The Folk Music Hour

David Calder presents the music he loves in The Folk Music Hour, with the aim of rekindling listeners' interest in acoustic music in the Anglo-American tradition, including NZ folk song, and world folk music such as that heard at WOMAD in New Plymouth's beautiful Brookland's Park. Almost all music has a folk origin: blues, jazz, rock and even so-called classical. As Big Bill Broonzy famously said - "all songs are folk songs; ain't never heard a horse sing!" Arguably the first Kiwi to make a living with a mandolin, David spent some of his musical life playing bluegrass, but was performing in the folk boom as early as 1964. He was playing in Europe and the UK in the 70's, dabbling in folk rock and pop in California in the 80's, and creating a country garden in the 90's and teaching children to read. These days, kind of retired, he is free to pursue any of the musical paths he loves: song-writing, tuition, and performance with guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin, autoharp, dulcimer, even bass; playing jazz, folk, blues and originals. Or to just kick back and listen to Bach or Grappelli ... He is a long-standing performer of NZ folk, and maintains a love affair with US old-time music nurtured since Doc Watson's LPs first made it to these shores. A natural entertainer since his debut on radio aged six, David thinks radio is the perfect performance medium.

New Zealand Music Month - Part 4

Join Davey Calder for the final installment of his 2025 series on Aotearoa folk music, as a part of New Zealand Music Month.

05-25
58:13

NZ Music Month 2025: Part 3

Our all-Kiwi theme for NZ Music Month continues.

05-18
58:58

NZ Music Month 2025: Part 2

We continue our New Zealand music month with selections from all over the country.

05-11
58:12

NZ Music Month 2025: Part 1 - Awards Season

Our 8th all-Kiwi New Zealand Music Month Folk Music Hours begins with a look at music awards.

05-04
59:05

Longing for Peace

For Anzac Day, Memorial Day, and Remembrance Day, a playlist of songs about the human longing to live in peace.

04-20
56:59

The Folk Music Hour 13-04-2025 Bow [Replay]

Join Davey as he shares some of his favourite folk covers.

04-13
54:17

The Folk Music Hour 30-03-2025 More Funny Folk

We’ve put together another playlist of songs where the artists seek to amuse us, sometimes with a message implied.

03-29
58:28

The Folk Music Hour 23-03-2025 Covers Again

Join Davey as he shares some of his favourite folk covers

03-25
56:31

The Folk Music Hour 02-03-2025 Trad by Mod

Traditional songs get a new lease of life performed by contemporary artists.

03-03
58:36

The Folk Music Hour 23-02-2025 A Complete Unknown

The FMH companion to the film looks at the music from this turbulent time in history and contemporary folk song.

02-24
55:09

The Folk Music Hour 16-02-2025 Woverview 2025

It's that time of year again, when we kick out the jams and the Folk Music Hour gets a bit loud as we preview some of the amazing sounds coming to Brooklands Park in New Plymouth, for the 22nd NZ WOMAD, World of Music, Art, and Dance. As always, the lineup gives us the chance to enjoy cultures not represented at other music festivals.

02-16
58:54

The Folk Music Hour 09-02-2025 Free as a Bird

The sound of birds is a strong thread in the folk tradition

02-09
58:40

The Folk Music Hour 02-02-2025 Pop Goes Folk Again

It's uncanny how close to folk some pop music can become.

02-02
59:05

The Folk Music Hour 26-01-2025 Pete Seeger

Every year, we play a programme of entertaining songs from the Johnny Appleseed of folk and Americana whose banjo kicks off every Folk Music Hour

01-26
58:43

The Folk Music Hour 19-01-2025 Martin Luther King Day

Each year we celebrate Martin Luther King Day by looking at the rich legacy of African American music. MLK Day 2025 is Jan 20th

01-19
58:34

The Folk Music Hour 12-01-2025 Acting Folk

Actors who sing and play - and singers who act - make for an interesting playlist

12-16
58:25

The Folk Music Hour 29-12-2024 Summertime (25-02-2024)

Summer runs through the folk tradition and beyond, whether we long for it, love it or wish it weren’t so hot.

12-16
--:--

The Folk Music Hour 05-01-2025 Sandy Denny

We begin every year with a programme of Sandy's music, near the time of her birthday

12-16
59:27

The Folk Music Hour 15-12-2024 Compliments of the Season

Our scrumptious Christmas and New Year's Eve show ends another year of fine folk.

12-15
59:33

The Folk Music Hour 08-12-2024 Mixtape 18

Another playlist of choice folk includes news of WOMAD NZ 2025

12-08
58:51

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