Ballads & Balladeers

Scheduled on

A niche show, for sure. Focussing on “the first generation of folk singers on vinyl” (circa 1960 to 1990). And focussing 99% on songs, not instrumental music.

Simply put – both of these aspects were being sorely neglected across the entire spectrum of radio broadcasting. For decades now presenters have used digital media and all of the big stations ditched their vinyl libraries. Add in the current move away from Folk Song to Trad Instrumental music and it was obvious that something had to be done to plug that gap.

Every major act of the era has gaps in their available material, from The Dubliners to The Corries through to Barbara Dickson and Dick Gaughan. All have recorded material that is unavailable apart from on the original vinyl. Others such as Jimmie Macgregor and Nigel Denver have left virtually no trace in the digital marketplace.

Presenter Gavin Paterson has been collecting folk song on vinyl since 1985 and used his own personal library as the basis for the emerging Ballads show. Very quickly, many of the major artists of the era started sending him copies of unavailable works to be used on the show. In particular, the great writer/producer Jim McLean sent Gavin a huge amount of his own priceless vinyl to be used on the show.
Many others, both artists and listeners, continue to send unavailable recordings to Gavin, who often curates a “vinyl only” Ballads show. And it’s a two-way street – Gavin has reunited many singers with lost/rare artefacts from their own careers.

Gavin also started tracking down many of that generations greatest performers and conducted in-depth, career spanning interviews with as many as possible.
Ronnie Browne, Arthur Johnstone, Alastair McDonald, Jim McLean, Ewan McVicar, Ian McCalman, Barbara Dickson, Ian Green, Fraser Bruce and more.

And many of that generation who are still active recording artists have apperared on the Ballads show to promote new works.
Finbar Furey, Peg Clancy Power, John Graham & Jim Jack, Ian Walker, Gavin Livingstone, Charlie Harrigan and more.

Ballads & Balladeers is the ONLY radio show that we are aware of that covers this most important and neglected field of music. Join the ever increasing band of dedicated listeners every Tuesday afternoon between 2pm and 4pm.

A niche show, for sure. Focussing on “the first generation of folk singers on vinyl” (circa 1960 to 1990). And focussing 99% on songs, not instrumental music.

Simply put – both of these aspects were being sorely neglected across the entire spectrum of radio broadcasting. For decades now presenters have used digital media and all of the big stations ditched their vinyl libraries. Add in the current move away from Folk Song to Trad Instrumental music and it was obvious that something had to be done to plug that gap.

Every major act of the era has gaps in their available material, from The Dubliners to The Corries through to Barbara Dickson and Dick Gaughan. All have recorded material that is unavailable apart from on the original vinyl. Others such as Jimmie Macgregor and Nigel Denver have left virtually no trace in the digital marketplace.

Presenter Gavin Paterson has been collecting folk song on vinyl since 1985 and used his own personal library as the basis for the emerging Ballads show. Very quickly, many of the major artists of the era started sending him copies of unavailable works to be used on the show. In particular, the great writer/producer Jim McLean sent Gavin a huge amount of his own priceless vinyl to be used on the show.
Many others, both artists and listeners, continue to send unavailable recordings to Gavin, who often curates a “vinyl only” Ballads show. And it’s a two-way street – Gavin has reunited many singers with lost/rare artefacts from their own careers.

Gavin also started tracking down many of that generations greatest performers and conducted in-depth, career spanning interviews with as many as possible.
Ronnie Browne, Arthur Johnstone, Alastair McDonald, Jim McLean, Ewan McVicar, Ian McCalman, Barbara Dickson, Ian Green, Fraser Bruce and more.

And many of that generation who are still active recording artists have apperared on the Ballads show to promote new works.
Finbar Furey, Peg Clancy Power, John Graham & Jim Jack, Ian Walker, Gavin Livingstone, Charlie Harrigan and more.

Ballads & Balladeers is the ONLY radio show that we are aware of that covers this most important and neglected field of music. Join the ever increasing band of dedicated listeners every Tuesday afternoon between 2pm and 4pm.