Near the spot in Salford where we were having a concert in his honour last Tuesday, Ewan MacColl had stood by a queue of unemployed men seventy years before. That was what was in my mind the other night, as we watched Peggy Seeger sing "First time ever I saw your face", then joined her for a rousing rendition of "Manchester Rambler", that Jimmie Miller had written at the age of 17.
Peter Cox, who produced the concert, is the author of a book called SET IN SONG, charting the history of the original BBC Radio Ballads series, and a new edition of MacColl's own autobiography JOURNEYMAN was being launched at the concert. I'm currently reading both books at once. Everyone should check them out.
I'd never taken MacColl's contribution to folk music for granted, but being part of this, and reading these amazing books, has brought him sharply into focus for me. To be involved in the concert, as well as the revived Radio Ballads, is quite a mind-blower. I'm now working on songs for another Radio Ballads programme, following the twenty-odd that I did for the 2006 series, which will mark the ending of  the Coal Miners strike of the 1980's here in the UK. It should be broadcast in March next year.
Meanwhile, Peggy Seeger is touring the UK in November, with Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson, and is on top form.