David Eagle is one third of the three-time BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winning band The Young’uns.

You may have encountered him performing with them on BBC Radio 2 and 3, or maybe BBC’s Springwatch. they have also done a few documentaries for BBC Radio 4. Their full length theatre show The Ballad Of Johnny Longstaff, the true tale of an anti-fascist activist from Teesside, was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and made BBC Radio’s Pick Of The Year for 2024. Or perhaps – and granted, this is unlikely, but maybe – you heard them in the Aardman Animations film Itch of the Golden Nit, in which they played the role of Vic Reeves’ pirate backing band. 

All rights go to the BBC, CBBC and the Creators of The Itch of the Golden Nit. For Entertainment Purposes Only.

Born in 1985 ( Urgh now I feel old!) David is also an occasional DJ. He has released six instalments of David Eagle’s Pick And Mix, the DJ set with no rules, combining music of any genre, from any time.  David also DJs at folk festivals, mashing up folk with pop, thrash metal, dubstep, or whatever the heck he bloody well fancies.

He sporadically presents The David Eagle Podcast. It started in 2016 with David’s Daily Digital Dollop, releasing an episode every day of 2016, featuring a mix of written and audio pieces on all manner of subjects (although more often than not, his errant kettle) and recordings of his rural walks through Sheffield, chatting to people he met on his way, such as old, profane, politically incorrect farmers. In 2020 he released a podcast every day for the first sixty days of Lockdown called The Eagle Is Stranded, featuring walks and talks with his wife and housemates, interviews with musicians and comedians, a beer sommelier and a psychic medium. In an incredible turn of events, The David Eagle Podcast became the “official” home for the latest Gina G news. “Ooh Ahh!” Other regular podcast features include, Spammer Time, Cassette Roulette, Herbal Tea Of The Week, and Ellie Skinner’s Weekly Animal Penis Fact. One of the most popular episodes was the story of David and Ellie’s inadvertently eventful/chaotic wedding.

His comic genius has not gone unnoticed  (Those folkies amongst our esteemed readership, have been privy  (the adjective not the noun !) to the pre-screening of David Eagle’s comic brilliance in marquees across the land)  He now shares his  (‘precious’) time (as I found out trying to coordinate emails back and forth with him)  between music and his now burgeoning career on the comic circuit.  See below for some of his early exploits in Leicester Square Theatre  ( *WARNING* some might find elements of the language used in the following clip offensive… so skip on, but you will be proper missing out!)

Those of us who HAVE been lucky enough to encounter Mister David Eagle before, in one of his aforementioned guises,  probably have an inkling of the riotous answers you are about to encounter and have sensibly prepared yourself, with extra ‘protection’ from the readily available TENA range (other leaky pea pants are available)  and tissues for other potentially leaking orifices!

Those of you, for whom this is your first encounter,  of the “comic tour de force.” (The Guardian) that is David Eagle – prepare yourself !  You will require some tissues,  spare smalls, any meds you should have taken but have forgotten and move anything breakable from immediate vicinity.  There may be raucous arm flailing!

If all of the above are to hand…

David Eagle from Hartlepool, England – here are your Question of Firsts:

FIRST RECORD YOU EVER BOUGHT

I don’t remember the exact record, but I know that it would have been an actual record, as in Vinyl, and that I’d have been about seven, and that it was bought at a second hand record shop. I used to go there with my dad on a Saturday after my music lesson.

There was a section of the shop where the albums with the most dishevelled looking sleeves were just put in a big pile and sold for 50p. Being blind, I wasn’t at all concerned by the lack of aesthetic value. I’d head to this section, and choose a couple of records by myself, bringing them to the counter and insisting that my dad did not intervene in the purchase, by telling me what the albums were that I’d chosen, or to try and persuade or dissuade me from a particular selection. I wouldn’t know what the album contained until the moment that I got home and dropped the arm down on the record. I loved the excitement of that moment, as the arm fell, the crackles came and then a few seconds later, the mystery music began to play.

I recall hearing Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells for the first time during one of these random listening sessions, which I absolutely loved and was so excited by. However, I did buy many absolute duds, including a strange album consisting entirely of pop tunes played by water droplets. Perhaps this was a run-on from the success of that instrumental track Popcorn, and someone had thought there was definitely a market for water droplet based pop covers. I know that when John Peel first heard Tubular Bells, he insisted on playing the album on Radio One in its entirety. I’d be surprised if he gave the water droplet album a second’s glance. Well actually, this was John Peel, so maybe I wouldn’t be that surprised.

Anyway, essentially to answer your question, “first record you ever bought,” the answer would be  ‘I don’t know’, but nevertheless I hope you enjoyed my circuitous route around telling you that.

Hanging on your every word Mr Eagle

FIRST GIG YOU EVER WENT TO

Again I was probably about seven. It was a weird Christian concert that the church took me and a big group of youths to.   I think it was designed to prove to us kids that Jesus was fun. It didn’t work. I hated the concert. It was a very cheesy rock band, who played tedious generic songs that essentially all seemed to consist of a lot of clapping along and repeatedly singing the same phrase over and over again, as the frontman encouraged us all to sing the mind numbing mantra with him, louder and louder: “Jesus loves you, yeah yeah yeah.” I asked Jesus to please demonstrate his love for me by causing a power cut, but alas divine intervention did not come.

I found myself pining for the relative musical genius of the water droplets album. The concert was meant to inspire us and bring us closer to Jesus, but it actually had the complete opposite effect, making me decide that maybe Christianity wasn’t for me. I suppose you could call it my middle-of-the-road to Damascus moment.  

FIRST THING YOU THINK ABOUT IN THE MORNING

My therapist has advised me against answering this honestly.

FIRST THING YOU EVER PERFORMED IN PUBLIC

I was five. Our class were having a teddy bear’s picnic and we’d all been asked to bring in our favourite teddy and say a few words about it. I’d been chosen to headline the event. Some of the more cynical children might have assumed that the reason I went last was simply because I happened to be sitting at the end of the line. Yes, OK, but the teachers could have elected to go down the line in the opposite direction, thus starting rather than ending with me. I think the fact that they didn’t do this tells you everything you need to know, and I think the other children knew this deep down in their hearts.

As the various children’s presentations progressed, I began to grow more confident that I was indeed worthy headline material. All the other children were essentially trotting out the same tired, tedious, derivative phrases about their teddies being soft and fluffy, and that they like to give their teddies cuddles and take them to bed when they go to sleep.

As this litany of predictability progressed, I began to grow more excited about my performance for I had prepared something rather different, and a little more elaborate.

Eventually, when all of the children had delivered their dreary dross, the teacher said, “and finally, David.” I expect that the children just assumed the teacher had merely said, “and finally” to signify that I was the only person left to go, however I knew that when she said “and finally”, she was really saying “and finally, it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. I can hardly contain my excitement.” Fortunately the teacher said her “and finally” with a slightly tired sigh. I thought that was very clever and kind of her. She was clearly trying to hide her enthusiasm, so as not to make the other children feel inferior. Fortunately I think all the other children bought it, but she didn’t fool me.

“And finally,” said the teacher. “David, would you like to introduce your teddy.”

My answer shocked both child and teacher alike.

“Well, perhaps my teddy might prefer to do his own introduction.”

I could sense an atmospheric shift. There was intrigue, there was excitement, perhaps a hint of rebellion. Where was this heading. I paused for dramatic effect, and then I let my teddy speak.

I’d expected this moment to go well, but I hadn’t anticipated how seismic it would be. I assumed that other children would have had teddies with voice boxes, activated whenever you press its belly, but the way these kids reacted, suggested that I was very much the only child in possession of such cutting-edge teddy technology.

“Hi, I’m bingo,” said … well, Bingo, obviously.

The children went wild. They whooped, they clapped, I dare say they hollered, although this was thirty-five years ago; you can’t expect me to remember the moment with absolute definitive clarity. A couple of kids might have started crying, perhaps believing that my teddy had become possessed, and they were witnessing some form of witchcraft. But the overriding emotion was definitely one of unbridled exhilaration. But the show had only just got started.

“And what are you?” I asked Bingo.

“I am a nihilist,” said Bingo. No, no, obviously not. This was 1989 – teddy manufacturers  hadn’t yet embraced existentialism.”

“I’m a bear” said Bingo. Again, the children went wild.

The penultimate phrase in bingo’s arsenal was, “I love honey.” Now, of course I could have simply asked Bingo what his favourite food was. I’m sure Bingo’s response would have once again yielded a raucous reception from the children, but I had something extra special planned. We had a teacher in our school called Mrs Honey. So instead of taking the obvious simple route of asking for Bingo’s favourite food, I asked him to tell me who his favourite teacher was.

I then left a dramatic pause. The children leaned forward, unable to hold their excitement. There were nervous giggles, and quickening breaths as they became overcome by expectation. I had them on the edge of their picnic blanket. Eventually, I pressed Bingo’s belly.

“I love Honey,” he said. The children lost it: hysterically giggling, excitedly screaming, whooping, cheering, clapping, and, almost certainly hollering.

There was only one more phrase that Bingo had, and that was “goodnight.” Now this was technically the afternoon, but the children were far too overwhelmed to heckle me or Bingo and start pouring scorn on Bingo’s lack of time perception. Perhaps I could have milked this experience for longer, and rather than simply saying goodnight, I could have asked Bingo what his opinion was regarding Sir Lancelot. But I’ve always been someone who appreciates the value of brevity. In fact it remains one of my core values to this day.

“Goodnight” said Bingo, and the children gave him, and let’s face it, me, a massive ovation.

So are we David, so are we!

Believe it or not we found a facebook page dedicated to Bingo Bear!  www.facebook.com/groups/103244204026/

 Bingo Bear Hasbro

FIRST PERSON YOU’D INVITE TO A PARTY

Maybe the Water Droplet musician. They could be the entertainment. I don’t know whether they do live gigs. Maybe they’re a plumber-turned-performer who’s rigged up an elaborate pipe system—twisting taps and shaking valves to play pop songs. It could be an amazing spectacle. I’ve no idea if that’s how it works. Actually, I’ve just Googled and I think I’ve found his website. He says he’s available to be booked for parties, and his sales pitch tag line is, “splash out on me, and I’ll splash out on you.” Actually, I’ve just checked again and that’s a different service. Sorry, I had a previous tab open.

All this talk about water has made me very grateful for the precautions I took earlier !

FIRST THING YOU’LL BUY WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR FIRST MILLION

I think you’re forgetting I’m a folk singer. Sorry, I can’t remember what it was I bought.

FIRST ALBUM YOU’D SAVE IF YOUR HOUSE WENT UP IN FLAMES

Being blind, I’d have no idea what album was where, and I wouldn’t have time to take photos on my phone to establish a record’s location. I think I’d probably take a more sensible approach to the situation: remember the existence of digital music streaming services, and concentrate on saving my life. Or maybe I’d just choose a record at random, like a more dramatic incendiary recreation of my seven-year-old second-hand music store adventures. Knowing my luck, it would be that bloody water droplet album. What cruel irony as I put the arm down on the record, only to hear the sound of the very element, that, if deployed in time, would have saved my house from going up in flames.

Seriously ….. droplets,  water, they’re starting to haunt me as well as you now!

FIRST SONG YOU’D HAVE PLAYED AT YOUR FUNERAL

I’d probably try and enlist the services of the Maverick musical plumber. Perhaps he could set up his elaborate pipe and tap setup at the altar. Maybe the mourners have a trough positioned before them, and as they cry (which surely they inevitably would, their tears will fall into the trough, thus providing the water that will generate the music. As for what song will be played: I imagine someone will have composed me a requiem.

Pipes, taps, water … if I didn’t know better I’d think you were deliberately trying to cause a situation here David!  

Actually I don’t know better !?

Perhaps I could also avail myself of the services of a computer programmer, who could modify the voice box of Bingo Bear, who could say a few words about me, or sing a song that I’ve written for the occasion. I think this would possess a certain poignance: having Bingo being present for both my first and last public performance. 

Where are those tissues it’s my eyes that are leaking now !!!!   

FIRST INSTRUMENT YOU EVER OWNED

A little toy keyboard when I was about three. I remember being fascinated by the notes as I ran my fingers along the keys. Then I must have inadvertently knocked the demo button, which I had no idea existed. Suddenly, I was playing this complex piece of music. My fingers were moving, the music was flowing. I was clearly a child prodigy.

I then turned off the keyboard, and considered the magnitude of what had just happened. Should I tell my parents, so that they could enrol me into University to study music? I really needed to take some time to consider my next move. This would define my life. I need to consider the ramifications. Do we as a family try and keep this quiet from the public. Once the press find out about me, I’ll be hounded; I won’t be able to rest for receiving invitations to perform at major events: the royal variety show, touring the world’s most iconic venues; I’ll be asked to collaborate with the highest profile musical celebrities; there’ll of course be a myriad of Radio and TV appearances, not to mention the …

My day dreaming was interrupted by my younger brother, who had picked up the keyboard. I then heard the same music being produced. At first I considered that my brother was also a child prodigy. It must be a crazy genetic quirk. But then my parents told me that I’d simply pressed the demo button, and my dreams of musical brilliance came to a stark and sudden end. I’d have to make do with being a folk singer.

Oh I don’t know David ……

FIRST THING YOU’D LIKE TO CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF

I’d like to be able to give more substantial, detailed answers to interview questions. Alas I am cursed by my unwavering compulsion for brevity. I’d also like to be better at sarcasm. I hear it’s the highest form of wit.

Bear with me while I just compose myself before summing up ……. ?!

Thank you so much to Mister David Eagle for finding the time in his hectic schedule to complete these Spiral Firsts for us.  I wonder if I might be so bold to suggest, the potential for releasing an additional podcast,  as therapy for those amongst us who may need reminding how to make explosive vocal sounds.  Thats VOCAL explosions !? …. unless the preparations you made at the beginning of these firsts are not completely water tight !!  

Oh no …. that was self inflicted!

Upcoming Events

Friday 22nd August 2025
An hour of Comedy and Songs at Found Festival, Claydon Estate, Buckingham   Tickets here

Sunday 24th August 2025
DJ Set at Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Shrewsbury, Shropshire   Tickets here

David with The Young ‘Uns

Sat 05, Jul 2025 New Forest Folk Festival Romsey

Canadian Tour  (see website for details)

Sun 24, Aug 2025 Foolhardy Folk Festival Nottingham

Sun 21, Sep 2025 Sheffield Nether Edge Festival

Sat 04, Oct 2025 Costa Festival Portugal

Sat 15, Nov 2025 THE YOUNG’UNS BIG BORO BASH Middlesbrough Town Hall

For further information please visit: https://www.davideagle.co.uk/

Featured Image Credit Steve Ullathorne