Sat 20 May - Saidi Baladi Dance

Saidi belly dance dates back to ancient Egypt, a folkoric dance from the Uplands. Looking at this performance and its music and other arts stemming from this investigation, stimulated by the ‘A Curious Agenda’ Dream festival which takes place in Hastings in early June. With Yemeni tracks too from Tel Aviv based El Khat and earlier popular 45s from Yemen now being distributed by the Dust-to-Digital label.

The News Agents - 20 May 2023 (Saidi Baladi Dance) by Resonance FM | Mixcloud

Sat 13 May - St Andrews Mews & Horror Cinema Tracks

 During an arts project at St Andrews Mews, Hastings we witnessed the rediscovery of a boarded area that has not been touched for over one hundred years. This evocative and creepy-feeling space has prompted thoughts of Edwardian horror stories containing warnings not to disturb the devil. This has prompted a show of samples of horror soundtracks, classic and not so classic and reflections on composing for this area of cinema . With recommendations from Resonance FM listeners and social media friends. 

The News Agents - 13 May 2023 (Horror Movie Scores and Rediscovery of Abandoned Buildings ) by Resonance FM | Mixcloud

Sat 6 May - Keith Rodway and Necessary Animals

 Conversation Hastings continues with musician, author and film-maker Keith Rodway about the ongoing mixed-media project Necessary Animals with Amanda Louise Thompson and his life in music and other arts, focusing on post-punk and art-rock. Tracks featuring Lucy Brennan, Paul Huebner, Liane Carroll, Mick Hutchinson and Derek Lee Ragin plus some live coded Morris beats from the ongoing creative technology experiments at the Montague Armstrong workshop. For more information see thenewsagents.blogspot.com

Sat 29 April - Mouth Music, Puirt à beul and Jacobitism

A journey through the arts of diddling and Scottish mouth music, how to imitate the bagpipes and instruments with only vocals plus stories of Jacobite resistance in music. As a descendant of a Paisley poet and the ferryman from Oban to the islands, this is a personal trip into ancestral music making and history of Jacobitism.

https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/the-news-agents-29-april-2023-scottish-mouth-music-puirt-%C3%A0-beul-and-jacobite-history/

Sat 22 April - Ukraine and Russia songs of conflict - Andrei Rogatchevski

 Andrei Rogatchevski Professor of Russian Literature and Culture at UiT - the Arctic University of Norway looks at music of the relationship between Ukraine and Russia in music by analyzing the popularity of current songs via their presence on the Youtube platform, discussing what the music and lyrics show about attitudes and political and national identity. This is the fourth show with Professor Rogatchevski on songs of the conflict. 

The News Agents - 22 April 2023 (Andrei Rogatchevski) by Resonance FM | Mixcloud

Sat 15 April - Waulking and Gaelic songs in the Scottish Islands

 Looking at Gaelic songs in the Scottish islands in particular 'waulking', the songs sung by women working cloth, and output of some contemporary artists who have been influenced by this folk tradition.

The News Agents - 15 April 2023 (Scottish Waulking Songs) by Resonance FM | Mixcloud

Sat 8 April - A Town Explores a Book - Mary Seacole

 A Town Explores a Book is a unique community arts festival in St Leonards-on-Sea in Sussex. This year the book chosen is 'Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands', the autobiography of Mary Seacole who was well known for her work in the Crimean War of the 1850s. Including original sound pieces by Ruby Colley and Yasmin Aisha 'Unmasked' and 'Stripped Bare'. 'Unmasked' features migrant community members Les Booth, Michael Braithwaite, Paulo Lopes, Dave Rohoman and Elwaldo Romeo. Mary Seacole was born in Kingston Jamaica to a mother of mixed heritage. 

The News Agents - 8 April 2023 (A Town Explores a Book: Mary Seacole in St Leonards-on-Sea) by Resonance FM | Mixcloud