November 5th, 2007
RTE’s Arts Show and John Kelly
After Mike Murphy’s afternoon Arts Show, then Rattlebag, followed by The Eleventh Hour, the latest installment in RTE’s Arts review coverage - after last year’s upheaval - starts tonight at 8pm on Radio 1. The Arts Show, presented by Vincent Woods will not have to face scheduling hell and the graveyard shift that its immediate predecessor did. With so few outlets for the arts on Irish radio (notable exceptions include The Kiosk presented by Nadine and Newstalk’s Cultureshock), it’s a welcome niche to hear about film, music, books and theatre.
Coming up on tonight’s show, translator Sandra Smith discusses the life and work of Irène Némirovsky, author of Suite Francaise and Fire in the Blood, who died at the hands of the Nazis in Auschwitz in 1942. Also on the show is the first instalment of a mini-series called Pageturners and tonight author Robert Harris talks about his favourite book, Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell.
After various discussions on this blog about Irish women writers, there’s a weekly series on the show about same called Irish Voices every Tuesday. First up (tomorrow) sees playwright Melissa Murray and poet Katie Donovan discuss the novels of Kate O’Brien. Next week it’s Maria Edgeworth and on Tuesday November 20th Mary Lavin will be under scrutiny.
This Wednesday (7th), the theme of the show is “The Road” and John Kelly of the JK Ensemble and the late, great Mystery Train (R.I.P.) pokes around his record collection for road music. Speaking of Monsieur Kelly, The JK Ensemble is a show I try not to miss and is easily the best thing on the radio in the afternoon. Where else can you hear Chequerboard, Amiina and Juana Molina alongside Shostakovich, jazz and Sámi joik singing? I know I’m not alone in thinking that he is wasted in such a slot. Given that the return of Arts Show is something of a u-turn, would it be so wrong to restore John to his rightful position sometime in the early evening or at night? And on Radio 1?
Until then, I live in hope. If you’re not averse to having your ears opened by all sorts of eclectic and classical music, do yourself a favour and tune in to John on Monday to Friday from 2.30pm-4.30pm on Lyric.
November 5th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Amen to putting John Kelly back on RTE 1. I try and listen to his lyric show online but it’s a bit awkward what with being in work. Yeah, you can listen back online but I forget a lot of the time, which is a real shame. I look through his playlists but it’s not the same as hearing recommendations from the good man himself. That 8 or 9 slot he had for mystery train was perfect. Bring it back!
November 5th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
I think it’s an absolute disgrace that my two favourite radio presenters - john kelly and donal dineen - seem to be getting slowly demoted from our airwaves.
there is very little to listen to on Irish radio. what phantom call alternative is playlisted guitar teen pop and everything else is just adverts with occasional music.
it’s a joy to listen to a DJ who takes risks. A john coltrane piece followed by a jim o’rourke track and then on to an abstract electronic piece (heard whilst listening to the JK ensemble recently) is perfect radio as far as I’m concerned.
November 6th, 2007 at 12:26 am
Both radio and TV could do with much more sustained arts input, and RTE has been lax in this matter. I think blogs like Sigla could try to mobilise an informed public opinion to lobby for more arts coverage. How about you and others carrying interviews with artists, writers, musicians, impresarios and other concerned professionals to highlight the issue, Sinead?
November 6th, 2007 at 6:07 am
Dave - sounds like a Facebook group someone should start.
I think the shows are only archived for a week, which is a shame, but the playlists are indeed a mine of information.
I listened to the Arts show last night and really enjoyed it. Imagine if if was followed by JK at 9pm? That’d be my idea of a decent night’s radio…
Steve, John and Donal are something of a metaphor for the marginalisation of a real alternative in music radio (just as the Arts in general is marginalised across most of our radio stations). Cian’s An Taobh Tuathail show on RnG goes out ridiculously late, and Jim Carroll’s excellent show on Phantom should be on midweek at 8pm like their other specialist shows, not relegated to 10pm on a Saturday night when most of Phantom’s demographic listeners are out on the razz.
Garreth, a great idea re lobbying. The views of one humble blogger might not mean much in the big scheme of things, but maybe if others got involved it might create enough momentum to make a difference.
Re: interviews - I try to post the odd interview, but as blogging is in itself an altruistic, voluntary act, it’s hard to find the time. Especially when all the other writing I do is my bread and butter so to speak.
However Garreth, watch this space this week for something I’m launching on the blog that might be of interest to you…
November 6th, 2007 at 8:34 am
I’m mightily heartened by this RTE U-turn. Sounds like the show has a fairly decent and broad remit too. Will be tuned in tonight.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:39 am
John, Donal, Shane Galvin, Paul McDermott, Karen Murphy, and Jim Carroll - all great radio shows. John Kelly consistently pushes the boundaries of what is acceptable on Lyric FM, and his show is all the better for it. I love his show, and it’s eclectic nature. John has managed to stay a few steps ahead of the game throughout his career, and always maintained his integrity. It’s high time RTE caught up with him and realised the potential in this man. How could they have forgotten!? His JK Ensemble show is a goldmine for dedicated listeners, moving him to a beeter slot will only increase this number of fans. There are too many many people stuck at work with no access to his show at present. Evening slot please!
November 14th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
They’ve been pushing us out later and later but maybe it’s an indication that modern Ireland isn’t really that interested in John Coltrane or Burial or Ricardo Villalobos?
That’s not entirely true of course. There is a small and dedicated minority passionate about good music but radio programmers naturally have to put commerce before art to remain competitive.
Soon it won’t matter what time any of us are on if music podcasts get the go-ahead. Indeed, we already have a facility on the RnaG website whereby listeners can listen to An Taobh Tuathail half an hour after the show has aired. Links stay up for a week.