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...)

The Liverpool Mass and Rousseau's Dream

2017-05-21: Body art, a modernist Mass and a mesmerising painting… On 13th May, Jarvis introduced Pierre Henry's inaugural Mass at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. 50 years later than originally planned, the pioneering work by the musique concrète composer was staged in the space by his collaborator Thierry Balasse and arts organisation Bluecoat — we hear all about the event. During his trip, Jarvis was given a book which got him thinking about music and mysticism. Urging us to gaze at Henri Rousseau's painting The Dream, he reads the bewitching poem Yadwigha, On a Red Couch, Among Lilies by Sylvia Plath. Plus: notes from The Ivors awards; and on this day The Empire Strikes Back was released and two landmark solo Atlantic flights were taken. Birthdays: Noel Fielding (on tennis), Henri Rousseau, Martin Carthy ('I don't do jolly'), Mr T and Fats Waller.

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.

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. 

Jarvis Celebrates Shakespeare, Giorgio Moroder and More

2015-04-26: Shakespeare was baptised on this day back in 1564, so much of the music in this show has a Shakespearean link. There are insights from a BBC documentary about the playwright, as well as clips from recordings and classic film versions of the works. Plus, there's a special spoken-word piece by Nick Cave, and some audio art pieces from an exhibition at Sheffield's Site Gallery. Birthdays include Giorgio Moroder, Ma Rainey and Duane Eddy.

Sheffield Sunday

It's Sheffield Sunday on the station, so tek yer jesses off and fly free. Jarvis reads HV Morton's The Call of England. Plus, as it's spooky October, we hear an Edgar Allan Poe poem set to music. There's a lesson in Yorkshire dialect titled 'Teach Thissen Tyke'. Jarvis considers his hometown's definition of fishcakes. We hear from Turner Prize topic RD Laing, and On This Day the dark side of the moon was first photographed. The Peel F is for Fairport Convention. Richard Hawley pops in and plays Digital Roulette. And over music created for Forced Entertainment (see also), Jarvis reads Bill Drummond's Sheffield Sparrows. Birthdays: Tim Minchin, Jayne Torvill (on ice skating), Judee Sill, Simon Cowell (on feeling overwhelmed), Thom Yorke, Flying Lotus, Archbishop Desmond Tutu (on being a rabble rouser), Vladimir Putin, RD Laing (remembering his father's breakdown), Luke Haines and Ulrike Meinhof. Valete: Edgar Allan Poe. (See also)

Nautical Show

Ahoy there! Jarvis has been resident in A Room for London, a boat perched atop the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London's Southbank. Michael Morris of Artangel explains the concept and aims of this unique space. Cellist Philip Sheppard uses his eerie electro-cello to accompany Jarvis reading from Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Intertidal archaeologist Fiona Haughey discusses Thames beachcombing and brings some historical artefacts found on the foreshore. The Southbank is hosting Parisian nude cabaret Crazy Horse, so Jarvis and Philip improvise sexy music for two of the dancers. Jim Trimmer of the Port of London Authority chats about moons, tides and how the river can help London to flourish. There's archive of Elizabeth Taylor reading Wordsworth. Historian Dan Cruickshank reveals which bridge has a sinister suicide-strewn past. Busker Don Crown remembers performing as 'Budgieman'. Soumik Datta talks about introducing Indian ragas to QEH audiences. And we hear David Byrne's musical collage of sounds from the Southbank. The Peel E is for East of Eden, and there's a reading by John Peel for T-Rex. As the moon is reflected on the water, Antony Hegarty muses on lunacy and spirituality. Birthdays: T-Pain, Marc Bolan and Truman Capote. Valete: Andy Williams.

Oscars Music with JONNY TRUNK

As tonight is the Academy Awards, Jarvis describes the Oscar statuette: more facts about it appear throughout the show.  This Day in history was significant for road signalling, so the Monty Python team drone mournfully about traffic lights.  Jarvis talks to record expert Jonny Trunk about Oscar-winning music, and we hear tracks from Dumbo, The Elephant Man, Doctor Zhivago, The Sterile Cuckoo, The Sting and The Artist.  Marking Johnny Cash's 80th birthday, there's a megamix tribute.  In the inaugural 'settee theatre', Raina Lampkins-Fielder and Jarvis act out the story In Reference to Your Recent Communications by Tessa Brown, about a love affair which has deteriorated rather alarmingly.  Birthdays: Bob Hite, Sandie Shaw (Morrissey praises her), Levi Strauss, Michel Houellebecq, Johnny Cash, Fats Domino and Erykah Badu.

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.

Let's Call It the Saints Show

Shel Silverstein invites us in to the show, where Jarvis hums one of the offbeat tunes from his makeshift birthday playlist.  He reads out some Libran characteristics and today's saint days.  Robert Donat recites Keats' Ode to Autumn.  A journey around the media starts with a radio piece by Glenn Gould, The Idea of North, and Ronnie Barker performing the Mispronunciation sketch.  For film, we hear the trailer for The Big Sleep; Michael Douglas giving advice about performance; some tracks connected to Midnight Cowboy; and Mark Hamill remembering acting opposite Yoda.  And for TV, it's the Good Life theme.  On This Day: the first remote control boat was demonstrated.  Birthdays: Shel Silverstein, Bryan MacLean, William Faulkner, Felicity Kendal, Christopher Reeve, Zucchero, Erik Darling, Glenn Gould, Ronnie Barker, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Pedro Almodóvar (with advice about life), Dee Dee Warwick, Richard Harvey, Steve Severin and Jerry Penrod.

Brian Eno (2) - gospel music

A surgeon and a nurse bicker in a sketch by Mike Nichols and Elaine May. Jarvis dedicates the Zodiac Leo track to a little Mogwai baby called Leo. On This Day, Mary, Queen of Scots was replaced with her baby son; Salt Lake City was founded; and 24 July was the focus of the film Life in a Day. Brian Eno returns to the show to sing the praises of gospel music and share examples from his vast collection. He pinpoints what he loves about it: how it's deliberately simple and inclusive, open to everyone, passionate and sublimely uncool. He talks about the different techniques of singing found within the genre and where the crossover is between gospel and pop. He also testifies that being an atheist doesn't have to stop you loving gospel. Birthdays: Gus Van Sant.

Jeremy Dyson

Jarvis has found more foreign-language song versions and recalls actress and peanut beauty Caroline Munro. For the second Zodiac track, Aquarian listeners are asked to submit their favourite colour, band, vegetable, mode of transport and double act – to help build an astrological profile of 6 Music listeners. Yvette Mimieux recites lines by Baudelaire over music by Ali Akbar Khan. Jeremy Dyson tells Jarvis about his stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's Twisted Tales, his play Ghost Stories, magic tricks and choosing between writing and rock music. There's another mangled fairground organ tune and Jarvis recounts two extraordinary tales: the spine-chilling story of the Green Briar Ghost and how Stephan Eicher recorded an album while locked in a bar overnight. Birthdays: Gavin Bryars, Sonny Chiba (with a related clip of Samuel L Jackson), Django Reinhardt (praised by Stéphane Grappelli), Stendhal, Luisa Casati, Gary Burton and Robin Zander.

A Decision Is Made - Zodiac

This week Jarvis saw burlesque cabaret La Soirée and discovered some new old music from a back copy of The Wire. He decides how to pronounce 2011 and thinks about foreign-language versions of familiar songs. Scott Walker discusses Jacques Brel and Frank Sinatra. Jarvis then announces what record he'll play throughout the year: one listener suggested Frank Sinatra conducting tone poems of colour, another Norrie Paramor's Zodiac Suite, but Jarvis chooses Zodiac by The Cosmic Sounds. On This Day, Ivan the Terrible (or Awesome) was made Czar of Russia; Don Quixote was first published, so we hear an extract from a children's radio adaptation; and Buckminster Fuller won an architecture award and we hear him musing on evolution. Birthdays: Nick Valensi, Jim Stafford, Barbara Lynn, Cliff Thorburn, André Michelin, Susan Sontag, Paul 'Rustin' Man' Webb, Maxine Jones, Kate Moss, Damo Suzuki and Richard Hawley. Valete: Trish Keenan.

Deb Olin Unferth Story

This week Jarvis attended Richard Hawley's Other Voices event in Ireland and a Strange Boys concert in Paris. We hear Turner prize-winning audio artist Susan Philipsz singing under a bridge. It's the final BBC Seasons track. There's a seasonal story by Deb Olin Unferth called Juan the Cellphone Salesman, read by Raina Lampkins-Fielder; an excerpt from the film Key Largo; and a mention of Coronation Street's 50th anniversary. Birthdays: Frank Sinatra (with some exercise tips), Gustave Flaubert, Edvard Munch, John Osborne (comparing film vs. theatre), Bill Nighy (discussing his formative years) and Dionne Warwick.

Salman Rushdie

It's 10/10/10, but Jarvis observes that some countries skipped this date On This Day in 1582, because of the adoption of the Gregorian calendar. And today in 1967, the Outer Space Treaty was agreed. Jarvis features theatre group Forced Entertainment, with music and dialogue from their play The Thrill of It All, plus two members discussing the music they use. Salman Rushdie talks about his novel Luka and the Fire of Life, written for his son. He mentions storytelling, his love of animal fables and folk tales, and the quest narrative found in videogames. He also reads an excerpt about the fantastical borderland between the world of imagination and the real world. Finally, a snippet of Orson Welles. Birthdays: Alberto Giacometti, Nicholas Parsons, Charles Dance, Ed Wood, Chris Tarrant, Tony Adams and Harold Pinter (Kenneth Williams and Peter Reeves perform a Pinter scene).

Arthur Lowe Reads Mr Noisy

Jarvis saw Iggy and The Stooges play with Suicide this week — we get to hear Iggy preaching to the crowd. On This Day, Thomas Blood tried to steal the Crown Jewels, Buffalo Bill opened his Wild West Show in London and the first contraceptive pill was launched (so we hear the intro to Valley of the Dolls). The incomparable Arthur Lowe delights the listeners with his narration of Mr Noisy by Roger Hargreaves. Plus Alan Bennett performs the comedy sketch The Telegram, Miranda July shouts a surprising rock intro, and John Selwyn Gummer tells us to 'just shut up!' And we find out whether Richard Thompson Is Any Good. Birthdays: Dave Gahan, Paul Heaton, Paul McGuigan, Glenda Jackson, JM Barrie (who invented celebrity cricket), Roger Hargreaves, Albert Finney, Billy Joel, Richard Adams and Alan Bennett.