Airing time: 12pm Sunday, Replays 7:30pm Thursday
Almost all music has a folk origin: blues, jazz, rock and even so-called classical. As Big Bill Broonzy famously said - "all songs are folk songs; ain't never heard a horse sing!"
Arguably the first Kiwi to make a living with a mandolin, David spent some of his musical life playing bluegrass, but was performing in the folk boom as early as 1964.
He was playing in Europe and the UK in the 70s, dabbling in folk rock and pop in California in the 80s, and creating a country garden in the 90s and teaching children to read.
These days, kind of retired, he is free to pursue any of the musical paths he loves: song-writing, tuition, and performance with guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin, autoharp, dulcimer, even bass; playing jazz, folk, blues and originals. Or to just kick back and listen to Bach or Grappelli ...
A long-standing performer of NZ folk, Davey also maintains a love affair with US old-time music nurtured since Doc Watson's LPs first made it to these shores. A natural entertainer since his debut on radio aged six, David thinks radio is the perfect performance medium.
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Podcasts
To download an episode: Click on the kiwifruit to go to The Folk Music Hour page on the AIR website:
Click on the title of an episode to listen
Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny is regarded as one of the UK's finest singer-songwriters and her work has grown in stature over the years. Her effortless, smooth vocal delivery still sets the standard for many of today's female folk-based singers.
Duration: 01:00:23 | Date: 6 January, 2019
Merry Christmas
For our Yuletide and New Year's Eve special for 2018, we share some seasonal songs with a difference, and hope that your holidays are peaceful and jolly. Cheers!
Duration: 00:58:02 | Date: 16 December, 2018
Woverview 2019_Pt 1
We lend an ear to the lineup for WOMAD next March in the first of our Woverviews for the 2019 event in New Plymouth's Bowl of Brooklands.
Duration: 00:57:03 | Date: 9 December, 2018
Fleurieu Folk Festival
The Folk Music Hour was given a media pass to check out the Fleurieu Folk Festival, South Australia's largest, an annual three-day family friendly folk music festival, held since 2007 in the picturesque township of Willunga, near South Australia’s premier wine region.
Duration: 00:57:18 | Date: 2 December, 2018
Eco Protest
In our fourth programme for Protest November, we play songs appealing for a new relationship with our world and our environment, lest we extinguish the basis of our own survival.
Duration: 00:57:45 | Date: 25 November, 2018
Songs For a Revolution
We listen to the fantastic folk, soul and protest singing that flourished during the Civil Rights struggle that came to a head in the 60s and did so much to raise the world's consciousness about race-based inequality.
Duration: 00:52:36 | Date: 18 November, 2018
Dying For A Song
Protesting in song is an important part of folk music, and we take our right to do so for granted. But what happens when the regime a musician is protesting against comes up with a deadly response.
Duration: 00:56:36 | Date: 11 November, 2018
Don't Sign Up For War
We begin Protest November solemnly observing the centenary of the ceasefire and Armistice. We explore the folk songs which protested against the Great War, indeed all war, and remind ourselves of the women and men who peeled away the veneer of honour and glory to reveal the extent of the tragedy.
Duration: 00:58:23 | Date: 4 November, 2018
Mali Blues
The music of Mali is endlessly fascinating, and a treasure house of the origins of American blues and folk music
Duration: 00:55:53 | Date: 28 October, 2018
Krissy Jackson
Taranaki's premier NZ folk fiddler Krissy Jackson talks us through her super CD 'Have Fiddle Will Travel' in an interview with Davey at our ART studios.
Duration: 00:58:29 | Date: 21 October, 2018
Red Herrings
Waiheke Island musicians Red Herrings with the next best thing to their entertaining live show, their folk and roots album 'Takeaways'.
Duration: 00:56:07 | Date: 14 October, 2018