The London Calling Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ryan Price
Finbar Furey has left his mark on the Irish folk scene, ever since touring with both The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners before joining his brothers in The Fureys. After much success, Finbar decided to go it alone in the 1990's and has since written some of the most iconic songs in Irish music. Ahead of his return to London to play Union Chapel next month, he joined us to discuss his incredible life in music and what keeps the fire burning.
Episode 12 of the London Calling podcast welcomes Irish folk legends Paul Brady and Andy Irvine. While both have had illustrious individual careers, their collaborative album released in 1977 remains a seminal work in Irish music to this day. Ahead of a tour to commemorate this album, which includes a night at London's Barbican Hall, both men spoke with us about the creation of that much-loved album and their long-lasting friendship.
Better known to many as Ireland's most famous and fabulous drag queen Panti Bliss, Rory O'Neill has come a long way from his humble beginnings in the rural west of Ireland. In 2015, he played a pivotal part in getting the marriage equality referendum over the line, and he joined me in London to talk about life as Panti Bliss and becoming an 'accidental activist'.
Episode ten of the London Calling podcast welcomes Aslan frontman and outright legend of Irish music Christy Dignam. Since the band's debut album release with 'Feel No Shame' 30 years ago, their music has become embedded in the Irish psyche with songs like 'This Is' and 'Crazy World' transcending generations. In this interview, Christy tells stories from the band's early days in Dublin, reveals the inspiration behind the much-loved songs and opens up about his terminal cancer diagnosis.
Episode nine of the London Calling podcast welcomes tv comedy writer and director Graham Linehan. Linehan has written and co-wrriten some of the most loved comedy series of the last twenty years, including Father Ted, The IT Crowd and Black Books. We met Graham at his home in Norwich to hear all about his plans for a Father Ted musical and to reflect on his incredible career.
Episode eight of the London Calling podcast welcomes singer-songwriter David Keenan. Hailing from Dundalk, Co. Louth, David has emerged as one of Irish music's most promising talents in recent years with his honest lyrics and raw delivery. He has had one hell of a year, and he joined us a couple of days before his first headline London gig to tell us all about it.
Episode seven of the London Calling podcast welcomes one of Ireland's rising stars, Chris Walley. Having impressed audiences as Jock Murphy in the hugely popular film and tv series The Young Offenders, Chris will make his West End debut this summer in Martin McDonagh's The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Chris chats with us about his love for his hometown of Cork, making the move to London, and what his goals are for the future.
Episode six of the podcast welcomes one of Ireland's most accomplished and highly-regarded actors, Fiona Shaw. Perhaps best-known for playing Aunt Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter series, she has mastered both the stage and screen playing some of classical literature's most iconic roles, such as Electra, Medea and Richard II. Fiona welcomed me to her North London home to speak about her incredible career, and how her upbringing in Cork helped her to take on so many challenging characters.
Episode five of the podcast welcomes London-based poet Daniel Tobias Behan. Daniel is carrying the flame for a family of literary legends. He is a nephew to both Brendan and Dominic Behan, and son to the late Brian Behan. Coming from a family with such a great legacy in Irish culture, Daniel speaks to us about growing up second-generation Irish and the influence of his forefathers on his own writing.
Episode four of the London Calling podcast welcomes renowned graphic designer Alan Aboud. Alan is perhaps best known for his long and successful collaboration with fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, but in this conversation, he opens up about the difficulties attached with raising his three children as second-generation Irish and how the lines are all too blurred between those born in the homeland, and those not.
Episode three of the London Calling is something of a family affair, as brothers Harry and Alfie Hudson Taylor sit down ahead of their headline London show to talk about the trials and tribulations of being an Irish trying to make it in the UK, and how moving to London at a young age informed the music they make today.
Episode two of the London Calling podcast brings us to the banks of the River Thames in Richmond, where Dave and Cathy Corkery record their award-winning movie review podcast. Dave and Cathy discuss turning a hobby into a successful outlet and the struggle to find a babysitter for their son Oscar when their family are at the other side of the Irish Sea!
Episode one of the London Calling podcast welcomes Sir Bob Geldof as a guest. Bob talks all things Ireland and reflects on his own experiences of moving to London as a young man in the 1960's.