Last week I shared a train ride back to the Holy City from sunlit Edinburgh with the great, Patrick Doyle. Continuing my interrogation after the radio cross-examination we got talking about the thing which we both share in common – our love of the song – he told me a great story which, if it’s not true, certainly should be. Steven Spielberg phones up Irving Berlin and asks to use a particular song he’s heard was languishing in Berlin’s cellar. ‘No,’ came the curt reply from the 99 year old song writer, ‘ I have plans for that song!’

I can still hear Pat choking on the laughter as he dropped the punchline somewhere near Falkirk High. We were oblivious to the odd looks we were getting from our fellow travellers……’Can you imagine?’ Pat went on, ‘Plans! Plans….at ninety nine?!’

The thing is we do this stuff because we want to do it and nothing will really stop us because…….well because we’ve always got plans. It’s apt thinking about the genius of Berlin and Mr Doyle himself as I remember a promise I made some time back to play you a song from Punch Brothers on vinyl from Phosphorescent Blues. There’s no reason to play the song other than to celebrate people who have no interest in anything other than making brilliant music. It’s genius and we will delight in playing it out to you. (and is the only song I know which contains the noun ‘thurible.’ in the lyric. For that alone – full marks Punch Boys.

I had a great listening day last week and I can’t remember how it happened other that I got to know some wonderful new artists. I’m delighted to bring some of them to the wireless this Tuesday. Look out for my new favourite Jenn Grant as the AC once more comes late to the Canadian party. It’s Jenn’s 5th album but she’s a new name to us and I think you will rather enjoy our opening selection from her new Compostela album. Ron Sexsmith appears on the record and we realise we are way overdue in playing you something from his new record, Carousel One.

We’re delighted to say Woodenbox are back with a fine new single and we’ll have some dates to tell you about too. We’re delighted too that fellow Scottish artist Robin Adams has a new album out and we’ll give you a good reason to get hold of that too.

If this is not enough we have some fine old songs by some familiar names that, frankly, we just can’t reveal now for fear your excitement reaches fever pitch. Did we tell you that Josh ……no….forget it, I’ll tell you on Tuesday night. We’re on from 9 on BBC Radio Scotland.

Unexpectedly I found myself spending my Sunday in a an old familiar part of London just round the corner from Oxford Circus. The London Palladium is a fine old theatre taking pride of place on one of the capital’s shortest arteries, Argyle Street.

I’ve probably passed it more often than been present but, from memory, have spent a few nights there. One of the last times was when I coaxed my youngest child (a boy of 6) to enjoy a night at ‘The Sound of Music’ with the rest of the family. He was a little sceptical about how much he’d enjoy it. ‘Don’t worry,’ I offered,’ There are are soldiers in this show.’ I knew it had been too much importance placed on it when, deep into the musical and not a uniform had darkened the stage and just as Mother Superior was at the height of her aria, ‘Climb Every Mountain’ a low, young voice from row F moaned…’When are the soldiers coming on?’

It’s a playhouse that, in my experience, seems to lend itself to unexpected audience participation. The previous time we’d tried to inflict a musical on the boy he’d been 2 and had found the appearance of the car in ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ just too exciting. When he wouldn’t be quiet my wife was forced to take him home for an early bath. Years earlier I’d made my first visit to the palace of variety to see one of my favourite artists for the very first time. Randy Newman’s gig was going well until just before ‘Rider In The Rain’ when a rather disgruntled metropolitan type got himself into, what can only be described as a ankle. ‘Why don’t you do some new songs?’ he shouted at a bemused Randy. The singer carried on seamlessly and did a complete version of Rider with singalong included. The heckler meantime had got himself in such a fizz that he’d left his seat and stormed out of the stalls swing doors leaving a rather cold draft behind him. Cue Randy: ‘It kinda cracks me up to do this after what that asshole said but…here’s a new song.’

Master of song, master of comedy and master of perfect timing Randy didn’t disappoint me this weekend as I thought about this back-stage in The Palladium and I leafed through the Sundays to discover that he’s coming to Scotland later in the year. It’s time we had a Randy Newman moment on the show and I will play you one and another singer who’s definitely listened to Randy in her lifetime. Look out for a new artist as we play you a new song from Angaleena Presley this week.

We’ll also have some new music from Tom Russell and The Fairfield Four which, it it doesn’t get you in the right mood for Holy Week will certainly stir your soul.

And, if that is not enough, we will welcome our very special guests Lady Antebellum. Recent visitors to Scotland, massively successful and purveyors of great, harmony driven modern-country Lady A are now on their 6th album. There aren’t many ‘groups’ on Music Row but Lady A manage to combine the intimacy of the country voice with a younger audience’s need to feel like their country acts have been listening to some of their own record collections. We caught up with the band before their hugely successful concert at Glasgow’s Armadillo last month. Join us on Tuesday to hear that conversation and a selection of some great music from their current album 747 and much more too. Join us live this Tuesday evening from 9 on BBC Radio Scotland.

On Sunday……..

I’ll be on air this Sunday too when I am excited to tell you my special guest is film composer Patrick Doyle. His CV is so massive that i can’t include it all here but if you’ve seen Carlitto’s Way, Much Ado About Nothing, Brave and now Disney’s latest much-lauded Cinderella you’ll know Pat’s music.

As it is Easter Sunday we will spend some time thinking about heaven with some people who have allowed themselves to read and think creatively on the subject. In case you didn’t know we are on air from 10 this Sunday morning on BBC Radio Scotland.

Yeah, you know the joke but it’s worth remembering as everyone dreads that awful moment in any live set when (hitherto unremarkable) musicians are thrust into the spotlight. It’s fine until the drums do stop and …they take a (bass) solo.

The great records we love have often included some spectacular contributions from these same fairly unknown, but brilliant, musicians. A couple of weeks ago I was talking to Stuart Cosgrove about his excellent Detroit ’67 book. In it he talks about the contribution made by The Funk Brothers to the music coming from the Hitsville Studios. At one point in the story, Berry Gordy stopped a session in LA and recommenced it back in Detroit simply so he could get the attitude and skills of that house band. In Stuart’s book, so successful were the brothers to the sound of Tamla Motown and so ubiquitous were their performances, they began to feel, fairly correctly, that their contribution to the records was being taken for granted.

In  the country film, ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter,’  – stop me if you’ve heard this before – my favourite moment comes when Loretta Lynn’s first recording is delayed by the studio engineer sacking the B team and calling in ‘some real pickers.’

This Tuesday evening we will celebrate one of the great studio players. It is said she played on over 10,000 recordings – many of which have been huge hits – over 55 years. Thinking about it now I guess she didn’t even have time to play a solo but of course there were these hallmark riffs. We’ll be playing you one such gem this Tuesday as we celebrate Carol Kaye’s, not insignificant birthday.

We’ll be playing new records from Brandi Carlile, Tobias Jesso Jnr, The Lone Bellow and a fab new song from our old friend Kacey Musgraves. Is this sounding good? It gets better. We will also have an exclusive AC session by these good people…..

In 2011 The Decemberists leaped forward from their Indy hide away in Portland to become America’s darlings when their album Long Live The King went straight to Number 1 on The Billboard Album Chart. We dreamed then that they might come and visit us but we didn’t quite imagine it would happen. We’re delighted to tell you that on the very day the band were to play their sold out show at The Academy they found the time to record a session with us and I sat down with Colin Meloy and talked about what a beautiful and terrible world we all live in. I think you’ll enjoy it.

Last week we started our year long vinyl celebration of dear Neil Young. We’re keeping it going but not in any logical order. Having started with his first solo album we skip to the 90s this week with a track which harks back to his 60’s roots lyrically and musically – any guesses? You can find out where the needle lands on Tuesday evening from five past eight on BBC Radio Scotland.

On Sunday:

I’ll be hearing from green activist and Guardian writer, George Monbiot as well as talking to Peter Stanford about his excellent biography Judas: The Renegade Apostle.

Don’t forget we’re on air from 10 on Sunday morning and, as always, we will play you some fine music and you can hear us on BBC Radio Scotland.

I was trying to remember some of my more obscure songs this week for a project I have in mind later in the year. (provisionally titled ‘Ricky Bores People With Some Very Obscure Songs,’ but it needs a little tweaking) I was remembering a moment when my old friend Graeme Kelling phoned me to tell me his illness had come back. I was at a soundcheck for a solo show I was doing in the little town of Worcester when the call came in. I can still see the normality of the little shopping mall around me as I took in the news that meant he was now facing that last uphill struggle.

I think of Graeme often. We got closer again as he was in and out of hospital and we spent time talking everything through. People will tell you that he was one of the funniest people they knew and it was true. As I thought about the new shape of the week ahead  I remembered Graeme’s  favourite cartoon was this one:

We’re starting again on Tuesday nights where – from memory – I think we started many years ago. We’re now at a new time but we plan that, time and day aside, we shouldn’t really change very much. In fact we’ve invited some very old friends into the studio to give us a kick-start on our first Tuesday show. The Mavericks (all of them) have just released their new album, ‘Mono’ and thy have recorded a brilliant session which had more people we’ve had in at one time since Woodenbox last came to see us. I chatted to Raul about the making of the album and how the songs came about and you can hear all of this on Tuesday night.

As well as this…we’ll have new music from Steve Earle, The Decembrists, Lewis and Leigh, Gretchen Peters and many more of your favourite AC artists…plus some significant new ones.

Is this Peter Buck in this picture? Is he about to appear on the show again with another artist? Look out for something new featuring the great man on a track by The Minus 5.

We’ll start a year long celebration of a major artist without whom many of us would never have developed our affection for country rock. On the back of his debut elpee (from which we will play a track on vinyl) he wrote:

‘I was chopping down a palm tree when a friend dropped by to ask if I would feel less lonely if he helped swing the axe.’

If you know who that is you are certainly going to enjoy the first of our new Tuesday shows. We start at five past nine on BBC Radio Scotland

I’ll be back on Sunday too when I will spend a good bit of time talking to The Spectator’s own Fraser Nelson. I’ll also be hearing about Archbishop Leo Cushley’s vision for his diocese. This Sunday and from now on  you can now hear me at 10 a.m on BBC Radio Scotland. Join me on both occasions if you can.

The AC audience are an eclectic bunch with healthy catholic taste in music. But occasionally we’ll get a digital upturned eyebrow pointed in our direction based around music we’ve chosen to play. (Sometimes I think we should get more!) If this happens it always revolves around the theme of what country music is and isn’t. That, of course, has never defined what we are as we were always ‘Another’ country – leaving us plenty scope for doing that Neil Young thing of driving the car closer to the ditch than the middle of the road. Neil’s brilliant logic in the 70’s was that he met more interesting people there. We would have to agree with that.

Last week’s C Duncan session drew a rather puzzled tweet from a loyal listener. It made us think too. C Duncan’s music was certainly not country by his, ours or anyone else’s imagination. And yet….The previous night Richard and I had spent an enjoyable night at the Armadillo taking in the Lady Antebellum show where, on many songs, the same accusation could have been made. How ‘country’ is ‘Stardust,’ ‘American Recordings’ or even more controversially some of the solo recordings of Chet Atkins? You can add your own brilliant exceptions to the rules here. When Rab Noakes was with us last year he put it perfectly. When he started Brand New Opry on BBC Radio Scotland he wanted to make a programme for people who imagined they didn’t like country music and include in it the music that clearly had been touched by country music in some way.

People’s interpretation of how this is played out is different, but in my head I still see the song as king and whenever I can I like to think it’s the songs that matter in the two hours we get on air. I’ve always thought of virtuosity as an optional extra and where it appears in the absence of a song it is almost pointless. But give me a song, an authentic voice with a story to impart and leave in the spaces and I’ll buy it every time.

To that end we celebrate a great of country song-writing whose own albums often veer wildly away from the perceived sound of country music. Mickey Newbury was the subject of a conversation we had a few weeks ago with Rodney Crowell. We thought we should play some of his songs and hear his voice too this week.

We’ll have some great new music from Houndmouth, BC Lamplight, Lindsay Lou and The Flatbellys and Blue Rose Code. We’ll play Vinyl, old and new, from My Darling Clementine and George and Tammy. Oh the joy. It’s our last ever Friday evening show as we’re moving to Tuesday evenings from now on. Join us from five past eight on BBC Radio Scotland.

I’m back for a few weeks on Sundays too.

This week my special guest is Stuart Cosgrove who will be talking to me about his comprehensive book about Detroit in 1967. Bringing together the story of modern Soul, The Vietnam War, Civil Rights and the counter culture it’s a month by month comprehensive to a city in its pomp as it begins a process of self destruction.

We’ll find out why Catholics John Ogilvie‘s martyrdom 400 years ago is still important for Scottish Roman Catholics.

Children from the age of 11 are to be taught about sexual consent under new government plans. The government said it wanted to give young people a “better understanding of the society around them” so they could “make informed choices and stay safe”. We’ll be joined by Sue Palmer and Dr Claire Cassidy  to help us understand how we can do this and why we might need it.

A we celebrate Detroit and Mothers Day it gives us a great excuse to play some great music. We’re on air from seven this Sunday morning on BBC Radio Scotland do join us if you can.

Here’s what’s going to happen: I’m going to get shirty. I’ve been quietly ignoring these be-hatted troubadours who want to sing about their trucks and beer then add insult to injury by insinuating that these are the very traits that drive women to distraction. Lads – stop it now, it’s not big and it’s not clever.

I thought about all this as I was listening to Brandy Clark this week. Honest, funny and heartbreaking she really is the real deal. She’ll be a guest soon and I can’t tell you how good that session is going to be…..watch this space for details. We’ll remind you of why Brandy had two nominations at the Grammys recently with a sample from her excellent album, 12 Stories. Not only does she write real songs about real people she’s also responsible for these lines…

So mister, here’s my twenty bucks,

Don’t play no songs about trucks or trailers or tailgates or tractors,

I’m gettin’ drunk, but not in a pasture

This bar stool is right where I’ll stay stuck

Yeah, I’ll have another beer, but I don’t wanna hear,

No songs about trucks.

…..you’ll like this Brandy Clark session when it comes very soon.

If you’ve been following my tweets this week you’ll also know that I’ve been very excited about the first new song from  Alabama Shakes from, what our US cousins like to call, their sophomore album. (I played it three times yesterday!) I defy you not to access the iplayer.

We’ll also have some smashing new things from Houndmouth, Glasgow’s own Martha Healey and look out for our new faves Awna Teixeira and Robin Ickes & Trey Hensley. (crazy names, crazy guys country lovers…)

In amongst these fine records, a smattering of warm crackly old vinyl and significant anniversaries we’ll also sweep the floor to make way for the significant talent that is C Duncan. A graduate of Glasgow’s Royal Conservatoire Christopher studied composition there having mastered piano and viola from an early age. Later on he learned drums, bass and guitar. All those aspects have come together in his debut album which, remarkably, was all recorded in his bedroom. You can get an idea of that record when he previews tracks from the album in our BBC Introducing session this Friday on Another Country.

Before that…..Mr Murdoch and I have collaborated to bring you the Celtic Roots of Country for BBC Radio 2‘s dedicated Country 2 Country pop-up digital station. (You can spin your DAB dial and you’ll see Radio 2C) From 11p.m. this Thursday, 5th March, you can hear why Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Doc Watson, Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings …oh…..and my old dear pal Gary Clark singing Burns are all brilliantly Celticly Connected. It will also be on the iplayer for another 30 Days. We humbly suggest you might well like this.

If you can’t join me on the pop-up show do be there on Friday when we’ll be live from Studio One with C Duncan and lots more from five past eight on BBC Radio Scotland.

Been to any parties lately? Was there any singing going on? We went to a great one at New Year. There was a few singers in the room and everyone was doing a part piece.Then the unexpected happened. Somewhere from behind me I heard a voice I didn’t expect start on a song I couldn’t imagine anyone delivering. It was a moment I will remember for a long time.

It’s hard when there are a few singers kicking around and you end up trying to work out what it is you really want to hear: range, dexterity or just truth? I guess you’d know where my vote would go on that taxonomy.

On Allison Moorer’s last but one visit to scotland she was officially one of the Duchesses. Along with the Dukes she was part of Steve Earle‘s live band that was recorded by the AC over on Glasgow’s South Side. I can’t quite remember the exact phrasing but the gist of Steve’s introduction that night inferred that she was head and shoulders better than every other singer on the stage. None of us would have a great issue with that though he may have been unnecessarily harsh on himself in coming to that assessment. Since that night Allison Moorer has parted company emotionally and musically with Steve but has remained faithful to her muse. Her first solo album in five years comes out soon and , as ever, it’s a timely reminder that she’s still the best singer in the room. On side two of this week’s show I’ll be spending some time talking to Allison about that record, her new son, her home State of Alabama and even her troubled relationship with her older sister Shelby Lynn. We’ll also be hearing some great new music from ‘Down To Believing’ which comes out on the 16th of March.

In the spirit of all of this we’ll be celebrating some other female country singers. Listen out for the voices of Leanne Womack, Joan Shelley, First Aid Kit and the great Patty Loveless.

It’s often said that everyone’s got a novel in them; in country it’s certainly true to say that everyone has a bluegrass album. We’ll tell you what happened when Robert Earle Kean rediscovered his roots.

We’ll reveal what comes next for C Duncan and Daniel Meade and hear some new music from the Thompson family. If that isn’t enough we will also celebrate the songs of this man…..

If you don’t know who he is do not fear, just turn up your radio and enjoy the music.It all kicks off at five past eight on BBC Radio Scotland this Friday.

There was a fair amount of hoo-ha about Bob Dylan‘s new album the other week. People who haven’t followed the nuances of his career were as mystified as one of my old chums at the BBC in Edinburgh who simply asked, ‘Is it true?’

Yes, it’s true and it’s rather good. I have two pointers: When I really first became ‘fascinated’ (I was never, thankfully, obsessed) by Dylan in the mid 70s a college chum told me about how he famously said, ‘I’m just a song and dance man.’ We laughed then – I think we were meant to – but there was a huge truth in that sentence. Much, much later Mrs. Ross and I spent a very happy evening at The Armadillo in Glasgow sitting in the dark as Bob and his brilliant band went through their live show. There were many magical bits but sometimes the mood was set perfectly by the short impress played in the dark between songs. The steel would gently cry and strings would bend enough to suggest other, wilder places and times. When I heard Shadows in the Night all the way through I thought of these mini overtures, and realised they had to lead somewhere.

In his speech to Musicares Bob settled a few old scores. On Friday night we will try to connect you to some of these as well as celebrating the sound of that new record. As if by magic a new album celebrating one of the towns that Bob mentioned, Bakersfield, comes out and its by the least likely celebrants of that famed west-coast country centre, Cracker. All will be explained and music shall be played……and yes, we’ll definitely here Buck Owens.

We will have beautiful old vinyl from theses two…

We will also hear some fine new things from Father John Misty who comes to Glasgow next week to play his fine new album, ‘I Love You, Honeybear’ at King Tuts. We’ll have a new single from AC faves, Lord Huron, another fab new single from our pals, Ward Thomas and a newly minted piece of vinyl from this man…

Nathaniel Rateliff‘s second album is one of theses records you will put on and not want to take off. We suggest vinyl might be the best way to enjoy.

There will be so much more…..but for that you’ll have to tune in on Friday from five past eight on BBC Scotland (FM please) …….The narrow band width has that noisy fella who plays the kit for some old rock combo.

On Tuesday evening we went to the Royal Conservatoire to perform a couple of songs for a very special man. More about him in a moment, but first the occasion. It was a surprise honorary graduation for a citizen from Glasgow and, as well as luminaries from the Conservatoire, the City had sent along a Baillie from the council to make a speech on behalf of the Provost. Your heart always sinks when you see the chain of office because you are pretty sure the poor councillor usually has no knowledge of the occasion and is there to read from a set text. It was therefore surprising and revealing that, in the case, our representative spoke from his notes for 3- 4 minutes flat then put them away. He’d heard about the person in question and he too came from the Gorbals so he wanted to know that much of what the Graduand had experienced was in common with himself. It was a great moment.

The Graduand was Matty McVarish, a remarkable young man who has taken it upon himself to campaign for justice for victims of sexual abuse by walking  around Europe to get the law changed across the continent to make it fairer for victims to get justice for crimes committed decades ago which cannot be prosecuted due to the various statutes of limitations. He walked 10,000 miles over two years and this week he came home to Scotland and caps off a remarkable journey by stopping of with us this Sunday Morning.As I write he’s walking the road from Glasgow to Edinburgh where he will complete his final mile on the Royal Mile.

Last Friday we had another off the script moment when the brilliant Rodney Crowell broke away from his own plans to play us a brilliant Mickey Newbury cover – it’s been that kind of week. This Friday we’ll be in the presence of Punch Brothers as they perform songs and explain the background to their remarkable Phosphorescent Blues album. It will be hard for any artist to match the ambition of this record in 2015 and you will listen in wonder to hear their recreations of some of the songs ‘bluegrass style’ recorded round two microphones.

We’ll have new music from Chip Taylor and let you hear Stephen Steinbrink, Natalie Prass and Father John Misty. I also hope to bring you more from the excellent Sons of Bill album – and news of their visit to Glasgow.

It all starts at five past eight this Friday on BBC Radio Scotland.

On Sunday

We’ll be talking to Scottish legend – there is no other word – John Cairney about painting, acting, writing and for many years being Robert Burns.

We will have a first hand account on Selma, the new film about the crucial Civil Rights Marches of 50 years ago and how much has changed and remained the same since those times.

It’s BAFTAS Sunday and we will celebrate it by playing you some beautiful and brilliant music from the movies and we will , of course, be speaking to Matty.

Join me if you can from five past seven this Sunday Morning on BBC Radio Scotland.

When Rodney Crowell first visited us a few years ago now he’d just brought out the wonderful, Sex and Gasoline. He came into a tiny studio on a cold January and, a matter of inches away played me songs, from the new album which we broadcast as a very special live session.

We talked through all the usual back stories and Rodney didn’t disappoint as a raconteur. (the story of how he would be introduced to his future father-in-law, Johnny Cash involving Bloody Marys, brandy and Jamaica still brings a smile). As an afterthought I asked Rodney if there was anyone I hadn’t mentioned who had cut a song of his. Yes, he said, Van Morrison. And he told me a great story of a visit to see the Man at the Ryman and he was asked about cutting the song, ‘Till I Gain Control Again.’

I thought about this story a few days ago after reading various posts about a brilliant Van show at The Concert Hall. When you read what songs Van sang and realise the gems he missed out one is inclined to say that he knows a great song when he hears one.

We will catch up with Rodney as he is passing through and rejoice because there is a chance to talk about that song and the many he has written for Roseanne Cash, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, George Strait, Keith Urban and Lee Ann Womack.Did I forget Johnny Cash? Did I mention John Denver?…The list  goes on, believe me.

We’ll also mention his old buddy Guy Clark and his excellent recent album Tarpaper Sky.

We’ll overlook the fact that he’s here to do the Transatlantic Sessions and not a gig on his own without all the folk- noodlers – but we’re delighted that Patty Griffin will , at least be there too.

It’s going to be a very special night. As Rodney leaves Sara Watkins will arrive. Last time she was with us we were celebrating the release of her debut solo album where she covered old Gospel standards, John Hartford, Tom Waits and brought us some beautiful new songs of her own. As I recall she arrived looking a little weary. When we offered the simple excuse of jet lag she ‘fessed up and expained she’d been up till 4 at the Celtic Connections club playing the fiddle. We understood.

That did not stop her doing what she is coming to do on Friday. Play the fiddle and sing us some songs. There’s now two solo albums and last year she and her prodigiously talented band mates from Nickel Creek got together to make their first album in a long time. It has been nominated for a Grammy, so there is much to talk of and great music to celebrate.

It all kicks off at five past eight this Friday evening on BBC Radio Scotland.

On Sunday…..

I’m very excited about hooking up with this woman.

Shami Shakrabarti, who’s new book, ‘On Liberty’ is out now has been Director of Liberty (The National Council for Civil Liberties) since September 2003.  Famously she has carried the Olympic Flag into the opening of the 2012 games and her constant advocacy for justice made the Sun describe her as ‘The Most Dangerous Woman In Britain.’

We’ll talk Human Rights and Wrongs at a very important time and find out more about Shami’s role in public life as well as her other important job – as a mother.

We will discuss Religious and Moral Education the way it was and the vision for the future with some experts and we will discuss whether the Wolf Hall might cause us to reassess our understanding of saintliness and we’ll meet the celebrity photographer who is turning his lens towards the Homeless World Cup. All this in the company of great music by Jimmy Cliff, Calexico, Jenny Lewis and a little Ella Fitzgerald.

Join me if you can from five past seven this Sunday on BBC Radio Scotland.