My Mostly Folk radio show is on a break.
The show's focus was primarily Sussex and its traditions, people, folklore and music from traditional folk to singer-songwriter. A few snippets from interviews below. I'll be adding more as I have time. I'm grateful to the guests I hunted down and cajoled to take part, especially for a community show that meant none of them were paid.
Lloyd Stebbings of Allchorn Maritime in Eastbourne talks about the heroism of Bones Hide and his crew, former members of the RNLI.
Lloyd and his team are busy renovating the William Allchorn and Southern Queen pleasure boats. It's free to visit on Mondays at Fisherman's Green and there's a museum dedicated to Eastbourne's pleasure boating history.
Folklorist, Dr Jacqueline Simpson, author of The Folklore of Sussex, appears on a few shows. Here she tells us the story of The Lyminster Knucker
The Copper family of Sussex are a living continuation of singing tradition and have been singing, collecting and recording folk songs through generations. Clip from them here
Film maker Andrew Kötting talks about The Whalebone Box, swans, Wilder Mann, straw bears and film making with Eden, his daughter. I met him at his George Street studio in Hastings.
November 2019's Mostly Folk was dedicated to The Moon & The Sledgehammer, an extraordinary documentary film about a real Sussex family, directed by Philip Trevelyan, filmed in 1969 and released in 1971.
Maxine Peake clip
Brian Hoggard has been researching the archaeology and history of folk magic since 1998.
Ami Bouhassane, Director at Farleys House & Gallery and the Trustee & Curator of Lee Miller Archives talks about her grandparents, Lee Miller & Roland Penrose.
Dave Rannie of Long Man Morris talks about Toad in the Hole (2019)
I spent a morning with Noel Dumbrell and his wife Doreen, chatting with Noel about his life and recording his songs. Noel lives locally and at the time of recording in 2015 was still out singing every week. This is Noel's version of Buttercup Joe, with lyrics telling of the characters in the village of Ashurst, West Sussex, where he grew up.
Simon Meader of Hunters Moon Morris appears on a few shows, talking about Morris tradition. Here he is talking about The John Barleycorn song and dance.
Harriet Tait, Chair of Trustees at The Mint House in Pevensey, tells the ghost story from the house; the cuckold's revenge.
