Homegrown

This programme is a compilation of my audio blogs from 24th Feb till 5th March 2007 while I have been participating in the Slam Idol Open Writing Challenge. The premise of the competition is to get 6 poets to create an original poem over 10 days, while audio blogging their creative process and progress. You can find out more about the competition by following the link below to the Slam Idol website and listening to the other competitors. I had a great deal of fun and a little frustration in creating my poem, which took up quite a bit of time. Hence no typical Homegrown this week. But I hope you enjoy this all poetry programme and insight into my own creative process. There will soon be a voting process on Slam Idol to find listeners favourite poem. Slam Idol Podcast, Association Of Poetry Podcasting

Music: Kemp Harris - Sweet Weeping Jesus Kelly Sweet - Raincoat Sektor - Blue Alex Quinn - Dreams Martyn Joseph - Love Is Ian Babington - Learning To Fly The Dreams - Lost In The Music Poetry: Helen Gregory - Touch Paper, Tea's Up, Treading Gingerly, S Love And Peace Innit Mentioned in the programme : Bum Rush The Charts , Slam Idol Open Writing Challenge, Podcast Peer Awards

Music: Shadow Machine - Save Me Mary Beth D'Amico - Jimmy Bad Astronaut - The F Word Seth Martin - Individuality Melinda Thorpe - The Memory Listen With Sarah - Tempus Trumpus     Poetry: Adele Ward - La Casa Al Mare / Eclipse / The Last Time I Wore Fur / Silence 

This week I hosted AMPed, the weekly podcast from the Association of Music Podcasting, which features some of the best independent music being played by podcasters both in the UK, the States and beyond. I thought I'd present the podcast here for your consideration, slightly revised with a break for some spoken word material half way through. More information on AMP can be found at www.musicpodcasting.org Music: Los Campesinos - You Me Dancing isHesafe - Starting Over Tony Kehoe - You've Got To Give It Back Andy McKee - The Friend I Never Met Peter Greenstone - Iridium Flare Melaney Maloney - Rompecabeza Ryan Affenberg - Under All The Bright Lights Spoken Word: Connections 1 - by Divergent Future  

Music: Seagull Strange - Sullas Return Mark Wilson - Realise Sahib Radio - Jacks Home David Elias - River Of Dreams Barry Mcloughlin - Fifth Avenue Ryan Affenberg - Under All The Bright Lights   Poetry: James Stewart - The Quiet , Letting Go. Check out James's podcast The Underground

Music: The Perfects - ShipwreckedFrankie Roe - Red RiversSyngularity feat Alexis Vaneeckhout - Ocean Chris Garneau - Babys Romance Lisa Redford - Dragon Fly Ergo Phizmiz - Pangolin   Poetry: Richard Bruce Clay - The Buts, The View From Saturn, Venus   Mentioned in the programme: Audio Blogging... My own Live From Storyville, Andy Taylor's Rantings Of A Northern Bloke ,Simon Toon, John Buckley's Distant Fox, Richard Vobes Naked Englishman

Music: The Yampy Werewolves -Big Spliff Cult Of Wedge - Louder Listen With Sarah - Ramblin' Andy David Minder - Step On The Wheel Tea For Two - Out In The Sun   Poetry: Dominic O'Rourke - 56K and Danish Pornography (adult content)   Plus I venture down to Digbeth in Birmingham to get a taste of The Go Club, a new venue for the cities bands and artists.   Additional links: Cherryade Music

Special studio guest Giovanni Esposito aka Spoz the 11th Birmingham Poet Laureate ‘Spoz' being the bit between the ‘E' and the ‘ito' (kind of). Spoz describes himself as a sort of poet. The sort, in fact, that has been published, recorded, been on the radio, won awards, is a member of the renowned ‘New October Poets', taken part in so many festivals, he's lost count and even had a commission from the BBC. The sort of poet that isn't quite everybody's cup of tea, though, could be yours. He's a singer, songwriter, playwright and musical writer. He has produced and directed self penned musicals in Birmingham and Edinburgh. He's written and recorded albums with several bands as well as a solo artiste and appeared before the Queen mum (RIP). In this interview I talk to Spoz about his many achievements including the Birmingham Poet Laureateship, his work with bringing poetry to children, and his self written "karaoke" musicals.   Spoz also performs the poems : Vodka Catalyst, Identity Poem, Dy

Music from: David Francis - Reflections Of The Life I'm Wearing Joan Osbourne - Holy Waters Heise Bros - The Revenge Of The Self Imposed Hero Aarrah And The Ferns - Emo Phillips Big Big Car - Oh Lets Race   Poetry: Paul Rafferty - The Day The Aliens Came, I Wanna Be, The Scientologists Don't Want Me   And  a little skit: Can't Date Won't Date - by Nic Treadwell   Next weeks special studio guest will be Spoz, the current Birmingham Poet Laureate

Our Prague New Year SpecialOver the festive period I travelled to Prague, with mini-disk in hand, this weeks podcast is an audio diary of that holiday, with recordings of folk - blues and gypsy performers on Charles Bridge,church recitals, our mystery ghostwalk and other interesting facts on the history of this beautiful town.    Music from Czech Republic:  Lindsay D'Arcy - Life Sized  Pan Svahilski - Balaton  Poitin - Toutoring  Two Mighty Men - Year    Poetry:  Nic Treadwell - Christmas In Prague

Music from: Ryan Smith - All I Want Jimmie Bratcher - Midnight Clear Moses - Breath Of Bells Twinmaker - I Hate ChristmasRoadside Attractions - What Santa Wants    Spoken Word: Elvis McGonagall - Driving Over A Cliff At Christmas Nic Treadwell The Parsons At Christmas (Part Two)(bed music on Parsons by Julie Melton - Silent Night / Doug Boldt - Everyday Has It's Key aka The Twelve Days Of Christmas Steve Clark - I Want My Star Mags Scorey - The Bethlehem Times Reporter Nic Treadwell - Turning On Turner

Music from:Tom Shad - A Podcast Christmas Theme The Hot Rods - Dear Santa Claus Cult Of Wedge - Exploiting Christmas Alison Crowe - In The Bleak Midwinter Rag And Bone - Maria Daines Lord Weatherby - Santa Claus Is Freaking Me Out   Spoken Word: Elvis McGonagall - Christmas In The Country No.1 & No.2 Nic Treadwell - The Parsons At Christmas (Part One)(bed music used on Parsons by Julie Melton - Silent Night / Doug Boldt - Deck The Halls With We Wish You A Merry Xmas Mags Scorey - Ian The Innkeeper

Music from: Michelle Hotaling - Underestimate Triplanetary - Every Monkey Is A Star Listen Wih Sarah - Windmill Eric Saitz - Let Me Love You Samba Mapangala & Orc Virunga - Siku Ya Mwisho Alice Peacock - Only A Memory Andy Doonan - What I Once Had   Poetry from: Ann Wilson - The Designer , The Resting Bench , Smoking and The Sanctuary. More information on Ann's collaboration with band Clutter @ Earth Monkey Productions

Music from: Mel Brown & The Homewreckers - Take Your Time Carol Douglas / Maria Daines - Va Rog Va Rog John Ramono - Dah Dah Dah Nick Saunders - Resonance Sir Donald Tovey - The Bride Of Dionysus Screaming Mimi - Gumshoe   Poetry from: Beowulf "Wulfie" Mayfield - Chemical Warfare, Beware Of The Bear, Shopping List For A Bad Day & Shopping List For A Really Bad Day. Check out Beowulf's Podcast

Music from: Au Revoir Simone - Through The Backyards The Mauves - Thumbs Up And Go P.A.I.N. - A-Z Nightinglaes - UK Randy Mom Epidemic James Starbuck - House Cult Of Wedge - Arts Song Dogmixer - Soul Brain Poetry from: AYM performs Up North and Prehistoric Blues Mentioned in the Podcast: Wrote Under: Sunday Express

Special Guest Songwriter Aaron Yorke Aaron is a deeply gifted songwriter who wears his heart on his sleeve. Very influenced by artists like David Gray and Tom Baxter, his latest album "Taking The Time To Heal" is a mature collection of songs about the human condition. Aaron has the rare ability to share the intimate moments of his life with his audience, through this sharing experience he leads you through some difficult soul searching songs. The process is a rewarding experience for the listener as you come away with a feeling of kinship, that here is someone here who can put into words what you are feeling, who can express a certain moment in your life through his music. In our conversation at the Midlands Arts Centre on the occasion of his album release, we talk about songwriting, promotion, autism and home recording. Plus from gig Aaron performs When A Relationship Ends and Have You Felt Beautiful Lately. Aaron also has a myspace page.   Music from: Freddie Stevenson - Chinese Mr D & Th

Music from: Dawn Crusade - Dufus Petunia - Shauna Burns Magic Lantern - Women And Children Taking The Time To Heal - Aaron Yorke One On The Floor - Syngularity feat Thevi Olin The Dusty Old Freight Train - Stephen Cohen Poetry from Cynthia French performs Chocolate , Pocket Rocket  

Special Studio Guest Paul Murpy This weeks podcast is given over entirely to my special guest Paul Murphy, a singer and songwriter who has been writing and performing over the past four decades. He was born in Belfast and came to England in 1966 as a 16 year-old-with just a guitar and a handful of songs. From the beginning he was determined to write songs that had integrity and drew on real experience. During those formative early years on the road he hung out with the likes of Lemmy from Motorhead and Van Morrison. Paul has called Birmingham home for over 30 years and has been a vocal supporter of songwriting and live music in his adopted city. In 1996 he established SongwritersCafe, which for several years provided a valuable showcase for up and coming artists as well as featuring turns from more established acts such as Ocean Colour Scene who invited Paul to support them on an Irish tour. Until recently Paul has focused almost exclusively on live, intimate performances that allo

Another excellent batch of songs and poetry. From the intimate evocative nay mystical sounds of Marissa Nadler to the world beats of Alain Nkossi Konda and the positive vibes of poetry from Celestial Dancer. All this plus one of my teenage musical heros Howard Jones who has just made a song available on the podsafe music network...Music from: Alice Peacock - Different From The Rest Marybeth D'Amico - Leaving Alain Nkossi Konda - Mokili Yikes McGee - Coup D'etat Marissa Nadler - Under An Old Umbrella Howard Jones - Building Your Own Future   Poetry from: Celestial Dancer with Premonition & Going Home 

This Halloween something has gone horribly wrong!! hear the unthinkable!! Bare whitness to monsterous transformations!! Shiver and tremble as the bloodbath begins!! And listen and shock as the future of mankind hangs in the balance   Not for the squeamish! Music from: The Coffinshakers - Halloween Sahib Radio - The Hanging Tree Elsinore - Vampire In My Town Quintessentials - Zombie Girl Midnight Peakcocks - Zombie Town Poetry from Nic reads Vamp & Too Late from his Dark Poetry Collection