James Walvin - a new book about Amazing Grace

Invisible Folk hosts another poetry reading.  This podcast features the comic verse of Clare Pasquale, the reflective nature poems of Ben Batten and 4 of Jon's poems that can be found in For the Many not the Few volume 39. An anthology published by Inherit the Earth, available through Amazon where all the proceeds go to charities for the homeless.

Jon, Karen and Ben read some of their poems

This is a podcast from Invisible Folk in collaberation with the Chesham Literary Festival.  In this episode I talk to Raven Dane, novelist, short story writer and occasional film star. Raven is famous for her dark fantasy, steampunk and folk horror novels and a wide variety of short stories.  

Listen to the highlights of the Chesham Literary Festival poetry competition awards ceremony held at the Town Hall, Chesham on 12th July 2024. It was a great evening. Many thanks to the four judges - Emily Townsend, Valerie Jack, Ben Batten & Jon Bickley, with additional thanks to Mark Jackson-Hancock and Pemby.  Invisible Folk is proud of the brilliant volunteers, poetry competition winners, commended poets, families and friends who made our awards ceremony such a success. Keep an eye on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/invisiblefolkltd for future competitions and events.

Since Spring 2019 Invisible Folk are proud to have been the recipients of four Arts Council Grants. In this podcast Jon Bickley talks about our relationship with the Arts Council and how that has enabled us to commission new compositions, new performances and to inject some money into the folk music community. You'll also hear some great music; without Arts Council funding it would never have existed. For more information go to our Website https://invisiblefolk.com/

Singer/Songwriters Jim Causley and Miranda Sykes joined narrator John Palmer (director of the critically-acclaimed Vaughan Williams anniversary 'From Pub to Pulpit' Cathedral tour) to talk us through a new show entitled 'Ghosts, werewolves and countryfolk - the songs and stories of Sabine Baring-Gould'  Polymath and Victorian superstar Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) was, amongst many other things, a best-selling novelist most notably for stories of ghosts, werewolves and Norse myths. Despite wide ranging interests he felt the most important part of his life was collecting songs from Devon and Cornwall, amassing more than 2000 songs. In the show Miranda, Jim and John interweave some of those songs with anecdotes from Baring-Gould's astonishing life and stories. Ticket info from https://www.mirandasykes.com/baring-gould-centenary/ Songs (in order of appearance): Jim Causley & Miranda Sykes - My Lady's Coach Jim Causley & Miranda Sykes - Cottage Well Thatched Jim Causley & Miranda Sykes - Last of the Singers All songs Trad/Arr Causley & Sykes Links to artist websites: https://www.mirandasykes.com/ https://www.jimcausley.co.uk/

Rhiannon Crutchley is an independent, alternative, acoustic musician who performs under the name Brewer's Daughter. For the last 10 years she has lived on a narrowboat travelling the inland waterways of the English east Midlands. She has worked the festival scene in the UK and Europe both solo and as fiddle player with Tarantism.  Released on 5th April 2024 ‘Made Undone’ is Rhiannon's third solo album and is by far her most advanced to date, not only in terms of songwriting, but in production values too. The collaboration with Hawkwind guitarist Magnus Martin has been particularly fruitful. For music and merch go to https://thebrewersdaughter.bandcamp.com/ For gigs and other information keep an eye on Facebook

This is the final podcast of our Grace will lead me home project, a partnership with the Cooper & Newton Museum (Olney) to mark the 250th anniversary of the writing of Amazing Grace. Our guest speaker is James Walvin, OBE Emeritus Professor of History at York University, his latest book is the cultural history of Amazing Grace. It is fascinating and comprehensive, not only of the creation of the beloved hymn, but its evolution from 1772 as it passes through a series of cultural ecosystems. For further info about the Grace will lead me home project go to this link

It's catch-up time. The Invisible Folk Club radio show is currently syndicated to eight community or local stations, six based in the UK with the other two mainland Europe. Jon Bickley presents the show, Steve Yarwood is Producer. Nothing in the broad church of trad folk, roots or Americana is off limits, there are so many shades. Our show features established artists, rising stars, quality new music, blasts from the past.  In the final part of our festive trilogy we reflect on the old year and ring in the new. For centuries, wassailing was a key part of year-end celebrations. 'Wassail' derives from the old Norse for 'good health' usually involving drinking and raucous singing. Bring us in good ale! https://invisiblefolk.com/ Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith - Turning of the Year The Wilderness Yet - Turn The Year Round Virginia Kettle - Closing Down the Year Emily Portman - Hinge of the Year Janice Burns & Jon Doran - The Month of January Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones - The Yorkshire Wassailing Song Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden - Ashen Bowl Johnny Flynn & Robert Macfarlane - The Sun also Rises Blur - The Wassailing Song Mediæval Bæbes - Gower Wassail Rachel Unthank & the Winterset - Tar Barrel in Dale The Watersons - Apple Tree Wassail Waterson : Carthy - Awake Awake Jim Ghedi & Toby Hay - Bright Edge Deep

It's catch-up time. The Invisible Folk Club radio show is currently syndicated to eight community or local stations, six based in the UK with the other two mainland Europe. Jon Bickley presents the show, Steve Yarwood is Producer. Nothing in the broad church of trad folk, roots or Americana is off limits, there are so many shades. Our show features established artists, rising stars, quality new music, blasts from the past.  It's Part 2 of our festive trilogy, so this is Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year, so they say. The music we have chosen reflects the many faces of Christmas, mostly smiling faces but not all. https://invisiblefolk.com/ Staple Singers - The Last Month of the Year Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden - Beautiful Star Jon Wilks - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Lisa Knapp - Cherry Tree Carol Paul Hutchinson - The Coventry Carol & Retreat from Kabul Burd Ellen - Sans Day Carol Angeline Morrison - Christmas is Now Drawing Near at Hand Anna Howie - Searching For Christmas Alan & Sue Garmonsway - Spiritus Sanctum Emma Scarr - Christmas in Paradise Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones - King Christmas Coope, Boyes & Simpson - How Beautiful Upon the Mountains Hattie Whitehead - In The Bleak Midwinter The Band - Christmas Must Be Tonight A Winter Union - White Christmas Somewhere Mediæval Bæbes - Carol of the Bells Mean Mary - Here We Come a-Caroling