The Andy Kershaw Podcast

March 8, 2022·2 hr 5 min·5 clips

Andy Kershaw pays tribute to Norma Watterson, the matriarch of English folk music, who died at 82.

The episode opens with a tribute to Norma Watterson, the English folk music matriarch who died at age 82. Kershaw plays a track from her 1996 solo album and mentions her connections to Martin Carthy and Liza Carthy. He then introduces The Stars of Bethlehem, a gospel group with only two recording sessions in Los Angeles in 1960, featured on a Swedish label CD. The live music segment begins with Borderland Bluegrass, a UK bluegrass group formed for the show, performing Cherokee Shuffle. The band members discuss the UK bluegrass scene, estimating about 5,000 enthusiasts nationwide, with jams in places like Helsby and Rainford. They talk about the Edale Bluegrass Festival and play songs like White Freightliner and Blue John Mines. A detailed conversation follows about bluegrass guitarist Clarence White, his influence on Tony Rice, and his tragic death in 1973. Kershaw plays The Byrds' "Wasn't Born to Follow" featuring White's guitar. Later, he shares personal financial hardships, including selling his motorcycle after two years without paid work, and asks listeners to donate via his website. The episode includes music from Blind Willie McTell's last session in 1956, Ann Briggs' 1966 BBC recording, and a Mexican version of "La Bamba" by Hermanos Herrera. Borderland Bluegrass returns to play "Old Home Place" and "Ages and Ages Ago," a Gene Autry song. The show concludes with a preview of the next episode featuring Butch Hancock and Jimmy Dale Gilmore, and a final track by Freddie King.

As heard by us

Kershaw turns tribute, gospel finds, reggae toasting, blues lore, bluegrass, and Freddie King into generous crate-digger radio.

Andy Kershaw opens with a plain, affectionate goodbye to Norma Watterson, then does what this programme does best: follows one record into another until the shelves start talking back.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you want a host who turns old records into living history, then drops you into gospel, blues, and kitchen-session curios.

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