The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #96644   Message #1897315
Posted By: Ruth Archer
01-Dec-06 - 07:14 AM
Thread Name: Living Tradition Beats Celtic Connection
Subject: RE: Living Tradition Beats Celtic Connection
What about English Dance and Song? It's not only devoted to English tradition, but has been focusing recently on the younger end of the folk scene, like those coming out of the Newcastle degree course. It also does what neither Living Tradition or Froots does, in that it explores the sources of a lot of "traditional" folk activity, while also trying to make the connections between those roots and stuff that's happening now. I think context is vital when exploring traditional culture, and there aren't very many publications that offer that kind of context in an easy to digest and accessible format.

For me, this is key. You can read CD reviews, festival listings or another interview with Spiers and Boden anywhere, but EDS is doing something quite different and, in my opinion, both important and interesting.