The Age of Earthquakes

2017-12-17: Douglas Coupland and Shumon Basar chat to Jarvis about their book The Age of Earthquakes, co-authored with art curator Hans Ulrich Obrist and graphic designer Wayne Daly. 50 years after The Medium is the Massage, Marshall McLuhan's groundbreaking book on the influence of technology on culture, The Age of Earthquakes extends the analysis to a post-internet society. Jarvis also shares some facts about the winter Roman festival of Saturnalia and its parallels with Christmas; and asks for unconventional songs that get us in the festive mood. Birthdays: Eddie Kendricks, Ray Wilson, Ron Geesin, Erskine Caldwell and John Kennedy Toole. 

COMING SOON 

Amy Lamé Sits In

2017-07-30: Amy Lamé sits in. As part of BBC 6 Music's Loud and Proud season, she takes a look at the anthems — both underground and mainstream — that drove the LGBT+ liberation movement. She also chats to writer Martin Aston about how gay music-makers have had a DNA-level involvement in popular music throughout its history. 

Playtime with Jarvis, with Steven Johnson

2017-04-09: Inspired by his conversation with Brian Eno, Jarvis invites Steven Johnson to talk about his book Wonderland: How Play Made the Modern World. Steven tells Jarvis about how leaps forward in human knowledge have often come through our love of fun, creativity and entertainment. He starts with ancient music, bone flutes and the link between chanting and language. He shows the direct line from music boxes and player pianos to programmable music and computation. He describes how a moment of childish delight led Charles Babbage to conceive of the computer, and considers the wide-reaching influence of Daphne Oram. Looms, typewriters, calculators, bitcoin — Steven explains how technological and cultural innovation is often driven by our urge to make new music. Birthdays: Charles Baudelaire, Tom Lehrer, Hugh Hefner (making excuses), Valerie Singleton (reluctant convent girl), Seve Ballesteros (remembered by caddie Dave Musgrove) and Carl Perkins. Valete: Alessandro Alessandroni.

Nik Cohn

2016-12-11: Jarvis is joined by writer Nik Cohn, talking about the new edition of his classic Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: Pop from the Beginning. First published in 1969, the book aimed to capture the spirit of rock in the late 1960s; the result is an unruly, thrilling and definitive history of an era, from Bill Haley to Jimi Hendrix. Nik also discusses how pop developed in the decades post-publication. Meanwhile, Jarvis refers to the events Cafe Improv and Letters Live — he reads out an insightful letter by Hunter S Thompson about how a man finds a goal. The listeners are asked for our favourite B-sides.

Yuval Noah Harari

2016-10-09: Jarvis explores some startling new ideas with author Yuval Noah Harari, who talks about his book Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. Yuval contemplates the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the rest of this century, from overcoming death to creating artificial life. Are organisms really just algorithms and is life really just data processing? What's more valuable: intelligence or consciousness? What will happen to society, politics and daily life when non-conscious but highly intelligent algorithms know us better than we know ourselves? There's much to meditate on… Birthdays: John Lennon (reading his poetry), PJ Harvey (on performing live), Sharon Osbourne (on hotel hygiene) and Camille Saint-Saëns.

The Age of Cocker, with Paul Morley

2016-10-02: Jarvis makes a welcome return to the airwaves following his summer break. He is joined by journalist Paul Morley, who discusses his recent book The Age of Bowie. Paul explores the impact and influence of David Bowie — the diverse routes to discovering his work, from poetry and lyrics to Labyrinth; the many ways he constructed his own mythology, including the David Bowie Is… exhibition; and the legacy he has left to future culture and media. Also, Jarvis shares lots of new music he encountered when he served on the Mercury Prize judging panel. On This Day, the Sunday Service appreciated the poetry of Charles Causley; and the first Peanuts cartoon appeared (creator Charles M Schulz considers the quickfire nature of comics). Birthdays: Wallace Stevens (reciting poetry) and Phil Oakey (on the creativity of hairdressers). 

Richard Hines

2016-02-28: It's the Oscars tonight: we're led onto a 'red carpet of the mind', where we hobnob with stars past and present. Jarvis remarks that his personal Best Film award would go to Kes (dir. Ken Loach, 1969). His guest is Richard Hines, brother of A Kestrel for a Knave author Barry Hines. Richard has written a memoir, No Way But Gentlenesse: A Memoir of How Kes, My Kestrel, Changed My Life. He reveals how his boyhood fascination for falconry inspired the story, shares anecdotes about working as an advisor on the film, and talks eloquently about his love of hawks and his passion for education. On This Day: the final episode of M*A*S*H aired. Birthdays: Harry H Corbett, Brian Jones and Mike Figgis. 

News Time: Jarvis will be away from the Sunday Service for a few months and he will return in October.

JOHN COOPER CLARKE Sits In (10)

2016-01-24: Dr John Cooper Clarke sits in for Jarvis again, with a healthy helping of punk, crooners and old-fashioned R&B. He prescribes tracks from featured album 'Looking Stateside: 80 US R&B, Mod, Soul and Garage Nuggets' and even treats us to one of his own records, as it references Ernest Borgnine who was born this day in 1917. The Sabbath Special comes courtesy of Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers. 

Taxi for Richard Brautigan - MICHAEL CURRAN

2015-12-06: Jarvis takes us for a ride in a taxi, because this day in 1897, London became the first city to have licensed cabs. We learn some facts about taxis and pit the mighty 'Knowledge' against new-fangled sat-nav. Michael Curran of Tangerine Press talks to Jarvis about a new book of previously unpublished photographs of writer Richard Brautigan. They discuss Brautigan and his career, and Michael explains how he discovered the pictures. Plus, we mark the climate change conference in Paris with some inspirational icy music, and Jarvis remembers his trip to the north pole with Cape Farewell. Birthdays: Nick Park, Dave Brubeck and David Lovering.

DAVID EAGLEMAN

2015-11-08: Jarvis is joined by neuroscientist David Eagleman to talk about his new book The Brain: The Story of You. They discuss how human brains develop, the amazing workings of the unconscious mind, how we perceive memories in slow motion, and the idea of uploading a personality to a computer. David also discusses his role in Max Richter's Sleep project, and talks about sleep and dreams. Birthdays: Bram Stoker, Gordon Ramsay, Nerys Hughes, Alain Delon, Parker Posey, Paul McKenna, Hermann Rorschach, Rickie Lee Jones and Ken Dodd.

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PAUL MORLEY Talks About Grace Jones

2015-10-25: Journalist and broadcaster Paul Morley joins Jarvis to discuss Grace Jones' recent memoir, which Paul helped to assemble. They talk about how her strictly religious upbringing influenced her stage persona, her early foray into disco and her later work with Chris Blackwell. Jarvis also recalls encountering her at the Meltdown Festival. Also: we hear the traits of Scorpio and get ready for Halloween with some spooky music. Birthdays: Pablo Picasso, Nancy Cartwright, Phil Daniels, Coco Robicheaux, Natasha Khan and Richard Lloyd.

6 Music Live at the British Library

2015-09-27: Ahead of this year's John Peel lecture hosted by Brian Eno, Jarvis and Mary Anne Hobbs broadcast live from the foyer of the British Library. In this special extended edition of the Sunday Service, the library's curators give Jarvis, Mary Anne and Matt Everitt unique access to the printed archives as well as taking them deep into the secret basement where the audio archives are stored. Jarvis also applies for a Reader Pass and author David Cavanagh drops by to talk about the broadcasting career of John Peel. 

JOHN COOPER CLARKE Sits In (9)

2015-08-09: Dr John Cooper Clarke returns to treat us with another spoonful of soothing Sunday sounds. His diagnosis calls for a healthy dose of Big Youth washed down with a little Sinatra. Side effects come courtesy of The Cramps' record collection.

JOHN COOPER CLARKE Sits In (8)

2015-08-02: Dr John Cooper Clarke delves into his medical bag of music to soothe you on a Sunday afternoon. His diagnosis calls for a healthy dose of Link Wray washed down with a little Bob Dylan. Side effects are provided by The Velvet Underground.

How Music Got Free - STEPHEN WITT

2015-07-05: Journalist Stephen Witt joins Jarvis to talk about his book How Music Got Free, which traces the secret history of digital music and the ensuing piracy. They discuss: the invention of the mp3 format; the controversy about mp3 sound quality; how the music industry failed to grasp the importance of copyright-protecting files and then massively overcharged for CDs; the worker in a US CD factory who leaked nearly 2000 albums over a decade; and how we may be coming to the end of an era, as legal streaming subscription services make it much easier for listeners to access music without pirating it. Plus: On This Day, the National Health Service was created and Spam first appeared in the shops. Jarvis tells us a little more about Cornelia Parker's Magna Carta embroidery exhibit. We hear the traits of Cancer, the sign of the crab. And listeners are asked about our best festival memories. Birthdays: Aneira Thomas, Róisín Murphy, Robbie Robertson and Dolly the cloned sheep. 

This is the last Sunday Service before the summer holidays and guest presenters will be sitting in until September.

JOHN COOPER CLARKE Sits In (7)

Dr John Cooper Clarke sits in for Jarvis again, determined not to let a few aches and pains get in the way of a groovin' good time. 

Come and Have a Go If You Think You're Bard Enough - NICK HORNBY

Jarvis returns to Hoxton Street Monster Supplies to meet up with author Nick Hornby. They discuss the forthcoming album Share More Air, a unique songwriting collaboration between Nick's Ministry of Stories and 56 children aged between 8 and 13 years old. The musicians involved include Ben Folds, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Emily Barker, Marcus Foster, Skinny Lister and Ben Fletcher. Jarvis and Nick discuss writing, collaboration, and the brave new world of publishing today. We also remember two great children's TV shows, Sesame Street and Doctor Who; and hear the true story of loyal dog Hachiko.

BOB GELDOF Sits In - ADRIAN DEEVOY

Bob Geldof sits in. Bob is the lead singer of The Boomtown Rats and is renowned for his anti-poverty charity work. His guest is writer and music journalist Adrian Deevoy. Spoken word snippets: Ian McDiarmid recites The Hollow Men by TS Eliot, and blues legend Son House talks about the raw power of the blues.

Enjoy the Experience - JOHAN KUGELBERG

Jarvis chats to Johan Kugelberg about his latest book Enjoy The Experience: Homemade Records 1958-1992.

JOHN COOPER CLARKE Sits In (5)

John Cooper Clarke sits in while Jarvis is away, presenting a show jam-packed with rockabilly, pysch, crooners and more. In his new feature Cockney Corner, there's Low era David Bowie, Anthony Newley and Chas 'n' Dave. Frankie Avalon makes John consider level-headed hairdressing: "you don't want a 'wacky' barber, you want a man with a steady hand and a sober world view!" His Sabbath Special track comes from the star-studded Million Dollar Quartet. And in the A-Z of Peel slot, John rewinds to P and plays Pulp's very first Peel Session. Birthdays: Plastic Bertrand. Valete: Johnnie Ray and Buddy Holly.