Summer is an interesting time for radio. I think back to my first halting attempts at broadcasting in the summer of 2007 and somehow it doesn’t seem that long ago. Then the BBC had just moved to its new HQ at Pacific Quay and the studios failed because they were so new. Now they often fail because they are so old. I guess that tells you we’ve been around a while.
In the summer months I liked hearing messages of people listening in the late evening on holiday or just up late enjoying the summer evenings. There’s not been much chance of enjoying late summer evenings in my part of Scotland, so I hope you’ve had a better time of it wherever you are reading. I often wonder too that, as I leave the studio on a Tuesday evening, what the shape of next week’s show will be. What records are waiting on us that we need to play the following week?
The good news is there are always more records than we can find room to play. This week we’ll hear from the new Sturgill Simpson Project, Johnny Blue Skies. It seems Sturgill is still Sturgill but has found a new moniker for his records and public appearances. I’m not sure I fully understand all of this so we’ve asked our Nashville correspondent, Bill Demain to join us and explain the full story. There’s a lot to speak about too as you too may have heard about another AC favourite causing quite a stir over an excruciating National Anthem performance. We are asking Bill to tell us what’s going on with Ingrid Andress. We’ve already had the interesting Opry appearance of Elle King this year, so, is this us again expecting more from female artist when we’d tolerate much worse from their male counterparts?
As ever though we’re all about the music and you’ll hear great things from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Laura Marling, Andrew Combs and the great news that Chuck Prophet and The Mission Express are back. Chuck announced new music last week and we are so happy there’s a new summertime thing approaching. Chuck’s back in the UK early next year, and God willin’ and the creek don’t rise we’ll have a big catch up. Meanwhile I recommend you book yourself and your pals the best Christmas present ever – some Mission Express tickets.
All this and more in this week’s Another Country. Join me from eight on BBC Radio Scotland FM or BBC Sounds.
