John Phelps

Thanks to its streaming provisions, the Meander Valley Community Radio is able to broadcast to the world.

But people in the valley can also be “transported” to the rest of the world.

Local music from Europe, South America, Africa and everywhere in between is to be heard on MVFM 96.9 many times each week, especially during two particular programs – “The Journey” and “Global Grooves”.

The first of these is presented by John Kenzey (aka L.J) at noon on Sundays.

As the name of the program suggests, John takes listeners on a journey to hear what is largely folk music, much of it from Europe.

So, if you would like to join in a dance from, say, Greece, all you have to do is join a line, make sure that the chap on the end of the line has a white handkerchief and off you go.

But there is also lots of folk music to be heard from South America and Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Wherever you would like to travel, this is your chance to do so with music.

Much of John’s music is “world music” but it also includes “ambient music” (formerly known as “new age music”).

So, performers such as Mike Oldfield and his brother, Terry, get a guernsey in the programs along with performers with memorable names such as Douglas Spotted Eagle and Rittward von Doernburg.

And then there’s Bloss Lorenz with her program “Global Grooves” each Sunday at 6 p.m.

Latin music is Bloss’ mainstay and it comes from exotic places such as West Africa and Central America.

Much of that music genre found its way to the Americas during the days of the slave trade.

Much of it is folkloric and invites listeners to get up and dance.

Drums and accordions figure prominently.

Vallenato and Cumbia music comes from Columbia.

Salsa music comes to us via New York from Puerto Rica and Cuba.

And, of course, there’s music from the Middle East and the Silk Road.

Jonothan Swift once wrote “I always love to begin a journey on a Sunday”.

So, to join him, just listen to “Global Grooves” and “The Journey” for a fascinating world tour.