HIT THE NORTH

This week, Tom presents the Series 1 Sum-up! This includes listeners' Northern musical selections, some more interview extracts (Matthew Kelly, John Howard, Laura Minor & Mariam Rezaei), other musical picks and a quiz! The winner of the latter lifts the inaugural Flat Cap Trophy, while Tom also unveils Hit the North's Truth Teller of the Year. This episode is an odd kaleidoscopic, feat...

This week, Tom talks to Tyneside turntablist Mariam Rezaei, a vital musician whose work is experimental, expansive and deeply ambitious, utterly refuting any ideas of fixed, discrete 'genre'. We talked about her life and work, class, politics, identity, gatekeeping within the music industry, AI and, of course, Northernness! Extracts of these* pieces of music are included under fair dealing...

This week, Tom talks to the neurodivergent poet Peter Street, who has lived an utterly remarkable life - from gravedigger in Bolton to war poet in Bosnia to arborist and tree surgeon. This is a serious and humorous chat, exploring camarederie with gravediggers, the environmental crisis and there are several readings from Peter's wonderful poetry collection, EARTH TALK. It is also revealed that...

This week, Tom speaks to a fellow academic, Dr Laura Minor (Salford), whose roots are in the West Midlands, but who has a lived in the North of England for a good many years now. We talk about Laura's recent book about gender, social class and TV comedy, alongside whether a corner has been turned on shows like Benefits Street, AI, where culture is headed and so much more. Extracts of these* pieces...

This week, Tom speaks to Rachel Jackson, a fabulously distinctive voice in stand-up comedy and screen acting. We speak about Northernness, Scottishness, her unique comedy style, the film she was in with Karen Gillen, horror films and the excellent rave film, BEATS (2019). Rachel candidly addresses her mental health struggles, and was a wonderful guest, pithy and warm. This episode contains some st...

This week, Tom speaks to John Howard, the great singer-songwriter you probably haven't heard of but will love if you like David Bowie, Elton John, Jobriath, Duncan Browne and Clifford T. Ward. This episode includes discussion ranging over the whole of John's music career, including his landmark albums Kid in a Big World and The Dangerous Hours and working with producers Biddu and Trevor Ho...

Hit the North aims to include guests from all over the North, and outside it. Justin Lewis is an authoritative historian of comedy and pop music, and this episode explores his life, and showcases his excellent books, including the new "Into the Groove", a history of 1980s music. Justin's connections to the North are slighter than Matthew's or Ruth's, but tangible and deep - a...

This week's guest is the singer Ruth-Ann Boyle, primarily known for her work with Olive, but who has also recorded with The Durutti Column and Enigma. This enjoyable chat takes in the minutiae of Sunderland life, the tabloid press and how Top of the Pops was better than Never Mind the Buzzcocks. As is necessary, there are some wonderful clips of music Ruth-Ann was involved with! Extracts of th...

This week, Tom speaks to the actor and presenter Matthew Kelly about his life and work and Northern England. The discussion takes in a key agitprop production at the Liverpool Everyman, Stars in Their Eyes, Samuel Beckett, Not Going Out and Inside No. 9 among much else! What a delightful first guest for this show, quite frankly. Extracts of these* pieces of music are included under fair dealing/fa...

Tom May introduces the new podcast HIT THE NORTH. Extracts of these* pieces of music are included under fair dealing/fair use for commentary and review and to illustrate guest choices. This podcast is non-commercial. *The JAMs - 'It's Grim Up North', Jake Thackray - 'Old Molly Metcalfe' and Alex Glasgow - 'As Soon As This Pub Closes'.