{"id":25817,"date":"2026-07-05T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/?p=25817"},"modified":"2026-07-05T11:25:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T10:25:16","slug":"sidetracks-and-detours-sunday-6th-july-2026-the-radio-ballads-of-the-minersstrike-bbc-radio-john-tams-barry-coope-sally-ward-rube-leonard-julie-matthews-jez-lowe-ray-hearne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/2026\/07\/05\/sidetracks-and-detours-sunday-6th-july-2026-the-radio-ballads-of-the-minersstrike-bbc-radio-john-tams-barry-coope-sally-ward-rube-leonard-julie-matthews-jez-lowe-ray-hearne\/","title":{"rendered":"SIDETRACKS AND DETOURS Sunday 5th July 2026: Coal Mines & cobbled streets & Lava Tunnels featuring The Radio Ballads Of The Miners\u00b4Strike BBC Radio John Tams, Barry Coope, Sally Ward, Rube Leonard, Julie Matthews, Jez Lowe, Ray Hearne, + Lendanear to Rochdale, Town Of Culture (?) + Lendanear to sounds from the centre of a volcano"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Chris Maume<\/strong>, in his review of the programme for The Independent<\/strong> reminded us that On the Home Service<\/strong> in the Fifties and Sixties, Ewan MacColl<\/strong> (left) and Charles Parker <\/strong>put together a series of “Radio Ballads” in which different communities were portrayed through interviews and the songs inspired by them.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past few years the formula has been repeated on Radio 2, on such subjects as the decline of shipbuilding and steel, the Troubles, fox-hunting, living with HIV, and Britain’s fairground community. Now the 25th anniversary of the end of the miners’ strike has been marked with an astonishing piece of work.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reporter Vince Hunt<\/strong> conducted interviews up and down the country, with policemen \u2013 “I wonder, could they ever forgive the police for what we did to them?” \u2013 and scabs \u2013 “walking by friends, that was the hardest thing” \u2013 as well as the strikers and their wives. These were fed to folk musicians, who wove sad, beautiful songs from them. “The Ballad of the Miners’ Strike” was stuffed with fantastic lines. “It was the nearest this country has ever been to civil war since 1641 to 1649,” one miner said. “It’s just a shame we didn’t have anyone’s head to chop off at the end of it.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Elizabeth Mahony in The Guardian<\/strong> on March 3rd<\/sup> 2010 wrote that The Ballad of the Miners’ Strike<\/em><\/strong> (Radio 2) is surely set to be a radio highlight of the year, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She described the programme as a blend of new folk songs, archive footage from the strike and interviews with many of the protagonists, this richly textured programme touched on every dimension of the dispute.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone talked about the strike with a still raw intensity. “It was a civil war, to be quite honest,” said one former miner, “between the rich and the poor.” We heard from those who crossed picket lines, and how thoroughly “scabs” were always shunned. In one village, a man was known to have broken the earlier strike in 1926: “To this day, nobody speaks to him.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A policeman spoke with regret about his part in the conflict, and women described how the strike changed their lives. “I were just a wife,” said one. “It woke things in me and my friends that we didn’t know were there.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the plaintive songs, these recollections formed an intensely moving tapestry full of passion, pride and anger. The loss of a way of life, and the tight-knit communities it sustained, was powerfully articulated.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Sons of miners and grandsons of miners are fighting for fuel in Iraq,” said one man. “It’s a damned disgrace.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were eleven songs collated on the playlist of The Ballad Of The Miner\u00b4s Strike.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Tams<\/strong> made two solo contributions with his compositions, Corton Wood<\/strong> and Orgreave,<\/strong> as well as Remembrance Day<\/strong> in collaboration with Barry Coope<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bob Fox<\/strong> contributed the ironic It\u00b4ll All Be Over In  A Fortnight<\/strong>, whilst Sally Ward and Rube Leonard<\/strong> delivered My Mother Said.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Julie Matthews<\/strong>, a much loved artist, who has featured in our sidetracks & detours<\/strong> blog on many occasions and who, later in the year, will be a subject of chapter three of our Songwriters and Invisible Angels<\/strong> series, contributed two songs to the radio ballad programme with Beyond The Picket Line<\/strong>, and the closing title, Coal Not Dole<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There  were offerings, too, from the wonderful Jez Lowe<\/strong> (right) , with his pointedly titled Judas Bus<\/strong><\/em>, and poignant Arthur My Dear<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another carefully thought-out piece, An Ordinary Copper<\/strong>, was written and performed by Ray Hearne<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ALL ACROSS THE ARTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To The Poetry Of Rochdale<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Norman Warwick<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nobody sings the praises of my home town of Rochdale\u2019s as tunefully or loudly as my former journalistic partner, Steve Cooke<\/strong>. He and I worked together, producing a page a week, covering the local arts scene in The Rochdale Observer, The Heywood Advertiser and The Middleton Guardian<\/strong> and also worked on several major initiatives and interventions in the region until I retired at sixty to come and live here on Lanzarote. I knew Steve would carry on producing the pages and would be supported by the regular contributors and artists <\/strong>who had delivered content to those all across the arts pages for the previous twenty years or so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As \u00b4progress\u00b4 has taken place at an accelerated pace since 2020, Steve has been in his element placing his news, previews, interviews and reviews<\/strong> on the Manchester Evening News Group site on line<\/strong> celebrating Manchester\u00b4s year as England City Of Culture of Culture 2025\/26<\/strong> and how it has excelled in all expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its legacy is very much alive across Rochdale and as Steve tells me,  – our expanded AATA  column of ten articles per week is proving insufficient to keep up with the activities and events emanating from the thriving and ever-expanding creative arts community<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am delighted and excited that an EOI [expression of interest] has been submitted on behalf of Rochdale Creates and the wider creative, culture and heritage sector, to become the UK\u2019s first Town of Culture in 2028<\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


While DCMS [Department for Culture Media and Sport] are still shortlisting the applications, they have now published a map of all the towns that submitted an EOI, alongside the postcards that were created by each town.<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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all across the arts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE BIGGER PICTURE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

by Steve Vooke<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visit:<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/viewer?mid=1Su-761mY3NPLpd4d948m5ppY7R-bslw&ll=53.039405579871676%2C-1.8733686718749887&z=6<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone at  All Across The Arts are proud to be able to shine a spotlight on Rochdale\u2019s ambitions and on the amazing people, organisations and communities that make such fantastic work happen across the borough.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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One of the inspired initiatives that came about because of Manchester\u00b4s success was that Sammy Weaver<\/strong> (LEFT) <\/em>was appointed as Rochdale first poet laureate and throughout her year in office she proved to be both excellent and tireless. She immediately made herself available to a a stanza of excellent local poets such as Seamus Kelly, Eileen Earnshaw, & Katie Haigh<\/strong>, who already ran creative writing sessions, galvanising the creative writers of the town. Sammy inspired them even further and helped them create various anthologies in various formats on various subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A perfect example of her work is shown below and as I read it I enjoyed vivid memories of the town I lived in for fifty years: its hospitality, its heart, and its multi ethnic tolerance and its people coming together whenever the town is unfairly criticised. (see images below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ALL ACROSS THE ARTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young musicians shine at Rochdale\u2019s Summer Sizzler music event<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review by Steve Cooke<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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The future of our creative arts is in safe hands as evidenced by more than 220 gifted musicians, including children as young as seven years old, impressing local audiences with their talents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This follows our excellent Rochdale Music Service\u2019s annual Summer Sizzler event held at Middleton Arena, where local schools and children, who have been supported by the service, came together to perform in front of the Mayor of Rochdale and their friends and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the sound of guitars, violins, flutes, trumpets and trombones playing in perfect harmony among many other instruments, participants played a variety of music, from traditional rock to classical ensembles, throughout the day during three separate concerts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some, this was their very first live musical performance as they played in small bands and a mass orchestra alongside pupils from different schools in the borough who they may otherwise have never met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To tie in with the upcoming season, all of the music was summer themed, with special arrangements put together so that children, who have only just started playing and know a few notes, could still join in alongside more seasoned performers. Inclusivity like this is what widens the reach of the positive effects of participation in the creative arts and inspires the elite performers of the future<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This included Rochdale Music Service\u2019s very own innovative playful take on \u2018The 12 Days of Christmas\u2019, which had been reworded as ‘The 12 Days of Summer’ so participants could count down in song to items such as six inflatable dolphins and five rubber rings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Councillor Rachel Massey, cabinet member for children\u2019s services and education at Rochdale Borough Council, said: \u201cThe annual Summer Sizzler event is an amazing opportunity for our children and young people to be a part of as they perform on stage and develop their abilities as talented musicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt brings people of all ages together to show off their fantastic skills, and it is a wonderful acknowledgement of the teaching they receive from the council\u2019s very own Rochdale Music Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur borough is incredibly gifted and on the music scene, it has been the birthplace to many famous hits including Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark\u2019s (OMD), debut single “Electricity\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, if anyone has been inspired to pick up an instrument or hit those high notes with their voice, I encourage you all to get in touch with Rochdale Music Service today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rochdale Music Service provides a range of lessons to support people of all ages to improve their musical skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From teaching people how to sing and play instruments like the drums, piano or even the xylophone, there are lots of opportunities available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service also provides a variety of choirs and ensembles to take part in alongside music theory lessons for those wishing to elevate their understanding of music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who would like more information on what Rochdale Music Service has to offer, can visit: www.rochdale.gov.uk\/rochdale-music-service<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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More main stage acts announced <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ROCHDALE FEEL GOOD FESTIVAL <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preview by Steve Cooke<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s great to see local talent getting opportunities with Two new Rochdale bands playing the biggest gig of their careers this summer after being added to the line-up for Rochdale Feel Good Festival.<\/strong> House-pop, funk and indie disco four-piece K-ESTATE <\/strong>and rock band METRO<\/strong> will take to the main stage on Saturday 8 August.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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K ESTATE<\/strong> (left),<\/strong> formed last year in Middleton, are described as a modern crossover between Happy Mondays and Jungle, playing euphoric, groove driven tracks that mix dance, house and electronic funk. They\u2019ve already played a host of live shows, including support slots with Inspiral Carpets and have a busy summer ahead including slots at Kendal Calling, Lakefest and this home debut. The band were selected for the Rochdale line-up by London based international music agency Free Trade, after festival organiser Rochdale Development Agency put forward artists who appeared on the recent \u2018Rochdale Music Stories presents Kenion Street\u2019 album. Released this year, it celebrated the borough\u2019s musical legacy, with local bands playing classic tracks by world renowned artists who recorded at the iconic studios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five-piece band rock band METRO <\/strong>will open the main stage. They also formed in 2025 but are rapidly rising.  In March they made the final of the Greater Manchester and Blackburn with Darwen Music Hub Battle of the Bands Competition, representing Rochdale.  Their style is influenced by a range of acts including The Foofighters and Deftones and they are heading to the recording studio in September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

K-ESTATE and METRO w<\/strong>ill be joined at Rochdale Feel Good Festival by the previously announced headliners – pop\/soul icon Gabrielle, rock band Ash, and Starsailor, alongside soul and funk pioneers The Allergies, and Manchester indie artist Alex Spencer, together with live music across indoor venues, a food and drink village and other entertainment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While early bird and phase 2 tickets are sold out, you can get discounted tickets (\u00a330 + 7.5% booking fee) from rochdale.gov.uk\/FeelGoodFestival<\/a> or phone QuayTickets on 0161 876 2015.  VIP upgrade packages are also available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bi-annual festival is organised by Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council. Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation said: \u201cWe\u2019ve got some extraordinarily talented and creative musicians in the borough so it\u2019s great to see more local acts on the main stage at Rochdale Feel Good Festival, which has always provided a great platform for the borough\u2019s talent. I\u2019m very proud and looking forward to seeing them both on stage and supporting them on their musical journey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival is supported by the council together with sponsorship from local businesses, including Premier Kia, The Royal Toby Hotel, Hopwood Hall College and Transport for Greater Manchester. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, to cut single use plastic, tickets include a re-usable drink cup to be collected upon arrival at the festival site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The night before the festival (Friday 7 August) synth-pop icons Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD)<\/em> are performing a headline show at Rochdale Town Hall Squar<\/strong>e alongside post-punk legends Peter Hook & The Ligh<\/strong>t, and Manchester\u2019s post-punk\/funk band – A Certain Ratio.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For festival updates on Facebook go to www.facebook.com\/feelgoodfestival<\/a> follow @RochdaleFeelGoodFestival on Instagram and connect with @FeelGoodFest on X. On all social media search #FeelGoodFest26<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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A Melodious TLC Concert<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

JASMINE AI HIGGS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review by Dr Joe Dawson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This melodious Toad Lane Concert at St Mary in the Baum<\/strong> was the 1,190th since taking over from Rochdale council in 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n

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PHOTO<\/strong> Jasmine Ai Higgs<\/strong> recently completed her master\u2019s at the RNCM, where she also completed her undergraduate studies. She is a lyric soprano who performs a range of operatic and recital repertoire and is currently preparing the role of the Shepherd Boy in Tosca, in which she will also perform as a chorus member on tour with Flat Pack Opera. She works regularly as an ensemble singer and collaborative performer and has also worked with Streetwise Opera and participated in community opera projects with Glyndebourne, where she was awarded the inaugural Bill Weston Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Logan Ferris <\/strong>is in his final year reading music at the University of Manchester reading music. He is a first-study organist, and in his second year was awarded the Procter-Gregg Prize for organ performance. Gaining a distinction in his ARSM Piano Performance Diploma whilst still at secondary school, Logan\u2019s current work finds him in demand as a recitalist and collaborative pianist, accompanying and directing a wide range of groups from community choirs, professional soloists and ensembles and operatic and musical theatre productions. Logan is currently sub-organist at Bolton Parish Church and an organist for the BBC R4 Daily Service and to the University of Manchester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This accomplished pair of musicians, on the first steps of their promising careers, gave an enthusiastic and varied recital. With her exuberant personality, Jasmine quickly captured the hearts of the audience. She revelled in her theme, \u2018Love me from Head to Toe\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting with the head meant Rodgers and Hammerstein<\/strong> – I\u2019m gonna wash that man right outta my hair, from South Pacific<\/strong>. This set the mood well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the songs were more serious \u2018Art songs\u2019 where she could demonstrate her technical and musical polish such as Vaughan Williams – Silent Noon. She also sang successfully in French and Italian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To finish her theme, we had a beautiful setting of How Beautiful Are The Feet by Julia Perry.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Logan\u2019s accompaniments were excellent \u2026 and then we had a terrific encore by contemporary composer Jonathan Dove.<\/em> Wow! That really set the place alight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Queen\u2019s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed church of St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is \u00a36. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.<\/p>\n\n\n

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St. Chad\u2019s Church  Rochdale<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KELL WIND TRIO CONCERT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preview by Steve Cooke<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The next in the wonderful Saturday Lunchtime concert series <\/strong>in the stunning St Chad\u2019s Church<\/strong> features The Kell Wind Trio.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it was founded in 2015, The Kell Wind Trio has gained a reputation for giving lively and informative concerts which include accessible music of many different styles and genres \u2013 from music of the Baroque to accessible music from the 20th and 21st centuries.  Based in South Manchester, it has performed over 100 concerts throughout the North and the Midlands at venues including Shrewsbury, Doncaster, Preston, Chesterfield and Southport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kell Wind Trio is named after the pioneering English instrumentalist Reginald Kell, who was the first clarinettist to use vibrato in orchestral concerts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kell Wind Trio are Alastair Roberts (flute), Penelope Bisby (clarinet) standing in for this concert and Ian Harvey (bassoon).(see photograph below)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alastair Roberts plays principal flute with a number of orchestras in the Manchester area including the Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra and the Cheshire Sinfonia.  He is a member of several chamber groups that perform regularly throughout the North West of England including the Telemann Baroque Ensemble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penelope Bisby studied at the RNCM and has worked freelance, teaching woodwind instruments and playing with such orchestras as Manchester Camerata, English National Ballet, Orchestra da Camera and various shows and musicals in Manchester and elsewhere. She has also performed in solo and chamber music recitals in the north and toured for the dementia charity Lost Chord, giving concerts in care homes. More recently she has become more active as a viola player, in, amongst others, Cheshire Sinfonia, the Silhouette Band, Morecambe Promenade Orchestra, and Academy of St Peters. She also enjoys choral singing and aims to sing at every English Cathedral(25 \/42 so far!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ian Harvey was a Junior Exhibitioner at London\u2019s Royal Academy of Music. His musical commitments include the position of principal bassoon with the Stockport Symphony Orchestra.  He runs his own business repairing woodwind instruments.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Divertimento in Bb (\u201cSt. Anthony\u201d) Hob11:46 Haydn (Allegro con spirito \u2013 Andante \u2013 Menuetto – Allegretto)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le Petit Ane Blanc Ibert Suite for Wind Trio                                      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shostakovich (Moderato \u2013 Romance \u2013 Waltz – Galop)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three Scottish Dances Op.59 Arnold (Vivace \u2013 Allegretto \u2013 Pesante)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wind and Sea   Parry Jones (Allegro giocoso \u2013 Andante \u2013 Vivace)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concert starts 12 noon – \u00a36, pay on the door<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Light refreshments available from 11.30 am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further info: phone 01706 639162   Email jm_stchadschurch@outlook.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

12 noon on Saturday 11 July in St. Chad\u2019s Church  Rochdale<\/p>\n\n\n

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LENDANEAR to sounds from a geodynamic laboratory<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

take sidetracks & detours To The Centre Of A Volcano<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

with Norman Warwic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Welcome to the launch of a new series, LENDANEAR, beginning officially in September, of all the songwriters, cover versions and sounds of a life in music. As this episode, although all about sounds, is not properly musical, we offer this as a stand alone and hope that you will enjoy the new series later in the<\/em><\/strong> year.<\/p>\n\n\n

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They are one of Lanzarote\u00b4s most visited sites, and when stepping inside The Cueva de los Verdes<\/strong> (right)<\/strong> feels more like being a time traveller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You will make a Journey To The Centre Of The Earth<\/strong>.(left<\/strong>) Your tour guide might sound like the book\u00b4s author, Jules Verne<\/strong>, as he or she reels off some incredible facts and statistics. As you  walk into the planet\u00b4s interior, you will be surrounded by vast, solidified lava flows that, around 23,000 years ago, were rivers of fire carving through an apocalyptic landscape.. Part of an eight kilometre gallery, the cave opens to reveal soaring vaults up to fifty metres high, and subterranean lagoons alongside the narrow passages descending to forty metres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The area is recognised for its enormous geological value but only one kilometre is accessible to the public. In 1964 Jesus Sot<\/strong> (right), a close collaborator with the artist and visionary, Cesar Manrique<\/strong>, designed the lighting and ambient sound, ensuring the natural environment remained undisturbed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When visitors walk through, the rock\u00b4s molten textures appear as almost sculpted, and the walls reveal a vibrant mineral palette. deep reds from iron oxide, yellows from phosphates, whites from calcium carbonate, and the stark black of lava and basa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The cave\u00b4s name is said to have come from a local family, the Verdes<\/strong>, who once used it to shelter livestock.  Long before that the place served as a refuge for islanders fleeing from Barbary Pirate raids in the 16th<\/sup> and 17th<\/sup> centuries<\/strong>. It lies within the same volcanic tube that extends down to the Jameos Del Agua<\/strong>, a similarly spectacular  spot but perhaps with even more grandeur. Both sites are in the municipality of Haria<\/strong> abd are designated as Centres for Arts, Culture and Tourism (CACT),<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond its enormous geological value, Cueva de Verdes<\/strong> is a world-class cultural venue, with a natural ventilatation and extraordinary acoustics. This creates an intimate auditorium  which hosts international  artists as part of the CACT and governmental cultural programmes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tucked away beside the auditorium, hidden from view, sits one of the three modules of the Lanzarote Geodynamic Laboratory<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n

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The other modules are located  on Timanfaya<\/strong>, the island\u00b4s eerie, but beautiful, shadow-shifting volcanic mountain range.  (see left, a crater on Tienfaya, where the last eruptions occurred in the 18th century)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Another module is  at Jameos Del Agua<\/strong>, which also features a magnificent theatre , designed and built by the island\u00b4s favourite artist, the late Cesar Manrique.  For more information, and photographs, about Jameos Del Agua you can turn to our easy to navigate srchives tapping the date of 28th<\/sup> June 2026<\/strong> to find that episode of sidetracks & detours<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Watching an event from a seat in a lava tube, deep underground is surreal. The roaming lights that illuminate the rock roof, and the natural acoustics that enhance music and even spoken word are incredible. In the article we have recommended we review a civic awards ceremony sandwiched between two wonderful music acts, just one of a score and more concerts we have seen in this unique venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet this is the place in which sensitive instruments  monitor the island\u00b4s subterranean life (24 \/ 7 \/ 365),<\/strong> tracking ground deformation, tremors, gravity shifts and changes in pressure and temperature that could signal seismic activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jameos Del Agua<\/strong> marks the end of the system\u00b4s overland section, but the tube continues a further 1.6 kilometres beneath the sea at a depth of 65 metres, forming The Tunel de la Atlantida<\/strong>. This geological and bioligal treasure  offers scientific research a rare, and clear, window into an undisturbed eco-system that is home to at least 38 endemic species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SIDETRACKS & DETOURS SUNDAY JULY 12th<\/sup> 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lendanear to Songs Of Old King Coal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SIDETRACKS & DETOURS SUNDAY JULY 19th<\/sup> 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working In A Coal Mine with Lee Dorsey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIDETRACKS & DETOURS SUNDAY JULY 26th<\/sup>  2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

jazz and classical music explore themes of unity and social progress<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

featurng<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wynton Marsalis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIDETRACKS& DETOURS SUNDAY AUGUST 2nd<\/sup> 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Songwriters & Invisible Angels chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

by Peter Pearson and Norman Warwick<\/p>\n\n\n\n

featuring<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kate Wolf and Julie Matthews<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIDETRACKS & DETOURS SUNDAY 9th<\/sup> AUGUST<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a year as poet laureate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

featuring<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b4\u00b4Sammy Weaver<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIDETRACKS & DETOURS SUNDAY 16th<\/sup> AUGUST 2nd<\/sup> 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael:<\/em> a film about art for arts\u00b4sake ?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIDETRACKS & DETOURS SUNDAY 23rd<\/sup> august 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddy Mondlock is a songwriter !<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIDETRACKS & DETOURS SUNDAY 30th<\/sup> AUGUST 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Too Darn Hot: live jazz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIDETRACKS & DETOURS SUNDAY 6th<\/sup> SEPTEMBER 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canary Cruising,\u2026cool<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIDETRACKS & DETOURS SUNDAY 13th<\/sup> SEPTEMBER 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

secretly recorded live gigs legitimised on line?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIDETRACKS & DETOURS SUNDAY 20th<\/sup> SEPTEMBER 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waiting For Godot and Music At Lunchtomes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIDETRACKS & DETOURS SUNDAY 27th<\/sup> SEPTEMBER 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

r.i.p. David Alan Coe, songwriter and unreliable narrator<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chris Maume, in his review of the programme for The Independent reminded us that On the Home Service in the Fifties and Sixties, Ewan MacColl (left) and Charles Parker put together a series of “Radio Ballads” in which different communities were portrayed through interviews and the songs inspired by them. Over the past few years […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25841,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25817"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25817\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27047,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25817\/revisions\/27047"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25841"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}