Yesterday..

29 August  The Multifarious Mix  was a massive four hour show. Lots of arts news and music, beginning with Classical Gas then Beatles-related songs:

Mason Williams..Classical Gas
Nicky Swann..I Want to Hold Your Hand..Matches & Dispatches
The Marvelettes..Please Mr Postman
Eric Ness..Sunshine..Blah Blah Blah
Union Starr..I Can Feel It

Lampliter feat. Tobias Ben Jacob..From The Gutter To The Stars..Lampliter

Anna Marie-Waite..Today

Sondorgo feat.. Katya Tompos..Zajdi Zaydi..Tamburising: Lost Music Of The Balkans

Bombay Bicycle Club..Ivy & Gold..Flaws

L A Salami..The Scene

Anna Coogan & Daniel Fiaschi..Crooked Sea..The Nowhere Rome Sessions

presents a Silent Film with a live Orchestra:

A Cottage On Dartmoor

Exeter Library Music Room

7 September - 7.30pm

Tickets: £5 

Full details here

Suzie Hodder-Williams & Chris Caldwell..Mariner's Way..Mariner's Way

Bert Jansch..Magdalina's Dance

Bobby Darin..Mack The Knife

Hugh Laurie..Six Cold Feet..Let Them Talk

Shifting Buffalo..Step By Step

David Heathfield..Empty Pot..Youtube

David Heathfield will be telling a folk tale on Phonic FM's 

Roots and Shoots, 18:00-20:00 on Monday 3 September.

Pinlang..Don Zu Wu..Danse Des Don..Froots 35

Ben & Alfie..On & On..Taxi

Ben & Alfie will be performing live on Phonic FM's 

Roots and Shoots, 18:00-20:00 on Monday 10 September.

The Toure-Raichel Collective..Alkataou..The Tel Aviv Sessions

Fanfare Ciocãrlia feat. Mitsou..Pana Cand Nu Te Iubeam..Queens & Kings

Les Barker..The Inflatable Boy..Herding Cats

Belshazzar's Feast..Feast_Rondo A La Turkey..Umbrellowhead

Nicky Swann..Sing..How Does Your Land Lie

Malcolm Holcombe..One Man Singing..Joe Hill's Ashes

Ben Zabo..Bwa Iri..Ben Zabo

The Roots Union..Rough Diamonds..The Roots Union

The SideWalk Anthem..Matters Of The Heart

Blame Sally..Bird In Hand..Live at KVIE Studios

Carrie Elkin & Danny Schmidt..Swing From A Note..Together - Digital 45

Tim Buckley..Happy Time

June Tabor..White Rabbit

Billy Bragg..Waiting For The Great Leap Forward..Workers' Playtime

16 Hippies..Son Mystere..Heimlich

Jim Causley..Honiton Lace..Dumnonia

Tigana..Macale..Brazilian Sampler CD from Bahia

Leon Rosselson..Don't Get Married Girls..The World Turned Upside Down: Rosselsongs 1960-2010

Mariachi El Bronx..

Besh O Drom..Lazító..Macho Embroidery

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman..The Wisdom Of Standing Still

Lampliter..Mercury Rising..Lampliter

The Tango Band..The Tango Dancer..Berlin Nights

The Ukelele Orchestra Of Great Britain..Wuthering Heights

Kate Bush..Babooshka..The Whole Story

Richard Thompson..Valerie..Daring Adventures

Miranda Sykes And Rex Preston..Between Sheets..Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston

Les Paul and Mary Ford..Vaya Con Dios..1953 Billboard Top 30

Norma Waterson..On Friday He's Fred Astaire..The Very Thought Of You

Phil King..The War I Cannot Win..They Come & They Go

Fairport Convention..Bridge Over The River Ash

Check out events at these venues by clicking on the links:

Exeter Phoenix

Exeter Northcott Theatre

Exeter BikeShed Theatre

More music...

...than ever on today's show.


Recordings played
Yonderboi..Riders On A Storm - Pink Solidism..Shallow & Profound
Jo Hamilton..Pick Me Up
Eliza Carthy & Norma Waterson..Prairie Lullaby / Shallow Brown..Gift
Otis Gibbs..Something More..Joe Hill's Ashes
Jackie Oates..Scarborough's Fair Town..Saturnine
Seth Lakeman..Apple Of His Eye..Tales From The Barrelhouse
Spiers & Boden..Mary Anne..Vagabond
Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman..The Wisdom Of Standing Still..Hidden People
Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin..The Man Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn..Singing The Bones
Bert Jansch..Magdalina's Dance..The Black Swan
Simon Mayor & Hilary James..She Moves Through The Fair..Cat Nav

Shifting Buffalo..Just Because We Can Doesn't Mean We Should / Step By Step
I spoke to Shifting Buffalo on the phone. He is a talented one man band and has a new single out: Step By Step. Check out his music on his website.

The Lights..Days Don't Get Me Far Enough Away
Bryan Ferry..Avalon..More Than This
Beáta Palya; ..Áll a Kapun [My Prince Will Come)..Adieu Les Complexes
Söndörgö..Buso Kolo..Tamburising: Lost Music Of The Balkans
Bella Hardy..Island Boy / Mary Mean..In The Shadow Of Mountains
The Pogues..A Pair Of Brown Eyes..Rum, Sodomy & the Lash
Dave Wood..Love Today..Into The Light
Spiers & Boden..Three Tunes..Vagabond

We put out info on the following festivals. Follow the links for full information.

Sidmouth Folk Week

Dartmoor Folk Festival


Rhythmtree World Music Festival, Isle Of Wight

The Improsarios, Transition Exeter & live music from These Reigning Days

The Multifarious Mix broadcast on Wednesday 4 July 2012
Listen to the show here
Live music from These Reigning Days from Torbay

A big thank you to Dan Steer and Johnny Finnis for a wonderful set. They played live Too Late for A Wedding and Smoke & Mirrors. From their forthcoming album we heard Opera Of Love, Stand Down and Living It Up. Watch out for These Reigning Days at gigs and festivals, a band destined for big things. Check out their website here.

Members of The Improsarios telling us about their horror show at Exeter BikeShed Theatre as part of the exciting Ignite Festival.

These guys are skilled at building a story of length with narrative drive that works and it's always a moving experience. Following their highly successful run at London Horror Festival they are now wooing Exeter audiences. See the Ignite Festival website for details of The Improsarios' performances and a host of other theatrical presentations at The Exeter BikeShed Theatre and other local venues. Thanks to Tai and Alex for talking to us about what The Improsarios do.

David Mezzeti spoke to us about Transition Exeter and a fundraiser with poet Matt Harvey. Click on mini poster for info of the event. Click here for info on Transition Exeter.

Matt Newbury relayed news to us on what's on at Exeter's Northcott Theatre. Go to their website for full information.

plus a selection of great and varied music including some recent indie releases:

Playlist

Chris Woods..Wistman's Woods..Woodcraft

Fred Lorca..Animal Bueno..Sueños
Viper Central..Saskatchewan..Thump & Howl
Jo Hamilton..Pick Me Up
Waves Of Fury..Businessman's Guide to Witchcraft..Businessman's Guide to Witchcraft
Tattie Jam..Different..Jam
Polly Barrett..Synchronicity..Mr. Bookshop
Matt Harvey..The Whole Potato
Ben & Alfie..From the Duck Pond..Milestones
Moscow Magazine..True Blue
Nigel Kennedy & Kroke..Dafino..East Meers West
Rodrigo Y Gabriela..Viking Days
Griselda Sanderson..Erdely Reels..Harpaphonics

Not to be missed this weekend...

Mark Waistell

Listen to the show here.

Our special guest this Wednesday was Mark Waistell who performed three of his own songs, accompanying himself on the guitar. His songs were My England Of Long Ago Snow Upon The Sea and In Paris.

On Mark's album Latecomer he is accompanied by a host of celebrated musicians. Details on Mark's website where you can find out more abvout his music generally.

A superb performance for The Multifarious Mix . Thanks, Mark!

Mark is in concert on Saturday 9 June at the Cygnet New Theatre, Exeter at 19:30.

Recordings played
The Lights..Days Don't Get Me Far Enough Away
Damn Damn Patriots..Family Unit
Christopher Hawley Rollers..Red Lights Green..Meditations
Eric Ness..All These Problems..Blah Blah Blah
Bo Walton..I Like It Like That..Waiting On A Dream
Sam Green..Magic Bus
Jay Tamkin..Lovin' Man..Alibi
Monkey Gland Blues Band..Maggie Magill..Monkey Gland Blues Band
Matt Norman..The Cliff / Eight Days Late..Eight Days Late
Jay Tamkin..Lovin' Man..Alibi
Jim Moray..Big Love..Skulk
Kouatchou..Smile..Changes
Modou N'Diaye..Kouma..Sabou
Samuel Yirga..Dance With The Legend..Guzo
Valeryan..Mary Mary
Ojos De Brujo..Tiempo de Soleá..Bari
Richard Thompson..Leep Your Distance..Action Packed
Seth Lakeman..Hearts And Minds..Hearts And Minds
Norma Waterson..Dreaming..The Very Thought Of You
Phillip Henry..I Wanna Boogie..Live In The Living Room
Maz Totterdell..Smile On Sunshine..Sweep
Megson..The Long Shot..The Long Shot
Nic Jones..Teddy Bear's Picnic..In Search Of Nic Jones

Fifth of the month Special

On Wednesday's  The Multifarious Mix  we welcomed two top class - and quite different - musicians to the Phonic FM studio, both of whom gave us superb live sets.



Listen again to the show here.


Jay Tamkin is a young singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He performs with other musicians as the Jay Tamkin Band, a band who have achieved popularity in Holland, Germany and Austria as well as the UK. For us he was solo. He brought in his keyboard and performed three of his own songs with tremendous passion and expertise:
Dancing In The Rain, Kiss And Tell and Loving Man.


Find out more about Jay and his band on their website.

Kouatchou is a singer, guitarist, songwriter who performs meaningful songs with strong conviction. He performed three of his songs for us: Kings And Queens, Perseverance and Groove It. Kouatchou comes from The Cameroon, lived in Brazil for a while and has lived in the UK for over ten years. All his experiences are reflected in his songs. See Kouatchou at 13:15 this Saturday 2 June on the Acoustic Cafe Stage at Exeter Respect Festival in Belmont Park. Hear and see Kouatchou performing on Youtube.


Recordings played
Sky..Westway..Masterpieces
Kouatchou..O'Amanhecer
Jay Tamkin..Circles..Alibi
Dakar Audio Club..undidentified track from Youtube
Bryan Ferry..Falling In Love Again..As Time Goes By
James Taylor..Sweet Baby James..Classic Songs
Bo Walton..Hey Mister Night
Eric Ness..Valentine..Eric Ness
Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart..Little Rock..Dedication
Monkey Gland Blues Band..Mad Woman Blues
Bhundu Boys..Pafunge..Muchiyedza (Out of the Dark)
Jay Tamkin..You Got The Heart..Alibi
Jerry Cahill..The Enchanter..Armchair Traveller
The Four Brothers.. Rudo Chete..Brothers
Julaba Kunda.. Massina..Traders
Brendan Power..The Bucks of Oranmore..Blow In

Theatre and Live Music...

...on this week's  The Multifarious Mix . Listen to the show here.

We featured two sets of excellent musicians. From Frome we welcomed two members of the band My Social Orbit: Pierre Shepard and Graeme Lawson. The full band are pictured. We were given a fine acoustic set. Their self-penned songs were Legal Bank Job, Festival Fantasy, Line Of Least Resistance and Life's Not Easy. Find out more about their music on Facebook and MySpace.

It's always great to have local singer songwriter guitarist Nicky Swann playing for Phonic FM. Nicky has a wonderful new album out featuring songs connected with her home town of Newton Abbot. It's called How Does Your Land Lie and from the album we played New Found Lands. Nicky's live songs are also featured on the album: Union Babies, Diving and Run Away.

Thank you very much to all the talented musicians.

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Exeter Blitz, Viva Voce, in collaboration with Exeter's BikeShed Theatre, have created a theatrical Blitz experience based on accounts by people who experienced the blitz. The production runs from 3-19 May. Full details on the BikeShed Theatre website. Many thanks to co-director Jessican Beck for telling us all about this innovative and exciting production.

We were pleased too to hear from Malcolm about productions coming up at Exeter's New Theatre, home to the Cygnet Training Theatre. The theatre consistently produces top class shows. The next productions are Trouble and Strife (5 May), The Cygnet Review (12 May), Born in the Gardens - Creative Cow (16-17 May) and The Taming of the Shrew (28 May - 1 June). Details here.

Support Water Aid

That was the message from our first guest today, Susie Golics of South West Water, who had visited rural and urban communities in Zambia recently and seen at first hand there how important WaterAid is for many people.


WaterAid works in 27 countries using practical solutions to provide clean water, safe sanitation and hygeine education to the world's poorest people. Find out more about their work and how you can help here.


Thanks to Alan Rose who introduced us to his band's State Of Undress's new album. Details of this and the band's gigs on their website.

Matt Newbury gave us a run-down of events coming up at Exeter Northcott Theatre. Details here.

We publicised events too at The New Theatre, Exeter and Exeter's BikeShed Theatre. Find out more by following the links.


Playlist
Living Room..Royal Mile..Colouring Book
Ben & Alfie..After The Noise
Wala..Zambian Music 
Mulemena Boys..Kwi Lamba Ekwesu
Lonely Tourist..I Live Where You Are..I Live Where You Are
Bo Walton..Wicked Moon..Waiting On A Dream
Lampliter..From The Gutter To The Stars..Lampliter EP
The Little Unsaid..There Go All Our Wide-eyed Days
Maz Totterdell..Kaleidoscope..Sweep
Asha Bhosle & Shujaat Khan..Naina Lagai Kei..Naina Lagai Kei
Matt Norris & The Moon..Roots Below..Roots Below
Adelia Tisdall..Tree Falling..Postcards From Within
State Of Undress..The Hangman's Daughter /The Black Hills Of Mendip..Journeys Of The Heart
Debout Sur Le Zinc..Les Déserteurs..Recreations
Tom Waits..Back In The Crowd..Bad As Me
Kirsty McColl & The Pogues..Miss Otis Regrets / Just One Of Those Things..Red, Hot & Blue
Beirut..Port Of Call..The Rip Tide
Penguin Cafe Orchestra..Perpeuum Mobile..Signs Of Life

Writing and performing plays

Both featured heavily on today's show. 


Playwright Nick Discombe joined me for the first part of the show to share his recollections of the plays of his that have been performed over the year since his first full length play Halfway to Paradise, performed at the Drum in Plymouth in 1996. He brought us up to date with his talking about three plays he is currently working on: Civil War in Exeter, Crystal Clear and Art for who's sake? 


Many of Nick's plays have strong connections with songs. He brought some of the music along to play on the show. The tracks were
Billy Fury..That's Love..Sound Of Fury
Cheim Tannenban..Young Love..The McGarrigle Hour
Cold Play..Politic..A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Rufus Wainwright..Oh What A World..I Want One
Mumford & Sons..Thistle & Weeds..Sigh No More
Rev Hammer..No-one Or Nothing..Down The Alley


Nick Discombe is soon running Playwriting Courses in both Exeter and Plymouth. Find out more by contacting him: 01392 679110; email discombenick2@gmail.com

Callum and Michael joined me to talk about Worklight Theatre, a company they formed with friends Hannah and Joe.They are about to host an exciting event Open Stage at The BikeShed Theatre, Exeter this Sunday 11 March starting at 19:30. The evening will take place in the bar and will be a showcase of local talent with artists performing comedy, music, dance and theatre. 

After a residency at The BikeShed Theatre, they created a Scratch performance of How to Start a Riot for an invited audience of local artists. The feedback from that event has helped them develop the show as they prepare to take it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival later this year.

We also publicised...

Phonic FM presents The Magic Band at Exeter Phoenix for the Vibraphonic Festival on Friday 9 March

Events for International Women's Day in Exeter including Seven: a Documentary Play for International Women's Day. For details follow the link.

Shilhay Charity gig at Barnfield Theatre (Clifford Room) on Thursday 22 March with KAT With Attitude, The Boys From Melbourne Street, The New Potatoes. Details here.

Exeter LGBT Pride on Saturday 31 March including The Pride Show on Phonic FM.

Music played by Martin

Jerry Cahill..Breath Of Fire..Armchair Traveller

Madison Violet..Home..The Good In Goodbye

Andrew Bird..Fiery Crash..Armchair Apocrypha

Jacksons Warehouse..Feel Like Sunday

Lonely Tourist..I Live Where You Are
Kat Jenkins & Jim Howden..Lay It Down..KAT With Attitude
Andrew Bird..Orpheo Looks Back..Break It Yourself
Mariachi El Bronx..Spread Thin..Mariachi El Bronx II
The Monkees..Riu Chiu
Random Sound..Found My Way
Street Heat..Felix..Street Heat
Eartha Kitt..Let's Do It
Salif Keita..Beguine Thee Beguine..Red Hot & Blue
Lotte Mullan..Would You Be So Kind..Plain Jane
Chris Woods..Release..Woodcraft

Fair Trade and pretty fair entertainment

Plenty of interesting and enthusiastic guests today with lots to tell us.


Our first guest Sebastian Pope introduced us to the delights of a play called Alas, Poor Fred, playing at The Hour Glass in Exeter from Wednesday 7 to Saturday 10 March. James Saunders' absurd two hander is the first of four plays at The Hourglass by the newly renamed OwlGlass Theatre. Buy tickets (£9) in advance from the pub venue.

Councillor Ian Martin and Hilary Noakes talked about the importance of Fair Trade products in ensuring that the people who produce what we eat, wear and use should get paid enough to live on and a chance to improve their lives. There are several events in Exeter over the next two weeks promoting Fair Trade products. Find out about them here. 


The Fair Trade Foundation has an excellent website where you can find further information about ethical trading and production and getting involved in fair trade.

Malcolm, Tessa and Hannah came along from Cygnet Training Theatre who perform at The New Theatre, Exeter. Fresh from the success of a run of As You Like It at the theatre, they told us about their own production, visiting theatre companies and concerts coming up. This Friday 2 March from 19:00 there is a fund-raising event run by students to raise money to take the company to the Edinburgh Festival. The event includes a Revue and a Silent Auction. See the full programme on the Cygnet New Theatre website.

Our final guest was UK rockabilly singer songwriter 
Bo Walton. Bo received considerable acclaim for his first two singles, 's Too Much backed with Hey Mister Night, the latter featuring Mark Knofler. Just as successful  were his next "double sided" single Wild at Heart and Wild Woman. His new album Waiting On A Dream - featuring "modern rockabilly music with an edge" was recorded and produced by John David at Berry Hill Studio in Gloucester. The album has just been released by Exeter-based Tabitha Records.
It's worth checking out Bo's videos on Youtube.


Music played 
Penguin Cafe Orchestra..Bean Fields..Signs Of Life
Roxy Music..Remake, Remodel..Roxy Music
Hugh Laurie..Red Hot..Let Them Talk
Jacques Brel..Madeleine
Jackie Oates..The Sweet Nightingale..Saturnine
Roberto Fonseco..Bibisa..Yo
The Four Seasons..Sherry
AfroCubism..A La Luna Yo Me Voy..AfroCubism
M4trix..Lord Mayo..Gaps
Mike Silver..Maybe It's Just Love
Mariachi El Bronx..48 Roses..Mariachi El Bronx II
Gallavin..My Baby Just Cares For Me
Bo Walton..'s Too Much / Hey Mister Night / Wild At Heart
Del Shannon..So Long Baby..All The Hits & More
Lord Rockingham's 11..Hoots Mon
Norma Waterson..On Friday's He's Fred Astaire..The Very Thought Of You
Penguin Cafe Orchestra..Southern Jukebox Music..Signs Of Life

It's all happening in Exeter

Wednesday 1 February


Today we put out lots of info on films and theatre in Exeter and there is a lot happening. Many thanks to Gavin and Geoff for contributing to the music and to Geoff for doing a Film Round-up. 





Geoff particularly recommended films at the Exeter Picturehouse and Exeter Phoenix. Follow the links for details of events at these venues.

 Matt Newbury from Exeter Northcott Theatre introduced us to Imogen and Janet who are acting in Talking Heads by Alan Bennett, directed by Anthony Richards, and playing at the theatre from 2 - 7 February. I was delighted when they agreed to give us snippets of their performances. Should be well worth seeing!

Fresh from critical acclaim at Edinburgh Fringe, Matt from Rhum and Clay Theatre Company told us about what seems likely to be a highly entertaining, funny, physical and provoking piece of theatre: Shutterland. It is on at Exeter BikeShed Theatre from 2-4 February.

We played
Charlie Hearnshaw Band..Smiling..download
Watcha Clan..Osfour..Radio Babel
P J Harvey..The Words That Make Good Murder..Let England Shake
Joni Mitchell..See You Sometime..For The Roses
David Paskell..A Place Called Home..download
Martina..I Just Call You Mine..Shine
Mariachi El Bronx..Poverty's King..Mariachi El Bronx II
Steve Black..Blink Of An Eye..All The Best
Ry Cooder..No Banker Left Behind..Pull Up Some Dust & Sit Down
Leonard Cohen..Democracy..The Future
Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston..Between The Sheets..Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston
The Eel Grinders..The Hill Changes Colour..Voyage
Tom Waits..Face To The Highway..Bad As Me
Laura Marling..Devils Spoke..The Observer Disc
Scott Walker..The Bridge..Golden Years
The Dartmoor Pixie Band..Redwing..The Pixies Strike Again

Jim Causley..Old Uncle Whiteway..Domnonia
Anoushka Shankar..Buleria Con Ricado..Traveller
Gillian Welch..The Way It Goes..The Harrow & The Harvest
Boreale..Bulistan..Mousson

Live music rules!

Today Jim Finnegan joined me to play recordings of musicians we had each encountered live and really enjoyed. Many indeed were performers who had given us great sessions in the Phonic FM studio in 2011.

Listen to the show here. 

The icing on the cake was two excellent musicians Harry Vinnicombe and Harry Dowell playing live for us today. Harry Vinnicombe's own songs performed by him on electric and acoustic guitars were superbly complimented by Harry Dowell's accompaniments on bass guitar, saxophone and flute. 

 Check out Harry Vinnecombe Music on Facebook.

The songs were: Who She Is, Away From The Storm, If You Ever Get Lost, I Love A Little Clean and All The Hurt.


Thanks, guys. A real treat!

Recordings played
Chris Woods..Nightlife..Woodcraft
Gecko..Best Friend..Pigeon EP
Chartwell Dutiro..Kana Ndazofa..Dendere Ngoma
Smashing Pumpkins..Mayonaise Acoustic Live
Black Mountain..Modern Music..Black Mountain
Nicky Swann..Hold On..Matches & Dispatches
The Bad Shepherds..Making Plans For Nigel..By Hook Or By Crook
Fight Like Apes..I'm Beginning To Think You Prefer Beverly Hills 90210 to Me..Fight Like Apes & The Golden Medallion
Eels..Your Lucky Day In Hell..Beautiful Freak
Phillip Henry..Keep Your Lamps Trimmed & Burning..Live In The Living Room
Phil King..The War I Cannot Win..They Come & They Go
Lampliter..Flowers Of The Arab Spring
Lara Conley..You Know I Know..Apple Tree
Eric Ness..All The Things You Are..All The Things You Are
Sondorgo..Cororo..Tamburising: Lost Music Of The Balkans
Gotan Project..La Gloria..Tango 3.0
Brendan Power..CD Stealer..Blow In