Our Music Our Freedom - Wandsworth London Borough of Culture

Presenter: Max Reinhardt

A story of Folk music in the borough over the last five decades, told by one of the UK’s most outstanding performers and songwriters, Lisa Knapp. Lisa was born and brought up in Balham and Tooting, where she learned to play and where her love of folk music evolved. Along the way, there’s a few words and a little music from the late and legendary Bert Jansch who lived in Putney in the ’70’s, song extracts fr...

Presenter : Rita Ray

Rita visits a number of Creative Health and Wellbeing projects in the borough, a key focus of Wandsworth’s London Borough of Culture year. Sensory theatremaker, Arti Prahsar, talks about her work and the way music is part of her practice, with excerpts from her contribution to the Culture Box archive, a sensory resource for use at home, produced by the London Health and Arts research project. Interviews, music ...

Presenter: Max Reinhardt

Cymande are a British band from Balham, originally active in the early 1970s. With a membership deriving from several Caribbean nations, Cymande were noted for their unique eclectic mix of music they called "nyah-rock" (Funk, soul, reggae, rock, African , Guyanan, and Jazz). The two founder members lived in the same street in Balham, Byrne Road, discovered a mutual love of music and created a band that has ...

Presenter: Rita Ray

Jazz stories and music from Wandsworth Music Academy including CEO, Dan White; Olly Blackman, Senior Jazz Orchestra Tutor; and players from the Senior Jazz Orchestra, Cicely (Saxophone), Aiden (Trumpet) and Tom (Guitar). Hear from acclaimed jazz pianist and Wandsworth resident, Julian Joseph, founder of Julian Joseph Jazz Academy, Wandsworth born and patron of World Hearbeat Music Academy; Nathan Dawkins, bass a...

Presenters: Anabel Provansal and Max Reinhardt

Featuring the music and the voices of the borough’s Asian Diaspora Communities; their music and their stories about living in Wandsworth over the last 50 years; about the changes, developments and their evolving music scenes. Contributors include Natasha Kathi-Chandra (Tara Theatre); 80’s Punk band Alien Kulture; violinist Manoharan Ratheeshkumar; community singer Mudabbir Hussain Qure...

Presenters: Rita Ray & Anabel Provansal

Two schools in Wandsworth are responsible for nurturing a remarkable number of musicians and bands, Spencer Park in Battersea and Elliot School in Roehampton, now Ark Academy Putney. Spencer Park ex-pupils Dennis Bovell and Julian Joseph share tales of the inspiring musical culture of the school; along with Noel McKoy, celebrated soul singer (1961-2022); and Chris Johnson, Head of Music i...

Presenter: Rita Ray

Featuring interviews with Dennis Bovell; Lekan Babalola, Grammy award winning percussionist and bandleader from Lagos, Nigeria; Teddy Osei from Osibisa, Wandsworth based pioneering Ghanaian Afro Rock band; and Aboubacar Kouyate, percussion teacher in Wandsworth Schools and a member of Balimaya

Project, a percussion driven ensemble who have become fast rising stars on the UK Jazz scene.

Podcast Music Playlist

Fel...

Presenters: Anabel Provansal and Rita Ray

A whirlwind tour of five local live music venues in the borough. Featuring interviews, music excerpts and stories from vital spaces who have supported so many artists over the years. Hear from World Heartbeat’s Founder/Artistic Director Sahana Gero and patron Julian Joseph; General Manager of the iconic Clapham Grand, Ally Wolf celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2025;  Tony Moore, Directo...

Presenters: Max Reinhardt and Anabel Provansal

The Irish Community has been one of the larger communities in the borough over the last 50 years. A look at the history of Irish music in the borough over that time with long time Irish resident Jean Rathbone. Featuring contributions from celebrated Irish record producer and instrumentalist Gerry Diver who played in the borough in the 90’s into noughties plus and Lisa Knapp, a folk art...

Presenter: Anabel Provansal

An exploration of the Polish and Ukrainian communities and their music in Wandsworth and how life and music has been developing, especially in recent decades. Featuring an interview with 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 be heard in Wandsworth, a nearb...

Presenter: Rita Ray

Producer, composer, musician Dennis Bovell talks about growing up, creating and developing his music in Wandsworth. In many ways, Dennis is the godfather of the borough’s music scene over the last 50 years, because he’s right there at the source of so much UK music. Hear about his contributions and adventures with UK Reggae, Lovers Rock, Dub poetry, African reggae, Afrobeat, pop and more. The ripple effect of hi...