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.

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“Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 59”

July 11, 2017

I’m delighted to announce that the podcast for The Ancient One Show No 59 is now avaialable. Playlist 1 Ioearth Hormonix (Ioearth) 2 Antimatter Legions (Planetary Confinement) 3 Moth Vellum Whalehead (Moth Vellum) 4 Johannes Luley Stab The Sea (Tales From Sheepfather’s Grove) 5 Blackfield Glasshouse (Welcome To My DNA) 6 Fatal Fusion Shadow Of […]

“Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 58”

July 11, 2017

I’m delighted to announce that the podcast for The Ancient One Show No 58 is now available. Playlist 1 Damanek Dark Sun (On Track) 2 Beggars Opera Silver Peacock Pt 1/2 (Waters Of Change) 3 Samurai Of Prog Ghost Written (On We Sail) 4 David Gilmour Where We Start (On An Island) 5 Pymlico Broken […]

“Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 57”

May 28, 2017

I’m delighted to announce that the podcast for Edition 57 of The Ancient One is now available. Playlist 1 Samurai of Prog – Drottningholmsmusiken (intro) (Rokstenen) 2 Freedom To Glide – Rain (Tracks 1-4) (Rain) 3 Poor Genetic Material – Lost In Translation (Absence) 4 Pete Sinfield – A House Of Hopes and Dreams (Still) […]

“Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 56”

May 28, 2017

I’m delighted to announce that the podcast for Edition 56 of The Ancient One is now available. Playlist 1 Samurai of Prog – Drottningholmsmusiken (Intro) (Rokstenen) 2 Simon Says – White Glove (Paradise Square) 3 Bram Stoker – Calling Me Home (Cold Reading) 4 Big Big Train – Brave captain (Grimspound) 5 The Windmill – […]

Podcast:The Ancient One – Edition 55

May 2, 2017

The Ancient One is pleased to announce that the podcast for Edition 55 of TAO is now available. Playlist. 1 Samurai Of Prog – Drottningholmsmusiken (Rokstenen) Intro 2 Bjorn Riise – Forever Comes To An End (Forever Comes To An End) 3 Long Earth – The Source Pt 1-4 (The Source) 4 Abel Ganz – […]

Podcast: The Ancient One – Edition 54

May 2, 2017

The Ancient One is delighted to announce that the podcast for Edition 54 of TAO is now available. Playlist 1 Samurai of Prog – Drottningholmsmusiken (Rokstenen) Intro 2 Genesis – Supper’s Ready (Foxtrot) 3 Serpentyne – Jeanne D’Arc (Serpent’s Kiss) 4 Hidden Lands – The Silent Service (Halcyon) 5 Egg – A Visit To Newport […]

Podcast: The Ancient One Edition 53

April 5, 2017

Astute observers will realise that TAO missed out his normal preamble to the playlist. My apologies for any inconvenience, but rest assured, I remembered this time. I’m delighted to announce that the podcast for Edition 53 of The Ancient One is now available. Playlist. 1 Samurai of Prog – Drottningholmsmusiken (intro) (Rokstenen) 2 La Coscienza […]

Podcast:The Ancient One – Edition 52

April 5, 2017

Playlist 1 Samurai Of Prog – Drottningholmsmusiken (Intro) (Rokstenen) 2 IT – Power (We’re All In This Together) 3 Lucy In Blue – Dazed Petition (Lucy In Blue) 4 Long Earth – The Source (Sample 1) 5 Magic Pie – Change (Motions Of Desire) 6 Unreal City – Ouverture (Il Paese Del Tramonto) 7 The […]

Podcast: The-Ancient-One-Edition 51

March 12, 2017

I’m delighted to announce that the podcast for Edition 51 of The Ancient One is now available. Playlist 1 Samurai of Prog – Drottningholmsmusiken (intro) 2 Genesis – Firth Of Fifth (Selling England By The Pound) 3 The Light Afternoon – Mystery Plays (The History of Mr Puffin) 4 Kerrs Pink – Tidings From Distant […]

Podcast:-The Ancient One – Edition 49

March 12, 2017

I’m delighted to announce that the podcast for Edition 49 of The Ancient One is now available. 1 Samurai of Prog – Drottningholmsmusiken (intro) 2 Napier’s Bones – Awakening ( Alpha Omega Man) 3 Ekos – Avatar Pt 1 and 2 (Otra Dimenscion) 4 Grey Lady Down – Fallen (Star Crossed) 5 Alan Reed – […]