Music is often something we turn to during times of grief and loss. It can evoke fierce emotions, trigger memories and transport you back to days gone by. In this session, BBC 6Music’s Gideon Coe invited renowned guests to share the songs they turn to for comfort and healing in times of loss: from the songs that inspire hope and happy flashbacks to the epic, musical roller coasters that bring out the soul-searching, the tears and the howling grief.
Whatever your playlist and whoever inspired it, join Gideon and friends including Suzi Quatro and ‘Cockney Rebel’ Steve Harley as they celebrate the incredible power of music and memory to heal.
Gideon is joined by Dr Victoria Williamson. Victoria is an independent authority, scholar and consultant on the psychology of music; how music is processed by the brain; and the ways in which music impacts on our minds and behaviours.
We also welcome writer Catherine Mayer a best-selling author, journalist and activist. Her most recent book, the memoir Good Grief: Embracing Life at a Time of Death, was written after she lost her husband, musician Andy Gill, on the eve of the pandemic in 2020.
If you’re struggling with grief or need support, you can find free bereavement resources, and a list of organisations that can help, on http://mariecurie.org.uk/bereavement-resources . You can also call the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309* for ongoing support from a trained bereavement volunteer.
*Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 11am to 5pm. Calls are free from landlines and mobiles. Your calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.
