It has been interesting reading this thread from the USA about what is happening on the "Happening" scene in the UK.

I was looking at related articles, and found this below on the Beehive City site. An interesting comparison with what people say on Mudcat!
If the link doesn't work, I have also included the article without photos, etc.

Tim Radford (in exile - Woods Hole)

http://www.beehivecity.com/radio/time-for-radio-2-folk-awards-to-embrace-laura-marling-mumford-sons4356124/


ARTICLE:

Time for BBC R2 Folk Awards to embrace Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons
February 8, 2011
By Adam Sherwin
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Daltrey & Donovan share some hazy memories

Roger Daltrey was on fine form at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards last night. ÓYou can cut all you like but youÕll never cut the music out of me. Great music always comes out of adversity,Ó The Who singer said at an event which reminded Radio 2 listeners hearing the event live for the first time, that thereÕs one genre of music that has never shied away from politics.

The audience at the London Brewery, including Douglas Alexander, shadow Foreign Secretary, sat in hushed silence as Chris Wood performed the Song of the Year, Hollow Point, an acoustic tune detailing the final minutes of Jean Charles de Menezes life before the innocent Brazilian was killed by police.

An estimated two million R2 listeners heard Charles Hazlewood, the conductor and BBC presenter, open the event with a tirade, saying: ÒThese awards are a very necessary slice of sunshine in gloomy times when local authorities up and down the country are slashing their arts provision. TheyÕve forgotten the essential truth that if the cultural life of a country is strong then so is itÕs soul.Ó

All good stuff to counter any accusations that a night of folk awards, given a much higher-profile TV and Radio push by the BBC, might be ÒboringÓ.

And yet when presenters Mike Harding and Barbara Dickson, announced that a new generation of artists including Mumford & Sons and Noah & The Whale were reinvigorating folk music for a new generation, there was a sharp intake of breath from the traditionalists.

Mumford and Noah arenÕt allowed on the nominations list. Hip Òindie-folkÓ singer Laura Marling was allowed a Best Song nomination and invited to perform. But even that was apparently the subject of some debate. Seth Lakeman once prompted boos from some hardliners when he performed at the folk awards for straying too far from the traditional path.

ItÕs an attitude reflected in the section of the audience that bristled when guest presenter Frank Skinner delivered some amusing gags about the length of the nominees beards.


Each year these awards are shared out between a collective of musicians and sometimes even family members. ThereÕs the Martin Carthy/Norma Waterson dynasty, the Bellowhead/Imagined Village troupes and various members of Fairport Convention.

All great musicians and worthy winners but if the event is to justify the spotlight that the BBC is now shining upon it, amid claims that specialist music programming is being cut, it will have to appear more than the annual gathering of a cosy family club.

The Marlings, Mumfords and US acts like Beirut must be allowed to win, even at the expense of the old stagers. The definition of folk will have to stretch to country, in its traditional and alt forms, and the event allowed to embrace international artists now that the BBC has scrapped the World Music awards.

To give the Folk Awards the real boost it needs, a lifetime achievement invitation should be extended to Bob DylanÉif he doesnÕt get booed for dusting off an electric guitar.

Watch Laura Marling perform new track Flicker And Fail on the Radio 2 Folk Awards website
Follow us on Twitter - Beehive City:@beehivecity Editor-at-large:@adamsherwin10

This entry was posted on February 8, 2011 at 2:04 pm and is filed under Radio. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.