Black Country Stories: Recent Episodes
Black Country Touring
Audio works informed and inspired by the people of the Black Country in the West Midlands, UK. From fairground showmen to tattooists, lockdown communities to artists. Here you'll find audio stories, digital poetry and original music.
Podcast produced by Black Country Touring, the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder. Supported by Arts Council England.
How does your relationship with colour change if you start to lose your sight? How do you feel about colour if you’ve never seen?"Blathering With SVI" is a fascinating new podcast exploring the everyday experiences of visually impaired people, with all the triumphs and pitfalls, all in their own words.Produced by Black Country Touring in collaboration with Sandwell Visually Impaired. Directed and edited by Graeme Rose, with editing support from Darren Joyce. Original music and sound design by ThinkWriteFly (Adrian B. Earle).
Ray was once asked, “Do blind people dream?” Well, here is the answer.
"Blathering With SVI" is a fascinating new podcast exploring the everyday experiences of visually impaired people, with all the triumphs and pitfalls, all in their own words. It is the result of conversations about everyday subjects between members of Sandwell Visually Impaired and Graeme Rose.
Produced by Black Country Touring in collaboration with Sandwell Visually Impaired. Directed and edited by Graeme Rose, with editing support from Darren Joyce. Original music and sound design by ThinkWriteFly (Adrian B. Earle).
Members of Sandwell Visually Impaired talk about their relationship with water, their memories and their experiences. From beach days to swimming pools, it has all the smells and flavours of an English summer holiday.
"Blathering With SVI" is a fascinating new podcast exploring the everyday experiences of visually impaired people, with all the triumphs and pitfalls, all in their own words. It is the result of conversations about everyday subjects between Sandwell Visually Impaired and Graeme Rose.
Produced by Black Country Touring in collaboration with Sandwell Visually Impaired. Directed and edited by Graeme Rose, with editing support from Darren Joyce. Original music and sound design by ThinkWriteFly (Adrian B. Earle), with electric guitar by Nigel Self.
Before Vimal Korpal became a performer, he ran a shop – and he still likes talking to shopkeepers. In this podcast he visits Wednesbury town centre where he uncovers the interesting stories behind two shops – Simone’s Bridal Wear and Sue’s Traditional Sweets.
Surprisingly, these vastly different shops share more than just their Wednesbury location, and Vimal proves yet again that there are stories we all want to hear in everyone’s lives.
This Black Country Stories podcast episode was funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. What's in Store was part of We Are Wednesbury, a cultural programme produced by Multistory for the High Streets Heritage Action Zone initiative, funded by Sandwell Council and Historic England.
Bohdan Piasecki is a poet and he listens to people. Well, he has conversations with people, listens to what he’s been told, and then writes a poem for them from the things that he’s been told.
In this podcast, he has conversations with three people and writes three new poems about a special grandchild, the release of speed, and how loving people often means knowing when to let them go.
The conversations are intriguing, the poems are wonderful.
This Black Country Stories podcast episode was funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. What's in Store was part of We Are Wednesbury, a cultural programme produced by Multistory for the High Streets Heritage Action Zone initiative, funded by Sandwell Council and Historic England.
Listen to the extraordinary works back-to-back by the A Word in Your Ear artists - 6 poems and 2 songs.
'Congregation' by Adrian Earle, informed by Sandwell Visually Impaired
'Polyphony' by Jasmine Gardosi, informed by Anthem
'Willenhall Town' by Emma Purshouse, informed by The Wombles of Willenhall
'The Water Mill Waltz' by Fox & Rocha, informed by Bearwood Community Hub
'Hope For Better Days' by Roy McFarlane, informed by Ideal For All
'A Little Drop Of Sunshine' by Fox & Rocha, informed by Mothership
'Words Are Our Own' by Jasmine Gardosi, informed by Just Straight Talk
'Salutation' by Adrian Earle, informed by Thimblemill Bookworms
Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. A Word in Your Ear is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Six artists create new work inspired by their one-to-one interactions with community groups on the phone. Join poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan as he meets the artists and groups. Listen to the extraordinary poems and songs born out of this project reflective of the world today.
'Hope For Better Days' by Roy McFarlane, informed by Ideal For All.
Podcast contributors: Roy McFarlane.
Hosted and presented by Ian McMillan. Episode structuring by Adrian Earle. Sound engineering by Duncan Grimley. Produced by Bobby Tiwana. Title track The Water Mill Waltz by Fox & Rocha. Artwork Sakab Bashir. Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. A Word in Your Ear is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Six artists create new work inspired by their one-to-one interactions with community groups on the phone. Join poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan as he meets the artists and groups. Listen to the extraordinary poems and songs born out of this project reflective of the world today.
'Polyphony' by Jasmine Gardosi, informed by Anthem; 'Words Are Our Own' by Jasmine Gardosi, informed by Just Straight Talk.
Podcast contributors: Jasmine Gardosi and Kareena Rocks.
Hosted and presented by Ian McMillan. Episode structuring by Adrian Earle. Sound engineering by Duncan Grimley. Produced by Bobby Tiwana. Title track The Water Mill Waltz by Fox & Rocha. Artwork Sakab Bashir. Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. A Word in Your Ear is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Six artists create new work inspired by their one-to-one interactions with community groups on the phone. Join poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan as he meets the artists and groups. Listen to the extraordinary poems and songs born out of this project reflective of the world today.
'The Water Mill Waltz' and 'A Little Drop Of Sunshine' by Fox & Rocha (Sam Frankie Fox and Ricardo Santos Rocha), informed by Bearwood Community Hub and Mothership.
Podcast contributors: Sam Frankie Fox, Ricardo Santos Rocha, Sozan and Eklas.
Hosted and presented by Ian McMillan. Episode structuring by Adrian Earle. Sound engineering by Duncan Grimley. Produced by Bobby Tiwana. Title track The Water Mill Waltz by Fox & Rocha. Artwork Sakab Bashir. Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. A Word in Your Ear is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Six artists create new work inspired by their one-to-one interactions with community groups on the phone. Join poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan as he meets the artists and groups. Listen to the extraordinary poems and songs born out of this project reflective of the world today.
'Willenhall Town' by Emma Purshouse, informed by the Wombles of Willenhall.
Podcast contributors: Emma Purshouse
Hosted and presented by Ian McMillan. Episode structuring by Adrian Earle. Sound engineering by Duncan Grimley. Produced by Bobby Tiwana. Title track The Water Mill Waltz by Fox & Rocha. Artwork Sakab Bashir. Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. A Word in Your Ear is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Six artists create new work inspired by their one-to-one interactions with community groups on the phone. Join poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan as he meets the artists and groups. Listen to the extraordinary poems and songs born out of this project reflective of the world today.
'Congregation' and 'Salutation' by Adrian Earle, informed by Sandwell Visually Impaired and Thimblemill Bookworms.
Podcast contributors: Adrian Earle, Sandra Troth and Ammajae
Hosted and presented by Ian McMillan. Episode structuring by Adrian Earle. Sound engineering by Duncan Grimley. Produced by Bobby Tiwana. Title track The Water Mill Waltz by Fox & Rocha. Artwork Sakab Bashir. Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. A Word in Your Ear is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Six artists create new work inspired by their one-to-one interactions with community groups on the phone. Join poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan as he meets the artists and groups. Listen to the extraordinary poems and songs born out of this project reflective of the world today.
Hosted and presented by Ian McMillan. Episode structuring by Adrian Earle. Sound engineering by Duncan Grimley. Produced by Bobby Tiwana. Artwork Sakab Bashir. Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. A Word in Your Ear is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Preview credits: Hope For Better Days by Roy McFarlane; Willenhall Town by Emma Purshouse; Congregation by Adrian Earle; The Water Mill Waltz & A Little Drop Of Sunshine by Fox & Rocha.
BBC Radio presenter Gagan Grewal chats to Vimal Korpal about all things tattoo. First broadcast 5 December 2021.
Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. Tattoo Stories is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Tattooists don’t like doing names, for all sorts of reasons like misspellings or loved ones falling out. When I got a tattoo my mum wasn’t too impressed. I then learned my uncle had his name tattooed on his arm. Why would anyone have their own name tattooed on their arm? Little did I know it would take me back over 70 years before the British partitioned India. Writer & presenter Vimal Korpal. Sound design Annie Mahtani. Santoor Kaviraj Singh. Director Steve Johnstone. Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. Tattoo Stories is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
I’m no tattooist but there are thousands of stories as to why people have tattoos: for love, inspiration, remembrance, fashion, culture, cosmetic; and some just because they were drunk! There’s a story behind every tattoo. Join writer-performer Vimal Korpal as he ventures into the world of Black Country tattoos. Tracing his own tattoo takes him back over 70 years and 4000 miles away from home. Writer & presenter Vimal Korpal. Sound design Annie Mahtani. Santoor Kaviraj Singh. Director Steve Johnstone. Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. Tattoo Stories is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
In this bonus episode Producer Bobby Tiwana talks to Music Composer & Sound Designer Duncan Grimley about his work.
Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Bonus episode Sounds of the Fairground provides a brief tour of the sound and music worlds created by Duncan Grimley as part of Voices of the Fairground.
Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
In this bonus episode Anthony Harris of the fairground community and Showmen's Guild associate says a few words at the launch of Voices of the Fairground exhibition at Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery, 17 November 2022.
Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Come back to the park one last time as the rides are packed down and loaded onto trucks. As the fair rolls out, hear the stories of how the fair has changed. Prejudice, culture, identity, business. What do the showmen and show-women face, how do they carry on, and why is the fair so important to us?
Summer. Late evening. A walk in the park, under the trees. Then, as if dropped from outer space - motors, flashes, screams. Mechanical limbs gyrate through the air to the sound of techno thumping bass. Welcome to Voices of the Fairground. Join writer-performer Rochi Rampal as she explores the travelling fairground with the people who live it everyday. Based on the lives of Black Country fairground communities.
Writer & presenter Rochi Rampal. Music composition & sound design Duncan Grimley. Director Steve Johnstone. Research Alex Howell & Nicola Churchill. Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
The fair’s open. Pile on the waltzer with us, step onto the ghost train. Feel your belly lurch, your adrenaline rush. The fried onions and the pink cuddly toys. These are the stories not just of the thrill of it all, but of the people who make it happen for us.
Summer. Late evening. A walk in the park, under the trees. Then, as if dropped from outer space - motors, flashes, screams. Mechanical limbs gyrate through the air to the sound of techno thumping bass. Welcome to Voices of the Fairground. Join writer-performer Rochi Rampal as she explores the travelling fairground with the people who live it everyday. Based on the lives of Black Country fairground communities.
Writer & presenter Rochi Rampal. Music composition & sound design Duncan Grimley. Director Steve Johnstone. Research Alex Howell & Nicola Churchill. Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Summer. Late evening. A walk in the park, under the trees. Then, as if dropped from outer space - motors, flashes, screams. Mechanical limbs gyrate through the air to the sound of techno thumping bass. But it’s not just a pretty face of flashes and noise and thrills. There’s so much more. There’s history, heritage, and hard work… Welcome to Voices of the Fairground. Join writer-performer Rochi Rampal as she explores the travelling fairground with the people who live it everyday. Based on the lives of Black Country fairground communities. Writer & presenter Rochi Rampal. Music composition & sound design Duncan Grimley. Director Steve Johnstone. Research Alex Howell & Nicola Churchill. Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Join writer-performer Rochi Rampal as she explores the travelling fairground with the people who live it everyday. Based on the lives of Black Country fairground communities. Writer & presenter Rochi Rampal. Music composition & sound design Duncan Grimley. Director Steve Johnstone. Research Alex Howell & Nicola Churchill. Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.