Well, something really different for you this week!

As many of you will know, the Varmints have a deep fascination with the heritage of rock (and indeed the rock of heritage) and so were delighted when John Varmint suggested this latest wheeze.

So, a couple of weeks ago, giddy with excitement at the awarding of the Queen's Anniversar Prize for Higher Education to the University of York for his department's pioneering work in the field of archaeology, John invited Heri & Kari, from metal titans Tyr, to address a special symposium.

The evening, hosted by the University of York, featured Her & Kari fielding questions from an audience of members of the Viking Studies Research Group and the York Heritage Research Seminars.  The topics ranged from the influence of traditional Faroese music on Tyr's work, through gender politics in heavy metal to how to get drunk in Copenhagen & blame it on the Swedes.

... and James (Junior) Varmint was on hand to record the whoe thing - hurrah!

So, we are delighted to be able to bring you the results this Friday.  The feature is, by turns, absorbing, provocative & (mostly) very funny.  So, tune in this Friday (22.00 - 00.00 GMT) for a fantastic hour of chat, 1920s ethnographic recordings and magnificent, melodic, harmonious rock music.

(BTW: If you're new to the Varmint Show, to listen simply click one of the Listen Live links above or click HERE and click the speaker link for a live stream - and to email us during the show, use one of the links above or click This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Look forward to seeing you then.

UPDATE:

You can now read John Varmint's latest column over at the CBA's British Archaeology website HERE

 UPDATE:

Because we are really good to you, the podcast is already available as a listen again.  Just click the play button below & be transported.

  ... We'd love to hear your comments - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Show Poster:

Click the thumbnail for a full size poster

Seminar Poster:

Click the thumbnail for a full size poster

Oerrrr!  Seem to have touched a nerve here....

Let me go back a bit.  Regular listeners / readers will be aware (you were aware weren't you?)  that the Varmints write a regular column on musical archaeology for British Archaeology, THE trade mag for trowel-bothers across the country.  But of course.  Who else could do such an important subject justice?

Now, to be absolutely acurate, the column is the brain-child of John Varmint, with Bob Varmint also contributing.  This makes sense, as they are actual archaeologists - and the rest of us aren't - indeed, Oz Varmint has been known to mistake a trowel for a barbie tool ... but I digress.

Anyway, this month's column has been lovingly crafted by John Varmint.  In it, he and his colleague Paul Graves-Brown excavate the Sex Pistols old flat at 6 Denmark St and examine the graffiti left there by the band (esp. Johnny Rotten).  In a nutshell, they postulate that these remains have the same cultural importance (for some - and this is a significant caveat) as the cave paintings at Lascaux.

Having lit the blue touch-paper, I won't attempt to further expand on this view, other than to point you to the article here - http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/varmints/ba122punkslascaux.shtml - it's a fascinating read.

In the 24 hours or so since the article went live it seems to have developed as a story in it's own right.  Firstly, the article was picked up by the Mail Online - it was chewed around a bit by online commentards - and then it seems to have exploded .... coverage in the leader column of today's Times, plus articles in the Independent, Telegraph, Guardian Online, USA Today and on the BBC website - as well as appearances by John on the 6 'O' Clock news and more booked for 5Live and the News @ 10 this evening , with articles in the Sun & the Guardian tommorrow.

Good to see a 10radio alumnus winding so many people up - and he always looks so innocent!  Reader comment of the day so far - "Dr Schofield you are a twit!"

Anyway, have a read of the column & see what you think - oh and expect this weeks Varmint Show to have an archaeological / heritage / punk vibe - we are hoping to get John V live on the phone to explain himself (well, he's done every other media outlet of note in the last 24 hs).

&

Click on the above thumbnails for larger images.

As an additional treat, John Varmint's colleague,  Paul Graves-Brown, has produced a video to accompany his cover of the Pistols Submission.

Submission - click here 

 Oh and, add in Radio 4 "The World Tonight", New York Times, ARTInfo, Newstrack India, Irish Independent & the Yorkshire Post

Just a few more photos (live this time) from the wonderful Hebden Bridge Blues Festival, featuring Lance Lopez & the Jon Amor Blues Group - now, where did I put the 100s of Bex Marshall - stay tuned, they're round here somewhere ...

Well, after the Hebden Bridge features with Chantel McGregor and the first ever UK interview with Lance Lopez, you'd be forgiven for presuming that was that, as far as material from the festival was concerned. But you'd be wrong ... very, very wrong!

This Sunday, on the award-nominated Rock and Blues Circus, we are really pleased to welcome Jon Amor and Dave Doherty, from the Jon Amor Blues Group.

We met up with Jon and Dave and, as time was a little short, took them over the canal to a children's playground (but of course) to conduct the interview.

So join us this Sunday (Sept 4th) on the Rock & Blues Circus (between 18.00 and 20.00) for "The Varmints in a Playground with the Jon Amor Blues Group", featuring not only chat with Jon and Dave, but also an exclusive chance to hear tracks from their eagerly anticipated (eponymous) debut album - it is an absolute belter!

TO LISTEN:  Either mouse-over the "Listen LIVE" Menu above & click on your favourite media player from the options that appear, or click HERE to go to 10radio's Listen page.

Oh and, if you think that this really is the last of the material from the magnificent Hebden Bridge Blues Festival, can I suggest you take a look at the images above ... there's one more interview to come .....

NOTE: If you missed the previous interviews from the Hebden Bridge Blues Festival, click HERE - Chantel is already available and Lance will be up soon is also now available!

Click the thumbnail for a full size poster.

And, for a sneak preview of a track from the debut album, click below for a fantastic video from the studio sessions