Recorded live at Futures and Pasts, this special episode sees Paul and Steve joined by the Poet Laureate himself, Simon Armitage, who looks back on discovering The Fall as a teenager, his early gigs, and what it is about Mark E. Smith's lyrics that captivates so many writers. (+)

From his arrival at Record Collector to his enduring love of The Fall, Daryl reflects on being a musical generalist, finding the melody in Status Quo and searching patiently for the appeal of death metal. Listen now! Linktr.ee/ohbrothershow

This week on Oh! Brother, Music writer, consultant and friend of the show Daryl Easlea (@lordwakering) sits down with Paul and Steve to explain how a request for 500 words on a budget CD launched his sleevenotes career. (+)

There's talk of poetry, songwriting and life as Poet Laureate, a few brief encounters with Mark, and a moving poem written after his death. Thanks again to Simon and everyone involved with Futures and Pasts, hope you enjoy! @route_news @Lthanwordsfest @fallfuturepast

He also covers the drum stands he may or may not have set up, his expulsion from school and his family's habit of setting off fire alarms, as well as Beatnik Hurricane's film Sketches of Skem. Hope you enjoy! Linktr.ee/ohbrothershow

This week, Paul and Steve welcome Liverpool musician Barry Sutton, former Fall roadie and founder of Beatnik Hurricane. Barry recalls hearing Slates at 15, abandoning prog on the spot and beginning his long association with The Fall. (+)

Plus, Damon reflects on life after quitting the booze, his friendship with Mark over the years, and the John Spencer Blues Explosion gig that changed everything. Hope you enjoy! @badly_drawn_boy linktr.ee/ohbrothershow

We also hear the full story of how Mark E. Smith mistook him for a taxi driver outside Night and Day — complete with false teeth and a Pet Sounds cassette — leading to their collaboration on "Calendar" (+)

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Manchester legend and Mercury Prize-winner Badly Drawn Boy to the show. Damon talks us through his days as a tape-op at Square One Studios, his years at music college, and how Springsteen and The Stranglers began his obsession with sound. (+)

He also recalls his unusual introduction to The Fall, reflects on his approach to recording and production, and prepares to reinterpret songs covered by the band for Futures and Pasts. Hope you enjoy! Linktr.ee/ohbrothershow

This week on Oh! Brother, we welcome BC Camplight, aka Brian Christinzio. Brian discusses discovering the piano as a child, beginning his career in Philadelphia and finding a new home in Manchester. (1/2)

Plus, Kate discusses her academic work on women’s football, the continuing struggle for equality within the game, football clubs’ responsibilities to their communities, and her hopes of returning to drumming after recovering from injury. Enjoy! Linktr.ee/ohbrothershow

We also hear about Kate’s band Polythene, her later musical projects, and her memories of appearing as an extra alongside Karen Leatham in the independent film Glow Boys.

This week, we’re delighted to welcome drummer and academic Kate Themen to the show. Kate talks us through being recruited by Julia Nagle to join The Fall in 1998, rehearsing the material at short notice, and joining Mark E. Smith and Julia on stage at Dingwalls and Reading. (+)

As Paul has been away on holiday for the past week, our next episode will be out on Monday. Apologies for all the delays recently, we’ll be back to regularly scheduled programming soon

Plus, Rob discusses his work with Squeaky Clean, his forthcoming recording project with Vivian Girls, the importance of preserving human imperfections in an increasingly digital music world, and the friendships he made through The Fall. Enjoy! Linktr.ee/ohbrothershow

We also chat about the creative freedom and unpredictability of working with Mark, the appeal of songs such as “Blindness” and “Reformation”, and Rob’s later career as a producer, session musician and composer for film, television and advertising. (+)

This week on Oh! Brother, we’re delighted to welcome Rob Barbato to the show. Rob talks us through joining The Fall at short notice, learning the set on the fly, recording with Mark E. Smith in Los Angeles, and coming to Manchester for The Fall’s 30th-anniversary show in 2006 (+)

Our next episode will be out on Monday, but in the meantime, you can catch up on our latest episode with Erwin Blom, and why not listen to Paul’s appearance on the @Britflicks podcast with @Leytonrocks, discussing three films that changed his life linktr.ee/ohbrothershow