FEATURE:
The Only One I Know
PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
Looking Ahead to the Thirtieth Anniversary of Later... with Jools Holland
___________
I know I am over eight months early…
IN THIS PHOTO: Jools Holland and crew on the Later… with Jools Holland set (the first forty-one series of the show were filmed in Studio 1 at London's Television Centre)/PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
when it comes to marking thirty years of one of the longest-running music T.V. shows ever. In fact, Later… with Jools Holland is the only music show on British mainstream T.V. In terms of the format where artists perform and there is this programme solely about live music, I cannot think of another one. That is quite shocking to hear in 2022! For that reason, marking thirty years of an institution is very important. The first broadcast was back on 8th October, 1992. Little did people know back then that the show would still be on air now. Before writing about why we need to give a proper celebration to Holland’s music series, here is some Wikipedia background about Later… with Jools Holland:
“Later... with Jools Holland (also known as Even Later... with Jools Holland, and previously known as Later Live... with Jools Holland and ...Later with Jools Holland) is a contemporary British music television show hosted by Jools Holland. A spin-off of The Late Show, it has been running in short series since 1992 and is now part of BBC Two's Saturday Night Music block, usually broadcast at around 10pm. The day of transmission has varied over the years, but it is usually recorded on a Tuesday for Saturday broadcast and features a mixture of both established and new musical artists, from solo performers to bands and larger ensembles.
The show is considered an institution, having notched up millions of fans around the world. It is currently broadcast in America on MTV Live (formerly known as Palladia); previously it had been shown on Ovation, BBC America, Fuse, and Dave. The Ovation and Fuse broadcasts leave out several performances (and usually one or two performers entirely) to air commercials within a one-hour timeslot. It is also shown in Australia on the UKTV channel and ABC2, in Canada on HIFI and AUX TV, in Germany on ZDFkultur, in Spain on Canal+ Xtra, in Croatia on HRT 2, in Latin America on Film&Arts and in Belgium, France, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates on iConcerts HD, and in Ireland on TG4.
The 200th programme was broadcast on 1 February 2008. The 250th edition was broadcast in September 2010”.
I first saw Later… with Jools Holland in the late-‘90s. I was aware of other shows like Top of the Pops…but this programme seemed less shiny and smiley. It was a bit rawer and closer to what one would expect from a live gig. The range of guests tended to err on the cooler side – rather than the more mainstream Pop one would hear on Top of the Pops. I loved the fact Holland was there with his guests and would often play too. An amiable and knowledgeable host, it was more about the guests and them delivering a performance which was real and live. I discovered a lot of new music through the show. Whilst YouTube and other platforms have meant live performances are available freely online, there is something sad about the fact Later… with Jools Holland remains a bit of an enigma and rarity today. There have been attempts to launch similar shows over the decades. Nothing has really stuck or remained. There are some who say the show is out of touch and has been running too long without any real changes or improvements. To be fair, the format is simple and popular enough, one does not need to see the series overhauled! At a time when there are more new artists than at any other time, it is odd that there is no real attempt to add to the number of music shows on the box. I think that seeing an artist perform live and be interviewed is a great way to bond with them, and decide whether you would like to see them at a gig.
A great way of discovering some brilliant artists, Later… with Jools Holland remains essential – as it heads to the end of its third decade on our screens. There are legends and newcomers mixing on the same show. I am sure, as we get closer to its thirtieth anniversary, there will be plans for a celebration. Maybe classic performances or a special night dedicated to the series. I really love the show. If you look on the website of the show, you can see videos from artists celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary back in 2017. It will be exciting to see what is planned this year. There is no telling how long Later… with Jools Holland will run. When the pandemic starts to ease, there will be more live performances. It will be nice to think that, before its thirtieth anniversary, we will see audience members pack into the studio (the show back to how it was pre-pandemic). I want to bring in an article from last year that argued why Jools Holland’s long-running show was one of the most important music series on the television:
“On Friday 19 February Later…with Jools Holland returned for its 57th season on BBC Two. A series well known for introducing viewers to new music as well as popular established artists, this programme is one of the only true bastions of music TV left. Running at a paltry six episodes per season and forced to air fewer live performances due to Coronavirus, Later…with Jools Holland is still going strong nonetheless. It’s essential viewing for anyone interested not only in discovering new music but in engaging with music at a level few other platforms can create.
Quirky, vibrant, and excitable, Jools Holland holds appeal for music lovers of all ages. Having watched his programmes and seen his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra live myself, I feel a particular affection with his programmes and unique style of hosting. Usually brought to us from a studio brimming with people, bands, artists, and various celebrities, the new Covid-safe format of the show is not only more intimate but more successful at introducing viewers to musicians. In the first episode of the latest season, Jools is joined by Arlo Parks for an exploration into some of her favourite ‘Later… Live’ performances and a conversational interview which introduces Parks to the audience and provides a great insight into her personal life and career in music.
Jools brings to his show a range of music that, despite its immense variety, always maintains one thing in common: unashamed love of and practice of real, live music
Music that is not in the charts relies heavily on word of mouth or simply being ‘noticed’ by potential listeners – while social media can only do so much and with little mainstream TV dedicated to live or new music, Jools Holland really stands out. The nature of more unconventional or even new music, as typically seen on ‘Later… Live’, is that it can be hard to come by. Listening to new music can be a hard and even stressful process and it can be easy to stick with what you know, maybe trying the occasional new band here or there but rarely deviating from genre or sound. However, to do this undermines the great range of music out there. Growing up, it was instilled in me that if an artist was on TV with Holland, they were one to listen to. I recommend Later…with Jools Holland not only because it introduces the viewer to new music and new sounds, but because as a programme it welcomes its viewers into a community of music which, once in, you will never leave.
This latest episode is a demonstration of everything that is special about Later…with Jools Holland. With specially recorded performances from Sleaford Mods and Kings of Leon, Parks also selects some classic ‘Later… Live’ performances from the show’s extensive records to play. With these old performances from Radiohead, Anderson .Paak, St Vincent, Erykah Badu and Little Simz ft. Michael Kiwanuka, any first timers to the programme will have a cornucopia of sounds and new music to view. The sheer distinctiveness of the music on offer would be enough for any hipster to drone on about and certainly the range of artists and especially non-western music is impressive.
Jools brings to his show a range of music that, despite its immense variety, always maintains one thing in common: unashamed love of and practice of real, live music, demonstrable of the true skill required to maintain a career as well as integrity in such an industry. Compared to the glitzy and underwhelming performances of old episodes of Top of the Pops, ‘Later… Live’ is gritty and real. Jools Holland shows us how intelligent, complex, and familial music can be. He shows that people from any walk of life can make music and good music at that. It reminds the viewer that music is more than just the sound. The artistry, the performance, the people, and the moves all make music more than just something that is pleasing to the ear. By far one of the most beautiful and artistic things that Jools Holland does is to bring musicians together. The live performances and collaborations between artists on the show are a famed tradition, rendering Later…with Jools Holland particularly unique amongst other forms of music media”.
The deficit of music T.V. shows is glaring and troubling. I think that it is a pity man artists either have to rely on word of mouth or YouTube. There is nothing quite like watching live performances on T.V. and getting that connection with the music. At a time when many gigs are being cancelled or rescheduled, this is a good way of ensuring that live music continues. I feel that the approaching thirtieth anniversary will provide the opportunity for some real music legends to perform. Let’s hope the BBC have no plans to move or cancel Later… with Jools Holland! It is such an important series that, through the years, has seen some of the greatest artists ever perform. I will do other features about the series closer to its thirtieth anniversary in October. I wanted to write about it now, as the show has been essential through the pandemic. Whilst it hasn’t been able to operate as it usually would, there have been some great performances and episodes. Long may it reign! I shall leave things there. A BBC staple that was first shown on T.V. during a great year for music (1992), the one constant has been its genial and enthusiastic host. Jools Holland’s commitment to the series is brilliant. I think many of us would hope Later… with Jools Holland can survive for another decade at least. If it were to leave our screens, what else is there in terms of live music!? Rather than this legendary show going, I hope it inspires other series. We do not have platforms for artists new and established to perform live on T.V. Whereas established music shows like Top of the Pops and The Old Grey Whistle Test are consigned to history, Later… with Jools Holland remains strong. I hope this wonderful and must-watch show is not going anywhere…
ANYIME soon!