iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm working with Stage4Beverley festival again this year, and one of my favourite things about the festival is how it mixes music with poetry. With Michael Rosen AND Michael Morpurgo joining us this year, it's shaping up to be a good'un!

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I’ve completed The Guardian’s quick cryptic crossword for the first time and proclaimed myself a genius. Recently learned how some of the usual clues work, and it’s very satisfying once you figure it out!

Screenshot of the cryptic crossword in question, uncompleted of course so I don’t ruin it for anyone.

Some of the ‘Across’ clues from the crossword, lots of which would have looked like total nonsense to me before I learned how they work.

Some of the ‘Down’ clues from the crossword, lots of which would have looked like total nonsense to me before I learned how they work.

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Music Venue Trust @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Grassroots music venues are about more than music. They’re places where friendships begin, bands are formed, communities gather and people find belonging. WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS

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Folk on Foot @folkonfoot.com · 21/05/2026

For the seventh year in a row, we were delighted to be nominated for Best Music at #UKARIAS. And if we had to be beaten to the Gold by anyone, we’re so happy it was our friends at BBC Radio 2 who make '21st Century Folk'. 🏆🎶 @markradcliffe.bsky.social

Photo of a big screen on a stage, with text saying 'Folk on Foot - Matthew Bannister'. There is an audience looking at the screen with anticipation, as they wait for the winner to be announced.

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Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

The former Mayor of Abingdon is to attempt to break the world long distance Morris Dancing record - 200 miles along the Thames Path, from London to Abingdon and back, this May. Duncan Bhaskaran Brown is raising money for six charities along the way.

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

🫘🍚 It’s beans and rice, and rice and beans, and a hand when you fall. For there’s a friendly face, a better place, and a future for us all.

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Roseberry Topping always sounds to me like something you'd sprinkle on top of a dessert. But in fact, it is a real place, and Matthew's been busy climbing it with @theyounguns.bsky.social. Give it a listen (maybe whilst having a dessert).

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

The Official Folk Albums Chart Show is out now! Lots of great music this month, plus an interview with @katherinepriddy.bsky.social, a sneak peek of @folkonfoot.com's upcoming episode with @theyounguns.bsky.social, and the latest folky news from me. Catch up here - youtu.be/JweXmIVPa1Y

Photo of Katherine Priddy, with text over the top that says "Folk on Foot presents The Official Folk Albums Chart Show, compiled by Official Charts, 7th April 2026".

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Folk on Foot @folkonfoot.com · 30/03/2026

If you heard the glorious voice of Olivia Chaney on the soundtrack of the new Wuthering Heights film, you’ll love coming for a walk with her across the Yorkshire moors in this classic episode of Folk on Foot. 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/3ca026

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Folk on Foot @folkonfoot.com · 28/03/2026

Sydney Carter's classic anti-war song, performed by Lady Maisery, has powerful contemporary resonance. They sing it in Petworth Park in our new episode, out now. 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/3b366e

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Folk on Foot @folkonfoot.com · 22/03/2026

A folly in the grounds of Petworth Park provides the perfect acoustics for the soaring harmonies of Lady Maisery. 🎧 Hear more in our new episode, out now - pod.fo/e/3b366e

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Folk on Foot @folkonfoot.com · 20/03/2026

🆕 New episode out now: hear the beautiful harmonies of Lady Maisery on a walk in the historic Petworth Park in West Sussex. 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/3b366e

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Folk on Foot @folkonfoot.com · 17/03/2026

What an amazing night of music it’s been! And if you missed it, fear not - you can catch up now at the link below. Thanks so much to everyone who helped to make the Award Gala possible - and thanks to all of you, for listening. ▶️ Watch the show: www.youtube.com/live/wXwK_E6...

youtube.com

Folk Album of the Year 2025 Gala Livestream

YouTube video by Folk On Foot

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Irish folk smashing it yet again. Loving the new release from Madra Salach! 😍

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Folk on Foot @folkonfoot.com · 03/03/2026

If you enjoyed the clip we just played from Hannah James & Toby Kuhn, there are still a few hours left to support the kickstarter for their brand new album. Get in there quickly for some kickstarter-exclusive perks: www.kickstarter.com/projects/han...

kickstarter.com

Where All Our Names Belong and The Giant double launch.

Hannah and Toby are releasing their much anticipated second album and an illustrated book of the story song, The Giant.

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

13 events sold out at Stage4Beverley this year! And 84% of tickets sold overall, not that I'm counting or anything. It's been great to see this festival going from strength to strength.

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Stage4Beverley @stage4beverley.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

We're pleased to say that all our poetry events have now sold out! If you're quick, there are a few tickets left for Friday's Late Night Club, which will include a spot from @chriswriting.bsky.social as well as music from Maddie Morris and the Nick Rooke Band. stage4beverley.com/whats-on/fri...

Photo of Chris Sewart, our resident poet!

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

The Official Folk Albums Chart Show is out now! Lots of fab music this month, including an absolute banger from @lisaknappmusic.bsky.social & @gerrydiver.bsky.social 😍 Plus some updates on new music and upcoming gigs from yours truly.

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Very proud and excited to share that @janandjon.bsky.social will be performing orchestral arrangements of their songs with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at Celtic Connections on 16th January. A real dream-come-true gig for us! ❤️ www.celticconnections.com/event/1/bbc-...

Photo of Janice Burns & Jon Doran stood outside on some rocks, with more rocky terrain in the background behind them. Janice is a young white woman with long brown curly hair, and she’s wearing a long orange dress. Jon is a young white man who’s wearing trousers and a light-coloured shirt. There is text over the top of the photo which says “Celtic Connections, 15 Jan - 1 Feb 2026”.

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Janice Burns & Jon Doran @janandjon.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

We'll be playing a livestream concert for all who can't get out to one of our Christmas gigs! www.tickettailor.com/events/janic...

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Granny’s Attic gigs are all done for the year! They’ve done 40 gigs in 2025, and here’s a map of everywhere they’ve been. We’ll be filling in some of the gaps next year!

Map of where Granny’s Attic have played gigs this year, with dots placed in most areas of England.

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Janice Burns & Jon Doran @janandjon.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Our tour is imminent! We can't wait to sing these songs for you! We're going lots of places in England, Leith in Scotland, and 1 Livestream for people too far away to come in person. Get your tickets now! www.janandjon.com/live

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Folk on Foot @folkonfoot.com · 27/11/2025

The shortlist for the Folk Album of the Year 2025 is out now! You can hear tracks from all these amazing albums, plus the artists’ reactions to being nominated, in our nominations announcement show - available on the Folk on Foot YouTube channel and podcast. Watch here: youtu.be/UDrHNykW5cQ?...

Graphic with images of all 9 albums nominated for Folk Album of the Year 2025 - including "All Smiles Tonight" by Poor Creature, "Auchies Spikkin' Auchie" by Grace Stewart-Skinner, "Curlew's Cry" by Barry Kerr, "Shimli" by Cynefin, "Teeth of Time" by Joshua Burnside, "Teleology" by Peggy Seeger, "Tomorrow Held" by Spafford Campbell, "Turnstone" by Gigspanner Big Band and "Varipasi" by Edith WeUtonga. There are logos for Folk Album of the Year and all the partner organisations - Sound Roots, Folk on Foot, Rochdale Town of Culture and Rochdale Development Agency.

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Janice Burns & Jon Doran @janandjon.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Tour starts in a week! www.janandjon.com/live

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Music Venue Trust @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Our huge, heartfelt thanks to Sam Fender, who’s donated his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to Music Venue Trust... after already making sure £1 from every ticket on his recent tour went to support grassroots music venues.

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

“The data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates 31.5% of women and 26.4% of men experienced some form of abuse as a child, a total of 13.6 million – almost three in 10 – people.” Horrendous statistics. I also wonder how this compares with other countries.

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Stage4Beverley @stage4beverley.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

The Sam Kelly Trio went down a storm last time they joined us, and we're delighted to be welcoming them back in 2026! Don't miss their soaring songs and stunning instrumentals when they come to East Riding Theatre on 13th February, with support from Maddie Morris. stage4beverley.com/whats-on/sam...

Photo of the Sam Kelly Trio stood outside on a path, with grassy banks and hedges on either side. They are holding their instruments (cello, guitar and banjo).

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Simon Pegg @simonpegg.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

"Parking is such sweet sorrow"

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Philip Purser-Hallard @purserhallard.com · 19/10/2025

"But soft! What light through yonder window... BRAKES!"

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

What a moment, for Sam Fender and for Newcastle. We had a great time at the #MercuryPrize ceremony tonight!

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Peter Chilvers @peterchilvers.com · 16/10/2025

The BBC are accidentally running the subtitles to Mrs Marple over the Mercury Prize, and it’s rather wonderful. A few of lines could plausibly have been written by Jarvis.

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Folk on Foot @folkonfoot.com · 11/10/2025

Very excited about the amazing line-up at the Indoor Festival of Folk (North) on 18th October: The Bookshop Band, Frankie Archer, Edgelarks, Sam Carter and The Magpie Arc, plus Matthew interviewing the great Ashley Hutchings. More info and tickets here: www.settlevictoriahall.org.uk/eventsandsho...

A montage of photos of artists who will be taking part in the Indoor Festival of Folk, including The Magpie Arc, Ashley Hutchings, Edgelarks, Frankie Archer, Sam Carter and The Bookshop Band.

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Joanne Harris @joannechocolat.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

The reason the Right are so invested in the myth that the arts have no value isn’t because the arts don’t generate wealth (they do); it’s that studying the arts teaches people to imagine better ways of judging the value of an idea than by counting how much money it makes…

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Folk on Foot @folkonfoot.com · 02/10/2025

Great to see our name in lights at the British Podcast Awards - well deserved recognition for the wonderful team that put their heart and soul into Folk on Foot - Matthew

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Stage4Beverley @stage4beverley.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

It's National Poetry Day, and if you're into all things literary then there's lots to look forward to at our next festival - including the UK's Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, local favourite Chris Sewart, and one more special guest to be announced tomorrow - any guesses? stage4beverley.com/line-up/

Chris Sewart, a man wearing glasses and a short-sleeved shirt. He is standing in front of a painting of some poppies and he has his arms crossed.

Simon Armitage - a man wearing a burgundy coloured shirt, with grey hair. He is sat in front of a bookshelf and he's looking towards us thoughtfully.

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

This may be braggadocious, but I’m very pleased to say that I got an idea onto #TheSkewer on BBC Radio 4 last night, and my bit is also referenced in the episode title! If you haven’t come across The Skewer before, I highly recommend a listen. Find the episode here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Screenshot of the new episode of The Skewer, which is called Supercalifragilisticexpibraggadocious.

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Great show from Grace Petrie at @standcomedyclub.bsky.social tonight! This was the first night of the tour, so there are still plenty of chances to catch her (including Hexham if you’re here in the North East). Tour dates: www.gracepetrie.com/gigs

A blackboard outside The Stand Comedy Club in Newcastle, advertising Grace Petrie’s gig, which Lucy went to tonight.

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Folk on Foot @folkonfoot.com · 16/09/2025

In partnership with our friends at @soundrootsuk.bsky.social, we're pleased to announce the jury members for the Folk Album of the Year Award 2025! Find out more about the jury: www.soundroots.uk/news/new-fol... Submit your album: www.soundroots.uk/folk-album-o...

Poster with photos of all the jury members for the Folk Album of the Year Award 2025, including Anna Massie (BBC Scotland/musician), Philip King (Other Voices Ireland), Alexandria Carr (Southbank Centre), Jude Rogers (The Guardian), Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2), Lynette Fay (broadcaster/producer), John McCusker (musician), Becky Marshall-Potter (FolkEast festival), Jo Frost (journalist), Rob Cowen (author), Georgia Ruth (BBC Cymru/musician) and Sam Hindley (Thank Goodness It's Folk). At the bottom of the poster, there are logos for Sound Roots, Folk on Foot, Rochdale - Greater Manchester Town of Culture 25-26 and Rochdale Development Agency.

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Dave Bagpuss Forsey ☕️ @bagpuss.org · 12/09/2025

Fascinating that you can see the USB ports where the conductor is charged up before every performance #TheProms

A screenshot of the back of the conductor's podium thing with two 'ports' on the side.

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Lucy Shields @lucyrshields.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

TikTok should know better than this - I’d never waste tea.

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