Folk on Foot
Top folk musicians walking, talking, singing and playing in the landscapes that inspire them
Matthew Bannister
Show overview
Folk on Foot has been publishing since 2018, and across the 8 years since has built a catalogue of 136 episodes, alongside 25 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 130 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence, with the show now in its 6th season.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 49 min and 59 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Music show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed earlier today, with 21 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 23 episodes published. Published by Matthew Bannister.
From the publisher
“Modest people, playing gorgeous music, speaking articulately about areas they love. Fabulously calming” – one listener’s description of this multi-award-winning podcast in which Matthew Bannister goes walking with top folk musicians in the landscapes that have inspired them. “A restorative breathing space in sound” – The Telegraph. “Immaculately produced” – The Times Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest Episodes
View all 136 episodesFolk on Foot Classic: Martin Simpson in Scunthorpe
Jenn Butterworth at Whithorn
Official Folk Albums Chart Show—4th August 2026
Folk on Foot Classic: Cara Dillon in Dungiven
Rob Cowen and Johnny Flynn at Thornborough Henges
Folk on Foot Classic: Jon Boden in the Loxley Valley
Joshua Burnside in East Belfast
Official Folk Albums Chart Show—2nd June 2026
Folk on Foot Classic: Angeline Morrison in North Cornwall
A Robin Hood Pilgrimage with Guy Hayward
Official Folk Albums Chart Show—5th May 2026
Simon Nicol in conversation at Cecil Sharp House
The Young’Uns at Roseberry Topping
Folk Album of the Year Award Gala: Highlights
Official Folk Albums Chart Show—7th April 2026
S6 Ep 217Folk on Foot Classic: Olivia Chaney at the House on Hawnby Moor
bonusEnjoy this classic episode from September 2021. Olivia Chaney wrote many of the songs for her critically acclaimed second solo album whilst living alone without electricity or mains water at her family’s remote and crumbling farmhouse on Hawnby Moor in North Yorkshire. On a hot summer’s day, she takes Matthew Bannister back across the Moor, singing and playing along the way, circled by curlews and lapwings, to share the atmospheric isolation that brought her inspiration.---We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfootOr just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfootSign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.comFollow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot---Find out more about Olivia at https://www.oliviachaney.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 Ep 216Lady Maisery in Petworth Park
We’ve been trying to get Lady Maisery to walk with us on Folk on Foot for ages, so when Matthew heard they were playing a gig in the town of Petworth near where he lives in West Sussex, he invited them to join him in the spacious grounds of Petworth House. With the stately home and the Capability Brown designed landscape in the background, Hazel Askew, Hannah James and Rowan Rheingans brought harp, accordion, fiddle and banjo and added their soaring vocal harmonies. A fascinating insight into the talented musicians who make up one of our finest folk trios.---We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfootOr just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfootSign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.comFollow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot---Find out more about Lady Maisery at https://www.ladymaisery.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 Ep 215Official Folk Albums Chart Show—3rd March 2026
bonusThis month’s show features music from Madra Salach, Ye Vagabonds, Tessa Rose Jackson, Rant, Eliza Marshall, Seth Lakeman and Miniseries. Lucy Shields has the album and gig news and Matthew announces the next episode of Folk on Foot.---We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfootOr just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfootSign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.comFollow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot---Subscribe to the Folk Forecast to explore all the gigs and album news we ran through in the show: https://thefolkforecast.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 Ep 214Folk on Foot Classic: Sandra Kerr (and Nancy Kerr) in Warkworth
bonusEnjoy this classic episode from January 2024.The beloved baggy cloth cat Bagpuss is fifty years old in 2024. We celebrate his birthday by visiting Sandra Kerr at her home in the Northumberland village of Warkworth. Sandra co-wrote and arranged the music for the series and provided some of the voices. In her cosy music room she shows us her Bagpuss souvenirs, reflects on the show’s enduring appeal and sings one of the songs. Then, on a walk along the River Coquet, Sandra looks back to the folk revival of the 1960s, recalling working as a nanny for Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in exchange for music lessons. Finally, she’s joined by her daughter Nancy Kerr to play traditional Northumbrian dance tunes. A warm, fascinating and entertaining meeting with one of the enduring stars of the folk world.---We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfootOr just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfootSign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.comFollow us on Bluesky/Facebook/Instagram: @folkonfoot---Find out more about Sandra at https://www.sandrakerr.net/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S6 Ep 213The Brothers Gillespie walking to Holy Island
Join the Brothers Gillespie and their devoted fans on a walk across the sands from the Northumberland coast to Holy Island. As we follow in the footsteps of centuries of pilgrims, the Brothers' beautiful harmonies ring out across the waves and we hear stories of Saints Cuthbert and Aiden and King Oswald’s miraculous silver encased arm.---We rely on support from our listeners to keep this show on the road. If you like what we do please either...Become a member and get great rewards: patreon.com/folkonfootOr just buy us a coffee: ko-fi.com/folkonfootSign up for our newsletter at www.folkonfoot.comFollow us on Facebook/Instagram/Bluesky: @folkonfoot---Find out more about the Brothers Gillespie at https://thebrothersgillespie.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.