Merry “change of plans” Christmas from the Quinns in South Yorkshire.

Merry Christmas Matthew! A breakdown on the M1.

When Culverake got our debut album Unto the Sky on vinyl as well as CD, the LP order came with 3 spare covers (outer sleeves). So each of us in the band have one. I got mine framed and now up on the wall next to my desk. Major shout out to Framework in Sheffield City Centre for an excellent job.

I’m ill, I’m skint, I’m tired, I’m awake. All of these things are true and unlikely to change over the next few days.

Very excited about the current podcast episode. The legendary Peggy Seeger!!! Such a pleasure to chat ballads with her, and to hear her thoughts on this particular less known ballad too.

My 36th birthday. Not sure how that happened but here we are! Hope my neighbours enjoy Dinah Washington. My windows are open and this LP is on loud.

Nice book delivery to brighten up an otherwise dull afternoon…

Today’s loud LP accompaniment to admin…

Hold the phone, stop everything. I cannot do anything until I’ve binged The Diplomat season 3 on Netflix. Been so excited for this ever since season 2 came out last October.

The album launch tour with Culverake continues today with a sold out private house concert. Then Sheffield (Weds), Hartlepool Folk Festival (Fri/Sat) and Newcastle (Sun).

“There was a fish… in the percolator!” #TwinPeaksRewatch

Now you can be bombarded with my podcast in the physical world as well as the digital world…

Exciting to be co-organising this sold out gig in Sheffield tonight. A double headliners: Peta Webb & Ken Hall and The Wilsons. This is a relatively new venture for me and some friends. The New Musical Traditions Club. 8 times a year on 2nd Sundays. The best in traditional song and music.

They’re both released today, so I think it’s a new Downton Abbey movie/new Spinal Tap movie double bill kinda day!

I'm so excited about this!! In The Roud - On The Road!!!

🌱 In the new year, we have an exhilarating evening with Pagoda Project, before exceptional musician, Steve Turner returns in February. George Sansome & @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social join us together in an exciting collaboration in March.

Crap sleep patterns means I find myself at 6:30am listening to a 12mins unaccompanied performance of Lord Bateman which is going into this week’s episode of @intheroud.bsky.social. Have run out of films to watch? No, but I’m just getting a head start on an already packed day.

The problem with trying to have a proper indoors day off after being away for a few days and getting home late, is that there’s no food in the house, and because it’s a Sunday, the shops don’t open until 10am or 11am. I did not think this through…

Busy day prepping for this gig. Filling in for Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne in the Angeline Morrison & the Sorrow Songs band. Old pal @elizacarthy.bsky.social will also be doing the gig. It’s for the BBC Proms, and will be broadcast live on Radio 3. Tune in at 5:30pm this Saturday (26th July).

How does the Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship (Roud 36) link to the Hebrew Bible? Find out on the current episode of my podcast, @intheroud.bsky.social

Gearing up for teaching my 7th (out of 10) session for the EFDSS Monday Folk Singers course. Am I prepping? Or am I procrastinating by listening to the soundtrack to the bafflingly genius live-action musical adaptation of Popeye (1980) starring Robin Williams & Shelley Duvall?

I’ve been sent a review copy of a new dense academic folk book to read because I’m interviewing the author on the podcast soon. But it’s an ebook that I can only open on my laptop. So I have to spend EVEN MORE time in my day staring at my computer screen. Great…

How I spent my afternoon. Digitising a LP soundtrack (which never got a CD reissue) to a musical which barely anyone’s heard of. Peter Bogdanovich, directer of What’s Up, Doc? (the greatest comedy film ever) made a 1975 musical film using Cole Porter songs. Everyone hated it, it’s wonderful!!!

Feeling good about my life at the moment. The podcast is going well, I’m singing at folk festivals with Culverake, I’ve been properly back in my diet for a few weeks (lost half a stone again). Plus the weather’s nice so taking a post lunch stroll up to my nearest trig pojnt outside Stocksbridge.

No sooner has season 4 episode 2 of the @intheroud.bsky.social folk song podcast been released than @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social asked me back to record another one! They're great fun to do, even if we always spend so much time talking that Matt has a huge editing task 😂 ##folkmusic #InTheRoud

Season 4 is well and truly underway now. Episode 2 out today!

Season 4 starts today!! And thrice huzzah!!! S4/E1 – Roud 31: THE TREES THEY DO GROW HIGH Historical guest: Sandra Kerr Singer guest: Chris Foster Available from wherever you get your podcasts.

Not entirely sure how I’ve managed to live all this time and I’ve never seen Dead Poets Society. Time to right that wrong. #NowWatching

I know there were great horrors released in every year, but 1973 seems to be particularly important. 3 phenomenal works of horror cinema. I’ll be seeing The Wicker Man in a few weeks, so tonight’s it’s a double feature of Don’t Look Now and The Exorcist here in the Quinn House.

My harmony trio Culverake have made our debut album!!! Major thanks to everyone who helped out with our Kickstarter campaign. Now it’s available to preorder on CD and LP. Officially releases on 1st October with a big launch tour. Link in the thread

Waay too hot today. So I’m in a huge air conditioned room to watch the opening day release of the latest Marvel film.

Over a year ago, I decided to do every walk in this book from shortest to longest. I did 5 of them, and then stopped for no real reason. The weather is splendid today, so I’m going to pick up where I left off. Today Matthew, I’m going to walk around Tittesworth Reservoir (4.5 miles).

Time for a Chinese 1987 cop thriller sequel.

Woke up this morning with an urge to deep clean the kitchen. Halfway through now. Not sure what came over me…

Cinema double bill this evening. Been looking forward to these two films for ages.

It’s the Sheffield Sessions Festival starting at 3pm today until the end of Sunday. I’m running: Today: Welcome Sing 3pm - 6pm at Kelham Island Tavern Saturday: Quebecois Tunes (with Will Allen) 3pm - 5:45pm at Kelham Island Tavern. Sunday: Ballads 3pm - 5:45pm upstairs at the Harlequin.

Driving to Sussex today, so that I can drive me and dad to his ceilidh gig in Bristol on Saturday, which I am depping for one of the other members. The band is melodeons (dad) plus fiddle, harmonica/percussion, banjo and bass. But which instrument am I depping for this time? Find out on Saturday!!

Oh good, a sleepless night right before going to see a near 3hr, very slow, 1965 Polish drama at the cinema. Thanks works/brain!!!

Weight loss update. I accidentally put a stone back on earlier this year. But it’s now April and I’ve managed to get rid of approx half a stone again. Good job too because this silver jacket is my all time favourite jacket (and I’ve owned lots of jackets).

Today is a good Saturday. Played Tennis with Katriona Gilmore, made some harissa sauce and garlic mayo, using them in my lunchtime wrap. The weather is nice enough to sit in the garden. And I’m off out 10mins drive over the road tonight to see a gig by pal @rachaelmcshane.bsky.social.

The weather’s been lovely today and the evening looks nice too. I could go out for a walk, but I think I’d rather watch a very slow, 2hrs 41mins long, Russian sci-fi from 1979. #NowWatching Stalker (1979) dir. Andrew Tarkovsky

It’s over! We reached 122% of our goal!!! We can’t wait to go into the studio this coming week and make the album!!

Last call for pledges to the Culverake kickstarter campaign. It’s fully funded so the album is definitely going ahead, but any more money raised goes towards getting it printed on vinyl too. Thank you to everyone who has pledged so far. 9am deadline. www.kickstarter.com/projects/cul...

97% funded!!! Please help us make 100% and further by 9am on Sunday!!

We’re now at 92% funded! The end is in reach. Please do pledge to support if you can.

My trio Culverake are hoping to go into the studio to make our debut album. But we can only do it with your help. Our Kickstarter campaign ends soon and we’ve still got a fair way to go before we reach our goal. Bluesky friends, please share this far and wide. www.kickstarter.com/projects/cul...

My harmony trio Culverake are performing at Walthamstow Folk Club tonight. Would be great to see some familiar London faces there. walthamstowfolk.co.uk/guests/16-03...

Well here’s a turn up for the books. I’ve just accepted a ceilidh gig where they want me to play… bass guitar!!! Good job I never sold the bass I bought 4 years ago. I’d better get practising…

The first gig of The New Musical Traditions Club! Sunday 9th March - Jill Pidd and @jamesfagan.bsky.social Venue: Alder Bar, Sheffield Start: 8pm Tickets still available, if you are planning on coming along, please please do book in advance. Ticket link in the thread.