A week after "Songs in the Key of...Live" went...live, a return to business as usual with a selection of ten songs that have been keeping me occupied of late.There's a tune from a Canterbury scene band that sounds nothing like the Canterbury scene, there's a song in English from someone who normally sings in Cornish and there's a song called 'Emily' which isn't really about Emily at all.Confused? You soon won't be.
Welcome to a very special edition of 'Songs in the Key of...'It's the first ever like recording of the show.Recorded on 26 July 2025 at the Medway Little Theatre, I was joined by Glenn Prangnell, Rachel Lowrie and Lupen Crook to talk about their lives in music. On top of this, we heard music from Rachel's band South Shore and Lupen Crook.It was a fantastic night. If you weren't able to attend, this is for you.The evening was brought together by Medwayish to celebrate ten years since the publication of my book, Do It Yourself: a History of Music in Medway by Cultured Llama. I'm currently working on a second edition of the book - to be published by Medwayish - which will fill in details of what's been happening over the last decade.Keep your eyes open for more book related news by following @songsinthekeyof on Instagram. In the meantime enjoy this first ever live recording of the show.
A short podcast to tell you all about an event happening in Rochester on 26 July 2025!
You thought I'd forgotten about you, didn't you!Here, after far too long an absence, is a new episode of Songs in the Key of... featuring another selection of ten songs to keep you entertained.Happy (belated) new year!Don't forget to head over to Spotify (if you're not already there) to hear all the songs in full.
For the eighth installment of Songs in the Key of...Christmas we have indie songs about awkward family Christmases, folk songs about the harshness of winter and singer-songwriter songs about meeting an international treasure.Don't forget to head over to Spotify to hear the songs in full on the playlist accompanying the episode.
Welcome to another episode of Songs in the Key of...Here, in no particular order, are ten songs that have been keeping my ears busy of late.If you like what you hear, head over to Spotify to hear the songs in full on this specially created playlist.
Welcome to Songs in the Key Of… - a podcast about songs. For this episode, I set up the microphone in our living room to have a chat with Rachel about the music she's been listening to and loving lately. It's a busy time for Rachel as The Ashen Keys, the band she's in, are days away from releasing their debut - and rather beautiful - album, The Name on Your Compass.Obviously we talk about that - and feature a play of the single 'Capricious' which is taken from the album.If you like what you hear, head over to Spotify where you can hear the songs Rachel has chosen in full on a special playlist created to accompany this episode.You can find out more about The Ashen Keys on their Facebook page.
Welcome to a rather quiet episode of Songs in the Key of...To hear the featured songs in full, head over to this Spotify playlist.
Back in September 2021 singer-songwriter Jo Hook appeared as a guest on Songs in the Key of... with a list of ten songs that had taken her fancy of late.Three years later I've caught up with her again to discuss songs from her forthcoming - and rather beautiful - album Shiny Disposable Things. If you like what you hear on this podcast - and you surely will - make sure you go to Bandcamp to get your mits on the album when it comes out on 29 June 2024.
Welcome to Songs in the Key of 2023 - Part 2 during which I chat with Lucy Forder, Vicky Price, Kate Arnold, Marc Symonds and Roy Smith. Expect a wide range of musical highlights from indie folk through to the most ethereal of electronica.Don't forget: once you've listened to both these episodes, you can head over to Spotify to hear all the songs in full.
Welcome to Part One of the Songs in the Key of... review of the year.This episode features chats with Jeremy Simon, Stuart Turner, Moira Mehaffey, Darren Lovell and Nick Rice.Don't forget to stick around for Part Two...
Welcome to a special edition of Songs in the Key of... featuring a chat with my daughter.Don't forget: once you've finished listening to this, head over to Spotify to ear all the songs in full.
The seventh installment of Songs in the Key of...Christmas is here. Just in time for the big day.Listen up for chat about Phoebe Bridgers, Momus, Tim Minchin, The Futureheads and, of course The Fall. Don't forget. Once you've listened to the podcast, head over to Spotify to hear all the songs in full.
Brought to you by the Spirit of Christmas past, this installment of the seasonal "Songs in the Key of...Christmas" series was recorded last year - but too late for Christmas. Artists featured for this episode of festive music include Simon and Garfunkel, Saint Etienne, Hannah Peel and, of course - and at last - the mighty Half Man Half Biscuit.Don't forget, once you've listened to the podcast, head over to Spotify to hear the songs in full.
Steven Keevil is one half of the dynamic duo behind Local Authority, a news website for residents of Medway, and Medway-ish – which sells Medway related gift, designs and – among other things – my book, Do It Yourself: a History of Music in Medway. There’ll be more on that during the interview.This episode would have been called “Songs in the Key of Steven Keevil, were it not for the fact that it quickly emerged that all of his song choices were taken from soundtracks to films. And so, having already done two episodes of this podcast based on tunes from the movies, it seemed only sensible to name this episode Songs in the Key of Cinema – Part III.Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any new episodes. And once you've heard this episode, head over to Spotify to hear the songs featured in full.
Welcome to Songs in the Key of... - a podcast about songs.On this episode I have another guest in the form of the splendidly affable Ian Petrie who will be familiar to anyone who’s wandered into a folk club in the South East of England – or a folk festival further afield. He’s one of those people with whom it’s an absolute pleasure to spend time as he has a story for every occasion. He’s a gentle soul with a wonderful wry sense of humour and an excellent way with words.Don't forget. Once you've listened to this episode, you can head over to Spotify to hear all of Ian's song choices in full on the playlist that accompanies this episode. Just look for "Songs in the Key of...Ian Petrie".And if you liked this episode, be sure to join the new "Songs in the Key of..." Facebook group.
Welcome to another episode of Songs in the Key of...This episode features another wander around the songs that have been keeping Stephen Morris entertained over the last few days and weeks. No great theme, just great tunes.Don't forget to head over to Spotify to hear most of the songs from this show in full on the specially made playlist.
Welcome to the latest Songs in the Key of... episode in which you are invited to trawl through a selection of songs that have been keeping presenter Stephen Morris occupied of late.Don't forget. Once you've listened to this episode, head on over to Spotify to find the playlist for all but one of the songs in full. And don't forget to subscribe! It's practically the law.
AlbarnCoxonJamesRowntreeThis episode gives a glimpse of one fan's relationship with the band who sparked his absolute addiction to music.Once you have listened to the podcast, hear the songs in full on this Spotify playlist.
This is a big one.Back in 2015, my book, Do It Yourself: a History of Music in Medway was published.It covered the story of bands and artists who emerged in the area from 1976 through to what was then the present day.This episode of "Songs in the Key of..." features extensive readings from the book with tales from Billy Childish (with reference to The Pop Rivets, The Milkshakes, Thee Headcoats), Graham Day (The Prisoners), Lupen Crook, Bob Collins (The Dentists), David Read (The Claim) and many others.Time is running out if you want to buy your own copy of the book. You have until 30 June 2023 when the presses will stop running on it!Buy your copy here: Do It Yourself: A History of Music in Medway - Cultured Llama Cultured LlamaOnce you've listened to the podcast, don't forget to head over to Spotify to listen to the songs featured on the playlist that accompanies this episode.WARNING: This episode features references to sexual abuse and suicide.