This Week’s Music for Grown-Ups on Radio/TV

Your exclusive listening/watching guide… thanks to compiler Mike Ollier:

RADIO For Grown-Ups

Monday BBCR6 21.30 ~
* My Aim Is True: The Elvis Costello Story
A look back at the alternative Buddy Holly with Alan Bleasdale, Macca-Thumbs-A-Loft and, of course, El and The Attractions. Unfortunately, it's presented by "comedian" Phill Jupitus.

Wednesday BBCR2 19.00 ~ 20.00
* Folk On Two
Mike Harding looks back at the career of enduring folkies Fairport Convention ~ my advice is, switch off after about half and hour (when Richard Thompson leaves) to miss the turgid last 30 years. One assumes the programme is to celebrate the current re-release expanded 2CD set of 'Liege & Lief,' arguably the best British folk rock album to be recorded.

Wednesday BBCR3 19.30 ~ 22.00
* Prom 35: From Bards To Blues.
Johnny Dankworth, sorry, Sir John Dankworth, "teases out the jazz in Shakespeare's poetry." Ermm, riiight.

Thursday BBCR2 23.00 ~ 00.00
* Pat Metheny ~ Bright Size Life (2 of 3)
More from the career of one of music's most accomplished and innovative guitarists (well, sometimes).

Friday BBCR6 21.00 ~ 22.00
* Theme Time Radio Hour with Bob Dylan: Musical Instruments
"Big Long Slidin' Thing" by Dinah Washington ~ whatever can she mean? - and tracks from Bessie Smith and Tom Waits

Friday BBCR3 23.30 ~ 01.00
* Jazz On Three
Wayne Shorter Trio recorded at the Barbican in 2006



TV For Grown-Ups

Cheesh, we've got a worse-than-last-week situation going on here, with only two repeats worth looking at:

Friday BBC4 21.00 ~ 21.50
* BBC4 Sessions ~ Bryan Ferry
Everybody's favourite menswear model goes through his Dylan songbook at LSO St Luke's. A repeat from earlier in the year.

Friday BBC4 21.50 ~ 22.50
* BBC4 Sessions - Hawkwind
A profile of the one-hit wonders, again from earlier in the year. Despite the band on show, this is quite an entertaining look at the space-rockers who had the Amazonian Stacia as a focal point, probably to help take people's minds off the music.

Time to get out that Dave Alvin live at Austin City Limits that I haven't watched yet.