RICHARD DIGANCE – BBC Radio Devonfolk
14.02.10
Well, I
must admit it’s taken me ages to get around to listening to the radio with any
real conviction and to be honest the first time in probably 20 years since I
heard any ‘folk’ music programme all the way through apart from the occasional
Mike Harding Show. Imagine my surprise then when I found myself tuning into
Richard Digance “Devonfolkâ€ð on the BBC’s iPlayer the other day. I know I don’t
live in Devon but even with half the show dedicated to a live performance in the
studio by a local singer-songwriter it was Digance’s approach to broadcasting
with the emphasis on the word ‘broad’ that kept me listening to all two hours of
the show. Instead of the tried and tested it was the sometimes-tenuous links
that made it all fascinating listening. Anecdotes pepper Richard’s life and
let’s face it he’s had a more eventful one than many of us ‘folk-o-philes’.
Regaling us with stories of his first meeting in Glasgow with a certain Iain
McGeachy and how they both wound up sharing digs together in Richmond, Surrey
before Iain found International fame as John Martyn (represented by playing “May
You Neverâ€ð). In fact Digance’s story reads like a who’s who of the ‘folk’ world
like the time he performed at Paul Simon’s (yes, that Paul Simon!) folk club at
the Red Lion in Barking before Simon returned to America to hit the big time.
Rick Wakeman, Paul Brady, Eric Clapton and David Bowie who ran the Tree Tuns
Folk Club in Beckenham, Kent all got a look in so I think you’ll agree that in
the space of a couple of minutes Richard captures the listeners’ attention and
he manages to hold it with ease…to me, the sign of a brilliant broadcaster. If
you’ve got a computer do yourselves a favour and check out “Devonfolkâ€ð for
yourself. You won’t be disappointed.
PETE
FYFE