I must say that the initial perception is that English folk music does get a raw deal at the hands of the English media. There is very little played on the radio and TV. Morris dance is constantly the but of jokes on TV. Anyone daring to say that they like anything English appears to be instantly accused of Racism and so on. But that IS purely my perception. I doubt if yet another tedious awards ceremony would do anything to help that and I trust the judgement of some of the posters that I know on here when they doubt the motive of the initial post but it does pose a genuine question. Does English Folk music get a raw deal?

To that end I did a very quick excercise. The only show dedicated purely to folk on national radio is Mike Hardings. Like it or not that is true. I know there are regional shows and I know folk clubs have more local artists on than you can shake a stick at. I listen to 3 other local radio shows and go to Swinton Folk club every week. Yes there is excelent coverage of English folk music there. But do the mainstream media give enough airtime to English folk? Well, as the MH show was the only one I could use I looked at the playlist. The only way I could divide it fairly was to look at the birthplace of the artists performing and this is how last weeks panned out -

Artist: Kris Drever - Scottish

Artist: Michael McGoldrick - English

Artist: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset - English

Artist: Robin Dransfield - English

Artist: Maddy Prior - English

Artist: Maddy Prior - English

Artist: Maddy Prior - English

Artist: Keith Kendrick - English

Artist: Amy Correia - USA

Artist: Sam Baker - USA

Artist: Mary Gauthier - USA

Artist: Jimmy LaFave - USA

Artist: Eliza Gilkyson - USA

Artist: Lucy Kaplansky - USA

Artist: Faustus - English

15 songs played. 8 of them by English artists. 1 Scottish. 6 from the USA. We could argue that only 6 English acts were represented seeing as Maddy Prior got three bites at the cherry but I am happy to treat that as three songs by an English act.

I have purposely left the played songs off so we do not get into disagreements about whether they were folk songs, what their origins were and so on. Personaly I think it is a pretty poor showcase for English acts but, again, that is my personal opinion.

I am sure it was all good music although I did miss it so I cannot confirm that. But maybe someone has a point if they say that English artists are not that well represented in their own country? Maybe we do need something that will rally us to the flag of St George without all the attendant right wing nutters?

At the end of the day it isn't that important. It has survived all sorts of other traumas and I am sure it will still be going when I am long gone. Maybe another Sharp will travel to another Appalacia and bring back English music more original than is played at the moment? Who knows what is around the corner.

In the meanwhile, as suggested before, anyone wanting to hear more English music - Get yer arse out to the local Folk clubs where you are needed!

Cheers

Dave