In this episode, we'll hear first-hand the inside stories of the South Asian music scene from some of the people at the heart of it. We'll also hear Bhangra, Indian Classical, and Bolyian tracks all made here in Kirklees! And we'll also find out about the history of local underground raves that happened in the middle of the day.This podcast is brought to you by Let’s Go Yorkshire, Kirklees Year of Music 2023 and Kirklees Council. It was hosted and produced by Sam Hodgson. The podcast has been supported by Kirklees Council, Kirklees Year of Music 2023, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

In this episode, host Sam Hodgson will work as chronologically as he can through the foggy history of Kirklees Rock and Roll. Through speaking to a select few guests, the episode uncovers what was happening at the birth of this genre. By listening, you will also hear a clip of the Beatles, recorded in Huddersfield in 1963 and not heard since!TOWNSOUNDS explores the musical histories of Kirklees to uncover untold stories through the voices of local people living musical lives. For more information on this podcast, please visit musicinkirklees.co.ukContributors to this episode are  Colin Binns - Mark Fender from Mark Fender and the Trackers, Gordon Wood - washboard player from Hokum, Graham Rushworth - drummer from Denny and the Witchdoctors, John Armitage - singer, guitarist, bass player from The Contrasts, John Phillips - of Jab Jab and Rok Star, Laurie Stead - local radio host, Paul Rushworth - bass player from Denny and the Witchdoctors, Peter Philpot - music enthusiast,  Ranjit Kaur aka Radical Sista - 80s/90s DJ, Roy Noel - of Bob Adams and the Limits.The music in this episode isTOWNSOUNDS theme - Sam Hodgson, Life of a Gypsy - Jab Jab, Rock and Roll Bass - Sam Hodgson, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring - Bach, performed by Sam Hodgson, Kelvin Benjamin soloing with the North Stars Steel Orchestra, Calypso - Sam Hodgson, Bedroom Rock and Roll - Sam Hodgson, One Hour Mama - Porter Granger performed by Hokum, Come on and Dance - Denny and the Witchdoctors, I Can’t Get You Out of MyMind - the Contrasts, Calypso by Sam Hodgson, Drum Solo, Hoping to See the Sunrise - Jab Jab, Old Piece - John Phillips aka Rok Star, Dole Years - Knuckle, TOWNSOUNDS theme - Sam Hodgson.

In this episode, host Sam Hodgson dives head first into the world of Kirklees choral music. Acknowledging early on that there are so many choirs and singing groups in Kirklees that he has set himself an impossible task, he seeks the guidance of some experts in the subject. In listening to this podcast episode you will learn about all kinds of singing happening in Kirklees. Discover the sounds and histories of typical choirs dating back over 100 years, and recent groups singing gospel, and Ukrainian folk. Singing connects in some way to most of us, and in this episode, that point will be proven. We’ll be told, by local singers, just how important singing is for health, wellbeing, and community. And we’ll find out about the changes that have happened throughout the years to singing in Kirklees. The title of the show is a play on the old nursery rhythm ‘Ring a Ring o’ Roses’, using ‘sing’ the old Yorkshire word ‘ling’ (meaning heather) in place of the rings.This podcast is brought to you by Let’s Go Yorkshire, Kirklees Year of Music 2023 and Kirklees Council. It was hosted and produced by Sam Hodgson. The podcast has been supported by Kirklees Council, Kirklees Year of Music 2023, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.TOWNSOUNDS explores the musical histories of Kirklees to uncover untold stories through the voices of local people living musical lives. For more information on this podcast, please visit musicinkirklees.co.ukThe speakers for this episode are:  Edwin Baker - the conductor and founder of the Huddersfield Community Gospel Choir; Thom Meredith - the conductor of the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir; Ann Talboys - a member of the Honley Ladies Choir; John Raymond Ellis - a member of the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir; Michael Drapan - who has been championing Ukrainian signing in Huddersfield since the 1970s; Dr Bert Jindal - talking about ‘Longwood Sing’ and its special anniversary.The music in this episode is TOWNSOUNDS podcast intro music by Sam Hodgson; Black Cotton by Sam Hodgson; This Little Light of Mine (trad.), performed by the Huddersfield Community Gospel Choir; The Holy City, performed by the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir; Provijav (trad.), performed by Trio Solovejky; The Holy City, performed by the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir; Precious Lord, performed by Huddersfield Community Gospel Choir; Deeper in Love by Rob Bradley, performed with The Huddersfield Community Gospel Choir; Pratty Flowers, performed by the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir; Sing We Now of Christmas, performed by Honley Ladies Choir; Irish Blessing (trad.), performed by the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir.The conversations heard in this podcast were recorded by Sam Hodgson and Mandeep Samra over 2021 and 2022 for the TOWNSOUNDS oral history project. Full recordings of the conversations are available at the West Yorkshire Archive Service. The conversations recorded for the oral history project include those with people from a wide range of musical disciplines: handbell ringing, rock and roll, reggae, steel pan, hip hop, dubstep, jazz, and… traditional musics from India, Pakistan, Ukraine, Ireland, Poland, Bosnia, England, Kurdistan and Iran traditional music.@musicinkirklees @[email protected]@musicofsamh

Sam Hodgson gives you a two-minute guide to what you can expect from this series.

In this episode, host Sam Hodgson goes on a journey of discovery to find out more information about festivals in Kirklees. To do so he uses six festivals as case studies, and talks to their organisers, founders, and others involved. By listening to the podcast, you will begin to understand some of the challenges of festival organisation in more depth. You’ll get to know of the difficulties the organisers of local festivals have gone through to keep the festivals going, and the changes that have been made recently to keep them modern, fresh, and exciting. You also hear, first hand, of some of the highlights, some of the big names, and the amazing things that have happened in Kirklees because of these music festivals.This episodes guests are: Ann Talboys, administrator of Huddersfield Mrs Sunderland Festival; Alex Bywaters, one of the oranisers of Holmfirth Festival of Folk; Barney Stevenson, ex-artistic director of Marsden Jazz Festival; David Minich, director of Cleckheaton Folk Festival; Mary Agnes Krell, founder and organiser of the Grand Northern Ukulele Festival; Mark Bokowiec, technician at Huddersfield Contemporary music festival for 23 years; Julie-Wilson Bokowiec, spouse and musical partner of Mark Bokowiec; Ruby Wood, local jazz singer.The music in this episode is: TOWNSOUNDS podcast intro music by Sam Hodgson; Rachmaninov 2nd Symphony, performed by Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra; The Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan performed by Barbera Brook, recorded by the Huddersfield Video and Cine Club; Build Us a Room by Sam Hodgson; Geond v - viii by Tom Challenger, recorded by Jez Riley French; Guava Jam, performed by Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel; Staying Home Tonight by Phil Doleman; Contemporary Music by Sam Hodgson; Bully in the Alley, performed by Kimber’s Men.