouTube from 7pm BST: www.youtube.com/@FolkOnFoot
Excellent article by Richard Morrison in @thetimes about the campaign to Save Nottingham New Theatre. (Paywall may apply) Our universities are in crisis — this ruined theatre is the proof www.thetimes.com/article/430b...
Our universities are in crisis — this ruined theatre is the proof
Nottingham New Theatre is filthy and derelict: its decline represents a disturbing shift in the notion of what higher education could and should be
thetimes.com
Walk with @jonboden.bsky.social through the Loxley Valley, following the river to the abandoned factory that inspired the world of his Floodplain Trilogy in this classic episode from October 2018. 🎧 Listen now: pod.fo/e/43c0c0
🦁 On a walk around East Belfast, Joshua Burnside and Matthew Bannister end up in CS Lewis Square, chatting in the shadow of a giant sculpture of Aslan the Lion. 🎧 Find out more when you listen to the episode: pod.fo/e/4345de
In our new episode, Joshua Burnside performs the powerful title track of his album “It’s Not Going To Be Ok” - summing up the feelings many of us have about the pressures of modern life. 🎧 Listen to the episode: pod.fo/e/4345de
The Indoor Festival of Folk is back! Join @themagpiearc.bsky.social at Wiltshire Music Centre on 28th November for a jam-packed day with Martin Barre and Alex Hart, Chris Wood, Edgelarks and Ellie Gowers. Find out more: www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk/event/indoor...
In our new episode - out now - Joshua Burnside tells how writing songs helped him to cope with his grief, when his friend Dean Jendoubi died of a drugs overdose. 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/4345de
If you enjoyed this month's Chart Show, please support us to make more shows like this in the future. Whether you become a regular supporter or make a one-off donation, every penny helps to keep us going - thank you! www.folkonfoot.com/support-us
Support Us | Folk on Foot
folkonfoot.com
That's all for this month's Official Folk Albums Chart Show! Thanks to everyone who tuned in, and if you missed it, you can catch up on YouTube or listen to the podcast whenever you like for the next month. ▶️ Catch up now: youtu.be/XUyZzqyH8fM
Official Folk Albums Chart Show—2nd June 2026
YouTube video by Folk On Foot
youtu.be
This month’s Chart Show features music from @jimmoray.bsky.social, Natalie Wildgoose, Anna McLuckie, Lady Maisery with Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith, Lemoncello, @thelongestjohns.bsky.social, Ladylike and @chrisbrainmusic.bsky.social. ▶️ Tune in from 7pm BST: youtu.be/XUyZzqyH8fM
Join Angeline Morrison for a walk around North Cornwall, in this classic episode of Folk on Foot. Tune in to discover more about Angeline's acclaimed "Sorrow Songs" album, which tells stories of the Black British experience. 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/41dffc @angelcakepie2.bsky.social
🏆 Delighted that our episode with Goblin Band in the City of London has won a Gold Tower Award at the New York Festivals Radio Awards. Huge congratulations and thanks to the band and our wonderful Producer, @natalie-steed.bsky.social #NewYorkFestivals #StorytellersGala @newyorkfestivals.bsky.social
