Our Music Our Freedom
Our Music Our Freedom Podcast for Welcome to Wandsworth - The London Borough of Culture 2025/26 BBC Radio presenter, music producer and co-founder of Oily Cart, Max Reinhardt, interviews celebrity artists and under the radar local legends, to tell the story of Wandsworth’s diverse communities through 50 years of music. From 1970s reggae, 1980s hip hop, Bhangra and 1990s grime, to 21st Century indie, rock and electronica - dive into our jazz, folk, classical and South Asian musical heritage through the stories and memories of Wandsworth’s vibrant and influential music scene. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Max Reinhardt is a regular presenter on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction. With Rita Ray, he shares Artistic Directorship of Celebrating Sanctuary music festival, and club nights The Shrine and The Mambo Inn. He is musical director/composer for Oily Cart, a Wandsworth based company that specialises in creating immersive theatrical experience for children and young people with learning disabilities.
Episodes
Presenters: Rita Ray and Max Reinhardt
A vibrant musical collage celebrating standout sounds from Wandsworth’s year as London Borough of Culture and the rich musical heritage that has shaped the borough over the past five decades.
The programme features highlights from the Celadon Club at the Wandsworth Arts Fringe Festival, showcasing a world of East Asian sounds, alongside performances from Wandsworth Music at the Royal Albert Ha...
Presenter: Max Reinhardt
A journey through the story of folk music in the borough over the past five decades, told through the experiences of one of the UK’s most distinctive performers and songwriters, Lisa Knapp.
Born and raised in Balham and Tooting, Lisa reflects on where she first learned her craft and how her deep connection to folk music developed within the local community. Along the way, we hear archive reflections and mus...
Presenter: Rita Ray
Rita Ray visits a range of wellbeing projects across the borough, exploring how music, creativity and community participation support mental health, connection and personal expression.
Featured projects and contributors:
Arti Prashar – Sensory Theatre Maker Arti Prashar discusses her creative practice and the central role music plays in her sensory theatre work. We hear excerpts from her at-home production Cultu...
Presenter: Max Reinhardt
Cymande are a British band formed in Balham in the early 1970s. With members whose roots span several Caribbean nations, the group developed a distinctive, eclectic sound they described as “nyah-rock” a fusion of funk, soul, reggae, rock, African, Guyanese and jazz influences.
Founding members Steve Scipio (bass) and Patrick Patterson (guitar) grew up on the same street - Byrne Road in Balham ...
Presenter: Rita Ray
This programme explores the vibrant jazz culture of Wandsworth, highlighting the borough’s music education pathways and the artists shaped by its thriving creative community.
Featured contributors:
Wandsworth Music Academy
Dan White, CEO
Olly Blackman, tutor of the Academy’s Senior Jazz Orchestra
Members of the Senior Jazz Orchestra: Cacely (saxophone), Aiden (trumpet) and Tom (guitar)
World Heart Beat Music Aca...
Presenters: Anabel Provensal and Max Reinhardt
Exploring the music and voices of the borough’s Asian diaspora communities, this programme reflects on life in Wandsworth over the past 50 years - charting personal stories of migration, cultural change and the evolution of local music scenes.
Contributors include Natasha Kathi Chandra (Tara Theatre), members of Alien Kulture, the influential 1980s punk band, Manoharan Ra...
Presenters: Rita Ray & Anabel Provensal
Spencer Park School
Former pupil Dennis Bovell shares memories and stories from his time at the school.
An historical overview from Chris Johnson, music teacher during the 1970s and 1980s.
Former pupil Julian Joseph reflects on the school’s inspiring and influential musical culture.
Tribute to former pupil Noel McKoy (1961–2022), the celebrated soul singer.
Music extracts include: The Pas...
Presenter: Rita Ray
Featuring interviews with:
Dennis Bovell, reflecting on his experiences working with African musicians and the influence of African music on the UK scene.
Lekan Babalola, Grammy Award-winning percussionist and bandleader from Lagos, Nigeria.
Teddy Osei of Osibisa, the pioneering Afro-rock band from Ghana with strong roots in Wandsworth.
Aboubacar Kouyaté, percussion teacher in Wandsworth schools and member of Ba...
World Heart Beat (Nine Elms) - featuring Sahana Gero, Founder and Artistic Director, and patron Julian Joseph.
The Grand (Clapham Junction) - featuring Ally Wolf, Manager, Producer and Programmer.
The Bedford (Balham) - featuring Tony Moore, Director of Music, Art and Development.
Magic Garden (Battersea Park) - featuring artists who have performed there, including Simo Lagwani and Sarah McGuinness.
Half Moon (Putney) - featuring c...
Presenter: Max Reinhardt and Anabel Provensal
The Irish community has been one of the borough’s largest and most influential communities over the past 50 years. In this programme, we explore the history of Irish music locally during that time, speaking with long standing Irish residents such as Jean Rathbone.
We’ll also hear from acclaimed Irish record producer and instrumentalist Gerry Diver, who performed regularly ...
Presenter: Anabel Provensal
Looking at the Polish and Ukrainian communities and their music in Wandsworth and how life and music has been developing especially in recent decades.
Featuring:
Ksenia Kazintseva, an artist based in the borough who supports and writes about Eastern European Artists and gives an overview of the music from Eastern European countries and where it can ...
Presenter : Rita Ray
Growing up, creating and developing his music in Wandsworth over the last 50 years, producer, composer and musician Dennis Bovell talks about his contributions and adventures with UK Reggae, Lovers Rock, Dub poetry, African reggae, Afrobeat, pop and more.
The ripple effect of his musical dexterity conceived and nurtured in Wandsworth still resounds around the globe. In ...
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