Sheilagh Matheson, our avian correspondent, reports on a village plagued by..... peacocks.

The Birmingham Look Book – a go-to resource for journalists designed to raise the profile of Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull with national and international media

With Gareth in pieces after Glastonbury this weekend, Liam helps nurse him back to reality.

There’s an exclusive Blues Kitchen session from Eli Paperboy Reed, paying tribute to the late, great Dr John with a performance of ‘A Losing Battle’ (written by the Dr but recorded by Johnny Adams).

There’s also new music from Justin Townes Earle & Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes) alongside classics from Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Don Williams, Doris & Kelly, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells & The Rolling Stones.

To see the Eli Paperboy Reed performances in full, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BluesKitchenLondon

Website: https://theblueskitchen.com/shoreditch/tv-radio/

When you've caught up with the podcast, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Mixcloud, Acast & many more…

Liam & Gaz return from their summer break with a box full of new records including tracks from Paul & The Tall Trees, Michael Kiwanuka & Jimmy Duck Holmes alongside classic cuts from T Bone Walker, Percy Mayfield, Rodney Crowell & The Black Keys.

There’s also an exclusive Blues Kitchen live session with The Blind Boys of Alabama & Amadou & Mariam. The two groups have recently collaborated on 6 tracks - A meeting of southern gospel from Alabama and desert blues from Bamako in Mali. 

** Join Liam & Gaz for a live recording of The Blues Kitchen Podcast **

- Weds 16^th October

- 7pm – 9pm

- The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch (Basement)

- Limited £5 tickets from: bit.ly/bkpodcastlive

To see the Amadou & Mariam & The Blind Boys of Alabama performances in full, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BluesKitchenLondon

When you've caught up with the podcast, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Mixcloud, Acast & many more…

Liam & Gaz dig out some classics from Sister Rosetta, Earl Hooker, Black Merda! & Jon Spencer Blues Explosion alongside new tracks from Kelly Finnegan, Charlie Parr & Mystery Jets.

There’s also an exclusive Blues Kitchen live session with Mississippi Bluesman Watermelon Slim. 

** Join Liam & Gaz for a live recording of The Blues Kitchen Podcast **

- Weds 16th October
- 7pm – 9pm
- The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch (Basement)
- Limited £5 tickets from: bit.ly/bkpodcastlive

To see the Amadou & Mariam & The Blind Boys of Alabama performances in full, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BluesKitchenLondon

When you've caught up with the podcast, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Mixcloud, Acast & many more…

Gaz and Liam kick things off with a celebration of BB King’s Birthday alongside new music form John Prine with Margo Price and some classic cuts from Blind Willie McTell, The Scott Singers, Mr Bear & Teddy Rae, Ramsay Midwood & Taste.

There’s also an exclusive Blues Kitchen live session with The Mystery Lights – check out their outstanding new record ‘Too Much Tension’ out new on Wick / Daptone Records. 

** Join Liam & Gaz for a live recording of The Blues Kitchen Podcast **

• Limited £5 tickets from: bit.ly/bkpodcastlive
• Weds 16^th October
• 7pm – 9pm
• The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch 

When you've caught up with the podcast, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Mixcloud, Acast & many more…

Gaz & Liam kick things off with a collaboration from Miuddy Waters, Bo Diddley & Little Walter. 

Expect more music form The Kills, Waylon Jennings, Albert King, The Last Shadow Puppets, The Beach Boys & Elizabeth Cotton.

There’s also an exclusive Blues Kitchen live session with Lil' Jimmy Reed.

** Join Liam & Gaz for a live recording of The Blues Kitchen Podcast **

Limited £5 tickets from: bit.ly/bkpodcastlive

Weds 16th October

7pm – 9pm

The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch

Head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BluesKitchenLondon

When you've caught up with the podcast, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Mixcloud, Acast & many more…

This week Gareth & Liam are joined by a live audience for a very special recording at The Blues Kitchen in Shoreditch, London. 

The audience were invited to bring their own vinyl records & curate the show... 

Some of their excellent contributions included music from Merry Clayton, Fleetwood Mac, The Teskey Brothers, Lou Reed, Edgar Jones,  Ada Richards, JJ Cale, O.V Wright, Delaney & Bonnie, Pastor TL Barrett & The Youth for Christ Choir.

Head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BluesKitchenLondon

When you've caught up with the podcast, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Mixcloud, Acast & many more…

In this week's episode, Gaz and Liam bring you new music from Early James & Pokey LaFarge.

There's also classic from Junior Wells, Howie Payne, David Porter, Pigmeat Markham, Band Of Horses and an exclusive live session with Pete Molinari.

Pete plays an acoustic version of 'Born To Be Blue' from his brand new album 'Just Like Achilles' out now on We Are Hear Music.

Head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Be sure to check out:

The Blues Chronicles
Bush Hall - London
Thurs 27th 2020
Fri 28th Feb 2020
https://theblueschronicles.com/events/

When you've caught up with the podcast, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Mixcloud, Acast & many more…

This week, The Blues Kitchen hosts Nathaniel Rateliff. 

Nathaniel plays an exclusive version of ‘A Song For You’ originally written & recorded by Leon Russell.

There’s also tracks from Sea Level, Son House, Parliament, The Texas Gentlemen, Green Leaf Rustlers & The Grateful Dead.

For the full interview with Nathaniel Rateliff, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Be sure to check out:

The Blues Chronicles

Bush Hall - London
Thurs 27th 2020
Fri 28th Feb 2020
https://theblueschronicles.com/events/

When you've caught up with the podcast, head over to The Blues Kitchen YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/BluesKitchenTV

Email the show: radio@theblueskitchen.com

Listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Mixcloud, Acast & many more…

Help Acorns - by order!

Richard Lutz takes the long route through another lost week.

An in-depth interview with rap icon Talib Kweli. We talk to the veteran emcee about Black Star, similes, the Occupy movement, and lots more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/9/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we sit down with Brother Ali. Ali, whose new album Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color comes out this week, has long been one of our favorite artists. His fantastic rhyming skills are matched by lyrics that are both intensely engaged with the larger world, as well as by a sense of humanity and empathy that is all too rare amongst artists of any kind.

Then, after our talk with Ali, we have a short but revealing chat with Miss Haze of the Bay Area group 40 Love. The innovative group meshes dreamy, electronic production with smart, positive lyrics to create an ode to dreams and their possibilities. We talk to Miss Haze about chanting for world peace, alchemy, and why she loves the Bay.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/16/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk to the incredible poet, emcee, actor, and musician Saul Williams. Williams, who had been an emcee since his teenage years, first rose to prominence on the slam poetry circuit, winning acclaim in the mid 1990’s. He was a co-writer and star of the award-winning 1998 film Slam, which increased his profile and led to him getting a record deal.

Williams’ first album, 2001’s Amethyst Rock Star, was a mind-blowing melding of poetry, hip-hop, and rock. That record and its follow-up, a self-titled 2004 album, were in part jeremiads about the state of hip-hop from someone who loved it but was severely disappointed in what it had become. Williams has released two more albums and four books of poetry over the years, and his latest work is a “literary mixtape” called Chorus.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/17/ for full show notes and comments.

Saul Williams is man who can wear many hats: actor, rapper, poet. For Williams, the line was never cut between fields; instead, he was always trying to blend, to collaborate, to draw from one medium to influence another. In third grade, Williams was rapping in Shakespearean English and French — simply because that’s what he was learning in school. By the time he was 16, he was writing one of the first hip hop operas — or “hip hopera”. Williams most recent role sees him taking on the legacy of Tupac Shakur in the Broadway musical, ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’, based on the songs of the legendary MC. The musical doesn’t shy away from tough topics, tackling issues such as gun violence and racism head on — through the lens of a community that fights against outside pressure together, that feels its pains together.

We talked to Williams about the influence Pac had on him, his role in ‘Holler’, rhymes, racism, home grown terrorism, when comes the time to stop “turning the other cheek”, and much more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/71/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we have a wide-ranging convo with Gene “No Malice” Thornton of Clipse. No Malice (formerly just Malice, before a religious epiphany several years back) and his brother Terrance, a.k.a. Pusha T, form one of rap’s greatest duos. Their smart, vicious raps — often about their real-life experiences dealing cocaine — first brought them to prominence with the massive hit “Grindin’” back in 2002. The group quickly became a critical and commercial favorite, thanks to the brothers’ rhymes and some production help from The Neptunes.

But after some label issues and legal problems, Clipse went on hiatus. No Malice released his solo debut and a memoir, while his brother joined forces with Kanye West. We talk to No Malice about God, going solo, the past (and future) of Clipse, which lyric he regrets most, and more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/78/ for full show notes and comments.

Lisa Leone has lived a life for the ages. She began photographing some of the most important figures in the early days of hip-hop culture (who were also her friends) as a teenager. Then she took some of the best, most revealing photos ever of musical icons like Snoop Dogg, Nas, The Fugees, Mary J. Blige, and tons more. Lisa moved from there into working on music videos, before her career took an unexpected left turn.

She turned a short research photo assignment for a friend into four years working closely with film legend Stanley Kubrick on his final film, Eyes Wide Shut. Then she took that experience and co-directed the iconic documentary on sneakers and sneaker heads, Just for Kicks.

A gorgeous book of Lisa’s hip-hop photos, Here I Am - Photographs By Lisa Leone, is available now. An exhibit of that name is running through January 11th at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. You can view a slideshow of some of her photos over at Complex.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/79/ for full show notes and comments.

Lisa Cortés lives up to her self-description as a “hip-hop Zelig.” She began her career in 1986 as one of the first employees of a then-tiny record label called Def Jam. From there, she went on to manage legendary producers; discover hit rap, reggae, and r&b acts; and even run a label herself.

After her time in the music industry came to an end, Lisa re-invented herself as a successful film producer, starting at the bottom and working her way up to playing a key role in the Oscar-winning movie Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire. She is currently producing, writing, and directing a number of fascinating film projects, which we discuss here.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/92/ for full show notes and comments.

Mr. Lif has had a key role in a number of music success stories, from the rise of the Boston hip-hop scene to the reign of underground rap empire Def Jux to the continued worldwide popularity of Thievery Corporation. We explore his entire career, from the very first songs and freestyle sessions to his newest group, Terra Bella.

We make plenty of stops along the way at his key moments – his fiery 9/11 response “Home of the Brave,” the powerful 2002 concept album I Phantom, his development into a celebrated live performer, and more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/97/ for full show notes and comments.

Oliver Wang is a writer, critic, audio blogger, and DJ. He is best-known among hip-hop fans for his features and reviews for LA Weekly, Urb, NPR, and basically everywhere else. We discuss his new book Legions of Boom: Filipino American Mobile DJ Crews in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The fascinating book looks at a previously unexplored and nearly forgotten scene from the late 1970s through the early 90s. Young people in the Bay Area, almost entirely Filipino, were inspired by the disco craze to form DJ crews and start throwing parties. At its height, there were scores of crews throughout the entire Bay. Some of the scene’s most prominent alumni were QBert, Mixmaster Mike, and Apollo. The three of them would form the Invisibl Skratch Piklz and go on to invent an entirely new kind of DJing, where virtuosic scratching took center stage.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/103/ for full show notes and comments.

Mikel “Lil Slim” Pettis began his rap career as a teenager in New Orleans in the early 1990s, performing in nightclubs around the city. He was discovered by a then brand-new record label called Cash Money Records. Slim signed with them and became a key part of the first generation of artists on that label - acts like UNLV, PxMxWx, Pimp Daddy, Ms. Tee, Mr. Ivan, and many more, who would quickly turn Cash Money into a regional powerhouse just as the city was inventing a rap style of its own, a raunchy, call-and-response based approach called “bounce.”

During his tenure on Cash Money, Slim discovered a young kid from his neighborhood who, despite being only 10 or 11, already had a notebook full of memorable raps. Slim hooked that kid up with his label, and thus began the career of Lil Wayne.

Lil Slim left Cash Money after his 1995 album Thuggin and Pluggin, citing concerns over his label’s business practices that sound like they could be ripped from today’s headlines. He’s released several projects since then, including most recently the third volume of his Platinum Edition EP series.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/113/ for full show notes and comments.

Saul Williams is a man of many talents - an actor who has starred in hit movies and Broadway shows; a poet who made a huge impression on the spoken word and poetry slam scenes and has published multiple volumes; and a musician who has recorded five albums with collaborators like Trent Reznor and Rick Rubin.

It is this last talent that brought him to us for this episode. Saul has a brand-new album called MartyrLoserKing that brings together many of his career-long themes into its story. The record, along with an accompanying graphic novel and film, both in the works, tells the story of the titular character, a cyber hacker living in the East African country of Burundi. He builds a Frankenstein’s Monster-like super-computer from the parts of abandoned desktops, teaches himself how to code, and develops an online cult following. He’s in love with a transgender woman named Neptune Frost and hosts a cryptic and anarchist podcast. His eventual hacks into Google and the Pentagon turn him into Public Enemy No. 1, a kind of militant Edward Snowden. We talk to Saul about how the story came about, where it’s going, and his thoughts on recent events from David Bowie’s passing to the Paris terrorist attacks.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/142/ for full show notes and comments.

Eligh Nachowitz and Corey Scoffern, a.k.a. The Grouch, are rappers best known for their affiliation with the Living Legends crew. The group, which also included our recent guest Murs, were pioneers in the independent West Coast rap scene in the 1990s. Eligh began his career with Murs and fellow future Living Legend member Scarub in a group called Three Melancholy Gypsys while still a teenager. That crew joined with another group called Mystik Journeymen, picked up a few members including The Grouch, and formed the Living Legends. Their lo-fi albums, made initially on four-tracks, plus their self-booked international tours, set a template that independent rappers follow to this day.

Eligh and The Grouch began releasing music as a duo in in 1998, and have released a number of albums together, most recently 2014’s triple album The Tortoise and the Crow. Together, separately, and with the rest of the Living Legends, their sprawling discography is one of the finest of the era.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/143/ for full show notes and comments.

Krizz Kaliko first became known to hip-hop fans in the early 2000s as the ever-present hookman and onstage foil to Tech N9ne and other Strange Music artists, lacing tracks with both singing and rapping. His solo career would begin in 2008 with the album Vitiligo, and each record after that would reveal a diverse musical personality, equally comfortable with double-time raps, r&b hooks, and even Sinatra-style crooning.

Krizz’ latest album, released this past April, is called GO.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/153/ for full show notes and comments.

Slim Thug has been at the center of his city’s rap scene since he started his career in the late 1990s. He was one of the first artists on the iconic label Swishahouse. After years of success both on Swishahouse and independently, Slim found himself at the epicenter of a Houston rap explosion, caused in no small part by his memorable performance on Mike Jones’ hit “Still Tippin’.”

Around the time that song became a hit, Slim signed to Interscope Records. While there, he worked closely with Pharrell Williams, released the album Already Platinum, and jumped on songs with Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, and more.

After his time in the majors, Slim moved back to independence, and has continued to release music at a steady clip. His latest album is Hogg Life Vol. 4: American King.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/168/ for full show notes and comments.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—if you love soulful Christmas music! We sit down with Bill to talk about the 2016 edition of his world-famous ‘Xmas Jollies’ mix, which you can stream EXCLUSIVELY from us here.

We also discuss Paul Simon, vaudeville, Atlanta, record shopping in Bayou country, the raunchiest Christmas song of all time, and much more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/181/ for full show notes and comments.

Lil’ Flip is a Houston rapper and member of DJ Screw’s famed Screwed Up Click who has more than earned his title of the “Freestyle King.” Flip began his career in the late 1990s, mixing solo and group projects, mixtapes, guest appearances, and, of course, countless freestyles. But it was his 2004 album U Gotta Feel Me, which included the massive hits “Game Over” and “Sunshine,” that really launched him to stardom.

Since then, Flip has had his share of ups, downs, and notorious beefs, but he’s never stopped making great music. His latest project is the K EP.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/223/ for full show notes and comments.

Bill Adler is…well, you probably already know who Bill is. Publicist, journalist, author, gallery owner, archivist - Bill has done it all. From helping to popularize acts like Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys to defending free speech alongside Luther Campbell to boycotting the Grammys with Public Enemy and the Fresh Prince, there’s very little Bill hasn’t done.

But most importantly, Bill Adler is a Christmas music obsessive. Every year since 1982, he’s created a mix of seasonal music that he actually likes, called the Christmas Jollies. And the past five years, we’ve been lucky enough to sit down with him to discuss the music on it.

You can find this year’s collection here, and several other past volumes can be found elsewhere on our SoundCloud page.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/228/ for full show notes and comments.

Every Christmas since 2013, we’ve sat down with Bill—who is the former head of PR at Def Jam, among numerous other accomplishments—to talk about his world-famous Xmas Jollies mix. Bill spends the whole year scouring record stores, flea markets, the internet, and everywhere in between to find the perfect batch of great holiday music, and then shares it with his select mailing list, and with us. Now, we talk to him about some of this year’s selections.

You can hear Bill’s mix in its entirety at our Soundcloud page.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/251/ for full show notes and comments.

A Birmingham based medical charity is giving you the opportunity to double your donation and help save lives around the world

"Help us to help you get the treatment you need across Birmingham and Solihull."

Former boxing World Champion Vinny Curto joins Joey and Lee live from the Ice House for the first live podcast. The sound is different than in studio but we had a great time.

This podcast is brought to you by Onnit.com. Use promo code CHURCH for a discount at checkout.

Live from the Ice House on 03/27/2013

Bert 'The Machine" Kreischer joins Joey and Lee for the second live podcast.

Taped live at the Ice House on 04/24/2013

Dr. Frank Berdice and comedian Josh Wolf join Joey and Lee for the third live podcast.

Recorded live on 05/29/2013

We were lucky enough to have two very special guests at our fourth live podcast, MMA ref Herb Dean and comedian Felipe Esparza.

Recorded live on 07/31/2013.

Duncan Trussell joins us for an intense live podcast.

This podcast is brought to you by:

Onnit.com. Use promo code CHURCH for a discount at checkout.

Hulu Plus. Visit huluplus.com/joey for an extended free trial.

Dollar Shave Club. Visit dollarshaveclub.com/church for amazing deals on razors sent to your door.

Joey and Lee are joined by Actor Nick Turturro for the sixth live podcast.

This podcast is brought to you by:

Onnit.com. Use Promo code CHURCH for a discount at checkout.

Hulu Plus. Visit Huluplus.com/joey for an extended free trial.

Dollar Shave Club. Visit Dollarshaveclub.com/church for great deals.

Joey, Lee, and guest Brian Redban live at the Icehouse.

Recorded live on 09/20/2013

Ari Shaffir joins Lee and Joey for a crazy live podcast.

This podcast is brought to you by:

Onnit.com. Use Promo code CHURCH for a discount at checkout.

Hulu Plus. Visit Huluplus.com/joey for an extended free trial.

Dollar Shave Club. Visit Dollarshaveclub.com/church for great deals.

Recorded live on 10/30/2013.

Rocco Urbisci and Sal Polisi join Joey and Lee Live at the Ice House.

Recorded live on 11/27/2013

Tom Segura joins Joey and Lee at the Ice House.

Attention! We are aware of the audio issue. Well work it out before the next live podcast. If you cant listen to it were sorry but if you can we appreciate it!

Emilio Rivera joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt in studio to talk about his new film Water and Power.

This podcast is brought to you by:

Onnit.com. Use Promo code CHURCH for a discount at checkout.

Dollar Shave Club. Use promo code CHURCH and get high quality razors sent to your door.

Nature Box. Visit Naturebox.com and use promo code Joey for 50% off your first order.

Naileditlife.com Use promo code joeydiaz to get 20% off of the premier vapor pen on the market.

Recorded live on 04/02/2014.

Comedian Felipe Esparza joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt live in studio.

This podcast is brought to you by:

Onnit.com. Use Promo code CHURCH for a discount at checkout.

Hulu Plus. Visit Huluplus.com/joey for an extended free trial.

Dollar Shave Club. Use promo code CHURCH and get high quality razors sent to your door.

Escapepodtank.com Mention Joey or the Church and get $250 off.

Recorded live on 04/07/2014.

Youre in for a treat. Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt are back for another live episode of the Church. They welcome guest Rick Shapiro for a night full of craziness and laughter. What we remember of it anyways.

Live 04/30/2014

Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt are joined again by Comedian Ari Shaffir for a great live podcast. 

Recorded live on 05/28/2014 in front of a live audience. 

Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt are joined by Comedian Miss Pat LIVE from the Ice House.

Recorded live on 07/30/2014