BeebRock II - Music Shows on BBC Four, Sky Arts and everywhere else

Hello, for the weekend that's in it the stations are sticking on anything in their library filed under "Irish". Everything from Val Doonican to The Undertones on offer. The renegades in Sky Arts have chosen this week for a healthy dose of Black Sabbath, there's quite a variety on offer ...



Wednesday (BBC4)
11pm Blues America
Part1 /2 Woke Up This Morning look at the early years of blues music, a genre which began as a form of black pop, to discover how Bessie Smith, Blind Lemon Jefferson and Charlie Patton used the latest media to bring their sound to the public. With contributions from Keith Richards, Taj Mahal and Chuck D

Midnight Island at the BBC (BBC4)
Archive performances by artists associated with the Island record label during its 50 years. Tracks include Cat Stevens' Father and Son, Roxy Music's Do the Strand and Bob Marley and the Wailers' Stir It Up. The programme also features Steel Pulse, U2, PJ Harvey, Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse and Baaba Maal

1am Top Of The Pops 1982 - September 9th (BBC4)
Peter Powell hosts the September 9 edition, with music by Evelyn King, Gillan, Dire Straits, John Cougar Mellencamp, Chicago, Survivor, David Christie and Shakin' Stevens

1.15am Rick Wakeman - The Six Wives of Henry VIII (Sky Arts)

1.35am Top Of The Pops 1982 - September 16th (BBC4)
Simon Bates hosts the chart show from September 16, featuring Mari Wilson, Simple Minds, Shakatak, the Jam, Adam Ant and Survivor



Thursday
10.30am Video Killed The Radio Star: Joe Strummer (Sky Arts)

12pm Soundbreaking (Sky Arts)
Ep3/8 The Human Instrument A look at what goes into recording the perfect vocal track, which is the product of a complex collaboration between performer, producer and sound engineer

3.30pm Video Killed The Radio Star: Elton John (Sky Arts)

5pm Soundbreaking (Sky Arts)
Ep 4/8 Going Electric Music by the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder and the Who illustrates the revolutionary role electricity has played in creating never-before-heard sounds

7.30pm & Midnight Top Of The Pops 1985 - June 13th (BBC4)
Mike Read and Dixie Peach present the June 13 edition, featuring Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Billy Ocean, Sister Sledge and Marillion https://www.thetvdb.com/?tab=episode&seriesid=78332&seasonid=655748&id=5857968&lid=7

9pm The Ritchie Blackmore Story (2015) (Sky Arts)
Brian May, Lars Ulrich and Gene Simmons are among those paying tribute to guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who has played with Deep Purple, Rainbow and the Outlaws among others
Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9P-tbbOp58

11pm Blues America (BBC4)
Part 2/2 Bright Lights, Big City Concluding part, looking at blues music in the postwar period, when artists like Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker rooted the genre firmly in the cities, where it contributed to the de-segregation of America by spawning rock 'n' roll. As it moved from black to white audiences, arguments developed about what was the real authentic blues. With contributions from Keith Richards, Bonnie Raitt, Seasick Steve and Buddy Guy

11.15pm Other Voices (RTE2)
Music by Django Django, Dermot Kennedy and New Jackson, as well as Slow Riot in the Other Room. Presented by Annie Mac, Huw Stephens and May Kay

12.30am Tom Jones at the BBC (BBC4)
A celebration of the singer's performances, from the start of his career in the 1960s to his appearance on Later with Jools Holland just before he celebrated his 70th birthday in 2010. The programme includes archive footage of the Welshman's appearances on The Dusty Springfield Show and Top of the Pops



Friday
12pm Soundbreaking (Sky Arts)
Ep 4/8 Going Electric

3.30pm Video Killed The Radio Star: Blur (Sky Arts)

7pm Last Shop Standing (Sky Arts)
Documentary examining why nearly 2,000 record shops have already closed across the UK and what the future holds for those remaining. The film charts the rising fortunes of stores during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, the influence of the charts and explores the effect the arrival of new technologies had on the way people bought music. Featuring contributions by shop owners and music industry experts as well as musicians including Paul Weller, Johnny Marr, Norman Cook, Billy Bragg, Nerina Pallot, Richard Hawley and Clint Boon

7.30pm & 11.55pm Top Of The Pops 1985: June 20th
Janice Long and Gary Davies introduce performances by Sting, Fine Young Cannibals, China Crisis and Harold Faltermeyer. First aired June 20 1985 https://www.thetvdb.com/?tab=episode&seriesid=78332&seasonid=655748&id=5857970&lid=7

Ireland Night on BBC4!
8pm & 2.25am Songs of Ireland
Musicians including Brian Kennedy, Cara Dillon, Finbar Furey, Eleanor McEvoy and Luka Bloom perform contemporary and traditional songs from their native Ireland at the Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, as part of the 2012 Celtic Connections festival. The singers are backed by Irish-American group Solas. Hosted by Ricky Ross

9pm & 12.25am The Irish Rock Story: A Tale of Two Cities
Documentary telling the story of how rock music evolved in Ireland over 40 years. The film demonstrates how the sounds that emerged were grounded in the musical traditions of the island's two main cities, from the pioneering touring showbands of the late 1950s through to the modern day. Richard Dormer narrates an examination of how the harder sounds of Belfast merged with the more folk-centric traditions of Dublin, celebrates some of the key musicians to have emerged from the Irish scene, and reveals how they were influenced by the political, social and cultural climate of their surroundings. With contributions from U2, Sinead O'Connor and Bob Geldof

10pm & 1.25am Here Comes The Summer - The Undertones Story
Documentary charting the history of the new wave band from Derry in Northern Ireland, renowned for pop anthem Teenage Kicks, which launched their career in 1978. Featuring interviews with members, their friends and families, who provide an insight into the men who created such hits as Jimmy Jimmy and My Perfect Cousin

11pm Van Morrison Live At Eden
Recorded at Cornwall's Eden Project in July 2017, the Northern Irish singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and producer performs 14 songs - including well-known hits Here Comes the Night, Moondance and Brown Eyed Girl - to a capacity audience


The Rest:
9pm Legends Of The Canyon (Sky Arts)
Documentary exploring the musical legacy of Laurel Canyon, a Los Angeles neighbourhood home to musicians including Joni Mitchell, Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills and Nash

11.15pm California Dreamin' The Songs Of The Mamas and The Papas (Sky Arts)
Documentary charting the success of the Californian pop group, featuring performance and archive footage, and interviews with band members, including Mama Cass. The band provide accounts of the writing and recording process involved in the creation of their hit songs and how they personally dealt with instant fame and success

11.20pm EBBA Music Awards (RTE2)
Jools Holland hosts the award ceremony, which celebrates the achievements of 10 emerging European musical acts who have gained strong followings beyond their home countries

12.20am The Windmill Lane Sessions (TG4)
Performances by some of today's best Irish and international music acts, filmed at the Windmill Lane Recording Studios in Dublin, featuring Re, Original Rudeboys and Alien Envoy

12.30am Classic Albums : The Grateful Dead - From Anthem To Beauty (Sky Arts)
The making of the Grateful Dead albums Anthem of the Sun and American Beauty

1.25am Other Voices (RTE2)
Music by Django Django, Dermot Kennedy and New Jackson, as well as Slow Riot in the Other Room. Presented by Annie Mac, Huw Stephens and May Kay

1.50am Genesis: When In Rome (Sky Arts)
The rock band perform in front of 500,000 fans at Rome's Circo Massimo during their Turn It On Again concert tour of Europe and North America in 2007



Saturday (St Patrick's Day)
6am Madness Live at Eden (BBC Red Button, repeated on loop at various times over weekend)

12pm Soundbreaking (Ep1, The Recording Artist) (Sky Arts)

1pm Soundbreaking (Ep2 Painting with Sound) (Sky Arts)

6pm Video Killed The Radio Star - Guns N Roses (Sky Arts)

6.30pm Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day (Sky Arts)
The band's one-off reunion performance at London's O2 in 2007 as part of a benefit concert to commemorate the life of Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones were joined by former member John Bonham's son Jason on drums as the group played a selection of songs from their back catalogue, including Whole Lotta Love, Kashmir, Dazed and Confused and Black Dog

7pm Sounds Of The Sixties (Yesterday)
The Singer and the Song Archive clips featuring solo artists, including music by performers as diverse as Sandie Shaw, Dusty Springfield, Long John Baldry and Tom Jones

7.30pm Sounds Of The Sixties (Yesterday)
Hip to the Trip Celebration of the decade's psychedelic music, featuring counter-culture classics by the Who, Pink Floyd, Joe Cocker, the Nice and the Jimi Hendrix Experience

8pm Sounds Of The Seventies (Yesterday)
Long Ago and Far Away Selection of archive performances from the decade, including music by singer-songwriters including Carole King, James Taylor, Neil Young, Randy Newman and Don McLean

8.30pm Sounds Of The Seventies (Yesterday)
Comin' Home to You A selection of archive performances from the decade, featuring the Eagles, Eric Clapton and Dire Straits

8.30pm Val Doonican - An Fear a Shiuil go hard (TG4)
Documentary about the singer, exploring his six decade- showbiz career and the influence the death of his father had on his life

8.45pm Pat Shortt's Music From D'Telly (RTE1)
Selection of classic performances from the RTE archives

9pm TOTP2 - Boy Bands (Yesterday)
Music compilation show celebrating some of the most popular boy bands to have graced TV screens since the 1960s. The programme highlights performances by acts defined by vocal harmonies, synchronised dance-steps and character appeal, including JLS, the Four Tops, the Monkees, Westlife, Village People and Blazin' Squad

9pm St Patricks Night Concert 2018 (BBC2 NI) New!
Lynette Fay presents as the Ulster Orchestra and guests Brian Kennedy, Beoga, Roe, Karl McGuckin and Carolyn Dobbin take part in the event at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast

9pm & 3am Black Sabbath - The End of The End (Sky Arts) New!
Documentary charting the band's last gig, a sold-out home town performance on February 4, 2017, at Birmingham's 16,000-seat Genting Arena [The Concert itself is on Sunday]


10pm Chieftains 2016 (TG4)
Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh introduces a performance from Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall, in which the band celebrate a century of Irish music, joined by guests John Sheahan, Eddi Reader, Kris Kristofferson, Declan O'Rourke and Karan Casey

10pm TOTP2 - Girl Groups (Yesterday)
A selection of performances by some of the most popular all-girl groups to have appeared on the show, from the pop-soul vocal ensembles of the 1960s to the glamorous bands of the new millennium. Includes songs by the Supremes, Labelle, TLC, Spice Girls, the Pointer Sisters and B*Witched

10.30pm & 3.15am TOTP2 - St Patrick's Day Special (BBC4)
Steve Wright narrates a St Patrick's Day special, featuring archive performances by the Boomtown Rats, the Corrs, Enya, Shane McGowan and Johnny Depp, Stiff Little Fingers, Thin Lizzy, Sinead O'Connor and U2

11pm Shane MacGowan: A Wreck Reborn (Sky Arts)
Documentary charting the restoration of the Pogues frontman's teeth and shedding light on the lifestyle that led to their dismal state of repair. The hope is that the dental reconstruction will bring back his old singing voice and MacGowan tests out his new gnashers with a performance of Christmas anthem Fairytale of New York

11.15pm Irish Rock at the BBC (BBC4)
A compilation of Irish rock performances from the early 1970s onwards, with acts including Thin Lizzy, Ash, the Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers, U2, Sinead O'Connor, the Pogues, Imelda May, The Strypes, Hozier and the Divine Comedy. The programme features clips from a variety of BBC shows, including the Old Grey Whistle Test, Top of the Pops, and Later with Jools Holland

Midnight The Cranberries (Sky Arts)
Tribute

12.15am Top Of The Pops 1985 - June 13th (BBC4)

12.30am Villagers Live at Route du Rock Festival 2016 (Sky Arts)

12.45am Top Of The Pops 1985 - June 20th (BBC4)

2am Live From The Artists Den - Damien Rice (Sky Arts)



Sunday
11.45am Soundbreaking Ep4 Going Electric (Sky Arts)

12.45pm Soundbreaking Ep5 Four To The Floor (Sky Arts)

9pm Black Sabbath - The End (Sky Arts) New!
The rock band's last gig, a sold-out home town performance on February 4, 2017, at Birmingham's 16,000-seat Genting Arena

10pm Transatlantic Sessions - Togha agus Rogha (TG4)
Togha agus Rogha presents major artists, including Dirk Powell, Alison Krauss, Bela Fleck and James Taylor

11.15pm Film: Shirley (RTE1)
Biopic of Shirley Bassey, charting the singer's early career, from her humble roots in 1930s Wales - where she was born the youngest of eight children to a mixed-race couple - to the start of her rise to international stardom in the 1960s. Shirley dreams of success when a London agent plucks her from singing in the clubs and grooms her into a solo performer fit to take on the world. But the future star is hiding the fact that she is an unmarried teenage mother, and reluctantly hands her daughter over to her elder sister while she works night and day to achieve her dream. Ruth Negga (Misfits) stars, with Lesley Sharp, Charlie Creed-Miles and Henry Lloyd-Hughes


11.15pm RTE Choice Music Award 2018 (RTE2)
Highlights of the music award ceremony from Dublin's Vicar Street, which featured performances by a selection of this year's nominees
https://www.rte.ie/culture/2018/0109/932077-rte-choice-music-prize-shortlist-revealed/

11.20pm Saxon at Wacken 2014 (Sky Arts)

12.35am Deep Purple: Perfect Strangers (Sky Arts)
In 1984, the classic Deep Purple line-up of Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice reunited for the album Perfect Strangers and went on tour. This is the film of their concert in Melbourne, featuring performances of Highway Star, Strange Kind of Woman, Child in Time, Black Night, Speed King and Smoke on the Water

3am The Ritchie Blackmore Story (Sky Arts)
Brian May, Lars Ulrich and Gene Simmons are among those paying tribute to guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who has played with Deep Purple, Rainbow and the Outlaws among others





... RTE showing the Shirley Bassey film this weekend - The Manfred Mann singer broke the sad news of her death to a shocked Cardiff audience this week. Only she is still alive and kicking, so that's a relief http://www.nme.com/news/music/shirley-bassey-responds-falsely-pronounced-dead-2258897

Sadly, it hasn't been a good week for some other legends and Ken Dodd left the stage for the final time. A reminder of the time he appeared on Granada with a young Irish chancer and a popular beat combo of the day. John+Paul+George+Ringo+Ken+Gay, salute to whoever decided not to tape over the recording ...

Cheers lads, yeah BBC4 are throwing more music shows into midweek these days, I don't think that Blues one has been on much,

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

RIP Doddy


Presenting the third biggest-selling single of the 1960’s in the UK (couldn’t find any songs by Jim Bowen)...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys1ShRxuAnY

Ah nice one. Back in the had a lot of fans who wished he would do more of the music and less of the funnies.

Now, about Jim Bowen - curiosity got the better of me when WMM posted that and ... Jim Bowen did a Was (Not Was) Cover !





Harry Hill's idea apparently

http://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/19737/the-den-of-geek-interview-jim-bowen

"The Crowd" would be a good answer on Pointless for Number Ones of the Eighties

Welsh Megaman wrote: »

And RIP Liam O’Flynn

Hopefully, some Planxty stuff can be shoehorned into the weekend schedule.

Well said, I didn't see anything scheduled yet but I saw this posted on Twitter earlier which has an old No Disco Planxty special.

https://twitter.com/jimxcomet/status/974031680234250245

China Crisis are playing support to Paul Young in Sheffield Hallam University on Thursday.

Almost 40 years going now, fair play.

Apparently Jimmy Savile and Dave Lee Travis appear prominently in The Crowd video, that's why we only get a brief clip of it.