Folk and Acoustic (Country)

The All New Electric Muse is featured this week with music from Skiffle king Lonnie Donegan and English folk legend Martin Carthy, two of the artists on the 3CD set which tells the story of how folk music became folk rock. There's also a taster of music from some of the other new releases featured on Mike's programme including Irish singer Cara Dillon, Oysterband who are celebrating 30 years in the business with a new CD of acoustic version of their songs and Northumbrian concertina and...

A full run down of the nominations for the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Mike Harding presents the full nominations and plays excerpts of music by all of the nominees. The panel will now vote again to establish the winner in each category, which will be announced at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ceremony on 2 February 2009 at The Brewery in London.

Singer and songwriter Steve Tilston chats about his latest album Ziggurat, his first album of new songs in over five years, and there's a chance to hear music from it. Plus, there's Mike's pick of the latest album releases including John McCusker's Under One Sky, Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies and Scottish group Malinky.

Folk song collector A.L. Lloyd is profiled and there's news of a forthcoming tribute concert in this, the centenary year of his birth. There's also a taster of music from the new releases featured on Mike's programme including Irish group The High Kings and legendary folk singer and musician Pete Seeger. Plus another trip into the Folk Vault with a classic live track from the archives.

Highlights from the 2008 BBC Electric Proms concert Maddy Prior & Friends, recorded on 23 October at Cecil Sharp House in London. Maddy Prior, lead singer with folk rock pioneers Steeleye Span, is joined on stage by her own band, as well as with her original musical partner Tim Hart, her daughter Rose Kemp, and also by June Tabor as the Silly Sisters, to perform a selection of new and classic material.

Seamus Egan and Winifred Horan from Irish American group Solas chat to Mike about their brand new album For Love and Laughter. Plus, details of how to get tickets for the final of this year's BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, which will be contested on Friday 5 December at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London and news of the line-up for the 2009 Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow.

John Spiers and Jon Boden discuss the recent Bellowhead album Matachin, as well as a year that has seen the group play at the first BBC Folk Proms Day at the Royal Albert Hall and win a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award. Plus, following a semi-final weekend, the six finalists in this year's BBC Radio 2 Young Folk award are announced. The final will be contested on Friday 5 December at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London.

Singer and political activist Roy Bailey chats to Mike about his 50 years in the business. Roy discusses key moments in his career, including meeting his long-term collaborator Tony Benn and his decision to return the MBE he received in the 2000 Honours List in protest at the government's foreign policy. Plus, there's Mike's pick of the latest album releases including Scotsmen Mark Dunlop and Mike Whellans and English duo Megson.