The BEST episodes directed by Janet Fraser Crook
#1 - Robert Plant, Arcade Fire, Mavis Staples, Mona, Adele
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 37 - Episode 10
Joining Jools in the studio for the tenth and final live show of this series is the legendary Robert Plant, who performs tracks from his recent Band Of Joy album. Arcade Fire are also in the studio with a couple of tunes from their chart-topping The Suburbs set. Soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples showcases tracks from her Jeff Tweedy-produced album You Are Not Alone. From Nashville Tennessee and making their TV debut are Mona, who describe their high-octane rock and roll as the sound of chainsaws dancing, and Adele will be making a welcome return to the studio to preview a track from her second album due in early 2011.
Watch Now:Amazon#2 - Snow Patrol, Tower of Power, Jade Bird, Bettye LaVette and Plan B
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 52 - Episode 1
Jools Holland and his magic fingers unite a unique cast in a single room for one night only, new and older artists playing completely live! Who'd have thought it? Seven years after their last album and 20 years on from their debut, the anthemic Snow Patrol are back in business with songs from their seventh studio album Wildness, that finds frontman and songwriter Gary Lightbody wrestling with the light and the dark with edge, drama and that familiar melodic flair. Step forward south London's Shame, hot after a national tour which is surely pushing them towards becoming the most exciting British guitar band since the emergence of Arctic Monkeys and they perform songs from their debut album Songs of Praise, released in January, including the rabble rousing One Rizla. No one sounds quite like veteran Detroit-raised soul singer Bettye Lavette - she made her debut as a 16-year-old in the early 60s. She performs a Bob Dylan song from her album of Dylan covers Things Have Changed, accompanied by Jools. Plan B or Ben Drew performs songs from his fourth album since his debut back in 2006, Heaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose, that mixes soul and ragga influences in a vital stew. Now in their 50th year on the road, step forward the Bay Area's mighty Tower of Power, who finally make their BBC TV debut with their soul-funk brass attack mixing 70s classics and songs from a new album, Soul Side of Town. Introducing teenage British singer-songwriter Jade Bird from Hexham, Northumberland, who captured hearts and minds at music industry festival SXSW earlier this year and makes her TV debut performing solo. Performing totally live in the circle of dreams for one night only, Jools brings the magic.
Watch Now:Amazon#3 - Manic Street Preachers, Boy Azooga, Gwenno and Ben Howard
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 52 - Episode 2
Approaching their 30th anniversary are Manic Street Preachers, who come to the show with numbers from their new album Resistance is Futile. This new set sees them hark back to two of their most iconic albums, Everything Must Go and Generation Terrorists, for an ever vital and passionate collection. Also adding to the Welsh flavour of proceedings is the TV debut of Cardiff four piece Boy Azooga, led by Davey Newington, whose influences include Black Sabbath and William Onyeabor. They showcase songs from their upcoming 1, 2 Kung Fu album. Also from Cardiff and making her TV debut is singer-songwriter Gwenno, who sits on the descriptive scale as a cross between Jane Birkin and Boards of Canada. Her new album Le Kov sees her singing in Cornish, which she was inspired to record due to a decision by the British government to cut funding towards the Cornish language in 2016. Another debutante comes in the form of Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist of Haitian descent Melissa Laveaux, whose music has been described as a mix of roots, folk, and blues using her signature percussive finger-style guitar and soulful vocal stylings. New Hampshire singer-songwriter Ray Lamontagne, whose bluesin' folk/soul blend tenor has seen him compared to both Otis Redding and The Band, performs a number from his brand new, seventh album Part of the Light. Devon-based chart-topping singer-songwriter Ben Howard completes the bill, with selections from his first album in four years, Noonday Dream, which was recorded in both England and France.
Watch Now:Amazon#4 - Bjork, The Breeders, Les Amazones D'Afrique, Deva Mahal and Hailey Tuck
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 52 - Episode 3
Jools welcomes Bjork to his circle of dreams for her first TV appearance in eight years, with a line-up including seven flautists to perform songs from her ninth studio album, Utopia, whose blissed-out soundscapes find the Icelandic queen bouncing back from the heartbroken tones of her last album. Enter The Breeders, lead by sisters Kim and Kelley Deal, the band that Kim first formed back in 1989 as an offshoot from her full-time band The Pixies. The Breeders recently released their fifth album of splintered American indie, All Nerve. Les Amazones D'Afrique are something of a female supergroup from west Africa, signed to Peter Gabriel's Real World, and features three lead singers - Rokia Kone, Awa Sangho and Mamani Keita - in their touring party. Here, they perform songs from their acclaimed Republique Amazone debut. Introducing Deva Mahal, daughter of Taj, who has just released her debut album on Motema, featuring some neo-soul in the vein of British soul queens Adele and Amy Winehouse. Also introducing Parisian-based American neo-jazz chanteuse Hailey Tuck, whose debut album Junk combines her charming and intimate delivery with a contemporary songbook that draws on Leonard Cohen, Ray Davies and Pulp.
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - Christine & The Queens, Kamasi Washington, St Vincent and Daniel Blumberg
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 52 - Episode 5
Stepping back into the spotlight in Jools's cercle de reves is the queen of fancy footwork and French pop powerhouse Heloise Letissier, aka Christine & The Queens, to perform her new single Girlfriend, an 80s-inspired funk jam from her much-anticipated second album. Making his debut on the show is jazz saxophonist and band leader Kamasi Washington, who has played with the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Herbie Hancock and whose thrilling melodic take on funk, hip-hop and even movie soundtracks with an early 70s vibe is the talk of the town. Kamasi previews tracks from his upcoming double album Heaven & Earth. Grammy Award-winning Texan multi-instrumentalist Annie Clark, aka St Vincent, follows up the piano-led preview of her fifth studio album Masseduction by strapping on her guitar, summoning her band and rocking out on the title track and Slow Disco. And make way for a double debut of Daniels this week as we welcome Canadian Grammy nominated R&B soul singer Daniel Caesar with his debut album Freudian, featuring Californian singer HER, who joins him for their track Best Part, and British singer-songwriter Daniel Blumberg, a veteran of Cajun Dance Party and Yuck, whose combination of melodic songwriting in an improvised setting has grown out of sessions in East London's Cafe Oto, and who performs at the piano accompanied by violin and double bass on a couple of songs from his acclaimed debut album Minus.
Watch Now:Amazon#6 - Nile Rodgers and Chic, Nakhane, Gaz Coombes, Goat Girl and Chas & Dave
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 52 - Episode 6
Joining Jools on the last show of the series and finally making their debut on the show are funk and disco legends Nile Rodgers and Chic, who are joined by contemporary British artists such as Cosha, aka Bonzai, and producer and songwriter Mura Masa. Denver-based old-school soul combo Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats come to the show with a song or two from their second album Tearing at the Seams, which sees them revisit their take on the golden years of Stax, complete with vibrant and integral horns, a steadily funky rhythm section and a bearded vocalist who takes it to the bridge every time. Making his UK TV debut is native South African Nakhane, where he is already an LGBTQ trailblazer with a startling voice. Now based in east London, he has recently released his second album You Will Not Die, which features songs full of strutting glam and electro flourishes. Former Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes makes his solo debut on the show with songs from his very well reviewed third solo album World's Strongest Man, which is his reflection on what it means to be a strong man in 2018. London four-piece, signed to Rough Trade, Goat Girl perform tracks from their self-assured debut, which sees them rage against modern Britain from public transport to mental health. Finally, and completing the line-up are London legends Chas & Dave with a track from their first album in 30 years to feature new songs from the much loved cockney duo, A Little Bit of Us.
Watch Now:Amazon#7 - FFS, Alabama Shakes, The Lone Bellow, Tobias Jesso Jr., The Unthanks, Shaun Escoffery
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 46 - Episode 4
Joining Jools are FFS, a collaboration between Scots art-poppers Franz Ferdinand and legendary Los Angeles new-wave duo Sparks, who first talked about joining forces around the time of Franz's debut in 2004 - but it's taken until now for them to record an album together. Returning to the show following their 2012 debut are US band Alabama Shakes, who have just released their second and well-received album Sound & Color, which sees them take more of deep-soul route, channelling the likes of Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye. Southern-born, Brooklyn-based indie-country trio the Lone Bellow will be in the studio to perform a couple of tracks from their second album Then Came The Morning. Canadian singer-songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr will be making his UK TV debut on this week's show, with tunes from his acclaimed debut album Goon, which sees him tapping into the songwriting lineage of Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman. Northumberland chamber folk group The Unthanks perform tracks from Mount the Air, their first studio album in four years. Completing the line-up is English soul and R&B singer Shaun Escoffery, making his Later debut with tracks from In the Red Room.
Watch Now:Amazon#8 - Episode 3
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 63 - Episode 3
Jools welcomes to the show Mike Skinner with his musical project The Streets, electronic artist Romy, and singer-songwriters Cat Power, Allison Russell and BC Camplight.
Watch Now:Amazon#9 - Episode 2
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 64 - Episode 2
Jools welcomes to the show the legendary Paul Weller, South Shields’s Nadine Shah, tour de force duo Bob Vylan, folk artist Katherine Priddy and south London singer Rachel Chinouriri.
Watch Now:Amazon#10 - Elbow, Idles, Lainey Wilson, Sam Morton, Myles Smith
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 64 - Episode 1
Jools welcomes to the show Manchester band Elbow, Bristol's Idles, American country star Lainey Wilson, Samantha Morton and Richard Russell with their project Sam Morton, and singer Myles Smith.
Watch Now:Amazon#11 - Richard Hawley, Nia Archives, Remi Wolf, Stephen Wilson Jr, Sahra Halgan
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 64 - Episode 5
Jools welcomes to the show Richard Hawley, Remi Wolf, Nia Archives, Stephen Wilson Jr and Sahra Halgan, as well as discussing the British Library's exhibition Beyond the Bassline with Mykaell Riley.
Watch Now:Amazon#12 - Episode 2
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 63 - Episode 2
Jools welcomes to the show Take That, The Last Dinner Party, METTE, Frankie Archer and Skindred, as well as having a chat with guitar legend Johnny Marr.
Watch Now:Amazon#13 - Episode 1
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 63 - Episode 1
Jools welcomes vocal powerhouse Jorja Smith, US stadium rockers The National, three-piece girl group Say She She, Manchester-born wordsmith Antony Szmierek and punk legend Wreckless Eric.
Watch Now:Amazon#14 - Episode 3
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 64 - Episode 3
Jools welcomes The Black Keys to the show, with their co-writer Noel Gallagher, Beth Gibbons, Ghetts and Sampha, Shaznay Lewis and Ganavya.
Watch Now:Amazon#15 - Fontaines D.C., Lucy Rose, Tems, Lulu, Charley Crockett, Paris Paloma
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 64 - Episode 6
With Dublin band Fontaines D.C., singer Lucy Rose, Nigerian star Tems, American blues and country singer Charley Crockett and singer Paris Paloma. And Jools chats to legendary Scottish singer Lulu.
Watch Now:Amazon#16 - The Genius of Bert Jansch: Folk, Blues and Beyond
BBC Documentaries - Season 2014 - Episode 69
Interviews and rare archive footage weave together performances from a landmark multi-artist concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London, celebrating the songs and artistry of the great folk-blues troubadour Bert Jansch. Ralph McTell, Robert Plant, Donovan, members of Pentangle, Bernard Butler, Martin Carthy, Martin Simpson, Lisa Knapp and more pay tribute to Jansch, who died in 2011. There's also a real coup with an extraordinary performance by Neil Young of Jansch's haunting Needle of Death, filmed at Jack White's Nashville studio especially for the occasion. Robert Plant shows his vocal prowess with a powerful rendition of Go Your Way My Love, joined by Jansch collaborator Bernard Butler. Martin Simpson and Danny Thompson surprise with a version of Heartbreak Hotel, a track covered by Jansch. Ralph McTell tackles the seminal Angie and Lisa Knapp and Martin Carthy combine for Blackwaterside - Jansch's arrangement of which heavily influenced Led Zep's Black Mountain Side.
#17 - Hugh Masekela: Welcome to South Africa
BBC Documentaries - Season 2010 - Episode 244
South African musician Hugh Masekela celebrates his 70th birthday and reflects on his career in performance and interview, from first picking up a trumpet in the 50s through the apartheid years, exile and stardom in America, his return to South Africa on Nelson Mandela's release, and concluding with his vision of the future for his country. The programme also features performances from his 70th birthday concert at the Barbican in London in December 2009, where he was joined by the London Symphony Orchestra, their Community Choir and guest South African singers.
#18 - Depeche Mode, Lily Allen, Sonic Youth, Raphael Saadiq, Taj Mahal, Priscilla Ahn
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 34 - Episode 4
Joining Jools for the fourth show of the series are Depeche Mode. Now approaching 30 years in the music business, the band make their debut performance on the show performing songs from their album Sounds Of The Universe, as well as a couple of classics. Another Later... debutante, Lily Allen, marks her first appearance in the legendary studio with selections from her chart-topping second album It's Not Me It's You. By contrast, Sonic Youth make a long awaited return to the studio - their first UK television appearance since appearing in series one back in 1992 - to showcase tracks from their new album The Eternal. Raphael Saadiq, whose career includes turns in Tony! Toni! Tone! and Lucy Pearl, will be playing tracks from his newly released fourth album The Way I See It, and blues colossus Taj Mahal will also be in the studio.
#19 - Sir Paul McCartney, Neil Diamond, Aloe Blacc, Elvis Costello, The Black Keys
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 37 - Episode 7
Joining Jools on the seventh show of this series is Sir Paul McCartney, who performs and celebrates the reissue of the classic Wings album Band On The Run. Legendary US singer-songwriter Neil Diamond performs numbers from his upcoming album Dreams, in which he covers classics of the 60s and 70s, including his own I'm A Believer. LA-based rapper/singer Aloe Blacc is making his TV debut with a tune or two from his Good Things album. Also, Elvis Costello returns to the Later studio to play songs from his brand new National Ransom release. And from Akron, Ohio, The Black Keys play a couple of numbers from their latest Brothers album.
#20 - Kings of Leon, Eric Clapton, MIA, The Vaccines, Bellowhead
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 37 - Episode 8
Kings of Leon join Jools in the studio for the eighth live show of this series. They perform tunes from their album Come Around Sundown, the follow-up to their multi-platinum award winning breakthrough Only by the Night. Eric Clapton plays tracks from his album Clapton, which sees him paying tribute to the songs that inspired him early in his career. MIA also joins Jools, with a couple of songs from her recent long player. UK band the Vaccines perform, with their blend of Beach-Boys-meets-the-Ramones pop tunes. There's also English folk band Bellowhead, the eleven-piece band bought together by John Spiers and Jon Boden. Set List: Kings Of Leon - Radioactive Eric Clapton - Travelin' Alone M.I.A. - It Takes A Muscle Bellowhead - New York Girls Eric Clapton - Interview The Vaccines - If You Wanna Eric Clapton - Rocking Chair Kings of Leon - Pyro Adele - Interview Jonathan Jeremiah - How Half-heartedly We Behave Bellowhead - Cold Blows The Wind Kings of Leon - Interview The Vaccines - Blow It Up Eric Clapton - Crossroads M.I.A. - Born Free Kings of Leon - Back Down South
#21 - Paul Weller, The Maccabees, Céu, Paul Buchanan, Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny, Willis Earl Beal
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 40 - Episode 1
Appearing on the show are Woking's most famous son, Paul Weller - performing tracks from his recent chart-topping Sonik Kicks album. From Newcastle, Beth Jeans Houghton and her Hooves Of Destiny are in the studio with numbers from their debut Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose. Brazilian sensation Céu brings mellow psychedelia from her Caravana Sereia Bloom set, and former The Blue Nile frontman, Paul Buchanan, performs a track from his upcoming solo album Mid-Air. Also in the studio are Brighton band The Maccabees with tracks from their critically acclaimed third album Given To The Wild, and making his TV debut with his brand of lo-fi pre-rock blues, is Canadian singer Willis Earl Beal, performing tracks from his Acousmatic Sorcery album. Completing the line-up is Mike Skinner, leader of British rap outfit The Streets, who chats to Jools about his recently published autobiography.
#22 - Kanye West, Kings of Leon, Sting, Lorde, Drenge, Bill Medley
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 43 - Episode 1
#23 - Pixies, Janelle Monae, Tony Joe White, Chvrches, Barrence Whitfield & The Savages, Hugh Laurie
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 43 - Episode 2
#24 - Florence + The Machine, Femi Kuti, Lily Allen, Lady Leshurr and Young Fathers
Later... with Jools Holland - Season 52 - Episode 4
Jools Holland hosts another musical melange in his theatre of dreams, aka Maidstone Studios, featuring Florence + The Machine, Femi Kuti, Lily Allen, Lady Leshurr, Young Fathers and Starcrawler. Florence Welch comes to the studio some three years after conquering the world, breaking her foot and headlining Glastonbury, with the fourth Florence + The Machine album High As Hope, which finds her in typically expansive form on new songs including Hunger and Sky Full of Song. Femi Kuti brings his afrobeat band The Positive Force live and direct from Lagos with massed brass, energetic dancers and uplifting anthems from his latest album One People One World, which maintains and honours the political consciousness and danceability of his legendary father Fela Kuti's vision. Lily Allen pops up with the poignant Three from her fourth album No Shame, a ballad looking at life through her young daughter's perspective, accompanied by Jools. Step up Birmingham's Lady Leshurr with her latest freestyle Black Panther, and perhaps a track from her forthcoming major label debut. Edinburgh's Young Fathers finally make it to the studio with songs from their brilliantly charged third album Cocoa Sugar, hot from touring the UK and the rest of the world. Introducing LA's Starcrawler - a primal teenage garage band from the West Coast performing songs from their Ryan Adams-produced and self-titled album which finds lead singer Arrow de Wilde and guitarist Henri Cash kicking up a classic rock n roll storm that's a canny blend of rock classicism and bratty teenage attitude.