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Folk Songs Bring Listener Stories to Life
18 Jun
Summary
- Five BBC Radio listeners' personal journeys transformed into folk songs.
- Songs capture stories of overcoming adversity and personal triumphs.
- The project features original music by well-known folk artists.
BBC Radio 2's 21st Century Folk project is set to unveil five original folk songs, each inspired by the life experiences of Radio 2 listeners. These musical compositions highlight significant personal journeys and triumphs. The project, commencing broadcasts on June 29, 2026, features artists like Katherine Priddy, Martin Simpson, Passenger, Megson, and Eddi Reader.
Among the stories is Hannah Lancaster's, from Ludlow, who overcame a severe injury sustained in a cycling crash to become a firefighter. Her song, 'The Long Way Home,' reflects her arduous recovery. Nurse Andy Tams' narrative of restoring his late uncle's boxing gloves is captured in 'The Hand of Kindness (Adrian's Song).'
Victor Macauley, a former child soldier from Sierra Leone, shares his journey of healing from PTSD with 'Victor's Song,' interpreted by Passenger. Jackie Freeman's story of having to forgo training with the England Women's football squad due to costs is presented in 'Jackie Grealish' by Megson.
Jonathan Doku, a visually striking bare-chested runner from Glasgow, has his story immortalized in 'Jonathan is Running' by Eddi Reader and John Douglas. This series marks the fourth iteration of the award-winning project, celebrating inspirational lives through folk music.
