JERRY DAMMERS Sits In

Musical activist, artist and Specials founder Jerry Dammers sits in. He presents a potted history of his favourite music, starting from artists who influenced early Jamaican music like Professor Longhair, Sun Ra and Eden Ahbez. He talks about how exotica beats and the music of New Orleans led to the birth of ska. He also explains how gospel music became politicised, as black people identified with the wandering Israelites; and how exotica, which suggested a faraway land, came to symbolise Africa for the Rastas. He also plays a little light French ska, strange library electro reggae from the 80s and brings us up to date with some modern reggae and dub. The show is warmly dedicated to the late great Gil Scott-Heron.

ADAM CURTIS (2)

Jarvis mentions Independent Record Stores Day; the characteristics of Geminis; and Pacman. Adam Curtis discusses his new BBC2 series All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace. He thinks that nowadays we all imagine ourselves less as individuals, more as co-operating nodes in a network. But romantically hoping society can be organised in that 'managerial' way is problematic. And he argues that because computers can easily archive material, we've begun to think of culture as something to curate, not to create. Has this made us too conservative and afraid of change? Birthdays: Richard Wagner, Arthur Conan Doyle, Hergé (on Tintin's origins), Sun Ra (who believed he had not been born), Harvey Milk, Kenny Ball, Peter Nero, the Unabomber, George Best (attributing his sporting skills to his mum), Morrissey (on why he'll never reform The Smiths), Gérard de Nerval, Bernie Taupin (who envisages his own birth), Jordan and Charles Aznavour.

GAZ MAYALL Sits In - CHRIS SALEWICZ

DJ Gaz Mayall sits in, spinning his rockin' blues, sharing anecdotes and plenty of eclectic tracks. Including some beatnik madness about a man going into space, a US senator singing Wild Thing, spiritual music by Sam Cooke and 'classic weirdo' Sun Ra, and Linguaphone English lessons from the 1950s. His guest is Chris Salewicz, who has written biographies of Bob Marley, Joe Strummer, Mick and Keith, Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Billy Bragg and more. Chris talks about screenwriting the remake of The Harder They Come. He remembers spending time with Bob Marley in the violent Kingston of the 1970s and Bob's visit to London in 1976. He also talks about Mick Jones' Rock 'n' Roll Public Library, which is currently touring.

Sir David Attenborough on Singing

Don't mention the football! Caroline Coon's talk of protest marches reminds Jarvis of a political interpretation of The Wizard of Oz. Footballer Jack Charlton talks technique. Jarvis explains that I Zimbra by Talking Heads is a Dadaist poem by Hugo Ball - he reads another and plays songs in Elvish and Ethiopian. He considers how songs can feel meaningful without us understanding the language. David Attenborough lectures on the subject of singing and the part it plays in courtship. And Jarvis reads from AC Grayling's secular Bible. Birthdays: David Attenborough, Keith Jarrett, Chris Frantz, Mahmoud Ahmed, Mary Lou Williams, Robert Johnson, Tom of Finland, Roberto Rossellini, Sonny Liston, Thomas Pynchon, Saul Bass (a clip from his sci-fi film about ants), John Snagge (describing Westminster Abbey), Gary Snyder (Ian Dury reads his poem Riprap), Ricky Nelson, Michel Gondry (pondering inspiration) and Dave Rowntree.

CAROLINE COON

Jarvis describes traditional May Day customs, including aquatic hijinks at Oxford and St Andrews. On This Day, in 1328 Scotland gained independence, the first cooked meal on a plane was served, and the Penny Black appeared. We hear some Taurean characteristics. Caroline Coon speaks about an exhibition with photographs of protests and discusses many issues surrounding protest. She also remembers reporting on early punk, suggesting that previous generations are often suspicious of the next youth revolution. Taylor Parkes finishes with an audio essay asking whether Prog Rock was all bad. And we hear London's only working carillon, played at times of great rejoicing. Birthdays: Anthony Worral-Thompson (talking about boiling eggs), Wes Anderson, Judy Collins, Rita Coolidge, Joanna Lumley, John Woo, Ray Parker Jr, Calamity Jane, Anna Jarvis, Lewis Hill, Joseph Heller (reading from Catch-22), Una Stubbs and Little Walter. Valete: Ted Lowe.