The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show
The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show is a British radio programme, broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music on Saturdays, between 6 pm and 9 pm, and between 10 pm and 12 midnight on BBC Radio 2. The Radio 6 Music show is presented live by Craig Charles and produced by Simon Hodge, Ben Appleyard and Ellen Orchard for TBI Media. All varieties of funk and soul music are played, from classic tracks to the latest releases. It is the longest-running show on BBC Radio 6 Music, and has had the highest audience share of any programme on the network.
Programme format
The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show plays mostly well-known songs by the artists of black American music, from the 1950s to the 1980s, as well as some Northern Soul, alongside modern remixes and unusual cover versions. These are mixed in with a substantial number of new songs by established bands and emerging British artists and occasionally tracks by unsigned bands. In addition to the funk and soul mainstay, the show extends into the rhythm and blues, jazz, blues, gospel and hip hop genres.The programme includes intimate interviews with special guests, live studio sessions, occasional tributes and regular features. Listeners contribute to features and send in music requests by text and email, and through social media websites. The show carries no advertising, but there are news bulletins at half past each hour. There are no stand-in presenters, so the show is occasionally pre-recorded when Charles has a scheduling clash.
Features
Regular features on the BBC6 Music show:- Talcum Time – a listener's three favourite Northern Soul songs played in a row.
- Trunk of Funk – playing 30 minutes of back to back funk hits.
- The History of Women in Funk and Soul – each week a well-known female funk and soul musician is chosen, with three tracks played.
- Spinage au Trois – a listener chooses their three favourite tracks to be played back to back.
- Fight Club – a well-known challenger takes on Charles' record collection, song against song, in themed rounds.
- 6 On 6 In 6 – a guest chooses six songs which are played in six minutes, with one song being played in full.
- Version Excursion – a great dance tune or remix at least 10 minutes long.
- New to 2 – a track not previously played on Radio 2.
- Secret Soul Boy / Secret Soul Sister – a celebrity reveals their love of soul music by choosing tracks to be played.
- Cover From Another Brother/Mother and You Heard it Here First – a cover of a well known song played back to back with the original version of a song made famous by a cover
- Additionally, Talcum Time is sometimes included on Radio 2 too.
- Slow Cooking – a listener's choice of romantic 'Get a Room Tune'.
- Cover From Another Brother/Mother – a cover version of a well-known track.
- The A to Z of Funk – listeners suggest songs, bands, record labels or anything else beginning with the letter of the week.
- World Funk Airways – educating listeners about funk bands from around the world.
- Choir Practice – playing a listener's two favourite gospel tracks in a row.
- The History of Black Music From 1899 – explaining the importance of the early track played.
- Songs You Don't Know – Lack of Afro asks listeners for further information on the obscure track played.
- 52 Weeks of Funk – a year-long countdown of Charles' favourite funk records.
- Hammond Time – Greg Boraman chooses a track for the Hammond organ.
- Soul Mining – the listening public dig deep for funk or soul records by artists they wouldn't expect to hear on the show.
- Betty's Hotpot – playing songs by 'Bettys', inspired by Betty Driver who played Betty Williams in Coronation Street.
- Sub Zero – a 'cool' funk or soul album is chosen, from which three tracks are played during the show.
- Re-souled covers – each week a different band performs a session and records a cover version of their chosen track from the featured album.
- Funk Log – highlighting a funk track originating from a different country.
- Facts of Funk – Charles profiles a group which is added to the dictionary, to show the diversity of the music.
- Three of a Kind – an in-depth look at a classic record label.
- Sample City – Charles demonstrates the funk roots of his favourite hip-hop artists.
Notable guests
Special guests of the old school have included James Brown, George Clinton, Gil Scott-Heron, Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Booker T, Chuck Brown and Candi Staton, along with members of bands such as Sly and the Family Stone, Kool & The Gang, The Isley Brothers and The Temptations. British artists have included Soul II Soul, Paul Weller and Primal Scream, James Taylor Quartet, The New Mastersounds, The Brand New Heavies, Cymande, Smoove & Turrell, Bluey of Incognito and Amy Winehouse.The diverse range of guest artists includes:
Al Bell, Alexia Coley, Alice Russell, Amp Fiddler, Angelo Starr, The Apples, Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra, Baby Charles, The Bamboos, Ben Westbeech, Betty Wright, Billy Paul, Jimmy Carter of The Blind Boys of Alabama, Bobby Womack, The Bo-Keys, The Bongolian, Charles Bradley, Joe Restivo from The City Champs, Cody ChesnuTT, Corduroy, Cut Chemist, Deep Street Soul, Dennis Edwards, Dionne Warwick, Dr Rubberfunk, Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire, Eddie Floyd, Eddie Piller, The Excitements, The Fantastics, Bill Curtis of Fatback Band, The Filthy Six, The Flirtations, Abdul "Duke" Fakir of The Four Tops, Freda Payne, Jack Ashford of The Funk Brothers, Funkshone, The Fusion Experience, Gamble and Huff, Gizzelle, Greg Boraman, Gregory Porter, The Grits, Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers, Henry Stone, Hot 8 Brass Band, The Impellers, The Impressions, James Hunter, Jimmy James, Jocelyn Brown, Joe Quarterman, The Jungle Brothers, Kokolo, Koop, Lack of Afro, Terri Walker and Nicole Wray of Lady, Larry Graham, Laura Vane & The Vipertones, Lee Fields, Leon Ware, Lonnie Liston Smith, Mario Biondi, Marlena Shaw, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Marva Whitney, Mavis Staples, Mica and The Dells, Cyril Neville of The Neville Brothers, Nile Rodgers from Chic, Nitin Sawhney, Omar, Osaka Monaurail, Otis Williams from The Temptations, Percy Sledge, Pete Townshend, The Pimps of Joytime, P. P. Arnold, Push, Quantic, Robert Bell from Kool & the Gang, Ronnie Spector, The Roots, Roy Ayers, Russ Winstanley, Sharon Jones, Sister Henry & the Prescriptions, Snowboy, Sophia Bastian, Speedometer, Bobby Smith of The Spinners, Isaac Hayes and Rufus Thomas of Stax Records, Steve Cropper, The Sweet Vandals, Terry Callier, Tom Browne, Tom Scott, Tony Christie, Umar Bin Hassan, The Underbelly, Vaneese Thomas, Bertha Barbee McNeal of The Velvelettes and Eric Burdon from War.
Broadcast medium
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcasts nationally on DAB digital radio and on digital television channels Freeview 707, Freesat 707, Sky 0120, Virgin Media 909, Talk Talk TV 632 and UPC Ireland 912. The station is also available worldwide on the internet through live online streaming, and for seven days after broadcast through the 'listen again' facility on the 6 Music website and using the BBC iPlayer. Selected interviews are available online for a longer period, along with a gallery of 'highlights' sessions. The 6 Music website lists programme information, including track lists, for shows since September 2007. The Radio 2 hour of the programme is also available on 88 to 91Mhz FM, in addition to BBC digital output channels.Outside the United Kingdom, listeners can hear BBC6 from its website; it is also available on the desktop iTunes programme, as a channel under the Alternative menu, and as a channel on the TuneIn radio app.
Production and history
The show is an independent production on the network, which has been produced by TBI Media productions since March 2011. In November 2011, the show began broadcasting from studios at the newly built MediaCityUK site, at Salford Quays, Greater Manchester, having relocated from the BBC Manchester Headquarters at New Broadcasting House in Manchester City Centre. The show has also aired from other BBC locations around the UK, and occasionally live from festival sites.The programme was first broadcast on Friday 15 March 2002, during the first week of the BBC 6 Music station's launch, and was originally known as The Craig Charles Funk Show. In the early years of the network, the show aired twice weekly, on Friday and Saturday nights. The previous production company, from September 2006 until March 2011, was Demus Productions, with Hermeet Chadha as a producer and co-presenter, and the programme was also previously produced by Henry Lopez-Real.
The Fantasy Funk Band
In 2007, as a long-running feature, Charles asked the show's listeners to vote for their perfect British funk band line-up. In 2009, to celebrate 75 years of the prestigious BBC Maida Vale Studios, Charles formed the Fantasy Funk Band from their suggestions. The band originally featured James Taylor of the James Taylor Quartet, The Haggis Horns, Eddie Roberts of New Mastersounds, Ernie McKone of Push, Mike Bandoni of Funkshone, John Turrell of Smoove and Turrell, Dionne Charles of Baby Charles, Chip Wickham and Snowboy.In 2010, the band's performances included Glastonbury, the Big Chill and Bingley festivals. In September 2010, Mick Talbot of The Style Council joined the band and Leigh Gracie of Speedometer replaced Eddie Roberts. In February 2012, the band came together again at the Maida Vale Studios, to rehearse and record an album in celebration of BBC 6 Music's 10th anniversary. Guest singers included The Magic Numbers, Lisa Stansfield, Omar, John Turrell, Jasmine Kara, Beverley Knight and Pat Kane of Hue and Cry. At Christmas, they played a concert at The Spiegeltent, Bristol.
The line-up for 2013 consisted of Mick Talbot, Snowboy, Mark Van der Gucht, Atholl Ransome and Jim Corry and Malcolm Strachan of The Haggis Horns, Ernie McKone, Mike Bandoni, John Turrell and Ria Currie. They played a variety of live events during the summer, including the Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul festival, Craig Charles' Fantasy Weekender, and the BBC's Last Night 'Proms in the Park', with further appearances planned for 2014.
The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club
Since 2008, Charles has continuously toured The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club, performing live DJ sets at nightclubs, festivals and special events throughout the UK, and beyond.Charles plays a mixture of well-known, classic funk and soul tracks, usually covered and remixed by current leading bands and DJs, along with the latest new danceable songs.
Residencies have included Band on the Wall in Manchester, The Wardrobe and The Elbow Room in Leeds, Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes and Brixton Jamm in London, and The Lanes and Motion in Bristol.
Festivals have included Glastonbury, WOMAD, The Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Kendal Calling, Big Chill, Limetree, Vintage at Goodwood and the Wickerman Festival, and Charles plays other diverse events such as Soundcrash Boat Parties and the SFX Weekender sci-fi convention.
As well as performing as a DJ, Charles has compered and curated a day of the Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival, since the festival opened in 2010, and his band, The Fantasy Funk Band, also took to the stage in 2013. In 2013, Charles hosted his own festival, The Craig Charles Fantasy Weekender, where fellow 6 Music DJ Gilles Peterson also played.
International gigs in 2013 included Australia, Croatia, Ibiza and Dubai.
Charles' first compilation album, The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club, was released on Freestyle Records in 2012, in CD and digital download format, with a second volume following in 2013. To date, six volumes have been released, together with a CD entitled Craig Charles' Soul and Funk Classics. The albums showcase music from leading artists of the genre that is played at the clubnights.