Handed Down
Handed Down celebrates traditional songs and the people who sing them. The show is presented by Jenny Shaw, an amateur musician and professional writer. Each episode is full of music, tales and curiosities as we delve into the history a single song, often with the help of a fellow folk musician, to uncover the strange stories and colourful characters that lie beneath.
These are the songs that have been handed down from our ancestors. This podcast and the people involved in it help keep them alive so that we can hand them down in turn to future generations.
Handed Down
The Brisk Lad with Henry Parker
The Brisk Lad is a 19th Century Dorset song of defiance in the face of poverty. Henry Parker transports it to the bleak moors of his native West Yorkshire in spectacular folk-rock style.
We talk about the song's origins and significance, and about the influence that the landscape and the seasons have on his own song writing. Along the way we discuss his journey from heavy metal to folk, the golden age of folk-rock, and Henry shares the recipe for a balm to soothe all your ailments - the 10th Century "Nine Herbs Charm".
Music
All the music in this episode comes from Henry Parker's second album, Lammas Fair, released on 5th November 2021. Alongside The Brisk Lad, the episode features extracts from Blackthorn, Lammas Fair, Return to the Sky, Travelling for a Living, and Nine Herbs Charm.
The album is available on Bandcamp and you can find out more about Henry's music, including tour dates, on his website https://henryparkermusic.co.uk/