Folk on Foot

Matthew Bannister

“Modest people, playing gorgeous music, speaking articulately about areas they love. Fabulously calming” – one listener’s description of this multi-award-winning podcast in which Matthew Bannister goes walking with top folk musicians in the landscapes that have inspired them. “A restorative breathing space in sound” – The Telegraph. “Immaculately produced” – The Times

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20 episodes
Updated July 26

Episodes20

Newest first

July 26 · 46 min
Folk on Foot Classic: Cara Dillon in Dungiven
Enjoy this classic episode from September 2018. The multi award winning singer Cara Dillon and her husband and musical collaborator Sam Lakeman take Matthew on a walk through the countryside around the Northern Irish town of Dungiven where she was born and brought up. Standing on an iron bridge over the River Roe, Cara sings “The Winding River Roe” with the water rippling by in the background. Then they climb the local mountain known as “The Hill of Thieves” which is also the inspiration for one of Cara’s songs. As the rain begins to fall, they take refuge in a local sibin where Cara and Sam perform “The Leaving Song” about the living wakes held by families before their children emigrated to the United States. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot --- Find out more about Cara at https://www.caradillon.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 16 · 1 hr
Rob Cowen and Johnny Flynn at Thornborough Henges
We’re going back to Neolithic times with the award winning author Rob Cowen (“Common Ground” and “North Road”) and his friend the actor and singer Johnny Flynn. For two thousand years the Thornborough Henges in what is now Yorkshire were used as ceremonial spaces and later became Bronze Age burial grounds. As we walk through these enormous circular monuments, Rob explains why he’s fascinated by their history and Johnny sings songs of burial and deep time. The pair reflect on their approach to creativity and shared passion for music. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot --- Find out more about Rob at https://robcowen.net/ Find out more about Johnny at https://johnny-flynn.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 7 · 53 min
Official Folk Albums Chart Show—7th July 2026
This month's show features music from Adam Ross, Clementine Lovell, Ryan Young, Laura Cannell, Karine Polwart and Pippa Murphy, Teddy Thompson, Frankie Archer and Tide Lines. Lucy Shields previews forthcoming releases and Matthew Bannister announces the next episode of Folk on Foot. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot --- Subscribe to the Folk Forecast to explore all the gigs and album news we ran through in the show: https://thefolkforecast.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 18 · 58 min
Joshua Burnside in East Belfast
Folk Album of the Year nominee Joshua Burnside takes us for a walk near his home in East Belfast, singing songs from his latest album “It’s Not Going To Be OK” along the way. He talks movingly about his friend Dean Jendoubi’s death from a drugs overdose - which inspired the album - and also about growing up in a divided city. We end up admiring the dramatic statues of characters from Narnia in C.S. Lewis Square and walking down the Bloomfield Road, as Joshua sings his song “Ghost of the Bloomfield Road” - which captures his reaction to becoming a Dad. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot --- Find out more about Joshua at https://joshuaburnside.bandcamp.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 14 · 58 min
A Robin Hood Pilgrimage with Guy Hayward
We’re in Sherwood Forest on the trail of Robin Hood in the company of Guy Hayward, founder of the British Pilgrimage Trust and former Cambridge choral scholar. As we head to the Major Oak and beyond, Guy shares many theories about the Robin Hood legends, sings ballads about his adventures and extols the joys of pilgrimage. He even dives into a river in search of Robin Hood’s cave. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot --- Find out more about Guy at https://guyhayward.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 26 · 54 min
Simon Nicol in conversation at Cecil Sharp House
Fairport Convention founder member Simon Nicol joins Matthew Bannister on stage at the Indoor Festival of Folk at Cecil Sharp House to review a musical career lasting over 60 years. Simon talks about teaming up with Ashley Hutchings and Richard Thompson to start Fairport, tells how the band got its name from his family home and gives an emotional account of the motorway crash that killed drummer Martin Lamble and Richard Thompson’s girlfriend Jeannie Franklin. Then he recounts the making of the legendary album Liege and Lief and explains how the band still survives and thrives despite countless line up changes. It’s an intimate and revealing conversation with a key player in the creation of English folk rock. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot --- Find out more about Simon and Fairport Convention at https://www.fairportconvention.com Cover photo by Alan Blundell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 16 · 55 min
The Young’Uns at Roseberry Topping
Nearly eight years after they first appeared on Folk on Foot, that irrepressible trio The Young’Uns are back – with Sean Cooney, David Eagle and Michael Hughes performing songs new and old as we climb the Teesside landmark Roseberry Topping. The conversation ranges from learning to laughs – especially given David’s impeccable comic timing. We discuss the challenges of writing songs about living people, hear about the music inspired by the industrial transformation of the area and find out how David used an accordion to contact his Dad in the early hours of the morning. Join us for an uplifting day out. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot --- Find out more about The Young'uns at https://www.theyounguns.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 12 · 58 min
Folk Album of the Year Award Gala: Highlights
Re-live the musical highlights from the spectacular Folk Album of the Year Award Gala at Rochdale Town Hall, with performances from Barry Kerr, Cynefin, Edith WeUtonga, Grace Stewart-Skinner, The Gigspanner Big Band, Joshua Burnside, Peggy Seeger, Poor Creature and Spafford Campbell. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 20 · 57 min
Lady Maisery in Petworth Park
We’ve been trying to get Lady Maisery to walk with us on Folk on Foot for ages, so when Matthew heard they were playing a gig in the town of Petworth near where he lives in West Sussex, he invited them to join him in the spacious grounds of Petworth House. With the stately home and the Capability Brown designed landscape in the background, Hazel Askew, Hannah James and Rowan Rheingans brought harp, accordion, fiddle and banjo and added their soaring vocal harmonies. A fascinating insight into the talented musicians who make up one of our finest folk trios. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot --- Find out more about Lady Maisery at https://www.ladymaisery.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 13 · 1 hr 2 min
The Brothers Gillespie walking to Holy Island
Join the Brothers Gillespie and their devoted fans on a walk across the sands from the Northumberland coast to Holy Island. As we follow in the footsteps of centuries of pilgrims, the Brothers' beautiful harmonies ring out across the waves and we hear stories of Saints Cuthbert and Aiden and King Oswald’s miraculous silver encased arm. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot --- Find out more about the Brothers Gillespie at https://thebrothersgillespie.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 16 · 1 hr 6 min
The Ffern Folk Guild in Devon with Alex Merry, Ben Edge, Charlie Cooper, Sam Lee and Zakia Sewell
When Alex Merry of Boss Morris, artist Ben Edge, actor Charlie Cooper, singer and naturalist Sam Lee and broadcaster and author Zakia Sewell met in the spectacular Devon countryside to decide which folk projects should receive a share of a £50,000 grant from the organic perfume company Ffern, we couldn’t resist going along. We gathered these amazing talents around a campfire for a song from Sam. Then began a wide ranging discussion about why young people are increasingly fascinated by this country’s folk music and customs and why this connection matters. (Includes vivid descriptions of The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, The Padstow 'Obby 'Oss and the Flaming Tar Barrels of Ottery St. Mary). --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot --- Find out more about the Ffern Folk Guild at https://ffern.co/folk-foundation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 15, 2025 · 53 min
Winterfolk in West Yorkshire with O’Hooley and Tidow, Katie Spencer and Maddie Morris
Throw another log on the fire, pour yourself a cup of something hot and cheering and come with us in search of Winterfolk in West Yorkshire. With Santa hat firmly in place, we walk with Katie Spencer in Golcar, meet up with Maddie Morris on their way to a Lefty Christmas gig and end up at a gorgeous Christmas homecoming concert with O’Hooley and Tidow in “The Cathedral of the Colne Valley” - St Bartholomew’s Church, Marsden. On the way we reflect on the meaning of Christmas, spare a thought for those without family and friends at this time of year and hear seasonal songs old and new. A warm glow is guaranteed. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot --- Find out more about Katie at https://www.katiespencer.net/, Maddie at https://www.maddiemorrismusic.co.uk/ and O'Hooley & Tidow at https://ohooleyandtidow.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 11, 2025 · 44 min
Gigspanner Big Band on “Turnstone”: Folk Album of the Year 2025 Nominee
The Turnstone is an inquisitive bird that, as it name suggests, likes to overturn stones and seaweed in its search for food. That’s how the members of the Gigspanner Big Band see their hunt for the finest traditional songs to re-arrange, burnish and present for our delight. In this conversation with Matthew Bannister, the band’s Peter Knight, Hannah Martin and John Spiers share the stores behind the songs on their Folk Album of the Year nominated work “Turnstone”- and revel in the musical chemistry which allows the band to improvise much of their free flowing music. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot --- Keep up to date with the Folk Album of the Year Award: https://www.folkonfoot.com/award Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 10, 2025 · 41 min
Poor Creature on “All Smiles Tonight”: Folk Album of the Year 2025 Nominee
“Our first gig together was a benefit for a greyhound” The dog loving trio who make up Irish band Poor Creature are husband and wife Ruth Clinton (of Landless) and Cormac Macdiarmada (of Lankum) - plus Cormac’s brother, Lankum’s live drummer John Dermody. In this conversation with Matthew Bannister they reveal a passion for unusual vintage synthesisers, tell how Cormac breaking his back during the pandemic lockdown inspired the sound of one of the tracks on the album and share insights into working with legendary Dublin producer John “Spud” Murphy. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot --- Keep up to date with the Folk Album of the Year Award: https://www.folkonfoot.com/award Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 9, 2025 · 43 min
Edith WeUtonga on “Varipasi”: Folk Album of the Year 2025 Nominee
Born in Zimbabwe - but now resident in the UK - Edith WeUtonga is known as Mama Bass - because that’s the instrument she has made her own. She’s also an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and campaigner for musicians' rights. In this conversation with Matthew Bannister, she tells how the death of her beloved grandmother inspired her to write the songs that make up her Folk Album of the Year nominated work “Varipasi”. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot --- Keep up to date with the Folk Album of the Year Award: https://www.folkonfoot.com/award Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 8, 2025 · 41 min
Peggy Seeger on “Teleology”: Folk Album of the Year 2025 Nominee
"My first kiss with Irene was behind some wheelie bins in Penge." As she celebrates her ninetieth birthday, the legendary Peggy Seeger unpacks her current feelings about “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” - written for her by her late husband Ewan MacColl, but now also embracing her other passionate loving relationship. She revisits the song on her final album “Teleology”, nominated as one of the Folk Albums of 2025. In this special episode Peggy and her son, producer and musician Calum MacColl, tell the story behind the album as she reflects on a musical career lasting over seven decades. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot --- Keep up to date with the Folk Album of the Year Award: https://www.folkonfoot.com/award Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 7, 2025 · 42 min
Grace Stewart-Skinner on “Auchies Spikkin' Auchie”: Folk Album of the Year 2025 Nominee
An old recording of her grandfather reciting a poem in the Scots dialect of the little Black Isle fishing village where he lived inspired the clarsach (Scottish harp) player Grace Stewart-Skinner to create her Folk Album of the Year nominee “Auchies Spikking Auchie”. She mixed recordings of the dialect with her own music to create the evocative album. In this episode, she tells Matthew Bannister the story behind the album and also reflects on living with cerebral palsy - and her mixed feelings about being called “an inspiration”. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot --- Keep up to date with the Folk Album of the Year Award: https://www.folkonfoot.com/award Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 6, 2025 · 38 min
Joshua Burnside on “Teeth of Time”: Folk Album of the Year 2025 Nominee
Recorded in a former office space in Belfast City Centre, Joshua Burnside’s Folk Album of the Year Nominee “Teeth of Time” was inspired by his experience of becoming a father for the first time. He tells the story behind the album and plays tracks from it in this conversation with Matthew Bannister. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot --- Keep up to date with the Folk Album of the Year Award: https://www.folkonfoot.com/award Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 5, 2025 · 44 min
Cynefin on “Shimli”: Folk Album of the Year 2025 Nominee
Delve into the heritage of Welsh poetry, agriculture, fishing, milk processing and, of course, music as Cynefin shares the story behind his beautiful Folk Album of the Year nominated work “Shimli”. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot --- Keep up to date with the Folk Album of the Year Award: https://www.folkonfoot.com/award Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 4, 2025 · 40 min
Spafford Campbell on “Tomorrow Held”: Folk Album of the Year 2025 Nominee
“We first met in the National Youth Folk Ensemble. I was 14 and Louis was 16.” From these beginnings, fiddle player Owen Spafford and guitarist Louis Campbell have formed an inspiring, innovative musical partnership, drawing on wide ranging influences to create the acclaimed mostly instrumental album “Tomorrow Held”. Hear tracks from the album and the story behind it as they chat to Matthew Bannister in this special episode of Folk on Foot. --- We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either... Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfoot Or just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfoot Sign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.com Follow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot --- Keep up to date with the Folk Album of the Year Award: https://www.folkonfoot.com/award Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.