Throughout this four-part radio documentary series, English fiddle player Seth Lakeman examined folk music from Scotland, England, Ireland, and Wales, asking what makes each tradition unique.
4 x 1-hour documentary
Folk artist, Seth Lakeman, took listeners around Scotland, England, Ireland, and Wales, hearing from a range of other folk musicians who discuss the distinct characteristics and identities inherent in each tradition.
The first instalment saw Seth travelling around Scotland, talking to fellow fiddle player John McCusker, Gaelic harpist Rachel Newton, accordion player Phil Cunningham, folk singer Karine Polwart, Celtic Connections Festival organizer Donald Shaw, young folk artist Iona Fyfe, and host of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show Mark Radcliffe.
Episode two focused on English folk music, hearing from Yorkshire folk singers Eliza Carthy and Fay Hield, Oxford-based Jackie Oates, self-styled Wessex Boy Frank Turner, Devonian artists Geoff Lakeman and Steve Knightly, Cornish shanty singers Fisherman’s Friends, London folk singers Sam Sweeney and Lisa Knapp, Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson, The Oysterband’s John Jones, fiddle player Sam Lee, and actor and music fan Martin Freeman.
Seth's attention turned to Wales in the third episode. He spoke to Welsh harpist Catrin Finch, singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph, folk singer Gwilym Bowen Rhys, Iolo Whelan of Pendevig, fiddle player Oliver Wilson Dickson, singer Gwyneth Glyn, and five-piece band Calan.
The fourth and final episode concluded with Ireland, where Seth heard from Dublin band Lankum, singer Brian Kennedy, Mike Mathieson of Mad Dog Mcrea, Northern Irish folk singer Cara Dillon, Moya Brennan of Clannad, musician Odhran Mullen, folk singer Daoiri Farrell, harpist Lauren O’Neill, and winners of the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Lifetime Achievement award Dervish.
