Radio has been, since its introduction into the family home, or as an accompaniment on long car journeys and now through the ear buds of a smart phone, the perfect medium for the spinning of yarns.

We begin with a folktale adapted and narrated by Sarah-Lisa Willkinson for The Embers podcast. The Embers collective are a group of story-tellers and musicians who bring stories into a live setting. Their podcast combines old myths, funky folklore and original stories all accompanied by live music. In the tradition of the Christmas spooky story, this is the rather disturbing and dark tale of The Devil’s Violin with musical accompaniment by Tim Karp.

Next is something from the archives, taking us back to a bygone era, to Burslem in Stoke on Trent in the 1950’s and 60’s. Sometimes compared to Dylan Thomas’ Under Milkwood this wonderful piece of prose is a perfect portrait in words of a scene that spectacularly brings local characters to life. Lament for the Lost Pubs of Burslem written and narrated by Stoke born artist, play write and poet Arthur Berry recorded by Arthur Wood.

We travel  further afield to Kampala in Uganda where local writer and narrator Masembe blurs fact and fiction with her tales from Punishment Island, an island on Lake Bunyoni where up until the 1930’s unmarried pregnant girls where left to die. 

Her fictional character Naka, shares her story and those of others from around Uganda. In this episode, A History in Punishments we hear Jajja’s tale, a grandmother’s experience of Punishment Island.

Finally,  we head to Ireland where actor Kevin C Olohan takes on the role of a fireside bard and skilfully spins us a yarn by the light of the flames for his podcast, Fireside. In this tale, the power of music is present again when a blind piper plays a highly addictive ditty and ends up in deep water. This is The Wonderful Tune.