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To celebrate May Day, Mark presents a varied selection of folk music and song connected to the traditional festivities and international worker's holiday.

Mark Radcliffe presents Radio 2's weekly folk & acoustic programme.

This week's programme falls on May Day, and Mark's selection will focus on music and song relating to the weird and wonderful folk customs observed around Britain on 1st May.

From morris dancing at dawn to washing one's face in the May morning dew, from carrying branches of may to crowning a May Queen - the UK's colourful May Day customs are reflected in countless songs and tunes.

Mark will also play tracks connected to the day's significance as a workers' holiday around the world - something explored and championed by folk singers for generations.

57 minutes

Last on

Wed 1 May 2013 19:00
大象传媒 Radio 2

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Music Played

  • Waterson:Carthy

    May Song

    • Holy Heathens And The Old Green Man.
    • Topic TSCD 562.

  • The Futureheads

    Sumer Is Icumen In

    • Rant.
    • Nul Records NUL009CDP.

  • Oysterband

    Hal-An-Tow

    • Step Outside.
    • Cooking Vinyl VR 034.

  • Dick Gaughan

    Workers' Song

    • Handful Of Earth.
    • Topic TSCD 419.

  • Magpie Lane

    Old Molly Oxford

    • The Oxford Ramble.
    • Beautiful Jo BEJOCD 3.

  • Tim Edey

    Kent To Kintail

    • The Best Of Tim Edey.
    • Gnatbite Records PROMO CD.

  • Steeleye Span

    Padstow

    • Tempted & Tried.
    • Music Direct 68075.

  • Karine Polwart

    Tears For Lots Wife

    • Traces.
    • Proper Music Distribution Ltd. HEGRICD8.

  • Shirley Collins

    The Queen Of May

    • Classic Celtic Music.
    • Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40560.

  • Lisa Knapp & Alasdair Roberts

    Hunt The Hare Part 2

    • Hunt The Hair.
    • Ear To The Ground Music PROMO CD.

  • John Kirkpatrick

    The First Of May

    • God Speed The Plough.
    • Fledg'ling Records FLED 3084.

  • The Almanac Singers

    Union Maid

    • Talking Union.
    • Xtra 26575.

  • Lady Maisery

    The Crow On The Cradle

    • May Day.
    • Root Beat Records Digital Promo.

  • Quercus

    As I Roved Out

    • Quercus.
    • ECM ECM 2276.

Broadcast

  • Wed 1 May 2013 19:00
    大象传媒 Radio 2