Turn Up The Volume! from The Stables in Milton Keynes

In this episode, Nick is joined by two remarkable musicians whose careers have been built on authenticity rather than chasing fame.

First up is the incomparable Ruby Turner. Across a career spanning soul, gospel, jazz and rhythm & blues, she's worked with everyone from Jools Holland and Bryan Ferry to Steve Winwood. But this conversation goes far beyond music. Ruby reflects on why she's always chosen to "serve the music" rather than celebrity, the headteacher who changed her life with a pair of theatre tickets, and how a major knee operation unexpectedly inspired her latest music. It's an uplifting and deeply thoughtful discussion about purpose, resilience and what really matters.

Then it's the turn of Kathryn Tickell, one of Britain's most celebrated folk musicians and a true ambassador for the North East. Kathryn talks about growing up surrounded by Northumbrian traditions, discovering that the smallpipes were the instrument she'd been searching for, and why she believes everyone has an instrument that's right for them. She also reflects on her long collaboration with Sting, the importance of staying curious as an artist, and why saying "yes" to the projects that scare you often leads to the most rewarding work.

Two artists. Two very different musical journeys. One shared belief that music is about far more than performance – it's about identity, connection and telling stories that matter.

Ruby Turner appears at The Stables on Sunday 4 October, while Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening perform on Tuesday 3 November.

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This month on Turn Up The Volume, Nick Coffer is joined by two acclaimed artists with remarkable stories to tell.

First up is multi award-winning singer-songwriter Elles Bailey, who reflects on the childhood illness that almost took her voice, the extraordinary chain of events that led her to Nashville, and the stories behind albums including Shining in the Half Light and her latest release, Can't Take My Story Away. She also pays tribute to her late friend and fellow musician Matt Long and discusses her long-standing relationship with The Stables.

Later, Nick catches up with pianist, singer-songwriter and entertainer Elio Pace. Elio talks about growing up in an Italian musical household, the £5 piano that started it all, his lifelong connection with Billy Joel, and the extraordinary encounters that shaped his career, including friendships with Ronnie Corbett and members of Billy Joel's original band. He also shares details of his long-awaited new album and the tour that brings him to The Stables this September.

A vibrant, narrative and fun episode with two amazing artists.

Elio Pace — Friday 12th September, 8.00pm
Elles Bailey: Can't Take My Story Away — Friday 27th November, 7.30pm

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Nick Coffer is joined by three artists whose stories span decades of music, resilience, and a shared refusal to take the easy road.

Sarah-Jane Morris opens the episode discussing The Sisterhood and Sisterhood Two — two albums she wrote with guitarist Tony Remy as tributes to the female singer-songwriters who paved the way for generations that followed. She explains why each artist had to be a songwriter first, shares the remarkable stories behind the songs, and reveals how her own turbulent childhood gave her a personal connection to women like Bessie Smith, Etta James and Janis Ian. From a Pullman train riddled with bullet holes to a recording session in Johannesburg on what would have been Miriam Makeba's 90th birthday, this is a conversation full of moments that stay with you.

John Coghlan, the original drummer of Status Quo, joins Nick with half a century of stories and a very clear philosophy: play the song, don't show off. He looks back on the band's relentless touring years, explains why he largely avoided the excesses that consumed others, and shares his memories of the classic lineup reunion — including Rick Parfitt sneaking onto the tour bus with a ukulele for late-night sing-songs. It's warm, funny, and quietly moving.

Finally, Teddy Thompson calls in from New Jersey ahead of his new album Never Be the Same. The son of Richard and Linda Thompson has lived in America for over 25 years, and this conversation finds him reflective — about midlife, about change, and about what gets lost when music stops being real. He talks about Auto-Tune as creative death, explains why he always searches for a live clip before trusting any new artist, and is characteristically dry about the gap between who he sounds like and who he actually is.

Sarah-Jane Morris: The Acoustic Sisterhood — Friday 5 September
John Coghlan with Quo Connection — Saturday 6 June
An Evening with John Coghlan — Friday 28 August
Teddy Thompson — Wednesday 17 June

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Nick Coffer is joined by three artists whose work spans continents, genres, and generations of storytelling.

Eric Bibb opens the episode reflecting on gratitude, purpose, and what it means to be "the happiest man in the world." The blues legend discusses how simplicity can be powerful, shares memories of meeting Bob Dylan at eleven, and explains why songs have a staying power that history books don't. He talks about his move to Sweden in his twenties, the miraculous string of events that shaped his career, and why music's role in social change matters more than ever.

Patti Boulaye shares her extraordinary journey from accidentally auditioning for Hair to turning down major Hollywood contracts. In a moving conversation, she reflects on surviving the Biafran war as a child, why faith and family always come first, and how witnessing death shaped her perspective on fame, success, and what truly matters. She discusses her one-woman show bringing together stories, songs spanning musicals to Afrobeat gospel, and a lifetime of choosing purpose over easy success.

Finally, Gary Innes takes us into the world of Shinty—the ancient Highland sport he played to top level—and explains how its discipline, teamwork, and community spirit mirror his work with Manràn. He reflects on the challenge of pushing Gaelic music into the mainstream, the moment their song Latha Math caught the nation's attention, and why traditional Scottish music now fills 14,000-seat arenas. Gary discusses the band's evolution, the lyrical beauty of the Gaelic language, and why intimate venues like The Stables remain at the heart of what they do.

Eric Bibb - Monday 24 March, 8:00pm
Patti Boulaye - Friday 16 May, 8:45pm
Gary Innes / Manràn - Sunday 17 May, 8:00pm

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In this December edition, Nick Coffer is joined by three artists whose stories span decades of British music history, personal revelation, and creative resilience.

Andy Fairweather Low opens the episode reflecting on the passing of Steve Cropper, whose understated brilliance shaped Andy's entire approach to guitar. From fronting Amen Corner at the Royal Albert Hall with Jimi Hendrix to becoming the invisible bluesman behind Eric Clapton, Roger Waters, and Van Morrison, Andy shares stories of sixties Cardiff soul clubs, George Best football matches, and why being "good on the bus" matters as much as technical skill. His new album The Invisible Bluesman is a celebration of that quiet mastery.

Next, Luke Wright brings his most personal work yet with Later Life Letter, a show exploring his adoption and the moment he discovered his birth mother on Facebook. In a deeply moving conversation, he discusses the slow journey of writing poems to understand his own story, the temptation and fear around making contact, and why adoption left him with a voracious appetite for life. It's a beautifully honest chat about identity, belonging, and taking control through art.

Finally, Ally McErlaine joins from Red Sky July, whose new album Misty Morning showcases lush harmonies and Americana-tinged songcraft. He discusses the brain aneurysm in 2007 that nearly killed him, the eight months in hospital that followed, and how the determination to make that first album drove his recovery. With his wife Shelly and singer Haley Glenny Smith, he's created something gorgeously melodic - and he's grateful for every moment of it.

Andy Fairweather-Low - Friday 13 & Saturday 14 February, 8pm
Luke Wright - Wednesday 9 April, 8:45pm
Red Sky July - Saturday 22 February, 8:45pm

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