After Angela Merkel was drenched in beer (accidentally) by a waiter, the TM Show on Wednesday was looking for tales of spillage. This came in from Murray Nix:
Years ago, I took to the innocent pastime of building model cars to while away the weekend/keep me from visiting the pub. With my ex-wife away to bed, I placed a tray on my lap and started to glue various painted parts together using a fast contact adhesive that had the viscosity of water. In the wee sma' hours said adhesive was knocked over spilling the entire contents of the bottle directly onto my crotch area. Before I had even reached the bathroom my groin was on fire. All I could think of was "How am I going to explain this at A&E at 3 a.m.?". Luckily, a half hour under the shower and the pain subdued, however it must rank as the most unfortunate spillage that I've entailed.
The Tom Morton show, Mon-Thurs 1430-1600, Fri 1400-1600.
Here is the latest recipe by Roy Brett from The Kitchen Café. To be downloaded, kept, cooked and enjoyed.
Brown crab risotto.
The Kitchen Café is on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Scotland, every Wednesday 1315-1400.
We've added more of Stephen Duffy's Jazz House Pocket Legends to the ever-growing archive.
You can now listen to:
Nina Simone
Etta James
Monty Alexander
Tubby Hayes
Anita O'Day
The Jazz House, Wednesday at 2000-2200, repeated Sundays 2000-2200.
I go away for a break in the Highlands and what happens? The Prime Minister takes advantage and nips up for a key speech. Typical...waited till I was out of range. He came, He saw. He conned us...No, sorry, that's wrong. He came. He saw. He conquered... with a reassuring trot through our history mentioning famous Scots who made a contribution to Union. I must have missed the reference to Fred Goodwin. But surely the key point was the sudden screeching of brakes from the straight and narrow No Deviations route to Well, Maybes Aye, Maybes No detour to devolution.
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'No one ever asks us that....in the States.' The words of the Carolina Chocolate Drops when I brought up something they themselves had flagged up - slavery. In the US they told me slavery is a dead issue. People want to think it belongs in the past, has no relevance to now and there is no fall out. It only takes a passing knowledge of US social history to know this can never be the case. The experience of African Americans comes from one place. The circumstance and practice of that are in the past but the trail will always lead back there. The CCD's like the banjo and it is this instrument they believe to be the most concrete example of the music brought over from Africa. In these dark holds slaves would bring a strung wooden instrument which was a primitive banjo and it was this instrument which became the key to the music of the new black Americans. It is these roots and that music the CCD's tap into and their own story is as fascinating as any.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops with Ricky Ross
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For this Sunday's show I've been speaking to a man who was born into the privileged life of the landed gentry and left it all behind to live and work with Glasgow's homeless people. Ninian Stuart, a descendent of the Marquess of Bute, grew up on the Falkland Estate in Fife, the site of one of the country's most impressive Renaissance palaces. He tells me why he left to become a community worker in Glasgow in his teens.
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Bruce MacGregor who presents Travelling Folk on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Scotland sent this to put up on the blog.
"To the blogging I will go, I will go. To the blogging I will go".
I know, I know ! What a terrible pun to get us started on this new venture for Travelling Folk and myself. I suppose my main aim in these blogs is to discuss the music we all love along with some of the issues that surround the music making world. I'll also get a chance to share with you how the programme comes together and some further insights into the superb guests we get on the show.
I was absolutely delighted to be asked to take on the presenters mic for Travelling Folk in late 2010. I'd been a keen listener, a sometime guest and performer on the programme so admirably steered by Archie Fisher for over fifteen years.
I was like a kid in a sweetie shop to begin with. A chance to play the music I love and an opportunity to speak to some of the finest musicians and singers on the planet. But then, as is my nature, I started to panic. This was quite an undertaking and indeed, a responsibility. It wasn't the fact that I might ask a stupid question or mispronounce somebody's name...my skin is thick enough to deal with that. No, it was the enormity and significance of the job that suddenly started to dawn on me.
Travelling Folk is the shop window for Scottish folk music throughout the world. The level of worldwide listenership became apparent through the first few weeks. It is our job to make sure we portray the folk music scene in a true and correct manner. That means we've got to share our passion, our knowledge and also our sense of enjoyment. However it also means that every track played has to be carefully selected. Is it good enough? How does it fit into the category of "folk"? How do we pay tribute and homage to the past masters whist embracing the cutting edge performers? These are questions that we continually ask ourselves.
What has really amazed me is the range and diversity in this world of "folk music". Despite having been a professional and touring musician for the last ten years, the number of albums and EP's and performers out on tour really took me by surprise. As a touring musician you can sit in your own wee bubble. It certainly felt like a dam had burst when the CD's started flooding in the doors for consideration for Travelling Folk.
So what artists do you think wear the folk mantle easily? Which ones stretch the boundaries to the limits? Where are those limits? Let me know, and we'll continue this musical journey together, getting to know one another and hopefully making a programme that celebrates the music we care about.
Travelling Folk with Bruce MacGregor is broadcast every Thursday at 20:05 and repeated on Sunday at 22:05
Listen in on Saturday as Michael Philip and his Scottish dance band make a welcome return to the programme and have a look at this week's Take the Floor events guide to find music and ceilidh events taking place near you.
Friday 24th February
Accordion and Fiddle Clubs
Linlithgow - Scottish Country Dance Club - James Coutts Duo
Ceilidh
Old Kirkpatrick - Napier Hall - 7.30pm
Folk Club
The Cromar Folk Club - Tarland - Aberdeen Arms - John Coletta and Carol Anderson - 8pm - *Tickets £5*
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A Message from Pauline the Producer
No - Derek isn't presenting the programme this Saturday - something about it being half term. Ken MacDonald will be holding the fort. and will be here with their analysis of the political week. We find out how events in Greece are affecting the leadership of Germany and France.
Financial mismanagement. The down-fall of a major team. Crisis in football. We'll find out how the beautiful team survived in Argentina.
That's just a taster.
I'm hoping my voice returns for the morning. I could go on about how unwell I've been but it never gets any sympathy.
The rest of us will all be here at 8 tomorrow morning.
On this Sunday's show I'll be talking to a former spy. Harry Ferguson worked for MI6 as an intelligence officer and spent years going undercover and lying to his family about what he did for a living. I'll be asking him what effect that had on his personal life and whether the life of a spy really is as glamorous as James Bond or Spooks. Actually, he's told us that he's fed up with journalists asking him daft questions about spying, but that won't stop me. Apparently a Japanese journalist once asked him: what's the best way to kill someone with a ballpoint pen? I might avoid that one.
Harry Ferguson
In the studio with me on Sunday are The Big Issue's editor , of Cloudline PR, and a newcomer to the show, Murray Macdonald who's a former Tory spin doctor. A good week to have Murray on... It'll be interesting to get his take on David Cameron's visit to Scotland this week.
We'll also be looking at all the dramatic twists and turns following Rangers going into administration. I'll be asking my panel to become instant tax experts as we try to pick our way through all the complex details and allegations of missing money. And we'll also look at the bigger picture and what this means for Scottish game and for us, the taxpayers, who could end up footing the bill.
See you at 9am on Sunday
Saturday's Take The Floor welcomes back Lindsay Weir and her Scottish Dance Band, with an excellent session. Don't miss it. In the mean-time, here's your weekly guide, listing some of the great music and ceilidh events taking place this week around Scotland.
Friday 17th February
Accordion and Fiddle Clubs
Lockerbie - Lockerbie Town Hall - Annual Dance with Iain Crucikshanks Scottish Dance Band
Ceilidh
Old Kirkpatrick - Napier Hall - 7.30pm
Folk Club
Salmon Bothy Folk Club - Portsoy - *Tickets £5*
Fundraising Events
Oban - Corran Halls - artists include Michelle McManus, Paul McCallum, Rona Lightfoot and Patrick Hughes - 8pm prompt - *Tickets £10 (concessions available)*
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It often starts with a voice which sounds familiar. Or it's a look that you can't pin down but you know you've encountered before and you remember too how much you liked it that first time. This weekend's radio is all a bit like that.
First we welcome Gretchen Peters to Another Country.
Gretchen is no stranger to our show and it's always good to welcome her back. I have chronicled before my first encounter with her at the one night where she sang, I melted and a quest to discover more about her began. It was only later I realised how her music had first sneaked into my life. When Terry Wogan had his breakfast show he had a great ability to find songs that could break your heart first thing in the morning. You'd just have pulled away from the school run and the chords of Clifford T Ward's Home Thoughts From Abroad or Randy Newman's Home would bleed in to the car and in that same slot he would often play When You Are Old by Gretchen. As my pal would say, 'It will kill you in a great way.'
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I pulled a muscle in my calf this week running on the treadmill at the gym. (I have to keep fit to escape the fans who are pursuing me just now) Typical, isn't it? You do your level best to get fit and end up crocked and worse than you were before you started. My usual training regime is pinot noir and a strum on the guitar - in front of the mirror - just like at the gym. I should stick to what I know.
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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Scotland's Take The Floor events guide. Your weekly list of music and ceilidh events taking place around Scotland.
Friday 10th February
Accordion and Fiddle Clubs
Lockerbie - Lockerbie Town Hall - Annual Dance with Iain Crucikshanks Scottish Dance Band
Ceilidh
Old Kirkpatrick - Napier Hall - 7.30pm
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The full interview with Gretchen is on tomorrow's Another Country with Ricky Ross from 20:05. In the meantime here's a little clip to help get in the mood.
Here are the latest valentines recipes from The Kitchen Café. To be downloaded, kept, cooked and enjoyed.
Steven Devlin's Lamb Cutlets With Spinach & Orzo Salad
Michael Smith's Chocolate Mousse Tart With Passion Fruit
The Kitchen Cafe, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Scotland every Wednesday at 1315.
I love a good book title.. up until now the reigning king of quirk was with an assortment of fantastic examples such as Quite Ugly One Morning, A Big Boy Did It And Ran Away.. and personal favourite, All Fun And Games Until Someone Loses An Eye. Then along comes Lincolnshire lad, with his latest collection of short stories titled THIS ISN'T THE SORT OF THING THAT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE LIKE YOU. One of his stories inspired that but the intriguing title got me thinking about the seductive power of the right book title. Paul Mason, the Newsnight Economics Editor was a recent Culture Cafe guest with a v zeit giesty offering: Why it's kicking off everywhere.. It certainly did what it said on the tin.. and scored a double whammy by using YOOF speak.. I'm not sure how many octogenarians down the dominos club would know what kicking off actually meant. (naff all to do with footie!) Sometimes brevity is best- PURE, Costa winner is a good case in point. That one word hints at so much of the theme and content of this pre-revolutionary book set in France. In quiet moments (what are those?) I sometimes toy with options for my unwritten book- with a nod in the direction of , how about "I told you I'd get round to it" or how about "You are totally having a laugh" and "There's nothing wrong with moose love" - (ok that sounds a lot more dodgy than I intended!)
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Here's few photographs of the 'in the round' session from tonight's programme.
Another Country with Mary Gauthier, Ben Glover and CW Stoneking live at ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland, 3 February 2012.
For the second year we are hosting a Bluebird Cafe stye 'In The Round' to celebrate Celtic Connections. It all takes place in the foyer of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ building on Glasgow's Pacific Quay and the backdrop to the stage is the River Clyde, The Finnieston Crane and the Armadillo. This year we are playing hosts to two good friends of the programme and someone with whom we've wanting to get more acquainted for some time.
Mary Gauthier will be visiting us for the third time and I honestly believe she is more welcome because of that.
Ben Glover and Mary Gauthier during soundcheck for Another Country, Friday 3 February, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Scotland
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I want to start this week by announcing that I have handed back my knighthood. As a working class Scot who has risen to prominence I feel I have much in common with Fred Goodwin as I have also proved conclusively that I can't run the household bank account, have lost thousands in dismal investments and have sometimes displayed an unacceptably high-handed attitude to the programme team. I also know that many of you will be jealous and resentful of my handsome pension. Henceforth, I will be plain mister. Or as the team affectionately know me: Mr Derek.
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Here are the latest recipes from The Kitchen Café. To be downloaded, kept, cooked and enjoyed.
Neil Forbes' s ultimate beef burger
Mary Contini's minestrone soup
The Kitchen Café is on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Scotland, every Wednesday 1315-1400.
| 14:48 UK time, Wednesday, 29 February 2012
