Famous Potatoes’ folk carols aired on Radio 2 (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Famous Potatoes’ folk carols aired on Radio 2

9:00pm Thursday 17th December 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

THE Famous Potatoes will be living up to their name on Christmas Eve when they air on BBC Radio 2.

The Leigh-based folk band are just one of the acts to feature on the station’s Keeping Tradition Alive at Christmas programme, one of a four-part series exploring carol customs in England and Wales.

Recorded at St Clement’s Church, in Leigh Hill, Leigh, on Sunday, the programme includes performances by singers John Coppins and Jack Forbes, and is introduced by folk star and Bellowhead’s frontman, Jon Boden.

The Famous Potatoes – drummer Paul Collier, brothers Richard and Keith Baxter on button accordion and trombone, Paul McDowell on piano accordion, guitarist Tony Littman and Nigel Blackaby on double bass – have been playing folk carols at the event since it started more than 30 years ago.

While the group are best known for playing cajun, western swing and blue grass, they always play the Folk Carol Service, and were joined this year by Jon Boden and Kate Baxter.Paul said: “It’s outside our frame of reference, but we really enjoy doing it.

“The event marks the passing of the year and is great fun.”

It’s not the first time the band have appeared on BBC Radio, having been featured on Andy Kershaw’s Radio 3 show in 2006.

Paul added: “We always enjoy appearing on the BBC as it’s nice to get that sort of recognition, and it puts Leigh on the map with regards to the folk world. We’ll be tuning in on Christmas Eve to see what we sound like.”

The programme is broadcast at 10pm, on Thursday, December 24.

• Print
• Email
• Share