INTRODUCTION

Over the course of the TOWNSOUNDS podcast series, host Sam Hodgson has already interviewed a number of people who have migrated to Kirklees from somewhere else or who are second generation migrants. As listeners have heard in Episode Two (choirs), Episode Three (rock and roll), Episode Four (South Asian music), Episode Five (folk) and Episode Seven (reggae soundsystem), migration is a vital part of the story and the history of Kirklees’ music. 

In this episode Sam dives into the migration stories themselves. How did the musicians get here? How did they end up in Kirklees? And what music did they bring with them? The stories and the reasons people arrived here are fascinating, diverse and sometimes very challenging. 

SUPPORT FOR THIS PODCAST

This podcast is brought to you by Let’s Go Yorkshire, Kirklees Year of Music 2023 and Kirklees Council. It was hosted and produced by Sam Hodgson.

The podcast has been supported by Kirklees Council, Kirklees Year of Music 2023, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

TOWNSOUNDS explores the musical histories of Kirklees to uncover untold stories through the voices of local people living musical lives. For more information on this podcast, please visit musicinkirklees.co.uk

CREDITS AND TIMELINE

The speakers for this episode are
-	Dieudonne AKA Didi Manirakiza - Burundi drummer
-	Emira Husarevic - Bosnian accordion player and singer
-	Fatima Hama - Iraqi singer
-	Hussain Suliman - Iraqi saz player
-	Frank Grombir - Czech singer of Polish church songs and historian of migration to Kirklees
-	Supriya Nagarajan - Indian singer
-	Thomas Benjamin - Trinidadian steel pan player

Timeline of guest speakers and music 
00:00 - MUSIC: ‘TOWNSOUNDS theme music’ by Sam Hodgson
00:02 - Supriya Nagarajan
01:13 - Emira Husarevic
01:50 - All guests introduce themselves in the order listed above
03:20 - MUSIC: World Within Yorkshire - Abatimbo Burundi Drummers
03:30 - Dieudonne Manirakiza
04:28 - Dieudonne Manirakiza
06:15 - MUSIC: World Within Yorkshire - Abatimbo Burundi Drummers
06:30 - Dieudonne Manirakiza
07:08 - Dieudonne Manirakiza
07:40 - MUSIC: ‘Love Over Light Years’ by Foxglove Riot
08:30 - Fatima Hama
10:06 - Hussain Suliman
12:48 - MUSIC: Hussain Suliman demonstrating saz
13:00 - MUSIC: Fatima Hama & Hussain Suliman
13:49 - MUSIC: El Pollito by Fransico Canaro, performed by Max and Alessia
15:28 - Frank Grombir
17:59 - Frank Grombir
18:30 - MUSIC: Czerwone Jagody performed by Sam Hodgson
20:10 - MUSIC: Hallelujah Chorus performed by North Stars Steel Orchestra
20:10 - Thomas Benjamin
21:45 - MUSIC: Mira’s Bhakti from Posse of Fireflies
22:37 - Supriya Nagarajan
24:55 - MUSIC: Geamparale performed by Klonk
25:26 - Emira Husarevic
32:53 - MUSIC: ‘TOWNSOUNDS theme music’ by Sam Hodgson

Additional information
The conversations heard in this podcast were recorded by Sam Hodgson and Mandeep Samra over 2021 and 2022 for the TOWNSOUNDS oral history project. Full recordings of the conversations are available at the West Yorkshire Archive Service. The conversations recorded for the oral history project include those with people from a wide range of musical disciplines: handbell ringing, rock and roll, reggae, steel pan, hip hop, dubstep, jazz, and… traditional musics from India, Pakistan, Ukraine, Ireland, Poland, Bosnia, England, Kurdistan and Iran traditional music.

TOWNSOUNDS Podcast - Episode 8 - Instruments in Suitcases: The influence of migration

A specially designed series of rhymes for Kirklees children developed as part of Kirklees Year of Music.

Singing nursery rhymes and songs to and with children, including the youngest of babies, can help develop their language and communication skills. The repetition of words and ideas is important for early brain development. Rhyme and repetition in any language can support the development of memory and kickstart the practice of listening and speaking. Children love listening to songs full of these core elements and, whilst they do, it is helping boost their literacy development. Early literacy skills are about listening and speaking; these are the foundations of the later skills of reading and writing.

Developed by Kirklees Libraries, Shape North and Yorkshire Youth and Music, for Kirklees Year of Music.

Twinkle Twinkle

Ta Dorotka

Row Row Your Boat

Horsey Horsey

Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes

Bubul Ka Bacha

Five Little Ducks

Two Little Dickie Birds

Songs for the Season are 9 original compositions created for a 'Winter Songbook for Kirklees' for Kirklees Year of Music 2023. Written and performed by talented songwriters and musicians from across the district.

Stars of Peace in Wintertime
Written and arranged by Andy Burton
Guitar/Lead Vocals – Andy Burton
Piano - Lizzey Ross / Violin (Peter Simons) / Bass - Lloyd Degler / Cajon - Abi Swift / Song for the Seasons Choir (Led by Jess Baker)

Tracks Mixed by Piper at Vibrations Studios Huddersfield 
Music used under licence to Dewsbury Taking the Lead and Kirklees Year of Music 2023

Stars of Peace in Wintertime by Andy Burton

Songs for the Season are 9 original compositions created for a 'Winter Songbook for Kirklees' for Kirklees Year of Music 2023. Written and performed by talented songwriters and musicians from across the district.

It Takes a Town
Written by Morel O’Sullivan. Arranged by Thom Meredith
Piano - Lizzey Ross / Bass - Lloyd Degler / Drums – Abi Swift / Peter Simons String Quartet / The Hanson Arts Brass Ensemble / Song for the Seasons Choir (Led by Jess Baker)
Lead Vocals / Guitar – Morel O’Sullivan
Lead Vocal 2 – Charlie Wells
Additional Backing Vocals – Lisanse Changwe

Tracks Mixed by Piper at Vibrations Studios Huddersfield 
Music used under licence to Dewsbury Taking the Lead and Kirklees Year of Music 2023

It Takes a Town by Morel O’Sullivan, arranged by Thom Meredith

Songs for the Season are 9 original compositions created for a 'Winter Songbook for Kirklees' for Kirklees Year of Music 2023. Written and performed by talented songwriters and musicians from across the district.

In Wintertime in Kirklees
Written by service users and staff at Enfield Down and Creative Minds at South-West Yorkshire NHS Trust
Arranged by Rachel Modest
Piano - Lizzey Ross / Bass - Lloyd Degler / Drums – Abi Swift / Song for the Seasons Choir (Led by Jess Baker)
Additional BVs – Lisanse Changwe and Lizzey Ross

Tracks Mixed by Piper at Vibrations Studios Huddersfield 
Music used under licence to Dewsbury Taking the Lead and Kirklees Year of Music 2023

In Wintertime in Kirklees by Service Users and Staff at Enfield Downs and Creative Minds by SWYFT

Songs for the Season are 9 original compositions created for a 'Winter Songbook for Kirklees' for Kirklees Year of Music 2023. Written and performed by talented songwriters and musicians from across the district.

In Kirklees We’ll Remain written and arranged by Dorian Kelly

Piano - Lizzey Ross / Bass - Lloyd Degler / The Hanson Arts Brass Ensemble / Song for the Seasons Choir (Led by Jess Baker)

Tracks Mixed by Piper at Vibrations Studios Huddersfield 
Music used under licence to Dewsbury Taking the Lead and Kirklees Year of Music 2023

In Kirklees We'll Remain by Dorian Kelly

Songs for the Season are 9 original compositions created for a 'Winter Songbook for Kirklees' for Kirklees Year of Music 2023. Written and performed by talented songwriters and musicians from across the district.

Christmas Time at the Office
Written by Lucy Cowling and Mason Whittle
Arranged by Lucy Cowling and Sam Hodgson
Drums – Abi Swift/ Peter Simons String Quartet 
Lead Vocals – Lucy Cowling & Mason Whittle
Guitar  – Mason Whittle
Bass – Rhianna 
Trumpet – Ted 

Tracks Mixed by Piper at Vibrations Studios Huddersfield 
Music used under licence to Dewsbury Taking the Lead and Kirklees Year of Music 2023

Christmas Time at the Office by Mason Whittle and Lucy Cowling

Songs for the Season are 9 original compositions created for a 'Winter Songbook for Kirklees' for Kirklees Year of Music 2023. Written and performed by talented songwriters and musicians from across the district.

All I Know
Written by Crystal Visions, Arranged by Jennifer Pugh
Guitar and Lead Vocals – Crystal Visions (Alexandra Carlos and Simon Walker)
Backing Vocals – Lisanse Changwe and Lizzey Ross
Piano - Lizzey Ross / Bass - Lloyd Degler / Drums – Abi Swift/ Peter Simons String Quartet / The Hanson Arts Brass Ensemble / Song for the Seasons Choir (Led by Jess Baker)

Tracks Mixed by Piper at Vibrations Studios Huddersfield 
Music used under licence to Dewsbury Taking the Lead and Kirklees Year of Music 2023

All I Know by Crystal Visions, arranged by Jen Pugh

Songs for the Season are 9 original compositions created for a 'Winter Songbook for Kirklees' for Kirklees Year of Music 2023. Written and performed by talented songwriters and musicians from across the district.

Mother’s Bones
Written by Sam Hodgson
Arranged by Sam Hodgson and Rachel Modest
Guitar / Lead Vocals – Sam Hodgson
Cello – Helena Drumm
Bodhran – Aidan Kilroy
Backing Vocals – Jess Baker, Lisanse Changwe and Lizzey Ross

Tracks Mixed by Piper at Vibrations Studios Huddersfield 
Music used under licence to Dewsbury Taking the Lead and Kirklees Year of Music 2023

Mother's Bones by Sam Hodgson

Songs for the Season feature  9 original compositions created for a 'Winter Songbook for Kirklees' for Kirklees Year of Music 2023. Written and performed by talented songwriters and musicians from across the district.

I Still Believe in Father Christmas
Written by Antoine Reeves, arranged by Thom Meredith
Used with the kind permission of the family of Antoine Reeves

Piano - Lizzey Ross / Bass - Lloyd Degler / Drums – Abi Swift / Peter Simons String Quartet / The Hanson Arts Brass Ensemble / Song for the Seasons Choir (Led by Jess Baker)
Lead Vocals – Lisanse Changwe

Tracks Mixed by Piper at Vibrations Studios Huddersfield 
Music used under licence to Dewsbury Taking the Lead and Kirklees Year of Music 2023

I Still Believe in Father Christmas by Antoine Reeves, arranged by Thom Meredith

INTRODUCTION

Episode Fourteen digs into the unheard stories of some of the areas’ most prolific event organisers. A rare opportunity to hear about the behind the scenes in the biggest and smallest venues in Kirklees, where stars are born and others are booked. From world renown venues like The Batley Variety Club and The Picturedrome in Holmfirth, to smaller outfits like The Watershed in Slaithwaite, we hear about the complications and the beauties of running live music in these post-industrial hills. Whilst they talk, listeners will be privileged with new music from the area from such artists as PENNY, Jordan Higo, Here’s the Steeple and Long Island.  

SUPPORT FOR THIS PODCAST

This podcast is brought to you by Let’s Go Yorkshire, Kirklees Year of Music 2023 and Kirklees Council. It was hosted and produced by Sam Hodgson.

The podcast has been supported by Kirklees Council, Kirklees Year of Music 2023, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

TOWNSOUNDS explores the musical histories of Kirklees to uncover untold stories through the voices of local people living musical lives. For more information on this podcast, please visit musicinkirklees.co.uk

CREDITS AND TIMELINE

The speakers for this episode are:

-	Promotions Manager of the Batley Variety Club and author of King of Clubs, Maureen Prest
-	Owner of The Picturedrome, Peter Carr
-	Creative Producer at The Watershed and ex-Manager of Small Seeds, Huddersfield, Noah Burton

We’ll also hear a couple of people talking about Venn Street, the reggae venue of the 70s and 80s. They are:

-	Donovan Brown aka Dee Bo General
-	Balbir Singh Uppal

Timeline of guest speakers and music:

00:00 - MUSIC: TOWSOUNDS theme tune
00:00 - MAUREEN PREST
01:35 - NOAH BURTON
02:30 - MUSIC: Long Island 
04:22 - MAUREEN PREST
06:45 - MUSIC: ‘Unfold’ by Penny
07:30 - MAUREEN PREST
12:00 - MAUREEN PREST
13:20 - MUSIC: Rascals by Here’s the Steeple
14:00 - PETER CARR
15:53 - PETER CARR
19:10 - MUSIC: ‘Keeping Waves’ by Samh
21:50 - MUSIC: Jordan Higo
22:24 - BALBIR SINGH UPPAL
23:45 - MUSIC: Armagideon at Venn Street
24:13 - DEE BO GENERAL
26:40 - NOAH BURTON
31:42 - MUSIC: ‘Collider’ by Easy Stride Band
32:18 - NOAH BURTON
35:20 - MUSIC: TOWSOUNDS theme tune

Additional information
The conversations heard in this podcast were recorded by Sam Hodgson and Mandeep Samra over 2021 and 2023 for the TOWNSOUNDS oral history project. Full recordings of the conversations are available at the West Yorkshire Archive Service. The conversations recorded for the oral history project include those with people from a wide range of musical disciplines: handbell ringing, rock and roll, reggae, steel pan, hip hop, dubstep, jazz, and… traditional musics from India, Pakistan, Ukraine, Ireland, Poland, Bosnia, England, Kurdistan and Iran traditional music.

TOWNSOUNDS Podcast - Episode 14 - Your Local Venue: Spaces dedicated to music in Kirklees

INTRODUCTION

The final episode of the TOWNSOUNDS podcast is the series most ambitious. It brings together 27 of the guests that feature over the course of the previous 14 episodes, this time, all with one subject on their lips - music as a gift of life. Over the course of this episode the speakers talk on themes that include; mental health and wellbeing, coping mechanisms, the ecstasy of performance, and the shifting consciousness enabled by music. All this is tied together by Sam Hodgson’s thoughtful hosting style and a soundscape that underpins the topics of discussion. 

SUPPORT FOR THIS PODCAST

This podcast is brought to you by Let’s Go Yorkshire, Kirklees Year of Music 2023 and Kirklees Council. It was hosted and produced by Sam Hodgson.

The podcast has been supported by; Kirklees Council, Kirklees Year of Music 2023, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

TOWNSOUNDS explores the musical histories of Kirklees to uncover untold stories through the voices of local people living musical lives. For more information on this podcast, please visit musicinkirklees.co.uk

TIMELINE

Timeline of guest speakers and music:
00:00 - PETER PHILPOTT
01:20 - BARNEY STEVENSON
02:16 - MARY AGNES KRELL
03:24 - NIGEL CUDJOE
05:04 - COLIN BINNS
06:04 - PAT FULGONI
07:04 - RYOKO AKAMA
08:03 - FATIMA HAMA
08:34 - AIDAN KILROY
10:29 - PHIL RUSSELL
11:43 - PAUL RUSHWORTH
12:08 - ANN TALBOYS
13:25 - SWARNJIT KAUR
15:15 - MOHAMMADREZA BELADI
16:07 - FRANK GROMBIR
17:29 - EMIRA HUSAREVIC
19:45 - EMILY DRUCE
20:25 - JULIE BOKOVIEC
21:21 - ANDREW TURNER
23:19 - EDDIE DOBSON
24:41 - DIEUDONNÉ MANIRAKIZA
26:30 - PAUL HUXTABLE
29:19 - EDWIN BAKER
30:30 - RUBY WOOD
32:53 - ROB BRADLEY
33:23 - GRAHAM RUSHWORTH
33:52 - MARK BOKOVIEC

Additional information
The conversations heard in this podcast were recorded by Sam Hodgson and Mandeep Samra over 2021 and 2022 for the TOWNSOUNDS oral history project. Full recordings of the conversations are available at the West Yorkshire Archive Service. The conversations recorded for the oral history project include those with people from a wide range of musical disciplines: handbell ringing, rock and roll, reggae, steel pan, hip hop, dubstep, jazz, and… traditional musics from India, Pakistan, Ukraine, Ireland, Poland, Bosnia, England, Kurdistan and Iran traditional music.

TOWNSOUNDS Podcast - Episode 15 -The Gift of Life: How music helps us all

Sound Journeys was commissioned by Taking the Lead during the Kirklees Year of Music 2023. Ed Waring, composer created the piece alongside musicians, groups and creatives including Shove it! Studios, Serendipity Writers Group, Dewsbury Arts Group, Hoot Music, Festival of Conversations and the people of Dewsbury. The artwork for the track seen in the image here, is a painting specially commissioned from Artist Harriet Lawson, inspired by the music and her own journeys through Dewsbury Train Station. It will be installed into the station later in 2024.

Sound Journeys by Ed Waring

Visual Arts Curator Dr Janine Sykes speaks to artist Beniah Matheson about his exhibition Town Island. 

Beniah kindly gave us this pre-show interview in July 2024 while his art project Town Island was exhibited at the Venice Biennale.

Town Island is a multidisciplinary project that explores the cultural and historical connections between Carriacou, Grenada, and Huddersfield, UK, drawing on the 1950s migration of Carriacou people to Britain. We asked Matheson how the collaborative processes of making the works in Huddersfield (the Town) and Grenada (the Island) benefited the health of the participants. Janine’s questions also explore further connections with health and the artwork’s themes of identity and belonging.

This pre-show interview provides a unique opportunity to explore the healing and place-based properties of the Town Island artworks, as they reveal insights into Huddersfield and Kayak (Carriacou people) identities through sensuous form. 

Find out more about the Cultures of Creative Health research festival: https://research.hud.ac.uk/art-design/temporarycontemporary/cch/ 


Town Island. Pre-show interview with Beniah Matheson

It’s all about the music!
Kirklees is a district of world class music that stands proud on its rich and diverse musical heritage. Music is the beat of our heart. It’s the sound of our communities and the pulse of our towns and villages. 
Listen to tracks from the Kirklees Year of Music 2023 and Dewsbury Taking the Lead project.

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