The Mike Harding Show - 09/06/2010

Mike Harding presents an hour of the very best in folk, roots and acoustic music including news from the world of folk and the latest album releases. This week's show features an interview with Seth Lakeman, as he prepares to release his anticipated fifth album, Hearts And Minds. Released this month, it sees the Devon born multi-instrumentalist further expand on the rhythmic folk rock sound heard on his 2008 record Poor Man's Heaven. Seth talks to Mike about the burning issues that have inspired his songwriting this time round, from the banking crisis to the premature deaths of young soldiers at war. He also discusses working on the album with Grammy Award-winning producer Tchad Blake, whose previous clients include Tom Waits, Pearl Jam, Suzanne Vega and Elvis Costello. A gifted multi-instrumentalist, Seth cut his teeth performing alongside brothers Sean and Sam in a trio and later in the group Equation with Kathryn Roberts and Kate Rusby. He attracted mainstream attention when in 2005 his album Kitty Jay was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and he signed to the EMI/Virgin owned Relentless Records in 2006. Seth Lakeman will play festivals around the UK throughout the summer, including Guildford's Guilfest (18 July) and the Cambridge Folk Festival (30 July).