Our huge, heartfelt thanks to Sam Fender, who’s donated his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to Music Venue Trust... after already making sure £1 from every ticket on his recent tour went to support grassroots music venues.

“The data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates 31.5% of women and 26.4% of men experienced some form of abuse as a child, a total of 13.6 million – almost three in 10 – people.” Horrendous statistics. I also wonder how this compares with other countries.

The Sam Kelly Trio went down a storm last time they joined us, and we're delighted to be welcoming them back in 2026! Don't miss their soaring songs and stunning instrumentals when they come to East Riding Theatre on 13th February, with support from Maddie Morris. stage4beverley.com/whats-on/sam...

"Parking is such sweet sorrow"

"But soft! What light through yonder window... BRAKES!"

What a moment, for Sam Fender and for Newcastle. We had a great time at the #MercuryPrize ceremony tonight!

The BBC are accidentally running the subtitles to Mrs Marple over the Mercury Prize, and it’s rather wonderful. A few of lines could plausibly have been written by Jarvis.

Very excited about the amazing line-up at the Indoor Festival of Folk (North) on 18th October: The Bookshop Band, Frankie Archer, Edgelarks, Sam Carter and The Magpie Arc, plus Matthew interviewing the great Ashley Hutchings. More info and tickets here: www.settlevictoriahall.org.uk/eventsandsho...

The reason the Right are so invested in the myth that the arts have no value isn’t because the arts don’t generate wealth (they do); it’s that studying the arts teaches people to imagine better ways of judging the value of an idea than by counting how much money it makes…

Our movement is living rent free in the heads of Telegraph journalists at the moment. Join me in being ‘a threat to the right that they never saw coming’. join.greenparty.org.uk

Thoughts and prayers to Dina on #UniversityChallenge.

Another great addition to the line-up at @stage4beverley.bsky.social!

Great to see our name in lights at the British Podcast Awards - well deserved recognition for the wonderful team that put their heart and soul into Folk on Foot - Matthew

Go Sheffield! ❤️

It's National Poetry Day, and if you're into all things literary then there's lots to look forward to at our next festival - including the UK's Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, local favourite Chris Sewart, and one more special guest to be announced tomorrow - any guesses? stage4beverley.com/line-up/

This may be braggadocious, but I’m very pleased to say that I got an idea onto #TheSkewer on BBC Radio 4 last night, and my bit is also referenced in the episode title! If you haven’t come across The Skewer before, I highly recommend a listen. Find the episode here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Great show from Grace Petrie at @standcomedyclub.bsky.social tonight! This was the first night of the tour, so there are still plenty of chances to catch her (including Hexham if you’re here in the North East). Tour dates: www.gracepetrie.com/gigs

Interesting and informative piece by @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social on why, and also, how, he took his music off Spotify www.jonwilks.online/blog/life-af...

In partnership with our friends at @soundrootsuk.bsky.social, we're pleased to announce the jury members for the Folk Album of the Year Award 2025! Find out more about the jury: www.soundroots.uk/news/new-fol... Submit your album: www.soundroots.uk/folk-album-o...

Fascinating that you can see the USB ports where the conductor is charged up before every performance #TheProms

TikTok should know better than this - I’d never waste tea.

Folk on Foot is once again nominated at the Independent Podcast Awards! Wish us luck 🍀

We want to say a huge thank you to The Last Dinner Party for donating £1 from every ticket sold to Music Venue Trust.

"That's me, that is."

Another good mix of music and poetry at the next @stage4beverley.bsky.social festival! If you live nearby, please do check it out from 8th-15th Feb. stage4beverley.com/line-up/

Sam Fender’s arena tour has just helped save and improve 38 grassroots music venues across the UK. That's thanks to £100,000 from ticket sales, distributed through the Liveline Fund, protecting spaces at risk of closure and giving vital upgrades to others. A HUGE thank you to Sam and his team!

Why does the Croatian Prime Minister, the largest Prime Minister, not simply eat the other Prime Ministers?

I think anyone who has any form of platform who is not saying anything about what happened in London yesterday is saying a great deal about the world they will accept m.youtube.com/watch?v=H0-V...

📢 Big news! We’ve teamed up with our friends at @soundrootsuk.bsky.social to launch the Folk Album of the Year Award. Here’s Matthew to tell you more.

Bouzouki III - a new band launched at @warwickfolkfest.bsky.social with Jon Doran, Benji Kirkpatrick and James Fagan 🎶❤️

No more walking for @janandjon.bsky.social - they only travel by golf buggy these days! @warwickfolkfest.bsky.social

We’re delighted to be nominated once again in the Best Arts and Culture section of the British Podcast Awards. This nomination is a real tribute to the hard work put in by our team behind the scenes. The event takes place at Indigo at The O2 on 2nd October - wish us luck! 🤞

And a lovely review of the new Granny’s Attic album! Thanks, @folklondon.co.uk ❤️

🆕 New episode out now - @chrisgpackham.bsky.social and Martin Simpson on an emotional and evocative musical walk in the New Forest. 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/2fdf4a

The Lincolnshire Poacher! As a Lincolnshire lass, I wasn’t actually familiar with this one growing up, but we’ve been singing it with Ouseburn Folk Choir this term. Watch Sam Kelly’s version and lots more in this month’s Official Folk Albums Chart Show 🙂

Apologies to the local birds - I got in there first this year. Planning to have a go at redcurrant jam. Watch this space. (This was as many as I could be bothered to pick before it got quite boring. Will go back for more)

Hopefully, the perfect festival weather I ordered is on the way 🤞

Hoping to add to my comedy writing credits now that #BreakingTheNews has restarted. Anyone here from the #ComedyWriting community? I’m rebuilding the networks I had on Twitter/X, bit by bit! My credits so far: www.comedy.co.uk/people/lucy-...

Best of luck to ‪@hobgoblin.com‬ with their crowdfunder. Please consider helping to support this long-standing folk music institution. bmmagazine.co.uk/in-business/...

Just announced: Award-winning Anglo-Scottish duo Janice Burns & Jon Doran return to the House, this time with a collection of traditional folk songs about Christmas, winter, and optimism for the new year. Tue 9 Dec bit.ly/4n0i382

The great Peggy Seeger is Matthew’s guest on this month’s Chart Show, plus there's music from @katerusby.bsky.social, @skinnylister.bsky.social, @merryhellband.bsky.social, Màiri Morrison, Alasdair Roberts and Pete Johnston, Iona Lane and Capercaillie. Watch from 7pm BST: youtu.be/6Rqy7Ey4yok

At choir tonight… Lady next to me: Are you melody? Me: No, I’m Lucy. 🙈 (In fairness, we had just gone over everyone’s names!)

If you are watching #thepiano and marvelling at the performances, worth also cheering for the fabulous setting of #theglasshouse on the banks of the Tyne. Sumptuous!

It’s Mary Anning’s birthday, so time to share @katebeaton.bsky.social’s brilliant cartoon again.

How sad it is that so many with news media , entertainment and political platforms have cruelly or cynically chosen the route of the transphobe - I keep hearing of a rise in mental health crises in the trans community - know there are many that support you

🆕 New episode out now: Goblin Band in the City of London. A fascinating musical journey through the historic nooks and crannies of the Capital with rising stars of the folk world. 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/2d616a

We’d love your thoughts! 💬 Whether you're a long-time listener or just discovered Folk on Foot, your feedback means the world to us. We’d be so grateful if you could take five minutes to fill out our short listener survey, helping us plan our next steps 👉 Take the survey: forms.gle/F1uz7m9jvTbg...

Not a bad day for some songs by the sea! 🌞 🌊 🎶

Word of the day is ‘huff-snuff’ (16th century): a hectoring bully or braggart.