In this episode of the Folk My Life podcast, Andy engages in a heartfelt conversation with Amy Claire Scott, daughter of the late folk musician Pete Scott. They explore the bittersweet legacy of Pete’s music, his unique songwriting process, and the humour that characterised his performances. 

Amy discusses her project to uncover a treasure trove of music and previously in heard material from Pete’s collection, and describes how she to intends to release more of this material to the world. 

Amy shares personal anecdotes about growing up with a musician father, the challenges of preserving his legacy, and the joy of discovering lost songs. The discussion also highlights the importance of community in folk music, the impact of Pete’s work, and the significance of family in shaping his artistic journey.

Amy has been so kind as to share some clips and recordings of Pete’s work and we have the chance to hear Pete Scott live, introducing his songs and describing some of th difficult inspirations behind some of his music.

For me personally, Pete Scott’s song ‘Yuri Gagarin’s Banjo’ led to a deeper exploration of his music which led me down a long and deep rabbit warren of musical gems. As Amy shares her memories of her father’s music we discuss how Pete’s humour was a significant part of his performances and how he used his “patter” to create a wide and loyal following for his work,

You can find more of Petes Music and engage with her project at https://petescott.co.uk 

You can also follow Amy’s substack and see the project at https://petescottmusic.substack.com

Musical Inclusions

08:30 – Song – Yuri Gagarins Banjo

30:46 – Song – My Ipod has turned into Hank Williams.

40:55 – Song – Fantastic Pastie Live

Also in this episode

Andy and Amy discuss how she Discovered the Album – ‘Brand New Smile’ and her treasure trove of many of Pete’s lost songs, discovered after his passing. We cant about the Cramlington Folk Club, Pasties, getting lost in the car and his TV appearances. Amy shares a wonderful ‘Folk My Life Moment” which looks decades to realise how significant the Boo-boo was…. Amy Shares some brilliant song suggestions which have personal significance to her and her dad too.

Timing

00:00 – Introduction to Folk My Life Podcast

02:01 – Remembering Pete Scott: A Bittersweet Journey

02:41 – Discovering Pete’s Music: A Daughter’s Perspective

07:10 – Clip – Pete Describes Yuri Gagarins Banjo

08:30 – Song – Yuri Gagarins Banjo

12:07 – The Legacy of Pete’s Humor and Wit

15:55 – Family Life and Music: The Balance of Art and Home

19:06 – Uncovering Hidden Treasures: The Posthumous Album

21:39 – Discovering the Album – Brand New Smile

25:04 – The Importance of Humour in Pete’s Performances

28:33 – Clip – Talking to Gary Hogg about the launch of his album of “songs to sing and jokes to tell”

30:46 – Song – My Ipod has turned into Hank Williams.

31:53 – Cramlington Folk Club: A Special Venue for Pete

33:33 – Collaborations and Health Challenges in Pete’s Later Years

35:14 – The Power of Collaboration in Music

37:35 – The Legacy of ‘Fantastic Pasty’

40:55 – Song – Fantastic Pastie Live

44:33 – Emotional Depth in Songwriting

45:51 – Clip – Pete Talk’s about the song Brought and Sold.

48:10 – Preserving Family Stories Through Music

51:12 – A Folk My Life Moment

56:05 – Musical choices and song selections

Credits and Thanks

The clips included from Radio Tyneside, and the Geordie Hour were produced by Gary Hogg and Karis Jones, and have been included with the kind permission.

The clips from the Cramlington Folk Club were recorded by Ken Mckenzie and have been reproduced with kind permission.