The desk even has a place to put your coffee without spilling it over the works!

Bernard reads the diary dates for the week

"What do I do with the old 78's?"

Ali makes adjustments to the script as her assistant Trish looks on

Balladeer and member of Th' Antique Roadshow - Nick Caffrey joined Ali in the studio on 13th October 2003 to talk about Ballads

Shona Kipling demonstrates her skill on the accordion accompanied by Damien O'Kane on the guitar for the show on 20th October 2003

Shona, aged 17 from Hawthorn Co. Durham was a finalist in the 2002 BBC Radio 2 young folk award competition in London and has also performed on the Mike Harding Show. She has been twice All Britain Piano-Accordian Champion and represented the UK three times at the All Ireland World Championship for traditional folk music. She plays solo and in a duo act “Pure Chance” as well as being in the Folkworks youth  band “Folkstar North”.

Second time in the studio recently for Chris Pollington (on the right) as he joins his cohorts from Strawhead - Malcolm Gibbons and Greg Butler on the programme on the 27th October 2003

Mike Nicholson was on the show broadcast on 3rd November but as that was prerecorded Bernard wasn't on hand to supply a piccy for us. However, for the programme on the 10th of November which was a themed night about memories we can see Bernard, Laura and Ali having a good reminisce about times past. Ali kicked the show off with a track from someone called Mark Dowding whoever he is.

Local group Elbow Jane are Laura's first interviewees on the show on November 17th 2003 and what a good job she did.

The size of the new studio proves invaluable to cope with a five-piece band. The old studio was a bit cramped to say the least.

Jamie and Pam Knowles get the Sounds of Folk grilling

on November 24th 2003  

Duncan McFarlane gives Ali a song on December 1st 2003 

Chris Harvey and Alison Younger talk about their associations with various groups over the years on the show of December 8th 2003 

Guest on the show of December 15th is Stanley Accrington who sneaks a look at how the show is going to end - hopefully with him singing "The Three Wise Women"

The GMR Monday night team Christmas works' outing to a curry house just round the corner from the studios

(l-r Ali, Geoff, Mike Shaft (GMR Deputy Editor and the man responsible for getting Sounds of Folk on the air - Good Man!), Laura, David, Marion and Bernard)

"It's that man again, it's that man again, Mr Chris Harvey is here..." 

All right I know you lot are far too young to remember ITMA - ask your dad!

Chris Harvey, with his Cock Robin Music Hat on, and Mark Dowding in the studio on the 12th January 2004 talking about the CD produced by the pair of them called:

"A Mon Like Harry - The songs of Harry Boardman" 

Bram Taylor lets GMR listeners have a listen to his latest CD

on the programme of 19th January 2004