@matthewbannister.bsky.social
Broadcaster. Host of Last Word on BBC Radio 4 and my own multi award winning Folk on Foot podcast (@folkonfoot.com). Posts all personal.
Image of the album cover for "Teleology" by Peggy Seeger, with the Folk Album of the Year 2025 logo.
π New episode out now. As she celebrates her 90th birthday, Peggy Seeger has made her final album, βTeleologyβ. With her son Calum MacColl (who produced it), she tells the story behind the Folk Album of the Year nominated work.
βΆοΈ Watch here: youtu.be/xZJwfI7f1GY
Image of the album cover for "Auchies Spikkin Auchie" by Grace Stewart-Skinner, with the Folk Album of the Year 2025 logo.
Clarsach (Scottish harp) player Grace Stewart-Skinner was inspired by a recording of her grandfather reciting a poem in the Scots dialect of his Black Isle fishing village. This formed the grounding for Folk Album of the Year nominee, βAuchies Spikkin Auchieβ.
βΆοΈ Find out more: youtu.be/aCCUc0FDHu8
Folk Album of the Year 2025 Finalist: Teeth of Time - Joshua Burnside
The experience of becoming a father inspired Joshua Burnside's Folk Album of the Year Nominee βTeeth of Timeβ. Hear the story behind the album as Joshua talks to Matthew Bannister in our new episode, out now.
βΆοΈ Watch here: youtu.be/H-UWzGUd9k0
Image of the album cover for "Shimli" by Cynefin, with the Folk Album of the Year 2025 logo.
New episode out now. Delve into the heritage of Welsh poetry, agriculture, fishing, milk processing and, of course, music as @cynefinmusic.bsky.social shares the story behind his beautiful Folk Album of the Year nominated work, βShimliβ.
βΆοΈ Watch here: youtu.be/M6KaihSSoHY
Fantastic gig by Steve Knightley and the Winter Yards Band at Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham last night. What could possibly go wrong??
05.12.2025 08:16 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
Image of the album cover for "Tomorrow Held" by Spafford Campbell, with the Folk Album of the Year 2025 logo.
Hear the story behind the Folk Album of the Year nominated βTomorrow Heldβ by @spaffordcampbell.bsky.social, as the duo talk to @matthewbannister.bsky.social in a special episode of Folk on Foot, out now.
βΆοΈ Watch here: youtu.be/ViXqEXCz61Q
Image of the album cover for "Curlew's Cry" by Barry Kerr, with the Folk Album of the Year 2025 logo.
Barry Kerr tells the story behind the Folk Album of the Year nominated βCurlewβs Cryβ in a special episode of Folk on Foot, out now.
βΆοΈ Watch here: youtu.be/yDW5MiT_zyM
Photo of Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, with text over the top which says "Folk on Foot presents The Official Folk Albums Chart Show, compiled by Official Charts, 2nd December 2025".
It's almost time! Join us on YouTube at 7pm GMT for this month's Chart Show, with music from Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Me and My Friends, @theunthanks.bsky.social, Gus White, @josienneclarke.com, @martynjosephwales.bsky.social and @thelilactime.bsky.social.
Watch here: youtu.be/JrI_pdvT0r8
Photo of Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, with text over the top which says "Folk on Foot presents The Official Folk Albums Chart Show, compiled by Official Charts, 2nd December 2025".
Join us tonight for this month's Chart Show, featuring music from Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Me and My Friends, @theunthanks.bsky.social, Gus White, @josienneclarke.com, @martynjosephwales.bsky.social and @thelilactime.bsky.social.
Watch from 7pm GMT: youtu.be/JrI_pdvT0r8
Such a wonderful list of extraordinary albums!
27.11.2025 13:15 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
And we're off! Head over to YouTube now, as we announce the nine fantastic albums shortlisted for the Folk Album of the Year Award 2025.
Watch here: youtu.be/UDrHNykW5cQ
Image of Kellie While and Matthew Bannister, with the logo for the Folk Album of the Year Award 2025 and text that says "Nominations Announcement".
It's almost time! Tonight at 6pm GMT, we'll be unveiling the nine albums shortlisted for the Folk Album of the Year Award 2025, alongside our friends at @soundrootsuk.bsky.social.
Join us on YouTube at the link below, or tune into the Folk on Foot podcast - youtu.be/UDrHNykW5cQ
So excited to share this incredible shortlist of albums with you tonight at 1800 GMT.
26.11.2025 10:27 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0Enjoy a musical walk down @frankturner.bsky.social's Memory Lane (otherwise known as Holloway Road in North London) in this classic episode of Folk on Foot from July 2020.
π§ Listen here - pod.fo/e/3587a1
Boss Morris lead us a merry dance onto Rodborough Common near Stroud in our latest episode, out now.
π§ Listen here: pod.fo/e/35274f
Never miss a chance to make a fool of myself in the interests of entertaining passing motorists in Stroud! Thanks for trying Alex.
20.11.2025 19:32 β π 5 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
Beautiful harmonies and enchanting lyrics from @boohewerdine.bsky.social and Heidi Talbot in Shoreham tonight. They have lots more dates - see them if you can.
19.11.2025 22:47 β π 8 π 2 π¬ 0 π 0Nothing stops a Boss Morris dancer!
18.11.2025 18:40 β π 3 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0Saucy? All good clean fun.
16.11.2025 19:25 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0
Tremendous uplifting evening with the brilliant @nancyannfolk.bsky.social and @jamesfagan.bsky.social at @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social tonight. A privilege to join their 30 year celebration. Congratulations! X
15.11.2025 23:02 β π 18 π 4 π¬ 1 π 0Get your dancing bells on!
14.11.2025 09:14 β π 4 π 1 π¬ 0 π 0New at #3 in this monthβs Official Folk Albums Chart is Nick Harper. His album, "58 Fordwych Rd", recalls listening to his Dad Roy jamming with the stars of the 60s folk revival in their flat in Kilburn when Nick was a kid.
βΆοΈ Watch the full show here: youtu.be/n9eYVGBdKAw
@harperspace.bsky.social
Shooting into the Official Folk Albums Chart at #7 this month comes John Smith. His album, "Gatherings", celebrates 20 years in music with new versions of some of his best loved songs.
βΆοΈ Watch the full show here: youtu.be/n9eYVGBdKAw
Photo of Katie Spencer playing guitar on a beach, with text that says "Folk on Foot presents The Official Folk Albums Chart Show, compiled by Official Charts, 4th November 2025"
On this month's Chart Show, Matthew chats to Katie Spencer about her new album, "What Love Is", plus there's music from Nick Harper, John Smith, Kathryn Williams, Cerys Hafana, Leveret, Niall McNamee and Brown Boots Boogie Band.
Tune in on YouTube from 7pm - set a reminder now:
youtu.be/n9eYVGBdKAw
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... Hereβs Sam Westβs heartfelt tribute to his Mum Prunella Scales - a Last Word special
31.10.2025 09:30 β π 2 π 1 π¬ 0 π 0Met Gareth yesterday on Holy Island while recording Folk
On Foot. His project is really inspiring. Find out more and support here. A Troubadour Journey : Lindisfarne to Durham www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/troubadour...
Now on sale: the fourth Indoor Festival of Folk.
Featuring the country's finest folk artists: Maddy Prior and Peter Knight, Chris Wood, Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver, Ellie Gowers, The Magpie Arc PLUS a unique interview with Matthew Bannister and a special guest.
Sat 7 Feb bit.ly/4qC4y0c
This is so movingβ¦
27.10.2025 09:10 β π 0 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0How does Rosie Hodgson of The Wilderness Yet warm up for a tongue-twisting song?
π§ Hear more in our new episode, out now: pod.fo/e/33eccc
Come celebrate Nancy Kerr and @jamesfagan.bsky.social's 30th anniversary at this special gig looking back at their life together in music.
The duo combine stunning vocals and stellar instrumentation on fiddle, guitar and bouzouki with Nancy's poetic lyrics.
Sat 15 Nov bit.ly/3TQEmji
