FOLK - IMAGE & PRESENTATION

I'm not intentionally trying to be contentious but I'm sure Mudcatters will have a view on these issues and I would like to hear them. There will be those who think folk is fine where it is, as a small but interesting musical genre, and there are those who would think folk deserves a bigger audience, more respect, and more serious coverage by the media. And there are a few who would like to drag folk back to an era that never really existed.

Music in all it's forms has developed over many centuries; in fact all music must have been folk music until ways were found to present music to large audiences. Songs and music around the world would have been played by individuals to entertain themselves and others in very small groups. The church recognised the power of music and song and used it alongside their awe inspiring buildings to influence and control their congregations. Then we found ways to record sound and all of the boundaries were gone, we could listen to music from almost anywhere in the world. Eventually we could go out and record the people who were still playing music and songs which had been passed down, from one performer to another over decades and, perhaps, centuries - Folk Music.

That folk music was, originally, of its day, not traditional, but pertinent to that moment in time, in the same way that pop music has relevance today. It was the only form of musical entertainment available to anyone. There was no competition and each country had its own musical style and its own instruments. Travel, conquest and trade routes would have introduced new styles and instruments across the continents and then across the world.

Now music is dominated by businesses who wish to sell music into mass markets. Folk music isn't given much exposure by the media and when it is they very often make fun of it. Editors send their photographers to festivals with clear instruction to find the fattest bloke with the biggest beard possible or some daft bugger dressed in red.

Youth culture doesn't look backwards for its inspiration but believes it is living with the very latest that music can offer; and apart from a short period in the sixties, when music seemed to be driven by genuine musicians, young people buy into the crap sold to them buy businessmen.

So; are we happy with a lack of respect, and lack of exposure and the possibility of a receding audience for the music and the songs that we love? Or should we be thinking about the promotion, presentation and the image that folk music has, and the image we want it to have. Folk music has the best musicians, the best singers, and the best songwriters. It has diversity, a sense of history and loads of humour. It is accessible and encourages everyone to take an active part in performance. Folk is unique in the festival world, attracting and catering for the whole family. We have a lot to offer, including a good standard of behavior. We don't want to compromise or spoil what we have all enjoyed for a long time, but surely we want to share this great movement; even, this way of life.

If we do want to share our music and increase the number of people attending folk events, we need to dispel the quite unreasonable and ridiculous image that folk has been given by the media. There has never been more competition in the world of music. We can ignore that; folk music will never die, but if it is so good why not let everybody know. Folk artists have become very professional and care about their image, they deserve the very best presentation we can give them as promoters. In fact, we could all; artists, organisers and audiences give more support to change. And although change can be risky, there are enough thoughtful participants to ensure that any change is properly considered.

There will, of course, be a curmudgeonly bunch who will want to retain the cliquish "Our Little Club" attitude, but surely folk music is bigger and more welcoming than that.