Wednesday, 9:00pm to 10:00pm

Folk music – classic songs and emerging artists, from the Australian folk scene and around the world – Jane Klein (occasionally joined by Phil Bates) brings you the best of folk.

An hour of your folk favourites – if they’re not already, they will be soon!

Get in touch with us at [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you!

Jane Klein

Jane’s love affair with folk music was shaped by the revival of interest in traditional folk in the United Kingdom.  She is fascinated by how different artists and different generations create these songs afresh. New talent and well-loved classics feature in her favourites.

Phil Bates

Phil’s folk performing career blossomed as the guitar player for Newcastle’s iconic bush band Rum Culls. Since then, he’s added various guitars and banjos to his wardrobe of instruments.  And he’s to be found strumming and warbling regularly at Hunter Wetlands and various other events.  Previously he hosted Monday Folk on 2NURFM, and now brings his wealth of folk knowledge to Classic Folk. You can discover more about Phil and his music (including Rum Culls) on Bandcamp.

Hear Phil and Jane describe the show

Previous Programs

23 Jun 2026, 11:38am

23 Jun 2026, 11:38am Classic Folk – 1 July 2026 On this edition, Jane Klein has selected music around the them 'fire'. Songs included are: By the Glow of the Kerosene Light (The Once), Where the Cane Fires Burn (P Ilott & R Ilott), Little Tim Maguire (The McCalmans), Khe Sanh – Long Tan version (John Schumann & Vagabond Crew), The Price of Fire (Capercaillie), Kep barang karla barang – Bring fire fire rain (Gina Williams & Guy Ghouse), The Ghost and the Fire (Steve Tyson), Fire in My Eyes (Snez), Feel the Fire (Earthbound), Wildfires (Jenny Mitchell), When Grandma Would Reminisce (Wendy Wood), Peat Fire Flame / The Duke of Fife's Welcome to Dundee / Laird of Drumblair / Miller's Reel (Black Bear Duo).

23 Jun 2026, 12am

23 Jun 2026, 12am Classic Folk – 24 June 2026 On the 24 June edition of Classic Folk, Jane Klein has chosen songs on the theme of 'earth'. You'll hear Going Back Home — Pigram Brothers, The Hills and Rocks of Home — P Davies & R Ilott, Red Dust — Enda Kenny, Farmer’s Toast — Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends, Ye Banks & Braes o’ Bonny Doon — Eddi Reader, Annie’s House — David Francey, The Diamantina Drover — Stray Hens, Cam Ye O’er Frae France — Steeleye Span, The Curragh of Kildare — Phil Beer & Paul Downes, Peace on Earth — Cedar Arm, Adieu to Old England — Ian King, Brigg Fair — The Full English, Hay de Gie — Senor Cabrales, The Dusty Dry Outback — Martyn Wyndham-Read.

16 Jun 2026, 11:23am

16 Jun 2026, 11:23am Classic Folk – 17 June 2026 On this edition of Classic Folk, Jane Klein has selected songs around the theme of 'water'. You'll hear: Byron One — Graham Dodsworth, The Ship Song — Wish List Nicole (Murray & Emma Nixon) / Nick Cave, Take the River — The Raglins, The River My Thief — Steve Tyson, White Squall — Enda Kenny / Stan Rogers, River — Liz Frenchman, My Sister & Laura & Me — Dark Horses, No Baaka No Barkindji — Leroy Johnson & the Waterbag Band, If Time Was an Ocean — Pete Hawkes, Water from the Well — Water Runners, Kookaburra — Dave O’Neill & Bob Rodgers, The Water is Wide — Bruce Mathiske.

10 Jun 2026, 12am

10 Jun 2026, 12am Classic Folk – 10 June 2026 On this edition, Jane plays songs about unions of different kinds. You'll hear: The Union of Different Kinds — Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends, Ellie May — Fred Smith, Jack the Sailor — The Once, Something Old, Something New — Craig & Simone Dawson, Wedding Dress — CrossHarbour, The Wedding / Because He Was a Bonny Lad — Kathryn Tickell, Gypsy Davey — Bob Fox & Stu Luckley, One More Day — Faustus, Wayside — Kim Churchill, The Fatal Wedding — Chloe & Jason Roweth, The Soldier’s Wife — Ami Williamson, The Mighty Sparrow — Sharon Shannon, The Nefarious Goatherd (intro) — Gareth Koch, Emptyhanded — Andy Irvine, The Dogs Among the Bushes / Jenny’s Wedding — Planxty.

3 Jun 2026, 11:23am

3 Jun 2026, 11:23am Classic Folk – 3 June 2026 Songs included on this wintery episode are: As Winter Comes — Caroline Hammond, Streets of London — Ralph McTell, Lillywhite Girl — Seth Lakeman, A Winter Song — David Francey, Summer‑Winter Phase — Penny Davies & Roger Ilott, The Longest Day and the Shortest Day — Colum Sands, Song for a Winter’s Night — Tommy Leonard, Winter in My Bones — Snez, The Coldest Winds Do Blow — C While & J Matthews, An Emotional Winter — Pete Hawkes, Winter Carol — AJ Leonard & Dave Billings, Blue Sky Winter — Chloe & Silas, Gloomy Winter’s Noo Awa’ — Emma Nixon & Chris Stone.

27 May 2026, 12am

27 May 2026, 12am Classic Folk – 27 May 2026 On this edition, Jane Klein continues the theme of Folk in a foreign tongue. Part 1: Mostly European “Welcome!” — Wanjoo / Gina Williams & Guy Ghouse “M’zaz [Life & Death of Stars]” — Le Poingonneur des Lilas “Italian counting song” — Cos’è uno / Tesi Riccardo, Geri Maurizio “Duo” — Als ich dich kaum gesehn / Walther & Treyz Part 2: Irish Gaelic “Banba” — Caidé Sin Don Té Sin / Clannad “Brown-haired girl” — Mo Ghile Mear / Iarla Ó Lionáird “Candlelight Sessions” — Nil Na Lá / Saorise Part 3: Various “Venezuelan song” — Moliendo Cafe / Pachamama “Valzer per un Amore” — Beppe Gambetta & Tony McManus Featured / local Folk “Schreibmaschine” — Berlin / The Beez Part 4: Various “Little French Songs” — Le Pingouin / Carla Bruni “Other Side of the Room” — Taba Naba / Jessie Lloyd “RUSSIAN” — Dimitro, Simo Dimitro / Mara & Martinetsa “Gleowien” — Trad II / V Swan & J Dyer

21 May 2026, 8:26am

21 May 2026, 8:26am Classic Folk – 20 May 2026 On this edition, Jane Klein has chosen songs representing Folk in a foreign tongue. Part 1: Scottish Gaelic “To the Moon” — Fear-Allabain / Capercaillie “Dick Gaughan really English!” — The Last Trip Home / Dick Gaughan “Celtic Collection” — Cagaran Goalach / Mary Jane Lamond “Lullaby from Lochaber, SCO” — Nova Scotia Part 2: South American “Music from the Andes” — Mi Corazon / Rickaric “Canto de Pueblos Andinos” — A Vos Te Hay De Pesar / Inti-Illimani “Fantasia” — Quarter Street MLB Latin Band Part 3: African / French “World Citizen” — Eewoyi / Akasa “Roots and Wings” — Ta Chambre / Yeshe Featured: local Folk “Curious Creatures” — Records de la Alhambra / Pete Hawkes Part 4: Various “Live at Kyudo Kaikan” — Sail Away to the Sea / John John Festival “Extras” — Warangka / Gina Williams & Guy Ghouse “Aqui” — The New Breton Set / Señor Cabrales

15 May 2026, 7:51am

15 May 2026, 7:51am Classic Folk – 13 May 2026 On this edition of Classic Folk Jane Klein features music about deaths. Some of the songs included are Joan Of Arc (The Fagans), Burke's Lament (Kamerunga), and The Last Of The Widows (Bob Fox).

8 May 2026, 8:02am

8 May 2026, 8:02am Classic Folk – 6 May 2026 On this edition of Classic Folk, Jane Klein features music related to food. Some of the songs included are The Big Ben Pie (Chloe & Jason Roweth), Fisher On The Sea (Snez), and Peppermint Tea (Maureen O'Brien).

29 Apr 2026, 11:04am

29 Apr 2026, 11:04am Classic Folk – 29 April 2026 On this edition of Classic Folk Jane Klein features music about autumn. Some of the songs included are The Wild Mountainside (Eddi Reader), Seasons (New Graces), and Cold Blow & The Rainy Night (Planxty).

22 Apr 2026, 12am

22 Apr 2026, 12am Classic Folk – 22 April 2026 On this edition of Classic Folk Jane Klein features music for ANZAC Day. Some of the songs included are Pepper and Tomatoes (Ralph McTell), Mothers, Daughters, Wives (Judy Small), and The Bonny Light Horseman (Kent Daniel).

15 Apr 2026, 12am

15 Apr 2026, 12am Classic Folk – 15 April 2026 On this edition of Classic Folk, Jane Klein plays folk music from around the Pacific Ocean.

8 Apr 2026, 10:07am

8 Apr 2026, 10:07am Classic Folk – 8 April 2026 Jane Klein features folk music from the British Isles on this edition of Classic Folk. Tobermory — Capercaillie The Bonnie Banks o' Fordie — Old Blind Dogs The Inverness Gathering — Rum Culls Dark Inishowen — Altan Mary Christina — Enda Kenny Paddy Donovan — Saoirse Bruton Town — Bob Fox & Stu Luckley Time is Like a Promise — Tir Na nÓg The Hags of Gloucester — Gareth Koch The Blacksmith — Planxty Tandragee — Colum Sands Potato Taxi — Apolline

1 Apr 2026, 11:32am

1 Apr 2026, 11:32am Classic Folk – 1 April 2026 On this edition of Classic Folk, Jane Klein has chosen music around the theme of 'local corners'. She's in Queensland for Banks of the Brisbane River (Cloudstreet & Little Cloud Orchestra), Western Australia for Fremantle Sand (Dark Horses), the Outback for Todd River (Bloodwood), and in Newcastle for Girls of Our Town (Mandy Breeze/Doug Kelly).

24 Mar 2026, 11:10am

24 Mar 2026, 11:10am Classic Folk – 25 March 2026 With the National Folk Festival taking place 2-4 April, Jane Klein has picked some festival favourites for this edition of Classic Folk. Song you'll hear include Snakes & Ladders (The Inadequates), Never Lay Them Down (Nancy Kerr & James Fagan), and Illawarra Rose (Fred Smith).

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