An award-finalist mix of deep-cut blues, indie UK talent, and sharp-witted banter from the heart of the York music scene.
'Consistency is the only "Secret Sauce": When we started, we didn't realize that hitting Episode 300 would be more important than any single "viral" interview.'
Today Paul Winn, with Ben Darwin and Angie Howe, the creators of Blues From The Ouse – UK & British Blues Podcast | Live Radio, Classic & Modern Blues share their story of music podcast.
► Tell us about you and your podcast
We aren’t just voices behind a microphone; we are active members of the UK blues scene. Hosted by Paul Winn, with Ben Darwin and Angie Howe “riding shotgun,” our team brings a multi-dimensional perspective to the airwaves. Paul and Ben are bandmates in the DC Blues Band and serve as Co-Directors of the York Blues Festival. This gives us “boots-on-the-ground” insight—we know the artists, the promoters, and the struggle of the loading bay. We started the show on Jorvik Radio to bridge the gap between the music we love and the people who need to hear it, delivered with the kind of sharp-witted banter and occasional sarcasm you’d only find in a Yorkshire pub.
Blues from the Ouse is a weekly, two-hour deep dive that explores the past, present, and future of the blues. Our mantra is “no fluff, no filler, just blues with bite.” We reject algorithm-driven playlists in favour of hand-picked curation. Our content ranges from:
Themed Sets: Deep dives into “Prison Blues,” “The Misery Whistle” (harmonica), or “One-Chord Grooves.”
Grassroots Advocacy: We champion independent UK artists and “new releases” that deserve a national platform.
Live Sessions: We frequently host live in-studio performances (like our recent session with Neil Sadler) to capture the raw energy of the genre.
Our listeners are a global community of “blues-hounds” who are tired of the same twenty classic rock hits. They range from seasoned aficionados who appreciate a deep-cut Otis Rush track to younger fans discovering the heavy-hitting sounds of the modern UK scene. They tune in for the music but stay for the community; they are an engaged group that frequently drives our second hour via listener requests. Whether they are in York or New York, our listeners value authenticity, musicality, and a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously—even if it takes the music very seriously indeed.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
As creators of a live radio show on Jorvik Radio, we realized early on that the ephemeral nature of live broadcasting didn’t do justice to the artists we were championing. We turned to podcasting to provide a “permanent home” for the music. We are avid consumers of the medium ourselves—tuning into everything from industry staples like Nothing but the Blues and Salty Dog to deep-dive music history shows. We saw the podcast format as the perfect way to let our listeners “time-shift,” allowing a mechanic in Texas or a commuter in London to join our York-based blues community whenever they liked.
Our primary motivation was—and remains—advocacy. As members of the DC Blues Band and directors of the York Blues Festival, we saw a gap in the market for a show that combined professional musical insight with a “fan-first” attitude. Our goal was to create a “no fluff, no filler” zone that prioritized independent UK artists who were often overlooked by mainstream playlists. We wanted to prove that the blues is a living, breathing, and evolving genre, not a museum piece.
While our roots in local radio go back further, Blues from the Ouse made its official leap into the digital podcasting world on November 14, 2019. Since then, we have maintained a relentless weekly schedule, recently celebrating the massive milestone of our 300th episode in late 2025—a feat that reflects our unwavering commitment to the scene.
The transition happened relatively quickly. Once we secured our residency at Jorvik Radio, it took about two weeks to refine our format and technical workflow to ensure the live broadcast translated perfectly into a high-quality podcast. We didn’t want to just “dump” radio audio; we spent those initial weeks ensuring our “sarcasm-included” banter and hand-picked playlists sounded as sharp on a pair of headphones as they did on the airwaves.
► How’d you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
We release a fresh episode every single week, without fail. Each episode is a two-hour broadcast, but the “invisible” work behind it is extensive. Between researching new independent releases, curating themed sets (like our “Prison Blues” or “One-Chord” specials), and managing listener requests, each episode takes approximately 10 to 12 hours to produce from concept to upload. Because we record live at Jorvik Radio, we benefit from a professional studio environment, but the post-production—editing for the podcast edit, tagging metadata, and distribution via Acast—is a labour of love performed by Paul Winn.
Finding time is a balancing act, as we all hold “normal” day jobs alongside our lives as active musicians in the DC Blues band and our roles as directors of the York Blues Festival. We view the podcast not as a “chore,” but as the heartbeat of our musical week. We utilise evening “deep-work” sessions for curation and use our weekend festival planning meetings to keep our fingers on the pulse of the UK blues scene. By integrating the podcast into our existing lifestyle as musicians and promoters, the show remains authentic and “lived-in” rather than just another item on a to-do list.
Blues from the Ouse is a self-funded, independent passion project. While we have the incredible support of Jorvik Radio for our broadcasting space, all other costs—including professional podcast hosting fees (Acast), digital marketing, and travel for on-location interviews or festival coverage—are funded out of our own pockets. We don’t do this for profit; we do it because we believe the independent UK blues scene deserves a world-class platform. Every penny spent is an investment in the artists we play and the community we’ve built.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
Blues from the Ouse is a strictly non-commercial, independent production. We do not take financial sponsorships, and we generate zero revenue from the show. While we have been approached by brands in the past, we have consciously chosen to remain unsponsored to ensure our editorial independence. Our “sponsorship” comes in the form of the music itself—the artists who trust us with their tracks and the listeners who give us their time. Every week, we prioritize the music over the “sell,” keeping our airwaves free of commercials so the blues can breathe.
Our audience has grown organically since we launched in 2019. We currently see a steady and dedicated listenership, with our episodes reaching thousands of “blues-hounds” globally each month. While we don’t obsess over “vanity metrics,” we have seen a significant spike in engagement leading into 2026, particularly surrounding our 300th-episode milestone. Our footprint on platforms like Apple Podcasts and GoodPods consistently places us among the top tier of independent UK music commentary shows, often charting alongside much larger commercial productions.
The chemistry between Paul, Ben, and Angie is the engine of the show. Spending two hours a week debating the merits of a slide guitar solo has cemented a bond that extends into our work with the DC Blues Band. The podcast acts as the R&D department for the York Blues Festival. By interviewing emerging artists, we identify the talent that we later book for our live stages, creating a full-circle ecosystem for the genre.
Every “Themed Set” we produce requires hours of research. Podcasting has turned us into historians of the genre, constantly uncovering forgotten legends and connecting them to modern innovators. There is no greater reward than receiving a message from a listener in another country who discovered a UK indie artist through our show and bought their album. That connection is our “revenue.”
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► How does your podcasting process look like?
Because Blues from the Ouse is a radio-first production, we record in the professional broadcast studios of Jorvik Radio in York. We use a professional-grade setup including Shure SM7B microphones (the industry standard for that warm, “bluesy” broadcast tone) and a Myriad for real-time mixing and triggering our jingles and the occasional sarcastic sound effect. For our podcast edit, we use Audacity to clean up the live recording, ensuring the music levels are punchy and the dialogue is crisp. We host and distribute the final show via Acast, which pushes the episodes to Apple, Amazon and various global directories.
Our guest list is born from our roles as Co-Directors of the York Blues Festival and active touring musicians.
We find guests through:
The Green Room: Many of our interviews come from artists we are booking for the festival or sharing a bill with.
The Inbox: We receive dozens of submissions weekly from independent UK artists. We listen to everything, looking for that “blues with bite” that fits our brand.
Industry Connections: As members of the IBBA (Independent Blues Broadcasters Association), we are constantly networking with labels and PR agents to secure world-exclusive first plays (like our recent exclusive from The Stumble).
Preparation is meticulously done by Paul Winn. Each week, we curate a specific Theme (e.g., “The Legal Blues” or “Blind Blues Legends”). We don’t just play tracks; we research the history, the anecdotes, and the “why” behind the music. Paul manages the primary tracklist, while Ben handles the “UK Gig Round-up,” meticulously checking tour dates to ensure our listeners know where to see the music live. Guest interviews are carried out live in the Jorvik Radio studios.
► How do you market your show?
As an independent show, our growth has been entirely organic, fuelled by our reputation within the blues community. Based on our Acast analytics and listener feedback, our acquisition breakdown is approximately:
50% Podcast Apps: A majority of our listeners discover us directly through Spotify and Apple Podcasts by searching for “UK Blues” or “New Blues Music.”
30% Word of Mouth & Community: A significant portion of our audience comes from recommendations within the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association (IBBA) network and blues fan groups on Facebook.
10% Social Media Referral: Listeners clicking through from our active updates.
10% Live Events: New listeners who find us after attending the York Blues Festival or seeing the DC Blues Band live.
The show is marketed using a “community first” approach on Facebook and Instagram.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
Consistency is the only “Secret Sauce”: When we started, we didn’t realize that hitting Episode 300 would be more important than any single “viral” interview. The blues community is built on trust; if you show up every week, you become part of the listener’s life.
Don’t just play a track. Tell the story of why the artist wrote it, what guitar they used, or how they fit into the UK scene. Listeners can find music anywhere, but they come to a podcast for curation and education.
Authenticity beats “perfect” production every time. We learned that our listeners actually enjoy the sharp-witted Yorkshire sarcasm and the occasional technical glitch because it makes us real. Don’t try to sound like a BBC newsreader if you’re actually a guy in a band.
You don’t need millions of listeners; you need the right listeners. Focus on being the best resource for your specific corner of the blues, and the awards (like this one!) will eventually follow the passion.
MP3Tag & Metadata Tools: We cannot stress enough how important metadata is. We recommend tools like Mp3tag to ensure your files are professional and searchable for radio play. Use hosting platforms like Acast for reliable distribution and tools like Rephonic to understand your audience demographics and see how you stack up against other shows in your niche.
► Where can we learn more about you & your podcasts?
The best place to explore our full history and current episodes is our official hosting site. With over 420 episodes now available, it serves as a massive digital archive of the UK blues scene:
Official Podcast Site (Acast): shows.acast.com/bluesfromtheouse
We are highly active on social media, using these platforms not just for promotion, but for two-way conversation with our listeners and the artists we play:
Facebook: facebook.com/bluesfromtheouse – Our main community hub for listener requests and show updates.
Instagram: @ouseblues – Where we share behind-the-scenes studio shots and festival highlights.
As active members of the blues community, our work extends beyond the microphone. You can find more about our band and the festival we direct here:
York Blues Festival: yorkbluesfest.co.uk – The annual event we co-direct, showcasing the artists we champion on the show.
DC Blues Band: dcbluesband.com – Our band’s official site, featuring a dedicated page for the podcast.
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