“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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
What this show covers
folk musicnew releasesalbum chartartist discoverylive gigslive performancelive musicsongwritingcanal lifeKennet and Avon CanalNancy Kerrbirdlifeacoustic musicStornowayGower Peninsula
What listeners will find here
A fresh folk chart roundup with new music, live picks, and a tease of what’s next
The Official Folk Albums Chart Show for 6th October 2026 brings together music from Spell Songs, The Mary Wallopers, Elanor Moss, Rusty Shackle, Gilroy Mere, Colin Stetson and Brighde Chaimbeul, Andy Irvine, and Blind Yeo. It also includes forthcoming album and live recommendations from Lucy Shields plus a preview of the next Folk on Foot episode from Matthew Bannister.
Nancy Kerr’s canal years come alive on a walk along the Kennet and Avon
Nancy Kerr revisits life on England’s inland waterways in this classic walk along the Kennet and Avon Canal. She talks with Matthew Bannister about twelve years on a narrow boat, the family roots of her folk music, and the songs that grew out of canal life.
Stornoway blend birdsong, coastline and acoustic songs on the Gower Peninsula
Stornoway head into South Wales for a walk across the Gower Peninsula, guided by singer and ornithologist Brian Briggs. The episode moves from bird-filled woodland to salt marsh and beach, with acoustic performances of the band’s nature-inspired songs along the way.
A monthly folk chart mix with new music, upcoming releases, and a Folk on Foot tease
This episode of the Official Folk Albums Chart Show brings together music from Gwenifer Raymond, Cinder Well, Robyn Hitchcock, Arun Sood, Angeline Morrison, Nick Parker and the False Alarms, Joshua Burnside, and Dove Ellis. It also includes a look ahead to the next Folk on Foot episode plus a preview of forthcoming releases and gigs.
Martin Simpson returns to Scunthorpe for a moving walk through childhood and song
Martin Simpson revisits his Scunthorpe upbringing in a classic 2019 episode, tracing the memories and landscapes that shaped him. Along the way, he shares stories of family, imagination, and the natural world, plus performances of “Never Any Good,” “Toy Soldiers,” and “Creeping Jane.”
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