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Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival 2020

Mark Radcliffe invites all lovers of great music to join him under an imaginary big top and enjoy two hours of exclusive live performances.

Mark Radcliffe invites music lovers to join him under an imaginary big top and enjoy two hours of exclusive live performances from Yusuf Cat Stevens, Suzanne Vega, Kate Rusby, Fisherman’s Friends, Fara and more.

Folk festivals have effectively disappeared this summer. To celebrate the much-missed experience, Mark will present a line-up of legends, folk stars, and talented newcomers.

On what would have been the weekend of the 2020 Cambridge Folk Festival, Sidmouth Folk Festival and others, listeners can gather around Radio 2 to share Saturday night festival vibes and enjoy brand new performances recorded in artists' homes, plus stunning live highlights from Radio 2's archive.

Yusuf Cat Stevens will headline the show with specially-recorded live versions of his beloved songs, including some from his multi-platinum selling, era-defining record Tea For The Tillerman. This September, Yusuf will release 'Tea For The Tillerman²: Reimagined', which marks the album's 50th anniversary by recasting the songs for a new age.

Yusuf was scheduled to headline the 2020 Cambridge Folk Festival before Covid-19 forced its cancellation. In 2015 he won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 2 Folk Awards, and his classic song ‘Wild World’ was revealed to be Radio 2’s most-played folk track of all time. In this special show, Yusuf takes time to speak to Mark from his home in Dubai.

Suzanne Vega also performs favourite tracks, new and old, from her base in New York.

Kate Rusby performs music from her forthcoming covers album, Hand Me Down, which includes her popular version of The Bangles’ Manic Monday.

Fisherman’s Friends, from Cornwall, are re-united post-lockdown, and Fara, the superb musicians from Orkney, collaborate remotely to join the festival line-up.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Sat 1 Aug 2020 20:00

Music Played

  • Seth Lakeman

    Solomon Browne

  • Fara

    Speir Thoo The Wast Wind (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Martyn Joseph

    When We Get Through This (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Kate Rusby

    Manic Monday (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Kate Rusby

    Friday I'm In Love (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Dervish

    Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves (Live)

  • Loudon Wainwright III

    I'm Going To Give It To Mary With Love (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • The Fisherman’s Friends

    No Hopers, Jokers & Rogues (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Martyn Joseph

    Nye (Song For The NHS) (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Laura Marling

    Sophia (Live)

  • Lindisfarne

    Meet Me On The Corner

  • Suzanne Vega

    Luka (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Suzanne Vega

    New York Is My Destination (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Fara

    The Port Polka Set (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Yusuf / Cat Stevens

    Don't Blame Them (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Yusuf / Cat Stevens

    On The Road To Find Out (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Yusuf / Cat Stevens

    Where Do The Children Play? (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Altan

    Drowsie Maggie Medley (Live)

  • The Fisherman’s Friends

    South Australia (Radio 2's Virtual Folk Festival)

  • Booker T. & The M.G.'s

    Soul Limbo (Live)

Broadcast

  • Sat 1 Aug 2020 20:00