Our Music Our Freedom - Wandsworth London Borough of Culture
Our Music Our Freedom (Wandsworth London Borough of Culture)
A series of unmissable podcasts reflecting the music, musicians and musical communities of Wandsworth over the last 50 years. Prepare to be surprised and delighted by this musical adventure across our borough. It’s a journey through 1970’s reggae and rock, 1980’s hip hop and Bhangra and 1990’s grime and rave, and all stations to 21st Century indie, electronica and Mercury Award winners. Dive into our Jazz, Folk, Classical, Irish, African, Caribbean and South Asian musical heritage; get immersed in the sounds, stories and memories of Wandsworth’s vibrant and influential music scene. Our Music Our Freedom epitomises the importance of our shared musical heritage and the impact of music as the sound of tolerance, of education, of liberation, of knowledge, of unity, of joy and…of freedom.
Our Music Our Freedom is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Executive Producer: Max Reinhardt
Presenters: Anabel Provansal, Rita Ray and Max Reinhardt
Series theme tune: written & performed by Wandsworth Music student David Arteaga Onise
Listen on:
Episodes
Wednesday Feb 25, 2026
Wednesday Feb 25, 2026
Presenter: Anabel Provansal
An exploration of the Polish and Ukrainian communities and their music in Wandsworth and how life and music has been developing, especially in recent decades. Featuring an interview with Ksenia Kazintseva, an artist based in the borough who supports and writes about Eastern European Artists and gives an overview of the music from Eastern European countries and where it can be heard in Wandsworth, a nearby visit to a warm up and rehearsal session of the Orleta Polish Folk Song & Dance Group in Balham. Plus the exquisite singing of Inna Husieva, an opera singer from Ukraine, now settled in Wandsworth.
Podcast Music Playlist
R.U.T.A - Lament Chlopski (2011)
Laiko Felix - El Cavillo (1997)
Balamuc Band - Lula Lula (live recording)
London Bulgarian Choir - Izgreyala Yasna Zvezda (2008)
The Russian Folk Ensemble - Troika (2011…since been sampled by Adictos al Hip Hop (Espana))
Ekaterina Skliar (on domra) - The Mountain King (composed by Vasily Shekin based on themes by Grieg) (2019)
Vera Bila & Kale - Pas o Panori
Tapac Kompanichenko - Ми сміло в бій підем (we will go boldly into battle)
Volodymyr Parfeniuk- Врубай (Cut It)
Inna Husieva - Tsaryu Nebesnyy (Tsar of Heaven) (Tetiana Yashvili - Ukrainian Composer)
Inna Husieva, Sulaiman Haqpana and the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir - Спи, Ісусе, Cпи (Sleep, Jesus, Sleep) arr. for Soprano, Tabla, Organ, Piano, Bass and Choir by Roxanna Panufnik
Devynios Liepos/Nine Lindens (Lithuanian Multipart Polyphonic Song)
Wednesday Feb 25, 2026
Wednesday Feb 25, 2026
Presenter: Rita Ray
Producer, composer, musician Dennis Bovell talks about growing up, creating and developing his music in Wandsworth. In many ways, Dennis is the godfather of the borough’s music scene over the last 50 years, because he’s right there at the source of so much UK music. Hear about his contributions and adventures with UK Reggae, Lovers Rock, Dub poetry, African reggae, Afrobeat, pop and more. The ripple effect of his musical dexterity conceived and nurtured in Wandsworth still resounds around the globe. Contributions from Dennis also features in several other podcasts in this series.
Podcast Music Playlist
Peter Green & Fleetwood Mac - Black Magic Woman (Live at the Boston Tea Party 1970)
The Harry J All Stars - Liquidator (1969)
Matumbi - (I Can’t Get Enough Of That) Reggae Stuff (1973)
Pat Kelly - How Long (1969)
Matumbi - After Tonight (1976)
Smiley Culture - Shan A Shan (1984)
Matumbi - Empire Road (1979)
Janet Kay - Silly Games (Writer/Producer Dennis Bovell) (1979 Top of the Pops version)
Linton Kwesi Johnson -Sonny’s Lettah (Anti-sus Poem) (1979)
The Smile - The Smoke (Dennis Bovell RMX) (2022)