Roots on the (local) radio

We have all seen them, foppish hair, waistcoats, tight jeans, pointed vintage leather shoes and merely a hand woven scarf to beat off the winter blues. They reside in packs, boys and girls and (occasional skateboard or fixie aside) are bipeds. Yes, the hipsters are as common a sight at gigs these days as was the greasy-haired, leather jacketed Motorhead fan at gigs of old. Yet, inexplicably like an uber cool Austin suburb these trendy youngsters have been drawn towards the roots world to have their ears pleasured and if I am honest I am not exactly sure why. Ok, the phenomenal success of Mumford and Sons has all the pull of a granddad-shirted Pied Piper leading the congregation up into the folk hills and they have been beating the indie folk drum at every festival it can for a couple of years now. Bleary eyed in sheer wonderment these teenage tousled tribes have been seen bouncing up and down at festivals in their thousands to songs about fishing and northern towns sung by fey temptresses in vintage cotton.

As a roots fan of old I am really hoping this new found enthusiasm for all things acoustic really has an impact in revitalizing interest in the scene. Back in the day when I worked at HMV I remember Saturday’s was full of cool kids buying Coltrane and Pharaoh Sanders vinyl by the velcro-tabbed record bag load. See, the Acid Jazz movement opened up the whole jazz world to eager teenagers willing to explore the vast jazz heartlands on the say so of Caspar The Vinyl Junkie and Giles Peterson. It was a great scene, minds were expanded, gigs were packed and record collections built. The hope I guess, is that these record buyers and gig goers of today will step outside the comfort zone and find some new music that might not have just been endorsed by Lauren Laverne or released on Bella Union, as it’s out there; it’s out there in reams.

From a genuine lover of roots music – be it the wooden shack harmonies of The Carter Family, old Cash pumped to the gills on speed and regrets, Hayes Carll and his humorous hubris, or even the enfant terrible Ryan Adams and all that comes with his brand of country – I am urging you to go forth and explore what is a vibrant, all encompassing world. There are treasures to hear at every turn that will delight, inspire and challenge your aural awareness. Ok, national radio and press outlets for this stuff in minimal to say the least but we are blessed in this Internet world of opportunity in that there are many radio shows, many of which in this fair county, that will help you chart a course. Here are but a few:

Do touch that dial...

Gilded Palace ( www.totallyradio.com ) has long been the benchmark for ‘roots’ regalia. Scorcher Shane will play everything from Frizell to Sloan, vast plains covered in the space of two hours. Regular live sessions to boot it’s an encyclopaedic jamboree of twang. From this show alone I have been led towards Austin Lucas, Tandy, Barton Carroll and Malcolm Holcombe. For that I am forever in debt.

Lonesome Drifter does a killer show on Radio23 ( www.radio23.org ) that always has me diving for the Wiki looking up bands and albums. He don’t say a lot but who cares, why waste breath when he can play a new Gregory Allan Isakov track? Saturday morning soundtrack in our house for sure.

Then there is the brilliant Simple Folk on Radio Reverb ( www.radioreverb.com ) Dillon and his antler-wearing homies lay down lush, lo-fi loveliness on every show. If you think Daytrotter is cool then listen to this show. Simples. Folks.

Further afield we have the likes of* Bob's Folk Show* on Radio Wey ( www.radiowey.co.uk ), Martyn Bonanza on Resonance FM ( "www.resonancefm.co.uk"http://www.resonancefm.co.uk ), the excellent Rob Ellen and his whole Medicine Show bag of tricks from the Highlands (www.radioalba.co.uk), Barry Everitt’s House Of Mercy ( "www.houseofmercy.net"http://www.houseofmercy.net ) and Karen Miller’s wonderful Miller Tells A Tale (www.themillertelshertale.co.uk ). And in Scotland ex-Deacon Blue singer Ricky Ross now bangs the country drum on Another Country ( www.bbc.co.uk ) There are more, loads more, just search them out. And of course we have to tip a hat to Bob Harris, a guy who has done more for roots music in this country than anyone else in a last gasp flag waving attempt to stave off the BBC bland brigade.

There is me, too. Songs From The Ark, every Friday at 6PM on Radio Reverb . I do my bit.

Oh, and Union co-founder Jamie Freeman, who'll be doing a few shows on Lewes's Rocket FM.

Tune in, turn on, folk off...

So there you go. For every Bon Iver there is a Ben Weaver. For every Fleet Foxes there is a Deep Dark Woods. For every Low Anthem there is a Crooked Still. For every Laura Marling there is a Caroline Herring. Tune in to some of these great shows and you will find nuggets a plenty. Embrace the roots; it’s here for you all. Or just spend a few hours at Union Music Store as here you will find all you need!