Jim Lawson

Born back in the mists of time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth…well, the year that Sir Edmund Hilary climbed Mt Everest, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and when Watson and Crick unravelled the structure of DNA, The Ancient One truly lives up to his name. After spending 33 years in teaching, the last 25 as Head of Biology, I successfully applied for early retirement (2008) and moved lock and stock (I didn’t possess any barrels at the time) to the beautiful Isle of Skye, off the west coast of Scotland, to join my partner, The Landlady. (now known as Mrs Ancient One) As a retired person, I looked around the various voluntary openings that existed and one led me to the local radio station, Cuillin FM. I thought I might be able to help out sorting cds or something. Within a couple of weeks I was asked if I wanted to present a program and trained up as soon as I said “Yes”. Launched onto the airwaves was the show “Strangely Strange but Oddly Normal” and I was able to foist some of my shedload of music onto an unsuspecting public. From mainstream rock/folkrock the contents slowly evolved to full blown progressive rock with leanings towards the symphonic melodic areas. The title of the show also changed to “Strangely Strange and The Ancient One”, which initially confused listeners as they expected 2 presenters, and thus the show title was shortened to simply “The Ancient One”. The show has appeared onCuillin FM,North Highland Radio, Pipeline Radio International and. More Music Radio The Ancient One show on Progzilla Radio is a 3hr show going out fortnightly, (every Tuesday night at 21:00 UK) highlighting the best in progressive music, so expect lots of modern progressive music, but with the odd excursion back in time to the classic works of the late 60’s/early 70’s, all showing a more symphonic nature. Every 2nd Saturday at midday UK, there is the chance to hear an Ancient One Archive Show from 7 years ago, and every 5th Sunday between the hours of midnight and 02:00 UK, The Ancient One presents 101 Dimensions a show featuring ambient, electronica, krautrock and more with no mic work.

Website Send email

“Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 91 (The Can Story Part 2)”

November 1, 2018

Welcome along to The Ancient One show featuring Part 2 of The Can Story. This show completes the studio albums and ventures into compilations and live material. Playlist 1 Can – I Want More (excerpt from Can Singles) 2 Can – EFS Nr 99 Can Can (Can/Inner Space 1978) 3 Can – Aspectacle (Can/Inner Space […]

“Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 90 (The Can Story Pt 1 Studio Albums 1-10)”

October 31, 2018

Playlist 1 Can – I Want More (excerpt from Can Singles) 2 Can – Yoo Do Right (Monster Movie 1969) 3 Can – Tango Whiskeyman (Soundtracks 1970) 4 Can – Mother Sky (Soundtracks 1970) 5 Can – She Brings The Rain (Soundtracks 1970) 6 Can – Paperhouse (Tago Mago 1971) 7 Can – Mushroom (Tago […]

“Podcast: The Ancient One – Show No 89”

August 23, 2018

The Ancient One is very happy to say that Show No 89 “The Ancient One Birthday Special” is now available as a podcast. This is the show that originally was broadcast on the eve of The Ancient One becoming 65…and qualifying to be correctly called TAO (never and OAP) This show has 9 pieces of […]

“Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 88”

August 23, 2018

The Ancient One is happy to say that Show No 88, “The Swedish Special” is now available as a podcast. Playlist 1 The Nice – Brandenburger (excerpt used as the Intro) ( The Immediate Years 3cd Box set) 2 Galleon – Long Lonely Shadows (King of Aragorn 1995) 3 Brighteye Brison – The Harvest (Believers […]

“Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 87”

August 1, 2018

I’m delighted to announce that The Ancient One Show No 87 ” Tall Tales Vol 2″ is now available as a podcast. Playlist 1 The Nice – Brandenburger (Excerpt used as Intro The Immediate Collection 3CD box) 2 Unitopia – The Garden (The Garden 2008) 3 Grey Lady Down – The Crime Pts 1-3 (The […]

“Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 86”

July 12, 2018

The Ancient One is again very happy to inform the world that the latest show, Show No 86 ” Mixed Bag Vol 4 (Krautrock By Any Other Name)” is now available as a podcast. Playlist 1 The Nice – Brandenburger (Excerpt used as the Intro) 2 Amon Duul II – Syntelman’s March Of The Roaring […]

“Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 85”

June 25, 2018

I’m delighted to announce that The Ancient One Show No 85 “Short Stories Vol 1”, is now available as a podcast. Playlist 1 The Nice – Brandenburger (excerpt used as Intro) 2 The Nice – Diamond Hard Blue Apples Of The Moon (Emerlist/Elegy 1967/1970) 3 Moon Safari – Lady Of The Woodl

“Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 84

June 11, 2018

I’m delighted to announce that The Ancient One Show No 84, “Featuring Vol 3” is now available as a podcast. This features the band Riversea and 3 tracks from both the studio albums, Out Of An Ancient World (2012) and the recent release, The Tide. Playlist 1 The Nice – Brandenburger (excerpt used as the […]

“Podcast:The Ancient One – Edition 84”

June 1, 2018

I’m delighted to announce that The Ancient One Show No 83, “The Concept Show Vol 2” is now available as a podcast. This is the second show in the series featuring sequences from concept albums. Playlist 1 The Nice – Brandenburger (short excerpt used as Intro) 2 Isildur’s Bane – Sagan Om Der Irlandska Algen […]

“Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 82”

May 18, 2018

I’m delighted to announce that The Ancient One Show No 82, “A Mixed Bag Vol 3”, is now available as a podcast. Playlist. 1 The Nice – Brandenburger (excerpt used as Intro) 2 Magna Carta – Lord Of The Ages (Lord Of The Ages 1973) 3 Jackson Heights Doubting Thomas (Kings Progress 1970) 4 Michael […]