Features musicians Neil Finn, once of Crowded House, Aztec Camera's Roddy Frame and ex-10CC songwriter Graham Gouldman.
Hit songwriters share the stage for an acoustic concert at the Subterania Club in London. This programme features Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, John Cale, formerly of the Velvet Underground, and Nick Cave. Songs include Back on The Chain Gang, Fear, Into My Arms, Kid, Mercy Seat and Ship of Fools.
This programme's musicians are singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb, singer-producer-songwriter Chip Taylor, and Nick Lowe. Their respective songwriting credits include such classic hits as Wichita Lineman, Wild Thing and (What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding, and they take it in turns to play their own tunes and swap anecdotes about the stories behind the songs that they have written.
This programme's musicians are folk legend Joan Baez (performing `Diamonds & Rust' and `Love Song To A Stranger'), and folk-country singers Matraca Berg (`Strawberry Wine' and `Back When We Were Beautiful') and Gretchen Peters (`Independence Day' and `On A Bus To St Cloud').
This final programme's musicians are Paul Heaton & Dave Rotheray (performing `Rotterdam' and `Ol' Red Eyes Is Back'), Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham (`Dark End Of The Street' and `I'm Your Puppet'), and John Martyn (`May You Never' and `Couldn't Love You More').
Legendary American soul songwriter Allen Toussaint shares the stage at London's Bush Hall with Manic Street Preachers frontman James Dean Bradfield and the critically hailed ex-Czars frontman John Grant. Allen Toussaint has written for and been covered by countless artists, from Glen Campbell to The Grateful Dead, Irma Thomas to The Yardbirds. Here, accompanying himself with his elegant New Orleans-style piano playing, he performs classic songs like 'Working In a Coalmine', 'Get Out of My Life, Woman' and for the first time ever, 'It's Raining'. Mr Toussaint is clearly enthralled by the rich baritone and lovelorn confessional songs of John Grant on the piano opposite. Grant's solo debut 'Queen of Denmark" was Mojo's Album of the Year and this live performance shows why, with songs from the reference-laden 'Sigourney Weaver', to the sublime epic, 'Where Dreams Go to Die' . Sandwiched between the two baby grands, James Dean Bradfield on guitar more than holds his own. The stripped back acoustic format reveals the unadorned strength of powerhouse band hits like 'If You Tolerate This' and 'Design for Life', as well as suiting gentler (musically, if not lyrically) songs like 'Small Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky'. An inspiring musical journey of discovery for artists and audience alike.
Perched at the piano like a benign ringmaster in shades and flowing white beard, Leon Russell is the great American songwriter responsible for such mega-classics as the Carpenters' Song for You and This Masquerade and Rita Coolidge's Delta Lady. Punk and pub rock pioneer Nick Lowe is an affable presence as he croons his fabulous songs - ranging from the hit Cruel to Be Kind to (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (familiar to many via The Bodyguard film) and the darkly intense The Beast In Me, written for Johnny Cash and used in hit film Hangover 2. Irish singer-songwriter Paul Brady exudes passion with his fiery voice and energetic finger-picking guitar. Admired by the likes of Bob Dylan and Tina Turner, his songs straddle folk and pop, from the rousing The World Is What You Make It to the tender Smile.
There's a strong camaraderie and sense of mutual respect between Donovan, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Roger Cook as they share the stage in the impressive surroundings of London's Porchester Hall. Donovan, with his trademark green guitar and quirky musings, gives confident renditions from his rich back catalogue, with classics like Mellow Yellow, Sunshine Superman and Catch the Wind, and the others join him in a singalong of Colours. Buffy Sainte-Marie is hypnotic, whether performing Until It's Time for You to Go, covered most notably by Elvis, or protest song Universal Soldier, a hit for Donovan, or indeed the original version of monster power ballad Up Where We Belong, which achieved such fame when sung by Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker as the theme for the film An Officer and a Gentleman. Ukulele-wielding Roger Cook is a revelation. Bristol-bred and Nashville-settled, his name may be unfamiliar to much of the British audience, but he co-wrote such monster hits as I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, Crystal Gayle's Talking In Your Sleep and Gene Pitney's Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart. A nostalgic treat.
The final concert in this series of the songwriters' show sees Kiwi favourite Neil Finn joined on stage by American legend Janis Ian and alt-country poster boy Ryan Adams. Finn genially guides proceedings, with songs that sound like old friends pulled from different phases in his career - Crowded House favourites Distant Sun and Don't Dream It's Over are mixed with Split Enz's She Will Have Her Way and Golden Child, a new song written with his wife Sharon about their kids flying the nest. Janis Ian has been writing songs since she was 12 years old and on this evidence she is still at the top of her game. Her intelligent lyrics, by turns introspective and socially-engaged, are couched in lovely melodies and her guitar playing is a delight, from the jazzy Bright Lights and Promises to her evergreen classic At Seventeen. Ryan Adams crouches over his distinctive striped guitar and delivers a series of exquisitely mournful songs, from debut solo album Heartbreaker's Oh My Sweet Carolina (helped by gorgeous harmonies from his compadres) to Invisible Riverside from his album Ashes and Fire. Quickly-rehearsed collaborative moments bring new textures to familiar tunes, and there is banter aplenty between the three artists, resulting in some hugely enjoyable digressions, with surreal spontaneously created 'songs', the whole thing rounded off with an ensemble version of Finn's Weather with You.
In this unique concert created by BBC Four, singer-songwriters Richard Thompson, Suzanne Vega and Loudon Wainwright perform together for the first time, taking it in turns to perform their classic songs, chat about their work and collaborate musically. Filmed at London's intimate Bush Hall before a small audience, this one-off event finds Meltdown curator Richard Thompson performing songs from his 40-year solo career like I Feel So Good and Vincent Black Lightning, and reaching back to his first band Fairport Convention for a revelatory version of Genesis Hall. Suzanne Vega reprises many of the songs that made her name - Marlene on the Wall, Luka and Tom's Diner - and finds time for a unique country-style duet with Loudon Wainwright on a song about property prices, failing marriages and the recession. Wainwright also reaches into his catalogue for signature songs like Be Careful There's a Baby in the House, One Man Guy and The Swimming Song. There are improvised harmonies, guitar fills a plenty from Mr Thompson and a shared delight in songwriting, performance and the occasion.
Justin Currie, Chris Difford and Boo Hewerdine are the featured artists as BBC Four combines great singer-songwriters for unique concerts celebrating the craft of the song. Filmed at Bush Hall on Uxbridge Road in west London, these concerts see three singer-songwriters perform their classic songs in turn, while helping each other out musically with harmonies and the odd guitar part. The artists only meet an hour or two before going on stage and, in between performance, take viewers inside their work, chattng about their songs, their history and background. The three songwriters - Justin Currie, formerly of Del Amitri, who wrote hits including Nothing Ever Happens; Chris Difford, who mixes his solo work with Squeeze hits such as Up the Junction; and Boo Hewerdine, formerly of The Bible and perhaps best known for writing Patience of Angels for Eddie Reader - compare notes on songwriting, life after Top of the Pops and the male menopause.
This session of the specially-created concerts for BBC FOUR in which three singer-songwriters take it in turns to play their signature works, chat about their songs and collaborate muscially features three of the best exponents of Americana - Texans Lyle Lovett and Joe Ely and Indiana's John Hiatt. All three draw on country, rock 'n' roll, blues and soul influences to craft their own characteristic sound, each with their own distinctive lyrical voice. Lyle Lovett performs classics like If I Had a Boat and My Baby Don't Tolerate; John Hiatt plays some of his strongest and most covered work including Thing Called Love and Have a Little Faith In Me; and Joe Ely, who flew in especially for the show from his home town of Lubbock, Texas and tells his share of good stories, performs Me and Billy the Kid, Honky Tonk Masquerade and more.
Three premier singer-songwriters play solo, taking it in turns to perform their signature songs and play together at west London's intimate Bush Hall. Chatting about the art and process of songwriting, Cheshire-born David Gray plays songs like Babylon and This Year's Love, plus material from his album Foundling. KT Tunstall plays Other Side and Black Horse and the Cherry Tree from her million-selling debut album Eye of the Telescope and songs from her recent Tiger Sun album. American Ray LaMontagne plays Trouble as well as songs from his fourth album God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise.
This show features three very different songwriters playing and talking about their songs that have been loved by many generations of music fans. Fran Healy is best known as frontman of the best-selling British band Travis. He runs through many of their classics such as Driftwood and Writing to Reach You, along with a track from his recent solo album. Canada's Ron Sexsmith, who is regarded by many as the songwriters' songwriter, reminds us of some of the songs he has written that other people have gone onto record, such as Whatever It Takes, which Michael Buble covered on his best-selling album, and Secret Heart, which has been covered by the likes of Rod Stewart, Feist and Nick Lowe. Salford's Graham Gouldman, long time member of British band 10cc runs through songs he has co-written for them plus others for the likes of The Yardbirds and The Hollies.
American folk/country singer-songwriters Steve Earle, Diana Jones and Tom Morello take to the stage at London's Bush Hall to perform, collaborate and chat about their work.
Martin Simpson, Michael Chapman and Steve Tilston, three of the English acoustic scene's finest singer-songwriters and guitarists, get together at the intimate Bush Hall in a special concert for BBC Four. All hailing from the north of England, they are masters of their craft, long honed by touring clubs and recording throughout careers spanning some six decades. Sharing a stage for the first time, they display their guitar wizardry, collaborate and tell the odd story, playing their folk blues songs like Chapman's famous Postcards of Scarborough, Tilston's R2 Folk Awards 2012 winner The Reckoning, and Simpson's moving Never Any Good.
Bill Anderson, Clint Black and Bob DiPiero - three giants of the American country music scene - bring the Nashville 'guitar pull' to London's Bush Hall and showcase their trademark songs. Whisperin' Bill Anderson is one of the most successful songwriters in the history of country music. Here he performs classics like Give It Away and Tips of My Fingers, and even the original version of Happiness- an unlikely hit in the UK for none other than Ken Dodd. Clint Black has sold more than 20 million albums. Occupying centre stage in his trademark black hat and clearly revelling in the intimate set-up, he collaborates with ease, performing Killin' Time alongside brand new song Better and Worse. Bob DiPiero is one of Nashville's most consistent and prolific writers of hits, performed by a whole host of artists including George Strait, Reba McEntire and Etta James. He cuts an aimable figure, performing the likes of Gone and They're Playin' Our Song.
