Miranda July

2017-12-03: As part of BBC 6 Music's Art Is Everywhere season, Jarvis presents an interview he did earlier in 2017 with artist Miranda July. Miranda and Artangel created the UK's first interfaith charity shop, a pop-up in a famous London department store. She talks about the thinking behind the project, how it played out in practice and the way that shoppers have taken it to their hearts. Birthdays: Ozzy Osbourne, Daryl Hannah, Nino Rota and Andy Williams. 

COMING SOON 

From Manchester with Love

2017-07-02: Jarvis broadcasts live from the Manchester International Festival. Featuring:

• Music for a Busy City: site-specific sound installations created for six spaces around Manchester.

• Left over from last week: two newlyweds share their first dance at Glastonbury; the murmur of the Pyramid Stage crowd listening to politician Jeremy Corbyn. Also, born on this day: Peter Kay.

• Artist Phil Collins discusses his work Ceremony, about Friedrich Engels and his 20 years in Manchester. Phil retrieved an abandoned Soviet-era statue of Karl Marx's collaborator and took it on tour, allowing workers here and abroad to 'meet' him before installing it in Manchester.

• Factory Records graphic designer Peter Saville talks about the True Faith exhibition, which explores the visual identity of New Order and Joy Division and the wealth of art their music has inspired.

• Also at MIF 2017: No End to Enderby, a celebration of the work of writer Anthony Burgess; dance production Available Light; and Ride.

• Karl Hyde of Underworld describes his involvement in theatre performance Fatherland, which is about the expectations and experience of fatherhood.

(Jarvis announced that he will be taking another sabbatical...)

Rodney Graham

2017-05-14: Artist and musician Rodney Graham joins Jarvis as a major new retrospective of his work opens at the Baltic in Gateshead. Jarvis recalls his first encounter with Rodney's music at a gallery, and how exciting it was to discover an artist who combined the worlds of art and pop music. He asks Rodney about his time in bands when he was starting out, his recently released album Gondoliers, his influences including Bob Dylan, writer's block and why Rodney returned to music after a long break. They also discuss the exhibition's title, That's Not Me, and how Rodney would describe himself to a customs officer. Birthdays: Bobby Darin, Sofia Coppola, David Byrne (on songwriting with irony) and Mark Zuckerberg (on the importance of friendship).

Marina Abramovic

2016-11-20: During an art-themed weekend across the station, Jarvis chats to performance artist Marina Abramovic. Her work explores the relationship between performer and audience, the limits of the body and the possibilities of the mind. She has just written her memoir, Walk Through Walls, and talks to Jarvis about her tough childhood; discovering art; the compulsion to create; and the discomfort of her most famous piece, The Artist Is Present (2010). She also explains how Asian meditation techniques inform her work and how she has used them to help others. Plus, we hear a recording of a speech by Leonard Cohen, in which he remembers his first steps in playing guitar and songwriting. Jarvis highlights an interesting exhibition in Paris, The Great Animal Orchestra, a celebration of art, science and the music of the natural world. And listeners suggest a song with an arty connection.

SEAMUS MURPHY

2015-10-11: Jarvis chats to photographer and film-maker Seamus Harvey about his collaboration with PJ Harvey and their new book, The Hollow of the Hand.  His photography and her poetry chronicle a series of journeys they've made to Kosovo, Afghanistan and Washington DC.  They were both fascinated by the ways places are changed by war or poverty — how human life goes on, yet also the normal rules of life don't apply. We also hear recordings of PJ Harvey reading her poems. Jarvis asks listeners to suggest a song about a special place. And we mark National Coming Out Day. Birthdays: Elmore Leonard, Andrew Logan, Art Blakey, Tony Kinsey, Rodney Marsh, Bobby Charlton, Dawn French, Daryl Hall, Tom Zé and John Nettles.

CHRISTIAN MARCLAY

2015-03-15: Jarvis is joined by conceptual artist Christian Marclay, who talks about his exhibition at the White Cube gallery which operates within the world of sound and vision.  Also joining them is Sean Bidder, creative director of The Vinyl Factory, who discusses their role within the exhibition and the live performance/recording events around it.  Plus, as it's Mother's Day, Jarvis asks listeners to suggest music related to motherhood.

ANDREW LOGAN

Bruce Lee advises us, 'Be water, my friend,' while Jarvis serves up a mint julep. We hear the characteristics of Sagittarians. Artist Andrew Logan pops by to talk about his life and work, dressing up, his Alternative Miss World pageant and the documentary film about it, The British Guide to Showing Off. Jarvis also pays tribute to the music of Jimi Hendrix. Birthdays: Bruce Lee, Arthur Smith (who says that people can't like all kinds of music), Eddie Rabbitt, Al Jackson Jr., James Agee, Charlie Burchill, Anders Celsius (we hear some facts about temperature), Kathryn Bigelow, Tony Green, Jimi Hendrix, Mike Skinner and Ernie Wise. Valete: Jackie Leven and Shelagh Delaney.

JEREMY DELLER Sits In

 
Artist Jeremy Deller sits in, playing covers, live versions, choral tracks and songs that reward repeated listening. He talks about glam/punk, Björk, Martin Creed, Willie Nelson at hippy hotspot Fillmore West and The Minute Men. At Glastonbury 1984, historian EP Thompson makes a rallying call for liberalism in dark times. Jeremy's guest is Marcus Coates, an artist who's interested in how we use nature to see ourselves. He discusses recreating birdsong using human voices; a trip to Galapagos where he listened to vast turtles mating unsuccessfully; and 'working usefully' by experiencing a South American journey on behalf of an elderly hospice patient. Stevie Smith recites her poem The Galloping Cat. Jeremy talks more about Booker T and the MGs, working with brass bands, a film he's making about artist Bruce Lacey, and Grace Jones. Lastly, he asks young people who prefer reading to sport to contact him at jeremydeller.org

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.

Peter Blake Sits In

Sir Peter Blake sits in for Jarvis. The pop art pioneer shares some of his favourite records, a few Christmassy tunes and plenty of rock 'n' roll memories. He plays clips of comedians Max Miller, WC Fields and Mrs Shufflewick, a character played by Rex Jameson. He also reads the beginnings and endings of both Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Great Gatsby.

Grayson Perry

It's the Notting Hill Carnival today. On This Day, The Beatles gave their last ticketed live concert; Gustav Daimler patented the first motorbike; Native American Ishi was found in California (we hear some of his sad life story); and the remote island of St Kilda was evacuated. Noel Fielding reads Mirrors by Dave Eagleman. Artist Grayson Perry tells Jarvis that he thought he'd get thrown out of his first solo show. He considers how working class people regard the arts, and how he thinks everyone should have the confidence to judge artworks. He explains why he works with ceramics and how much he enjoys the messy process of making pots. "Creativity is optimising your mistakes." Birthdays: Preston Sturges, John McCain, Elliot Gould, James Hunt, Diamanda Galas (Is She Any Good?), Thom Gunn (who reads some poetry), John Locke (a wise philosopher), Dinah Washington, Elizabeth Fraser, Kumi Tanioka and Ingrid Bergman.

Port Eliot

Jarvis is at the Port Eliot Festival with a live audience. He announces some oddities overheard from tents, then medieval troubadours Princes in the Tower entertain us. Marcus Coates is interested in where our world converges with the natural world. He plays recordings comparing birdsong to human sounds, and talks about getting people to sing bird calls. On This Day, Blériot flew the Channel, the first transatlantic two-way radio broadcast occurred, Bob Dylan went electric and it's the Inca festival of Ilyap'a. Bill Drummond dislikes rock heritage and warns Jarvis not to reform Pulp! He describes The 17, a choir which is never recorded and only exists for the moment. Here at the festival, he's busy building a bed. Jarvis recommends the Outdoor Swimming Society... Wilko Jonson is here for an Oil City Confidential screening and Q&A. He discusses his jug band, astronomy and the beautiful rings of Saturn. Sound recordist Chris Watson is fascinated by ambient sound and audio environments, and has created a soundscape for the Palm House at Kew. We hear two tracks from his Nature Disco, seals singing and Vulture Carcass. Birthdays: Rita Marley, Thurston Moore, Alain Robidoux. Valete: Hurricane Higgins and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Andrew WK

Jarvis broadcasts from Paris. On This Day, Martin Luther's wedding annoyed Rome; the Soviet Mir diamond mine opened; the Miranda rights were instated; Pioneer 10 made space history; and Mussolini and Hitler met in Venice. Jarvis speaks to musician Andrew WK. He's in the UK playing bass with Current 93. He explains his motivational speaking — they discuss the odd relationship a performer in the spotlight has with the audience. Jarvis asks about his new direction, piano-led album 55 Cadillac. Andrew says he wanted to reach out to people who don't like his usual work. Plus, Jarvis ponders blancmange and tubular bells. Birthdays: Charles the Bald, Gerald Gardner, Basil Rathbone, Dorothy L Sayers, Heinrich Hoffman (creator of creepy Struwwelpeter), Alan Hansen, Malcolm McDowell, Alan Civil, Dennis Locorriere, WB Yeats (Jarvis reads about his religious theories, followed by crackly archive of Yeats reading The Lake Isle of Innisfree). Valete: Michael Wojas.

Mark Leckey

The 1970 England World Cup squad sing an earnest There'll Always Be an England. Jarvis wonders when, exactly, does summer begin? Then he's joined by Turner Prize-winning artist Mark Leckey. He explains why he thinks rock isn't as energetic and political as in the past: once music was a great way to communicate to the world and now there are many other ways to do that. He also suggests that youth movements develop very differently now that we have the internet, and warns against nostalgia and aligning yourself with an era that never really existed. There's a spoken word piece by rockabillies Heavy Trash, The Pill. Jarvis thinks about the summer again and plays the sound of twittering greenfinches. And Wilco: Are They Any Good? Birthdays: Levi Stubbs and Brenda from Toronto.

Tate at 10

Jarvis celebrates the Tate Modern's 10th birthday: peppered throughout the show are interviews with non-profit art groups at the No Soul for Sale exhibition in the Turbine Hall. James Brett of the Museum of Everything has made an open call for works of Outsider Art - we hear the judging panel and documentation process at work. Artists from the Kling & Bang Gallery's Tower of Now talk about their installation Circus - a much-loved bar which they reconstructed when it was sold, freezing it in time. Jarvis describes a messy work which has scattered rubbish everywhere and one revealing the music of plants, and he reads out a quiz he was handed, called Are You Independent. On This Day, Bonnie and Clyde were executed and the accordian was patented. Birthdays: Michel Colombier, Robert Moog, Phil Selway and Bob Dylan tomorrow. Valete: Patrick Cargill (reciting a song about his dog).

Laurie Anderson

Jarvis recalls a lecture he gave in which he investigated how we use language and lyrics to communicate — an idea which led to this very programme. On This Day, Supergun was seized, the last German 'witch' was executed and the Brixton riots erupted. Multimedia artist Laurie Anderson joins Jarvis and he asks why stories and narratives are so integral to her work. As NASA's one-time Artist in Residence, she remembers witnessing the Mars rover landings entirely via numbers. She considers what an artist can bring to a big government institution. They also discuss elections and how journalism and entertainment are merging. Then Laurie reads her short story about her dog. Birthdays: Richard Berry, Vincent Gallo, Anton LaVey and Bob Harris. We remember Joseph Merrick, Malcolm McLaren (Jarvis talks about him and Malcolm sings a Max Bygraves song), Harry Secombe and Jacques Prévert (we hear his poem Pater Noster).

Peter Blake

As it's Easter Sunday, Jarvis plays the full version of I Am the Resurrection. He also wonders whether Jesus ever travelled to England and plays a record mysteriously left for him at his hotel in Venice. On This Day, explorer Francis Drake was knighted, Robert Walpole became the UK's first prime minister, the Star-Spangled Banner was raised and the CND symbol was adopted. The musical story is My Sister by The Tindersticks. Artist Peter Blake talks about sharing the 'godfather of Pop Art' title and collecting junk. He explains that designing covers for albums like Sgt Pepper's is a way for an artist to get noticed by a young audience. They also chat about Outsider Art and how art colleges have changed. Birthdays: Junior Braithwaite, Marguerite Duras, Elmer Bernstein, Anthony Perkins, Muddy Waters, Dave Hill, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Graham Norton, Robert Downey Jr, David Blaine and Jarvis's sister Saskia.

Max Eastley

A shorter show today, as Jarvis didn't realise the clocks went back. For Palm Sunday, we hear Adrian Henri's Christ's Entry into Jerusalem. On This Day, the Paris Commune was established but the decimal republican calendar didn't catch on. Sound artist Max Eastley talks about the Cape Farewell voyages - this organisation takes creatives and scientists to the Arctic Circle to learn about climate change. From an ice floe called the Devil's Dancefloor, Max recorded the boat's creaking and the sounds under the sea. We hear the calls of bearded seals mixed with the scything of a weird instrument he invented. In a jamma session, Max plays this instrument as Jarvis reads Ian McEwan's story A Boot Locker in the Frozen North. And Pavement: Are They Any Good? Birthdays: Alexander the Warlike, Maxim Gorky, Dame Flora Robson, Nelson Algren and Michael Parkinson. Valete: Alex Chilton.

Gavin Turk

On This Day, the first steam train set off, the Communist Manifesto and the first phone book were both published, Churchill abolished ID cards, DNA was mapped and the first convention of psychotropic substances was held. Young British Artist Gavin Turk talks about his House of Fairytales project, which encourages children and families to think creatively. Recalling an artwork he made from crushed Coke cans, he expresses an interest in the connection between art, rubbish and value; pointing out that rarity and nostalgia can make even little things like ringpulls and chip forks valuable. Miranda July performs her short story The Boy from Lam Kien, about an agoraphobic's encounter with her neighbour's son. Birthdays: Johnny Eccles and Jerry Harrison. Valete: Malcolm X (he rails against Uncle Toms). Jarvis also pays tribute to his close friend Tim.

Jeremy Deller

On This Day features Guy Fawkes, the first VD hospital, AA Milne, Native Americans and Robert E Lee. Jarvis investigates sound recording, beginning with a gramophone record of Thomas Edison's voice. Jarvis reads passages from Greg Milner's Perfecting Sound Forever. One is a scientific analysis of Led Zep's drumming, another considers loudness. There's a soundpiece by Miranda July. Jarvis talks to Turner Prize-winning performance artist Jeremy Deller. His projects include a steel band who play Manchester hits; a film about Russian Depeche Mode fans; his Folk Archive; a re-enactment of the Battle of Orgreave with miners and battle re-enacters; and the Acid Brass Project. Jeremy points out that Northern musicians favour the thumping beats that once thrummed through their cities. Then we hear some dub music, which can't really be done live. Finally, another excerpt by Greg Milner about an American healer who thinks digital music's making society sick.