If your Instagram algorithm is tuned to serve you wholesome musical moments, you might have seen a video recently of an Alaskan bluegrass band (The Heists with Josh Fortenbery) playing the song "East Virginia Blues" with vocals from a Mongolian throat singer (Bataa Jambaldorj of Nomads). It's a joyous meeting of musical styles and cultures.

This episode tells the story of how that wonderfully serendipitous moment came to be.

The video

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYw9SRYRN3j/?igsh=MWJzZGd6OHQyaXp0dA==

Bataa's instagram

https://www.instagram.com/bataajambaldorj?igsh=ZTh2eGVodWU1Y252

Nomad's bandcamp

https://nomadsdublin.bandcamp.com/

Bataa playing in class

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA36MolMmyM/?igsh=OWt0bmN1dzhvaWFs

Hansel/Billy

https://www.instagram.com/_hansel_s?igsh=YjhyMnlja3Zwbzd4

The Heists

https://www.the-heists.com/

https://www.instagram.com/the_heists?igsh=NTk2dDcwdGxnZ2ts

Josh Fortenbery

https://www.instagram.com/josh.fortenbery?igsh=MWRsZjB0czljcmV0cg==

Taylor Vidic

https://www.instagram.com/taylordallasvidic?igsh=Z291aW16ZTh0cHhu

Deni Hurtado

https://www.instagram.com/deni_hurtado?igsh=bnJnMm1vYTExZHluY

Lisa/Twitcher

https://www.instagram.com/twitcher_music?igsh=Yjg0NW9weXowd3cx

Cormac/Big Monster Love

https://bigmonsterlove.bandcamp.com/album/game-over

In the last episode, I inadvertently took a turn into the realm of true crime podcasting, and while I'm not intentionally planning this, it seems this episode could be filed under the heading of self help. Back in the 80s, I heard a song, Dignity by Deacon Blue, which explored themes I hadn't come across in a song before. It's about finding meaning in the drudgery of manual labour and how the right attitude can become inspirational and filled with joy and hope. Subconsciously, over the years. I've been drawn to other songs that dealt with similar themes and now I've collected these songs into a sort of mental health journey. The modern world can lead people to act in a way that might cause them to lose their dignity, maybe the messages in these songs could help someone regain it. If that's not too lofty a claim.

Ronan Hession/Mumblin' Deaf Ro's music

https://mumblindeafro.bandcamp.com/music

I'm not exactly sure what this episode is, I guess it's a kind of audio essay based on seven "ghost songs" (songs with the word ghost in the title) and how they relate to some moments from my life. Maybe it's something of a personal memoir through song,;as pretension as that sounds.

The last 30, or so minutes are more of a documentary about a very sad and tragic event in Dublin's history, so be prepared for that if you are of a sensitive nature.

So please have a listen and enjoy these Ghost Memories

Aoife's Sing Along Social

https://www.singalongsocial.com/

Gary's music

https://gazlerock.bandcamp.com

Trapped Inside: The Stardust Nightclub Fire Disaster Documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deHNbwW6B6U