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.
The Folk Music Hour is proudly supported by Dinah Desnness from Powers Realty, helping prepare and support you for a successful property sale or purchase!
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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
Nancy Howie
Whether performing with the trio Tweed or multi-tracking at home, this NZ songwriter has some amazing material.
Duration: 00:59:00 | Date: 22 May, 2022
Bob McNeill
We feature the new album by the Scottish Kiwi trad and contemporary singer and instrumentalist.
Duration: 00:56:49 | Date: 15 May, 2022
WomenFolk
A New Zealand Music Month special featuring women folk musicians and singers.
Duration: 00:59:50 | Date: 8 May, 2022
NZMM 2022
Every May, we play only NZ songs and/or Kiwi folk artists and begin with a mixtape of terrific tracks.
Duration: 00:59:29 | Date: 1 May, 2022
ANZAC 2022
To mark our national day of observance, a programme of poignant and inspiring songs from many past conflicts, with a yearning for peace...
Duration: 00:58:12 | Date: 24 April, 2022
Guitar Time
We salute the key instrument in folk song performance with a selection of terrific playing.
Duration: 1:00:02 | Date: 17 April, 2022
In the Family Way
There can't be many moments more wonderful for a folk artist than sharing the stage with a musical descendant, or ancestor.
Duration: 00:59:24 | Date: 10 April, 2022
Maura O'Connell
The Irish singer Maura O’Connell lived in the US, and her repertoire bridges the pond, between the new world and the old.
Duration: 00:58:54 | Date: 3 April, 2022
Folk on Screen
Another playlist of folk and folkish songs featured in soundtracks on both the big and small screens.
Duration: 00:57:14 | Date: 27 March, 2022
Tom Paley
The old-timey specialist was one of the influential young musicians of the 60s who helped America re-discover its folk heritage.
Duration: 00:56:04 | Date: 20 March, 2022
WOMAD Dreams
Womad Taranaki ‘22 has run smack dab into omicron/omigosh. For the second year, we bring you a virtual Womad and dream of better days ahead.
Duration: 1:00:03 | Date: 13 March, 2022
The McGarrigles
Kate and Anna McGarrigle, sisters beloved in their native Canada and beyond, are recalled in this retrospective tribute.
Duration: 00:59:56 | Date: 6 March, 2022
Covers
Enjoying songs where one artist records something written by another leads to some interesting discoveries.
Duration: 00:58:49 | Date: 27 February, 2022
Black History Month
Some fascinating revelations about February’s commemorations, with some amazing music.
Duration: 00:59:18 | Date: 20 February, 2022
Maggie Boyle
The Anglo-Irish singer and flute-player is the archetype of the collaborative folk artist.
Duration: 00:58:43 | Date: 13 February, 2022
Folk on the Charts
Folk or folkish songs have captured the listening public’s imagination since at least the 1950s, and have even hit the Top Ten.
Duration: 00:57:16 | Date: 6 February, 2022
Pete Seeger
Every year, we play a programme of entertaining songs from the Johnny Appleseed of folk and Americana whose banjo kicks off every Folk Music Hour
Duration: 00:58:43 | Date: 30 January, 2022
Burns Night
Every January 25th, the world celebrates the birthday of the Scottish poet and song writer Robert Burns, born in 1759.
Duration: 00:57:23 | Date: 23 January, 2022
Mixtape 9
We launch into another folkin' good year, with more variety than you can shake a stick at, in our 9th mixtape.
Duration: 00:59:40 | Date: 16 January, 2022
Blues and More
Every year, around Martin Luther King Day, a US public holiday, we feature the kind of music we think he would’ve enjoyed, and hope you will, too.
Duration: 00:57:05 | Date: 9 January, 2022
Sandy Denny
We begin every year with our tribute to Sandy Denny, near her birthdate of 6th Jan. For 2022 we play her unreleased demos.
Duration: 00:58:28 | Date: 2 January, 2022
Season's Greetings
Our Holiday Season show! Wishing you happy holidays and happy trails, we present some great songs for the season. See you next year!
Duration: 00:53:57 | Date: 19 December, 2021
The Demon Drink
As society wrestles with the pleasures and dangers of alcohol this festive season, Folk songs have plenty to say on the subject.
Duration: 00:53:57 | Date: 12 December, 2021
The Lost Words: Spell Songs
A programme of beautiful music and song and natural sounds with an environmental theme and an extraordinary reach.
Duration: 00:56:41 | Date: 5 December, 2021
Nick Drake
Nearly 50 years after his death, the singer and guitarist’s songs still have a cult following.
Duration: 00:58:10 | Date: 28 November, 2021