Airing time: 12pm Sunday, Replays 7:30pm Thursday
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Almost all music has a folk origin: blues, jazz, rock and even some classical. As Big Bill Broonzy famously said: all songs are folk songs - 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 performed in Europe and the UK in the 70s, and recorded original music for NZ film and television. He dabbled in folk rock and pop in California in the 80s while teaching kids to sing. In London in the 90s he learned to help special needs children to read.
Now retired and no longer performing, he is free to pursue any of the musical paths he loves: song-writing, tuition - guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin, autoharp, dulcimer, even bass - and he works to record his original songs, such as https://youtu.be/P2iClmUZAZk
A long-standing enthusiast for NZ’s own folk music, David also still loves US old-time music, nurtured since Doc Watson LPs first made it to these shores, and explores the folk tradition of the British and Irish isles. He is a fan of World Music and fiercely proud of WOMAD Taranaki. A natural entertainer since his debut on radio aged six, David thinks radio is the perfect performance medium and now has an extensive archive of programmes.
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Podcasts
To download the latest episode: Click on the kiwifruit to go to The Folk Music Hour page on the accessmedia.nz site:
Click on the title of an episode to listen
Nordic Folk
We’re biased towards Anglo-American folk, but our archive has a lot of music in languages other than English. This programme has some superb music from Scandinavia.
Duration: 00:56:34 | Date: 1 August, 2021
Young Old Timey
Old-timey music is attracting young players globally - we feature two fiddlers, a Canadian and a Kiwi, who play it brilliantly.
Duration: 00:59:30 | Date: 25 July, 2021
Mississippi John Hurt
We play the songs of this significant blues artist whose recordings have recently been remastered.
Duration: 00:59:15 | Date: 18 July, 2021
Mississippi John Hurt
We play the songs of this significant blues artist whose recordings have recently been remastered.
Duration: 00:59:15 | Date: 18 July, 2021
Shanties
The phenomenon of Wellerman inspires us to choose folk songs about the seafaring life.
Duration: 00:52:31 | Date: 11 July, 2021
Fay Hield
A great performer, and a senior lecturer at Sheffield University, Fay has a super repertoire and some excellent musicians, live, and in the studio.
Duration: 00:58:04 | Date: 4 July, 2021
The Roots of Modern Folk
Davey looks at the moments where folk evolved into the singer-songwriters who brought us into the present day.
Duration: 00:56:39 | Date: 27 June, 2021
Sam Lee
A specialist in traditional song works some magic with his astonishing arrangements.
Duration: 00:53:26 | Date: 20 June, 2021
Hard Times
Life is tough for many in NZ these days, but the folk tradition reveals that hard times have always been with us.
Duration: 00:57:07 | Date: 13 June, 2021
NZ Mixed Tape 2
We wrap up our NZMM series for 2021 with tracks from those who have kindly shared their music with the Folk Music Hou
Duration: 00:57:07 | Date: 6 June, 2021
Jacquie Walters
In our third NZMM program with a Christchurch focus, Jacquie Walters sings her original songs.
Duration: 00:58:52 | Date: 30 May, 2021
Rua
The Christchurch folk band performed exciting live shows, and is remembered in this special feature.
Duration: 00:54:18 | Date: 23 May, 2021
Emeralds and Greenstone
Our NZ Music Month has a Christchurch focus this year; first up is a bicultural folk group blending Celtic and Maori sounds.
Duration: 00:45:33 | Date: 16 May, 2021
Women Folk
We continue NZ Music Month with an all-Kiwi programme of women folk artists.
Duration: 00:52:43 | Date: 9 May, 2021
NZ Music Mixtape
We get NZ Music Month underway, playing a variety of NZ artists.
Duration: 00:56:10 | Date: 2 May, 2021
ANZAC Day
A programme of songs of war and peace with a particular NZ resonance.
Duration: 00:58:41 | Date: 25 April, 2021
Country Folk
Davey takes us into the world of country folk music.
Duration: 00:53:39 | Date: 18 April, 2021
Martin Carthy
The veteran performer of English folk song turns 80 this year, and at the Folk Music Hour we raise our glasses and toast his good health.
Duration: 00:57:48 | Date: 11 April, 2021
Pop Grass
What happens when bluegrass bands let their hair down and play pop songs? Some pickin’ and a-grinnin’ and a lot of fun.
Duration: 00:56:08 | Date: 4 April, 2021
Kitty Macfarlane
The young Somerset folk artist is making waves with some original songs and striking arrangements of traditional ones
Duration: 00:57:24 | Date: 28 March, 2021
Luckily Stranded
NZ is not a bad place to be marooned these days. We feature English new-folk duo Good Habits.
Duration: 00:54:48 | Date: 21 March, 2021
Irish Folk
St Patrick’s Day on March 17 became the Irish National Day in 1903. An all-Irish programme to play on the day - sláinte!
Duration: 00:5816 | Date: 14 March, 2021
Phil Ochs
An investigation of, and tribute to, the contemporary folk writer and singer who was the conscience of America in the 60s and 70s, and played in NZ, too.
Duration: 00:58:00 | Date: 7 March, 2021
Virtual WOMAD
In the absence of Womad 21, a feast of acoustic music from Africa gives us a stay-at-home Womad for these anxious times
Duration: 00:56:00 | Date: 28 February, 2021
Lightfoot
A new biography reveals a good deal about how Canada’s troubadour got his start.
Duration: 00:56:03 | Date: 21 February, 2021
Mixtape 7
Davey’s holiday listening makes for an exciting collection
Duration: 00:58:04 | Date: 14 February, 2021
Double Bill: Reid and Ruins
We look forward to a national tour featuring NZ songwriters Nadia Reid and Tiny Ruins
Duration: 00:57:24 | Date: 7 February, 2021