MATTHEW BANNISTER TO END CHARITY WALK AT SUFFOLK’S FOLKEAST FESTIVAL …

The host of the multi-award-winning Folk on Foot podcast is to set off on a 180-mile sponsored walk this summer to raise money for the charity, Help Musicians.

Matthew Bannister (pictured), the former controller of BBC Radio 1 and presenter of Radio 4’s popular obituary show, Last Word, will start his trek at the Wickham Festival in Hampshire on Friday, 4th August and finish two weeks later at the FolkEast Festival in Suffolk on Friday, 18th August, where he will be danced over the finishing line by none other than ‘all-female prog Morris side’ Boss Morris, who famously performed alongside indie rock group Wet Leg at this year’s Brit Awards.

Matthew, who launched the podcast Folk on Foot in 2018, has invited myriad folk musicians to join him at pubs where he is staying along the trail each evening for informal, morale-boosting gatherings of songs and tunes. Confirmed artists include some of the finest names in folk including The Young’uns (pictured above), Martin Simpson, Bella Hardy and Show of Hands’ Steve Knightley joining forces with Johnny Kalsi (Afro Celts, The Dhol Foundation).

There will be a rich mix of duos including Cambridgeshire’s Megson, Anglo-Scottish pair Janice Burns and Jon Doran, Rowan Piggott and Rosie Hodgson of The Wilderness Yet and Sid Goldsmith and Danny Pedler of Tarren.

Others joining Matthew will be flautist Eliza Marshall (Ranagri/Freedom to Roam) and traditional folk musician Jon Wilks, singer-songwriters Kirsty Merryn and Katie Spencer and Brighton band, Bird in the Belly.

The route will take him from the rolling countryside of Hampshire’s Meon Valley to a finish line in the grounds of Suffolk’s glorious Glemham Hall where the FolkEast festival is staged, traversing Berkshire, Greater London, Hertfordshire and Essex en route.

He will pass novelist’s Jane Austen’s house in Chawton, Hampshire, traverse Colne Valley Park on the western flank of London, stay in picturesque Eton with its famous college, follow the tree-lined Long Walk at Windsor, cross the great Roman road of Watling Street and walk along stretches of the Grand Union Canal - the principal navigable waterway between London and the Midlands.

Matthew’s final overnight stop at Campsea Ashe will see him welcomed and entertained by the multi-award-winning patrons of FolkEast, The Young’uns at the fabulous Duck pub in the village.

There will be two other Suffolk stopovers towards the end of the walk - on 15th August, he will be found at The Crown Hotel in Long Melford, where popular pairing Peter Knight and John Spiers - a duo that actually formed at FolkEast - will be performing.

Peter was the long-term fiddler in famous folk band Steeleye Span while melodeon ace John is a founder member of the blockbusting act, Bellowhead.

FolkEast organisers John and Becky Marshall-Potter had the inspired idea of bringing the two legendary musicians together for the 2016 festival. It ended up being a festival highlight, with no space left in the marquee and people standing five deep in pouring rain. It was clear it was an act with legs and they have gone on to make two albums together.

On 16th August, Matthew will wind his way to The Greyhound at Claydon, near Ipswich, featuring former BBC Folk Singer of the Year Bella Hardy. Bella, who hails from the Peak District, has explored genres from traditional folk to pop production and electronics and released 10 solo records which include original compositions.

And popular Suffolk duo, Honey and the Bear (husband and wife team, Jon and Lucy Hart) will be heading to Hertfordshire to take part in the Big Walk event. The couple, who live near Saxmundham, will join Matthew on 10th August at the Moor Mill Pub and Restaurant in Radlett – a rather special Beefeater which was once a water mill on the River Ver with old milling tools and the water wheel a feature of the décor.

Members of the public are invited to join Matthew on the Big Walk, leaving their footprint for just a mile or two or a whole day.

Matthew says: “During the pandemic lockdowns Folk on Foot listeners raised an amazing £327,000 to support musicians who had lost their livelihoods. Half was divided between the scores of artists who took part in our four online Front Room Festivals and the other half went to Help Musicians.

“The lockdowns may be a distant memory, but the problems faced by musicians haven’t gone away. Many are dealing with mental or physical health issues or financial hardship and Help Musicians and its sister charity Music Minds Matter do a brilliant job of supporting them to build secure careers in what can be a very challenging and precarious industry. That’s why I’ve decided to tramp 180 miles across the South East of England to raise money and awareness. Music and musicians have been vital throughout my life, raising my spirits when I was down, helping me to celebrate important moments and bringing me joy every single day. This walk is a small way of saying thank you.”

Sarah Woods, Interim Chief Executive at Help Musicians welcomes news of Matthew’s quest. She says “Folk on Foot, and folk music lovers across the UK have been true friends to Help Musicians, with significant funds raised to help musicians survive during the pandemic; making a positive difference to their lives and careers.

“Music brings so much joy to us all, but sadly those who work in music suffer more than others from poor mental health. Music Minds Matter has seen a 200% increase in calls to its helpline during the last two years, showing how much still needs to be done to achieve positive wellbeing for all those who work in music. Demand for help continues to rise, and as a charity that relies on the generosity of donors to support its work, all funds raised from “The Big Walk” will go directly to funding support and services to support the mental health of those in real need. A massive thank you to Matthew for this inspirational fundraising initiative.”

Becky Marshall-Potter, co-director of FolkEast, says the three-day festival was delighted to be part of Matthew’s epic walk and looked forward to cheering him over the finish line with Boss Morris.

“Musicians, technical crew, promoters, venues and festivals are working together to build back an industry that was floored by the pandemic and is now facing the effects of the cost of living crisis. By supporting our musicians, we support the whole of this internationally respected industry and those who work within it. So, polish up your walking boots and tramp on!”

You can support Matthew in many ways:

- Make a donation at www.folkonfoot.com/bigwalk

- Join him for part of the walk (his route map can be seen at www.folkonfoot.com/bigwalk)

- Spread the word on social media using the hashtag #FoFBigWalk23