Local Legends #69: Richard Dawson

On this week's episode of Local Legends Martin chats with award winning singer-songwriter and progressive artist Richard Dawson.

Hailing from England's northernmost city, Newcastle upon Tyne, Richard doesn't much like being pigeon-holed or for his music to be put into a genre, but across this chat he just about surrenders to Martin's insistence that he's a folk musician, and proudly avant garde.

Starting with his 2017 album Peasant in particular, he has been on a near decade long run of writing, amongst other things, detailed, tender, thought-provoking story songs as a solo artist, along with experimental jazz as a member of the band Hen Ogledd and experimental rock music with Finnish band Circle.

In addition to talking about his career so far and the changing nature of an artist's life in the 21st century, this conversation ranges from family stories of haunting to personal experiences with a UFO, and chats about aspects of Northumberland's folklore including The Laidly Worm of Spindlestone Heugh and the Simonside Dwarves plus much more besides.

So gather in close around the Three Ravens campfire for a chat with one of Martin's favourite musicians, who also just happens to be a Three Ravens listener!

Three Ravens is a Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.

Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on a historic county, exploring the heritage, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...

Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.

With a range of exclusive content on Patreon too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?

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