Folk, country music and BBC ALBA

[bazzaboy]

If you’re into folk and country music you might, like me, be mystified why the BBC keep some of their best TV music programmes on “BBC ALBA” (where?), more or less a national secret (perhaps Scots Grapes are more familiar?) BBC ALBA has a full range of programming, much of it in Gaelic, but including some excellent folk/country, a brilliant antidote to the multiple rock-heavy music channels (I like rock but do we really need so many stations to the exclusion of nearly everything else, who watches ‘em all?) If you have access to Sky, BBC ALBA is Channel 168 (is it available on Freeview?), it doesn’t feature in the music listings but try “Ceol Country” and “Horo Gheallaidh” for some great acts several times a week…. The connections between Country and Celtic - whether it be folk, country, bluegrass - becomes very obvious here with some brilliant musicianship on display - but why is it kept a national secret? b.

[terrier]

Are we talking TV here? BBC radio has loads of folk/country/trad stations on air and they certainly don't keep them hidden. 'Fraid we don't have a TV in this house

[Gwen11ian]

We don't have a TV either! Down with Big Brother (the 1984 one)!

Have to admit I do love the BBC iPlayer though.. everything good about TV can be found on there. Free, no commercials, on demand, and a wide interest of factual programs.

[elsie-scot]

quite angry in our house that you have to have sky to get bbc alba. We have sky but that not the point....Gaelic is supposed to be promoted now...argh...rant over!

[terrier]

Forget Sky, listen to radio, you can overdose on the amount of Gaelic music there

[sewer rat]

Radio Nan Gael -that's what you want.
We have loads of gaelic stuff in the house - Iona goes to Gaelic medium primary school (P3 now) where for the first three years they are taught everything in gaelic - total immersion I think it's called, and Niamh is on the list for the Gaelic Toddlers Group.
Before anyone starts ranting about it being a dead language - it is making a comeback (unlike Cornish which I believe - or rather the EU believes - has been an extinct language since the 1700's - Sorry Kernowan ) and studies have shown that this sort of teaching in another language open pathways in the brain that make learning other languages later on much easier - one downside -Iona and her pals can take the p*ss out of me and I haven't a clue what they're saying.
Slainte