May 31st, 2006
The departure of Rattlebag and The Mystery Train
A combination of working in town and being away for a wedding have kept me away from blogging, but That Girl asked what I thought of the recent RTE schedule changes so I’ll do my best to respond in the time I have for lunch.
Anyone would assume that as I’m a regular Rattlebag contributor, that I’m understandably disappointed in the show coming to the end. I am. But not for work reasons. I’ve been listening to the show a lot longer than I’ve been contributing to it. As a listener, I think the daytime schedule will be poorer for its absence. People can, and do, gripe about arts coverage in Ireland, accusing it of pretension. The Arts Show, Rattlebag’s predecessor under Mike Murphy had a far loftier air but it carved out a steady and appreciative audience, which the far more accessible Rattlebag has embraced and built on. I’ve also seen firsthand how a relatively small production team under Nuala O’Neill put together such a high-quality show, and all the hard work that goes in to each segment.
Arts coverage is important for a number of reasons. Mostly, it is to inform about cultural events, alongside the remit of news and current affairs. It provides a window on to music, poetry, writing, theatre, visual art, dance and film. Even as someone who is fairly well-informed about music, film and books, I’ve regularly been introduced to an act or writer I might never have known about because of a Rattlebag item. Similarly, I’ve been stopped in my tracks by a hard-to-find piece of music on The Mystery Train that John Kelly has unearthed to share with the listener.
More important than what Rattlebag provides the listener, is its position as a valuable resource to artists, poets and performers, as Denis O’Driscoll pointed out in his letter in yesterday’s Irish Times. What of all the independent publishers, production companies and record labels who rely on an outlet like Rattlebag to introduce new (and often niche) talent to a wider audience? What will authors like Ailbhe Keogan, whose debut novel has just been published by Hag’s Head or eclectic music acts like The Dublin Guitar Quartet or Si Schroeder who have been afforded time on the show recently, do in the future?
As part of this shake-up, the departure of John Kelly’s Mystery Train is an equally inexplicable loss. Where else on the Irish airwaves can you hear 1920s blues, Motown, contemporary electronica, bluegrass, jazz, world music, funk, dance and so many other banners of music represented in one show? Thankfully John, who is an excellent, knowledgable broadcaster (and a very nice guy) will still be presenting The View. On last night’s show, I was delighted to see Susan McKay make the point not once, but twice, about what a bad decision it is to axe his radio show.
We’ll never know if the decision was prompted by the arrival of Newstalk’s quasi-national licence, but perhaps RTE is experimenting with a view to addressing the arts in other ways. New shows with a different approach or tone might be in the pipeline, but Rattlebag and The Mystery Train might just go the route of No Disco, a show that was another valuable vehicle for upcoming Irish acts and was never been replaced with an alternative. In the meantime, some enterprising soul has even started a Save Rattlebag Myspace page.
I, and other listeners of both shows, live in hope that RTE will do something to reaffirm its motto of “RTE supporting the Arts”.
Ending on an up note, one very welcome (and well-deserved change) is Rick O’Shea’s move to a three-hour slot at 6pm on 2FM. In his old slot, I’m sure Rick had a certain amount of playlist obligation but always managed to pepper his musical choices with some obscure stuff. Congrats Rick.
May 31st, 2006 at 1:19 pm
Any ideas if John Kelly is due to resurface elsewhere on the airwaves? I was also a big fan of Mystery Train.
May 31st, 2006 at 2:19 pm
Must say, I listen to rattlebag a lot, and have taken to listening to it online. The Mystery Train gone? perhaps john kelly will open up an online radio station where his record collection is just played in some kind of rotation, i.e. send me John Kelly’s Pandora profile on a plate please !
May 31st, 2006 at 7:25 pm
Thanks Sinead
I was a listener to both Rattlebag and Mystery Train too…
Yes (I presume!) my new show will have some playlist obligations but there will always be the peppering
R
May 31st, 2006 at 8:11 pm
I’m disgusted on both counts. Heard a lot about it over the weekend in Dublin, and none of it was cheering. Just back in NY now but will be posting about this when I wake up again.
May 31st, 2006 at 8:28 pm
I agree 100% Sinead. As someone who spends too much time workin and driving around the country with a broken tape deck and a shite exaust, i’m gutted radio eireann has axed their two best shows. Whats the replacement? Mooney goes Mental?
June 2nd, 2006 at 8:15 am
A sad sad day for Irish radio, Rattlebag and the Mystery Train to be axed.
June 3rd, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Very depressing news.I’ve only recently been introduce to Rattlebag and I try to catch it whenever I can.Whats to replace it,the same oul shite thats on any middle of the road radio station? So much for public service broadcasting.I’m sure John Kelly will find an outlet for his eclectic musical tastes.Maybe one of RTE’s competitors will take a chance on him.Kudos to anyone who does.
June 4th, 2006 at 2:48 am
Wall-to-wall pop muzack seems to dominate lot of local and national radio, so there’s a crying need for cerebral, entertaining and informative programmes like Rattlebag and Mystery Train. I gave away my Grundig telly to the SVP two years ago and hope to rely on radio for news, intelligent discussion and the arts when I soon return from abroad.
June 6th, 2006 at 10:15 am
There are times when RTE can literally make you weep with frustration and this is certainly one of them.
It amazes me how a land who markets is self on its culture and cultural awareness can deem it in any way right or sensible to ax its arts radio coverage (oh yeah apart for a 11pm slot)and get rid of a man as passionate and knowledgeable as Mr Kelly. And to be replaced by what? More inane chatter about reality TV programmes, celebrity love lives and love handles no doubt and a repetitive score of 10 ten hits played by a computer hooked up to sales figures.
June 6th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
I snet an email to rte and all i got was a “Thanks for your interest” reply from Ana Leddy.
I am listening to rattlebag at the moment and he is doing a feature on punk rock - tomorrow, yesterday was a novelist, tomorrow it could be poetry its just a brilliant “must listen to ” programme and this new one comes in and just shafts it.To think that we have to listen to another 15 mins of Hello joe, where every whinger in Ireland has their moment of fame ( “good on ya Jem I heard ya on the wireless you put them in their place”)and then listen to birds eggs being hatched for 2 hours - i mean the guy couldnt even give away money properly.
Radio 4 hear I come.
June 8th, 2006 at 3:47 pm
The Irish taxpayer(license payer) already provides an entire radio station for the Arts.
That station is Lyric FM.
Count your blessings Arts. Some chance.
June 17th, 2006 at 11:01 pm
Thanks for all the positive comments on the petition and please spread the word. Delighted that some of my heroes like Donal Lunny, Ferdia MacAnna, Seamus Deane and Hughie ‘O Donoghue have signed up. Let’s push it up over the thousand mark this weekend,
Beir Bua,
Seán
June 20th, 2006 at 8:28 pm
I’m quite speechless. This is the first I’ve heard that Rattlebag is to be cut. I hope I regain my balance before tomorrow when Miles is interviewing me and my colleaugues in the RTE Vanbrugh Quartet on the show in a play/chat slot. We are supposed to chat nicely about our new CD which is an RTE/Lyric FM idea. The CD is a dumbing down effort of under 5 minute sweeteners, and we are told we have to play such soundbites as first half of our concerts in the future in an attempt to increase ratings. I feel sick.
Keith
July 1st, 2006 at 8:21 pm
Where else would you get the virtuoso guitar playing of Tommy Emmanuel side by side with chats with Christopher Lee, snippets of poetry and fascinating cahracters that eat the miles up when you are on the road. Shame on RTE for dumping this gem for what will probably turn out to be more bland housewives’/husbands’ choice.
July 5th, 2006 at 8:31 pm
I’m devastated at the loss of the Mystery Train - nowhere would you hear such an eclectic and original mix of music; through John Kelly’s presentation I’ve got to know and love artistes I’d otherwise never hear.
As for Rattlebag, though most previous Arts programmes have left me cold, Rattlebag was very down-to-earth and entertaining - an Arts Programme for the man-on-the-street; and what about those public interviews? - Sheer brilliance and and unparallelled entertainment; Myles Dungan came across as someone who enjoyed his job; he also knew how to let his guests carry the conversation with minimal interference - Tom McGurk and Derek Davis please take note!