Black Country Stories
By Black Country Touring
Podcast produced by Black Country Touring, the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder. Supported by Arts Council England.
Black Country StoriesNov 10, 2021
What's In Store
Before Vimal Korpal became a performer, he ran a shop – and he still likes talking to shopkeepers. In this podcast he visits Wednesbury town centre where he uncovers the interesting stories behind two shops – Simone’s Bridal Wear and Sue’s Traditional Sweets.
Surprisingly, these vastly different shops share more than just their Wednesbury location, and Vimal proves yet again that there are stories we all want to hear in everyone’s lives.
This Black Country Stories podcast episode was funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. What's in Store was part of We Are Wednesbury, a cultural programme produced by Multistory for the High Streets Heritage Action Zone initiative, funded by Sandwell Council and Historic England.
I Don't Know Why I'm Telling You This
Bohdan Piasecki is a poet and he listens to people. Well, he has conversations with people, listens to what he’s been told, and then writes a poem for them from the things that he’s been told.
In this podcast, he has conversations with three people and writes three new poems about a special grandchild, the release of speed, and how loving people often means knowing when to let them go.
The conversations are intriguing, the poems are wonderful.
This Black Country Stories podcast episode was funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. What's in Store was part of We Are Wednesbury, a cultural programme produced by Multistory for the High Streets Heritage Action Zone initiative, funded by Sandwell Council and Historic England.
Bonus - Gagan Grewal chats to Vimal Korpal about Tattoo Stories
BBC Radio presenter Gagan Grewal chats to Vimal Korpal about all things tattoo. First broadcast 5 December 2021.
Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. Tattoo Stories is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Episode 1 - Tattoo Stories - Names
Tattooists don’t like doing names, for all sorts of reasons like misspellings or loved ones falling out. When I got a tattoo my mum wasn’t too impressed. I then learned my uncle had his name tattooed on his arm. Why would anyone have their own name tattooed on their arm? Little did I know it would take me back over 70 years before the British partitioned India. Writer & presenter Vimal Korpal. Sound design Annie Mahtani. Santoor Kaviraj Singh. Director Steve Johnstone. Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. Tattoo Stories is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Preview - Tattoo Stories
I’m no tattooist but there are thousands of stories as to why people have tattoos: for love, inspiration, remembrance, fashion, culture, cosmetic; and some just because they were drunk! There’s a story behind every tattoo. Join writer-performer Vimal Korpal as he ventures into the world of Black Country tattoos. Tracing his own tattoo takes him back over 70 years and 4000 miles away from home. Writer & presenter Vimal Korpal. Sound design Annie Mahtani. Santoor Kaviraj Singh. Director Steve Johnstone. Supported by the DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund. Tattoo Stories is a Black Country Stories podcast commissioned and produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Bonus - Duncan Grimley Talks Sound - Voices of the Fairground
In this bonus episode Producer Bobby Tiwana talks to Music Composer & Sound Designer Duncan Grimley about his work.
Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Bonus - Sounds of the Fairground - Voices of the Fairground
Bonus episode Sounds of the Fairground provides a brief tour of the sound and music worlds created by Duncan Grimley as part of Voices of the Fairground.
Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Bonus - Anthony Harris says a few words - Voices of the Fairground
In this bonus episode Anthony Harris of the fairground community and Showmen's Guild associate says a few words at the launch of Voices of the Fairground exhibition at Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery, 17 November 2022.
Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Episode 3 - Voices of the Fairground - Moving On
Come back to the park one last time as the rides are packed down and loaded onto trucks. As the fair rolls out, hear the stories of how the fair has changed. Prejudice, culture, identity, business. What do the showmen and show-women face, how do they carry on, and why is the fair so important to us?
Summer. Late evening. A walk in the park, under the trees. Then, as if dropped from outer space - motors, flashes, screams. Mechanical limbs gyrate through the air to the sound of techno thumping bass. Welcome to Voices of the Fairground. Join writer-performer Rochi Rampal as she explores the travelling fairground with the people who live it everyday. Based on the lives of Black Country fairground communities.
Writer & presenter Rochi Rampal. Music composition & sound design Duncan Grimley. Director Steve Johnstone. Research Alex Howell & Nicola Churchill. Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Episode 2 - Voices of the Fairground - Gaff Day
The fair’s open. Pile on the waltzer with us, step onto the ghost train. Feel your belly lurch, your adrenaline rush. The fried onions and the pink cuddly toys. These are the stories not just of the thrill of it all, but of the people who make it happen for us.
Summer. Late evening. A walk in the park, under the trees. Then, as if dropped from outer space - motors, flashes, screams. Mechanical limbs gyrate through the air to the sound of techno thumping bass. Welcome to Voices of the Fairground. Join writer-performer Rochi Rampal as she explores the travelling fairground with the people who live it everyday. Based on the lives of Black Country fairground communities.
Writer & presenter Rochi Rampal. Music composition & sound design Duncan Grimley. Director Steve Johnstone. Research Alex Howell & Nicola Churchill. Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Episode 1 - Voices of the Fairground - Building Up
Summer. Late evening. A walk in the park, under the trees. Then, as if dropped from outer space - motors, flashes, screams. Mechanical limbs gyrate through the air to the sound of techno thumping bass. But it’s not just a pretty face of flashes and noise and thrills. There’s so much more. There’s history, heritage, and hard work… Welcome to Voices of the Fairground. Join writer-performer Rochi Rampal as she explores the travelling fairground with the people who live it everyday. Based on the lives of Black Country fairground communities. Writer & presenter Rochi Rampal. Music composition & sound design Duncan Grimley. Director Steve Johnstone. Research Alex Howell & Nicola Churchill. Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.
Preview - Voices of the Fairground
Join writer-performer Rochi Rampal as she explores the travelling fairground with the people who live it everyday. Based on the lives of Black Country fairground communities. Writer & presenter Rochi Rampal. Music composition & sound design Duncan Grimley. Director Steve Johnstone. Research Alex Howell & Nicola Churchill. Supported by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s Museum & Arts Service. Funding National Lottery Heritage Fund & Sandwell Museum & Arts Service. Voices of the Fairground is a Black Country Stories podcast produced by Black Country Touring, an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation and charity. From the producers of Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder.