Welcome to Folk On Foot

“The snow it is lying on Bewcastle Fell And the wind strips the skin from my face. The bare bones of a tree give some shelter to me But still it’s a draughty old place.”

Come to “the least populated area of the least populated county in England” and take shelter from the elements in the warm welcome of Stones Barn where Maddy Prior of Steeleye Span and her daughter Rose-Ellen Kemp are hosting one of their acclaimed singing weekends. Guest tutor Martin Carthy reveals how he discovered the joys of traditional singing when he was just seventeen years old – and Maddy and Rose-Ellen take us to Bewcastle Church to see the 6th Century cross commemorating St Cuthbert and sing in its glorious acoustic.

Find out more about Stones Barn at https://stonesbarn.co.uk/

A festive episode featuring the Wexford Carols sung by the beautiful voice of Caitriona O’Leary. The carols came out of the persecution of Catholics in Wexford in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and were written by Bishop Luke Waddinge and Father William Devereux. Caitriona takes Matthew Bannister to the Franciscan church where Bishop Waddinge is buried and to St Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy where the area’s most famous carol was collected. We also meet the retired fisherman Dixie Devereux whose father sang the carols every Christmas for 62 years – and who is now passing on the tradition to his own son. A fascinating story with gorgeous music creating an atmospheric, seasonal experience.

Find out more about The Wexford Carols at https://thewexfordcarols.com/

We’re massively excited to announce the unique Folk on Foot Front Room gigs. Live on Zoom between 3–4pm UK time on Sunday afternoons, they are exclusively available to the lovely people who sign up to become Folk on Foot Heroes.

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The Official Folk Albums Chart Show from Folk on Foot features an interview with James Yorkston and Nina Persson about their brilliant new album with the Second Hand Orchestra. There’s also music from Rachael Dadd, David Carroll and Friends, Breabach, Martyn Joseph, Manran, Magpie Arc and The Mary Wallopers.

Watch from 7pm GMT on Tuesday 7 February