Into 2012...

Wishing you a happy and invigorating New Year

Occupy Exeter and Sustrans...

...featured on  The Multifarious Mix  today. Listen again to the show - in two one-hour chunks - here.

Many, many thanks to Liz, Eamonn and Abdulla who spoke about the Occupation movement generally and about Occupy Exeter specifically. Also to Peter Grainger of Sustrans, working hard to make it viable and easier for people to get around on foot, by bike and using public transport. All answered some searching questions with conviction and eloquence.

Keep up to date with what is happening with Occupy Exeter on their Facebook page.

To contact Sustrans re sustainable transport issues, email info@sustrans.org.uk or particularly on issues concerning Exeter, Totnes and Torbay, email peter.grainger@sustrans.org.uk This is the email to use if you would like to volunteer to help locally with Sustrans.
Sustrans has a comprehensive and informative website with links to find out specifically what is happening with sunstainable transport in South West England.


Music played
Nicky Swann..I Want To Hold Your Hand..Matches & Dispatches
Katie Marie..3-1 (Live)..To the Journey
Billy Bragg..Waiting For The Great Leap Forward..Workers' Playtime
Bob Marley & The Wailers..Get Up Stand Up..Legend - The Best Of Bob Marley
Beygairat Brigade..Aalu Anday
Eartha Kitt..Let's Do It..My Heart Belongs To Daddy
The Roots Union..Love Is The Revolution..From The Gutter To the Stars
Kate Melua..Nine Million Bicycles
The Hollies..Bus Stop
Elvis Presley..Mystery Train..Classic Elvis
Ben & Alfie..Ziguincor..Taxi
Kris Drever..The Call & The Answer..Folk Against Fascism Vol. 1
Ian McKenzie & Friends..Whistling Blues..Last Chance
Lara Conley..Slow Jim..Apple Tree

Phonic FM events

Exeter theatres rule!

Thank you to all our guests today from Cygnet New Theatre, Exeter BikeShed Theatre and Exeter Northcott Theatre. 

Malcolm and Matt came in 
to tell us about the Cygnet New Theatre's current production, Alan Ackbourn's My Very Own Story. Matt acts as Percy who has what he believes is an exciting tale to tell but finds there are rival story tellers. Audiences have been thoroughly enjoying this production which continues until 10 December and again from 4 to 7 January.
Cygnet is a training theatre and Matt was an enthusiastic proponent of the repertory theatre style of training he has received which has enabled him to confidently tackle his part in this play. 
My Very Own Story is but part of a full programme of theatre and music on offer. Full details on the Cygnet New Theatre website,


Hugh Janes wrote After Dark which explores love and loss through the eyes of a woman who has seen it all. Hugh explained the fascinating process by which a written piece is transformed into a performance through collaboration with the cast and play director.  After Dark has undergone this process and Hugh is very  pleased with the production that has come out of it. The play begins its run at Exeter BikeShed Theatre from 12 to 17 December. It is directed by Katie Villa.
The BikeShed also offers a full range of other musical and theatrical performances including the seasonal Christmas Carol: Smoke and Whispers, a specially commissioned new version of the Dickens story by Shaun McCarthy.
Check out the Exeter BikeShed Theatre website for details of their programme.


Matt Newbury gave us the rundown on what is on and coming up at Exeter Northcott Theatre. Described as "a fun-filled frolic" by a Guardian critic, We're going on a Bear Hunt is based on Michael Rosen's award-winning book and is brought vividly and noisily onto stage by director Sally Cookson and a full cast. It runs from 8 December to 1 January. 
Listen to the ad for this show here.

The Northcott's Spring/Summer programme is being launched this week and includes the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Festival with performances by John Hegley, The Segue Sisters, Nicholas Parsons and Monkey Poet plus Thoroughly Modern Millie, an Exeter University Footlights Society presentation and an Uncommon Players / Northcott Theatre presentation of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads. Pick up the brochure at venues throughout Exeter or view the programme on the theatre's website.


Music played 
Alice Jemima..1 2 3 4..Alice Jemima
Gecko..Best Friend..Pigeon EP
Union Starr..I Know About Art
Madison Violet..Come As You Are..The Good In Goodbye
Antony & The Johnsons..Ghost..Swanlights
The Walker Brothers..The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore..The Collection
Beata Palya..Lover Man..Adieu Et Complexes
Mudskippers..Who Will Cry For Me?
Dave Wood..May the Kindness..Into The Light

Katie Marie..Red Light (Live)..To The Journey
Rob Halligan..Big Fat River..Dark Clouds Fighting
Gareth Davies-Jones..Borderland..Water & Light
Beirut..A Sunday Smile..The Flying Club Cup
Brendan Power..The Bucks Of Oranmore..Blow In
Peachy Farmer..Clover
Nic Jones..Teddy Bears' Picnic..In Search Of Nic Jones
Mr Acker Bilk..Stranger On The Shore
Eartha Kitt..Old Fashioned Girl..My Heart Belongs To Daddy
Cesaria Evora..Isolada..Voz D'Amor
Chris Woods..Woodcraft

Exeter Harvest

Today Andi Tobe and Ellie Parker told us all about the Exeter-based Harvest. Harvest works with local communities and individuals to encourage people to grow their own food and they do this through a wide range of activities.

The activities include
A series of practical hands-on workshops throughout the year aimed at giving people the skills and confidence to create and care for vegetable and fruit gardens
Work Together: help turning unused land into community growing space
City Fruit Harvest: collecting unwanted fruit from Exeter’s gardens and taking it to where it is needed
Seasonal events to celebrate all the achievements

If you want to get involved as a participant or volunteer, contact the Harvest team. 
Email andit@eci.org.uk or ellie@eci.org.uk

Find out more on the Harvest website.

Music chosen by Andi, Ellie and Martin:
Dave Wood..Song For TJ / Careless Love..Into The Light

Dick Gaughan..The Workers' Song..Handful Of Earth
Isley Brothers..Harvest For The World..Harvest For The World
Bob Marley & The Wailers..Jamming..Exodus
Ben & Alfie..Track 8 /Hot Ginger..Milestones
Voices In Common..Wassail..The Voice That Lives Inside You
The Wurzels..The Marrow Song (Oh What A Beauty)..
Peachy Farmer..Bubblintry..download

Union Starr..Real Fool..download
Juldeh Camara & Griselda Sanderson..White Wood..Traders
Rob Halligan..Elanor..Dark Clouds Fighting
Marcus Bonfanti..The Bittersweet / St James' Infirmary
Gotan Project..Peligro..Tango 3.0
Sion Russell Jones..Thinking Of You / Way Back When
Amadou & Mariam..Chantez-Chantez..The Magic Couple
Nic Jones..Teddy Bear's Picnic..In Search Of Nic Jones
Sion Russell Jones..Thinking Of You / Way Back When..And Suddenly...


Martin Hodge talked today to Sion Russell Jones on the phone about his music which has been heard at several festivals and on East Enders and Coronation Street! He's at Exeter Phoenix in the Cafe Bar for a free concert on Tuesday 6 December.
Check out his music here.

Special Concert for Phonic FM: Saturday 10 December

Dave Wood solo and collaborative sets plus


Mudskippers


Saturday 10 December. Doors open 19:30.
Tickets only £5 in advance from Exeter Phoenix Box Office: 01392 667080 Box office online
£6 on the door. See also this facebook page.
All profits to Phonic FM.

Dave Wood is highly regarded for his ability to re-interpret traditional songs and tunes as well as classics from The Beatles and Motown era. His own songs are particularly popular and his song May the Kindness has been recorded by the well known folk singer and musician Jackie Oates. His versatile use of open-tuned guitar and subtle bottleneck provide a backdrop for his rich, emotive voice. Whether on solo acoustic or electric guitar, or in combination with percussion and bass on original songs, Dave's highly individual guitar style shines.

Mudskippers are fast gaining a strong reputation for playing beautifully arranged, mainly self-penned and largely acoustic music. Their performance at Exeter Respect Festival was extremely well received.

This promises to be a special evening to entertain and delight music-lovers.

Magic Carpet

Many thanks to Rob Wynne of Magic Carpet for joining me on the show today. Hear the show again here.


Magic Carpet is a local charity providing high quality creative activities for people with learning difficulties and mental health issues, offering, in Rob's words, opportunities to "move people forward in their lives". They are based in Exeter and work in East Devon too.


A long time passionate supporter of Magic Carpet is musician Dave Wood. We played two tracks from his superb album Into The Light. They were Long Distance Love and Song For TJ.


Magic Carpet Projects include 

• D'Arts, being formed in Exeter to find and provide creative spaces for vulnerable people
• Say No To Bullying, promoting friendship and co-operation amongst people
• The sale of Greetings Cards and Calendars
• A community Choir, singing together in Exeter in December

Magic Carpet also works with Soundwaves, dedicated to helping people with and without learning difficulties come together and make music.


There is so much more that Magic Carpet does. 

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or just want to find out more, 
email rfw@magiccarpet-arts.co.uk and take a look at the Magic Carpet website.

Other recordings played

Bob Dylan..Working Man's Blues 2..Modern Times

Chris Wood..The Cottager's Reply..Trespasser

State Of Undress..Take Me To the Leader available from i-tunes: proceeds to the Royal British Legion and War Child 
Jamie Smith's Mabon..Nikolai The Dancing Bear..Live at the Grand Pavilion

From a mountain top in Nepal to a bear hunt in Exeter

I especially enjoyed the contributions today from all our extremely informative and interesting guests. I hope you did too.     Listen to the show again here.


Poet of the day on The Multifarious Mix was 
Joy Edwards who brought sparkle, glamour and humour to the proceedings. Joy read from her collection Flirting With Neptune and from The National  Poetry Anthology 2011 which features some of her poems. If you would like to buy Flirting With Neptune - a bargain at £5 - contact us. Joy read her poems: Flirting With Neptune, Hate Cuisine, Lament Of The Untattoed Lady and 2 others dedicated to her family. Find Joy on Facebook.

The mountain top referred to in the title was mentioned by Matt Norman from the Exeter Diamond Way Buddhist Centre. Matt spoke about how Buddhism affects his life, about different types of Buddhism and about his travels in Nepal, India and Tibet. This Friday 9 November at 19:15 there is a film about Tibetan Buddhism at Exeter Phoenix. It is called Looking For Ancient Tibet and includes scenes of a man who meditates in all weathers high in the Tibetan mountains.
Matt enthused about a visit to Exeter next Wednesday of Lama Ole Nydhal describing him as an inspiring teacher and the occasion as a great opportunity to see Lama Ole whose talk is open to all. Follow this link for full details of these events and regular happenings at the Exeter centre.


We played some recordings that Matt Norman brought along: 
Gandharbas musicians..Resham Phiriri..The Gandharbas Of Kathmandu
Nepathya..Resham..Resham from Nepal

Matt Newbury gave us a comprehensive and lively preview of what is coming up at Exeter Northcott Theatre. I hope you get some idea of how varied their programme is from the above illustrations showing (from left to right) Champloo Dance Company in White Caps, Michael Rosen's We're Going On A Bearhunt* and Friend Or Foe from storyteller Michael Morpurgo.
*hence the reference in the title!

This evening sees the first performance of a new play at Exeter BikeShed Theatre: A play concerning a farmer's radical attempt to restore his land to its supposed former glory and the differing reactions of his children or Bunnies for short. Bunnies is the first in-house production of the season in the premiere of Kieran Lynn's dark comedy.
BikeShed Theatre co-director David Lockwood join me and was delighted to tell us that Bunnies had this week won an award in London which will lead to a Spring 2012 three week run in Islington at the Old Red Lion Theatre. He gave us a run-down too of the many other events at the BikeShed Theatre. See the full programme here.


We also played
Jerry Cahill..The Irishman In The Cupboard..Armchair Traveller
Phillip Henry with Hannah Martin..Witchita..Live In The Living Room
Chris Woods..Wistman's Woods
Matt Norman..Harlequin Airs / She Wears A Bonnet..Eight Days Light
Dave Wood..Go Ahead Buddy..Into The Light
Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston..Sweet Pea Mean To Me..Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston
Lotte Mullan..Fire In My Soul..Plain Jane
Marcus Bonfanti..St James' Infirmary + Honey..Medicine Man
Gecko..Safest Bet
Dreadzone..Little Britain..The Good, The Bad & The Dreadzone
Earl-Jean..I'm Into Something Good
Sam Cooke..Twisting The Night Away

Next Wednesday 9 November I'll be doing a one-hour show from 17:00 after Andy Thatcher's Loaded Words which begins at 16:00.
Martin Hodge

Last minute show

I covered for Andy Thatcher's Loaded Words today. So the 16:00-18:00 show on 
Phonic FM became an extra The Multifarious Mix. 


At very short notice, I managed to get a special guest Rachel Jacobs to join me to talk about A Conversation Between Trees: a British-Brazilian artwork in forest environments. A box is attached to a branch of a tree in a forest in the UK and Mata Atlantica in Brazil. Inside the box is an environmental sensor which sends data to the gallery via the internet, capturing levels of temperature, humidity, CO2 and sound around the tree. And that's just the start. Intrigued? Follow the link below.

This is part of an exhibition currently at CCANW, Haldon Forest Park, Exeter, running from 22 October to 29 January 2012.
Full details here.



Music played
Hugh Laurie..Red Hot..Let Them Talk
Gecko..Safest Bet
Swamp Gods..Shiny House
Shantel..Eyes Of Mine
Jake Shimabukuru..Time After Time
Frankie Laine..Moonlight Rambler..I Believe
Hugh Laurie..Swanee River..Red Hot
Rufus Wainwright & Teddy Thompson..King Of The Road..Brokeback Mountain Soundtrack
Billy Brandt & Sarana Verlin..Win Through The Pine..Live From Billy's Basement
Besh O Drom..Hilti Csocek..Kertunk Alatt
Cole Stacey..You Were Here..A Long Road To Find
David Harbottle & The Friendly Cats..Two More Days..Ferrari Girl
Seu Jorge..Oh You Pretty Thing..The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions
Harry Chapin..Taxi
Dalla..Begone..More Salt
Big Mama Thornton..Mischievous Boogie..The Original Hound Dog
Balkan Beat Box..$20 For Boban..Nu Med
Poisson Rouge..Dry wood..Cinq


The next scheduled The Multifarious Mix is on Wednesday 2 November 16:00 - 18:00

A plethora of guests

A big thank you to all our guests today. A very varied mix, I am sure you will agree.

Chris Collier spoke passionately about 
SAFE - Stop Abuse For Everyone - which provides a refuge and outreach services for women, men, young people and children affected by domestic abuse in Exeter and East and Mid Devon. SAFE has operated for over 30 years to end domestic violence and abuse. To find out more -  including how you might help - go to their website here. Phone SAFE on 01392 315193. All calls are confidential.
Thank you to Chris too for bringing some music to play.

Apple Day at Mincinglake Valley Park in Exeter is this Saturday 8 October from 11:00 to 15:00. Our second guest Richard Ingram enthused about the event and told us there were numerous fun events for everyone. For full details follow this link.

We welcomed two young women associated with Alice's Adventures in the New World which runs every evening now until Saturday 8 October from 19:30 at Exeter's BikeShed Theatre . Fiona, an actor, and Jessica, the director, made the play sound quite delightful and intriguing and well worth experiencing. 

“Jessica Beck’s imaginative production is joyful, raucous and like a mini powder keg of feminist fun”  
What’s Onstage

“The is a show that is definitely not to be missed if you like comedy, fun and sheer brilliance!”  Remote Goat
Details can be found on the Exeter BikeShed Theatre website.

Matt Newbury gave us the run-down on a varied and exciting programme at 
Exeter Northcott Theatre. The programme includes the play Devil in the Detail running now until Saturday 8 October, comic Hardeep Singh-Kohli on Sunday 9 October and a new production of Tartuffe written by poet and story writer Roger McGough from 11 to 15 October. There's a lot more besides. See the revamped Exeter Northcott Theatre website.

Music played to follow

Tackling serious subjects

We have a lot of arts news and features on The Multifarious Mix. 
From time to time too we tackle 
what most would see as even more "serious" subjects. 
On this Wednesday's show - 5 October - we welcome Chris Collier who will talk about SAFE - Stop Abuse For Everyone, a registered charity providing refuge and support services for people of all ages affected by domestic violence and abuse. 

Saturday 8 October sees Apple Day at Mincinglake Community Orchard in Exeter. We will find out all about what is planned from guest Richard Ingram. 
Apple Day is described as "a fun event for all ages". It is from 11:00 to 15:00 and is free.


Pic: Apple Tree 1 (c) Martin Hodge


A wide range of  good music too!

Adventure at The Bike Shed and going green on Cathedral Green

Our first guest today Malcolm Hamilton is appearing in his own play The Station: Fourstones all this week at The Bike Shed Theatre in Exeter. The one-man play "hilariously and poetically tells the story of Al and his unlikely quest to find a tropical rainforest in Northumberland." The show has been on tour around the country - including Edinburgh Festival - and everywhere rave reviews have followed each performance. It is an Idle Dream production and is supported by Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol, Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Bristol through Prototype: Experiments in Theatre. More details here.

Exeter's Bike Shed Theatre is currently undergoing a bit of a spruce up and the directors of the theatre are seeking help from supporters. Follow this link to find out how you help.

Therese Canning told us all about Exeter Green Fair which has been running over 25 years and this year is being held on Saturday 10 September on Exeter's Cathedral Green. Thanks to Exeter Cathedral and the Bishop the fair has traditionally been held in the Bishop's Palace Gardens. Last year even more people were attracted to it on its new site and people of all ages are expected this year to find plenty to entertain and inform them amongst the dozens of stalls and attractions - including food growers, distributors and retailers, recycling schemes, gardening services and social campaign groups and charities as well as activities for children. Read more about it on the Exeter Green Fair website.


Music played
Count To Fire..Screen Play..In Another Life
Kate Bush..Prologue..Ariel
Lonely Tourist..Watch For the Sharks..Sir I Am a Good Man
Peter Sellers..A Hard Day's Night..A Celebration Of Sellers
Paul Simon..Rewrite..So Beautiful Or So What
John Leyton..Johnny Remember Me..Telstar: The Joe Meek Collection
Kyron & The Strangels..The Actor..When We Were Kings
Hilary James..Can Love Be Controlled By Advice?..Sketches
Kat Jenkins & Jim Howden..Autumn Leaves..KAT With Attitude
Pete Seeger..Oh Sacred World..Sowing The Seeds
10,000 Maniacs..Peace Train..In My Tribe
New Christy Minstrels..Green Green

Harry Nilson..As Time Goes By..Greatest Hits
Helen Shapiro..Walking Back To Happiness
June Tabor..A Proper Sort Of Gardener..Anthology
Poisson Rouge..La Femme De Marbre..Cinq
Poisson Rouge pictured in Brittany 
(c) Martin Hodge
The Four Brothers..Zuro Chisara..Brothers
Chartwell Dutiro..Kana Ndazova..Dendere Ngoma
Ruarri Joseph..Just Ask..Live From The Shed
Chris Wood & Friends..I Feel A Smile Coming On..Albion
Count To Fire..Cassablanca..In Another Life

Music, schedules and local events...

...featured on the show today.

Thanks to Matt Newbury for bringing us up to date re performances etc at Exeter's Northcott Theatre. See the current programme here.





The Exeter Phoenix Autumn schedule is now available. See it here.




Music played to be completed
Sky..Chiropodie No.1..Masterpieces - The Very Best Of Sky
Cole Stacey..Uprise..A Long Road To Find
Count To Fire..Falling In Line..In another Life
Dave Wood..Love Today..Into The Light
Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin..Cape Wrath..Singing The Bones
Traktorkestar..Vreneli Ab Em Guggisbarg..Agrarian Notes & Urban Groovz!
Sway 89..From Hero To Zero..Keep On Rocking
Debout Sur Le Zinc..Vous Avez Diz Bizarre..Recreations
The Springfields..Silver Threads & Golden Needles..Gold Disc
Misty In Roots..Cover Up..Roots Controller
Bombay Bicycle Club..Many Ways..Flaws
Cesaria Evora..Pomba..Voz D'Amor
Martin Carthy with Dave Swarbrick..All In Green..Right Of Passage
Shirley Collins & The Albion Country Band

Postcard from Sziget

On Wednesday's show I featured music from and info on artists I saw and heard at Central Europes's "global village", Sziget Festival, held on an island in the middle of the Danube in Budapest, Hungary from 8-15 August 2011.
For further information on Sziget, check out this website.
All artists listed below in this colour appeared at Sziget.
Pictured from left to right, top to bottom: Hungarian language lesson; Samba Band; Felix Lajko Band with guest Bea Palya; Sly & Robbie

Recordings played
10,000 Maniacs..Like The Weather..In My Tribe
Gecko..Safest Bet
Michelle Shocked (Don't You Mess Around With) My Little Sister / Looks Like Mona Lisa..Captain Swing
Luke Ritchie..Shanty..The Water's Edge
Brendan Power..Carroberry..Blow In











Afrocubism..Bensema..Afrocubism
Ojos De Brujo..Nueva Vida..Aocana
Besh O Drom..Ayelet Chen..World Music From Hungary
Felix Lajko & Band..Finale..Koncert 98
Beata Palya..Hoppa..Adieux Les Complexes

Gotan Project..Peligro..Tango 3.0
Sly & Robbie..Whip That Tarantula..Raiders Of The Lost Dub
Oi Va Voi..Ladino Song..Laughter Through Tears
Mariachi El Bronx..Holy..Witchita Recordings 10th Anniversary Celebration
Sondorgo..Jova..Oj Javore
Dhoad Gypsies Of Rajasthan..Experience Of Colours..Roots Travellers
Esma Redzepova..Sao Roma..Mon Histoire

Cowboy Junkies..Ladle..Demons - The Nomad Series Vol 2
Ska Cubano..Bobine..!Ay Caramba
Gogol Bordello..Wonderlust King..Super Taranta!

Julie Andrews & Original Cast ..I Could Have Danced All Night..My Fair Lady
10,000 Maniacs..A Campfire Song..In My Tribe

A further selection of music related to my recent European holiday will be played - along with Martin Henning's holiday selection - on rootsandshoots on Phonic FM on Monday 29 August 18:00 - 20:00.