This show is a personal one.
My mum passed away at Easter in 2016 after a long battle with vascular dementia following a stroke. Alongside my sister, I became one of her principal caregivers for nearly 10 years from those early days of recovery through to her later diagnosis.
Throughout it all, Mum held onto something powerful: a willingness to try new things, and a focus on what she could still do, rather than what had been taken away. That mindset shaped so much of our time together.
One of her favourite places in the world was the River Severn. We must have travelled along it, over it, and even on it more times than I can count honestly, I’ve lost track.
A few days after she passed, I went down to the riverbank. I stood there, looking out across the water, and said thank you to Mum, to the river, and to all the memories we made in that place.
The music in this week’s episode reflects those feelings and more.
ROBBIE DUNCAN · WITHOUT LOVE
Tracklist:
Peter Brown – Without Love
Camouflage – Ambiance
Roy Ayers – A Tear To A Smile
Tenderlonious – Maria
Odetta – Hit or Miss
James Brown & The Famous Flames – Ssshhh For A Little While
Apifera – Iris Is Neil
Aswad – African Children
Spacek – Motion Control
Ben Marc feat. Caleb Virgo – Trading Places
Guem – Conversation
Guem – Ginko
Alma Negra – Conversation
Kiko Navarro, DJ Fudge & Kaleta – Douwe
Gratts – Better Days (Fennec’s Better Nights Remix)
DJ Robbie Duncan – Any Love (Robbie’s Any Love To Groove Edit) not available but this BODY HEAT- RUFUS, CHAKA KHAN(ROBBIE'S BODY HEAT TO GROOVE EDIT)
WHAT’S ON
JAZZ STROUD 26
9–12 April 2026
A grassroots, multi-venue festival celebrating the new wave of UK jazz — from intimate sets to full town takeovers. Community-led, forward-thinking, and rooted in Stroud.
→
ART EXHIBTIONS - CARDIFF
Gwen John: Strange Beauties — Cardiff
National Museum Cardiff
7 February – 28 June 2026
A rare, large-scale retrospective of Gwen John’s work — bringing together over 200 pieces and offering a deeply intimate look at one of Wales’ most quietly powerful artists.
→ Exhibition details & tickets
BOOKS FOR PARENTS
MINDSET: Changing the Way You Think to Fulfil Your Potential – Carol Dweck
A powerful exploration of how our beliefs shape what we’re capable of. Dweck’s idea of the growth mindset — the ability to develop through effort and learning — runs deep, whether in music, creativity, or everyday life.
NGOMA 28 AUGUST AT STROUD BREWERY
NGOMA LIVE PERCUSSION, PIANO KEYBOARD & DJs
A shared space for dancers and listeners deep DJ sets and live improvisation blending house, jazz, soul, disco & broken beat.
A journey where deep, soulful DJ sets meet spontaneous live improvisation.
Ngoma blends house, jazz, soul and dub into one fluid, body-moving experience.
Expect live percussion from Ronnie McGrath, keyboard wizardry from Dr. Keys, and genre-spanning DJ sets from Kate Novo, Rayjuss & Robbie Duncan.
A space for community, dancers, heads and seekers.
Not to be missed.