Skiffle Fever! With Billy Bragg
Mark revisits the 'skiffle boom' that inspired countless musicians to discover folk music.
The best folk and acoustic music from Britain and beyond.
This week, Mark and guest Billy Bragg revisit the 1950s 'skiffle boom', which inspired countless musicians to pick up acoustic instruments and discover folk music.
Seventy years ago this week, Lonnie Donegan's version of Rock Island Line hit the UK chart and supercharged a scene that introduced many people to folk music. Many skiffle songs had folk roots.
Billy Bragg shares insights from his book - Roots, Radicals & Rockers: How Skiffle Changed The World - and we hear how some of Britain's key folk artists cut their teeth in skiffle.
Produced by Pomona Audio in Salford for BBC Radio 2
Last on
Music Played
![]()
Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group
Rock Island Line
- Rock Island Line / John Henry.
- Decca.
![]()
Joshua Burnside
Moon High
- It's Not Going To Be Okay.
- Nettwerk.
![]()
Sian
Pèidse Fir Ròdhaig
- araon.
![]()
Old Swan Band
The Sloe
- Still Swanning... After All These Years!.
- Free Reed.
![]()
The Vipers Skiffle Group
Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O
![]()
Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group
Freight Train (feat. Nancy Whiskey)
![]()
Alan Lomax & The Ramblers
Hard Case
- Alan Lomax And The Ramblers EP.
- Decca.
![]()
Van Morrison, Lonnie Donegan & Chris Barber
Lost John (Live)
- The Skiffle Sessions: Live In Belfast.
- Exile.
![]()
A. L. Lloyd
All For Me Grog
- English Drinking Songs.
- Topic Records.
![]()
Rachel Baiman
Self Made Man
- Common Nation of Sorrow.
![]()
Cynefin
Helmi
- Shimli.
![]()
Katherine Priddy
Hurricane
- These Frightening Machines.
- Cooking Vinyl.
Broadcast
- Wed 14 Jan 202621:00BBC Radio 2
