am i the only youngster into folk and bl

Subject: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Annabelle
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 06:15 PM

and into blues, because i can always find converstaion with the members of a more aged generation, but it seems(i may be wrong) that i am the only 17 year old who worships GOOD music and is not swept up in the american craze of spiked hair and sporty clothes. Is nt anyone just himself anymore? oh well-id like to hear from younger people i=on this subject or anyone else with a pertinent opinion, for that matter. Love y Dove Anna

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Mbo
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 06:21 PM

We're here, Annabelle! Rage against trendy, that's me! Juts plain ol' blue jeans and folk music! Going around all day singing "The Cuillins of Home," various Irish fiddle reels, and "A Pair of Brown Eyes" in wet-clay covered clothes...ah, what joy to be yerself in a crowd of bellbottomed multiply pierced kids!

A-rovin', a-rovin', a-rovin' I'll go...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: ddw
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 06:26 PM

Annabelle,

I'm one of the older generation, but I'm always happy when a new youngun signs in on Mudcat. I'm sure some of our younger members will be hopping in here soon to welcome you too. Mbo, above, and a couple of others are in North Carolina and Barky is in California. Not sure where a lot of the others are. Where are you and what kind of music do you like (apart from blues)?

Hang around — the place gets pretty lively sometimes. And if you're like a lot of others, you'll make some friends here.

david

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 06:35 PM

I thought that was the Cullin of RHUM??

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: GUEST,?
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 06:39 PM

Of coures, I should have looked!!

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Mbo
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 06:42 PM

Archie Fisher does it as "The Cuillins of Home."

--Mbo

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Amergin
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 07:03 PM

I'm here, too. Nothing like singing or reciting your poetry at the top of your lungs as you wander around. I'm in the Portland, Oregon area.

Amergin

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 08:34 PM

we do get some 'younguns', but many simply never hear the 'real stuff', and it is HARD for many to buck peer pressure.But, always glad to see them...welcome...

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Chocolate Pi
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 08:51 PM

I'm 18, sing Sacred Harp, play various things, and do folk dance in Chicago/Boston, depending on whether I'm at school or at home.
Went to a wonderful barn dance in Valparaiso last weekend; couldn't stop waltzing for hours (beep, beep, thread convergence detected)

Chocolate Pi (who really will start studying now)

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Wavestar
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 01:16 AM

Heya!

I'm another one, 20 and born and raised a folkie, and loving it! You're not alone. I'm in Vermont, or Scotland when I'm at Uni... Home now! No more studies for a few months... anyone want to audition for my production of As You Like It?

(Oh.. I'm back... did you miss me for a the week I was gone?)

-J

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: TheOldMole
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 01:36 AM

Not quite the only one...I teach a college course in the blues, and I always get a good signup for it.

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Amergin
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 01:44 AM

I forgot to mention my age. 25.

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: MudGuard
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 03:32 AM

Depends mostly on the definition of youngster!
At the moment, I'd define youngster as 33 or less years of age. But this will change on July 18, when I get 34. Of course, then the definition will be 34 or less years. ;-)
MudGuard

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Banjer
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 05:01 AM

I would like to modify MudGuard's definition! Physicaly I am 51 years of age. In my heart I can't wait for my eighteenth birthday to come, Seems like such a long way off yet!! Look old, live young!! (doesn't always work, but we can give it one heckuva try)

Like Mbo and I'm sure others, I often whistle or hum to myself as I go about my work. One day a fellow who is probably ten years my senior asked what tune I was whistling. I told him it was called Rosin the Beau. He told me that he was familiar with the tune but never knew the name of it. It seems his father and grandfather had been old time fiddlers and he had heard that song and others being played at various gatherings. Unfortunately he never picked up on any instruments in his youth and now what he learned will be lost. I wish I could hook some sort of recording device to his memory banks and save what he knows!

I guess the purpose of this rambling is: it is important for young folks to carry on our wonderful traditional folk music and for us old folks to encourage them!! GO FOR IT!!

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: GeorgeH
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 06:10 AM

Of course most of the youngsters are out there doing it rather than sitting round here chating about it . .

When we presented Flook! (see http://www.flook.co.uk) over half of our full house (of about 250) were under-25s . . so you're clearly not an endangered species . . . But welcome, anyway.

G.

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 08:17 AM

Well, I was into Folk and Blues when I was 17, but that was over 30 years ago! Folk was very popular in England then

Steve (still 20-something at heart)

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: claudine
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 08:34 AM

I've been lurking on Mudcat for a few days now and this is my dorky first post! I'm 24 and come from a classical/early music background, but I've recently been getting familiar with the music of the 1960s folk revival in England especially. Slightly awed by the fact that I'm as old as most of the members of Fairport Convention were when they did Liege and Lief. I have absolutely no knowledge of the folk scene down here in Melbourne. However, I'm going to see Maddy Prior live in a couple of weeks - very exciting prospect.

I'm not attracted to the folk genre so much as to well-crafted songs... so much of the popular music I hear (generally by accident) is basically illiterate. But I'm a writer and not an instrumentalist, so maybe I'm biased.

Anyway, it's nice to meet you all.

Claudine

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: GUEST,dickie
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 09:07 AM

when i go to the clubs in boston or certain folk music festivals like falcon ridge, i see many young people in the audience and on stage. i think that ani difranco opened many of the doors for young people into the clubs and folk music festivals.

what i rarely see are minorities likes blacks, asians, and native americans. clubs and folk music festivals seem to be mostly the domain of white people.

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Mbo
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 11:22 AM

Oh, yeah, I'm 21. George, FLOOK! came to my university (ECU) in January, I was sorry I couldn't make the concert, but I heard it was excellent. Now when are they gonna book Dougie? Jess, ye got any parts suitable for an ex-Hamlet/Prospero?

--Mbo

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Mbo
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 11:30 AM

This thread may be of interest as well!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Willie-O
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 12:48 PM

My daughter Emily is 13...she had to make a list of "her top 40 things" for school, and Ella Fitzgerald made Number 4. Also Jackie Washington, Tom Waits and other notables.

Doin' somethin right I guess. Not surprising that she's a night owl. Don't know how we'll ever manage to get her up in time for school starting an hour earlier next year when she hits grade 9.

You'l be hearing from her...

Willie-O

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: jayohjo
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 01:49 PM

Here's another youngster - 18 and loving it (except for my A-levels right NOW - psychology on monday, then some more...)
Don't know bout other folksy types out there, but the way I came to it was cos my parents were both very into the whole 60s folk revival bit, so I heard it and took it all in when a baba. They both kinda moved on tho, so I forgot I ever knew it (in a way). Then when Lal (Waterson) died a few years back, my mum suggested I listen to some of her stuff, and I did, and then to other people's, and it felt (soppy, cheesy, dreadful, I'm sorry) like I was coming home to somthing. It felt like my music.
Most of the songs I sing are ones my mum used to sing, and a lot of them she never realised I knew until I sang them in a pub once when she was there! Hugs & happy thoughts jayohjoXX

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 02:26 PM

Obviously you are not the only one. WE have a superb singer/guitarist who comes to our club. She writes her own songs and music and she is only 15. you are also as old as you feel, so us old timers(!!!) are not as old as we seem. Folk has that effect on you.

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 04:24 PM

Interesting to see ages being put to names. I am nearly 36 and only discovered folk music a couple of years ago. Wish I had started earlier! Flook were my inspiration and they all look very young to me. I only came across this kind of music on Andy Kershaws' Radio 1 program and I was hooked. I do not mind people not liking the music but I do feel it should be given an airing so that younger people can make up there own minds. A few minutes ago I heard Kathryn Tickell on Mike Hardings Radio 2 folk/roots program and she was saying that she wished she was starting out now as there seem to be more young folk groups around now than when she began playing. In answer to your question, at the pub I go to there is a young lad who plays the tin whistle so well I turn several shades of envious green, another attends the tin whistle class and several young girls turned up for a one off flute tutorial with Flook last year. you are not alone obviously.

Roger

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 04:38 PM

Although it often seems to me that many people seem to get into folk later in life, one good thing (at least in my experience) is that folk music itself does not seem to have any age barriers and they young and older ones get along quite happily together (except some of the younger ones are too quick at picking things up... ;-)) and I have been playig in folk clubs sice about 18 years old when I was one of the younger ones locally. I am now a 39 year old youngster or in the same way as others have commented, I am a heart.

Jon

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: ceitagh
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 05:29 PM

Welcome Annabelle! I seem to be the only young folkie 'round my bit of city, maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places. On the 'cat tho, i'm just one of many ageless people....and i like it that way! It doesn't seem to matter when I go to a ceili or post on the 'cat what my age is...i'm treated just the same, with camaraderie and good humor...if only the rest of the world could be like this :-)
Pax,
ceitagh
btw, i'm 19, from Ontario, Canada, my dad's a folkie from way back, myself i'm just beginning to learn how little I know.

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Hardiman the Fiddler
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 07:03 PM

We were all 18 once upon a time, though for me it seems like ancient history; sometimes it seemed like yesterday, but it wasn't because it was BC "before computer."

I'm am reminded of a story. When I was 18, I went out to the store for milk and bread. There was a man in the line ahead of me. A man of about 55, he was buying milk and bread too. He kept eyeing a package of cigars. He wanted to get the cigars for himself, but he needed the milk and bread for his family. Ninety seven cents stood between the man and his pack of cigars. He put the package up, deciding that he couldn't afford it. I interrupted. "Mister, you look tired, and I'm tired too. I worked hard today, and hell, I can see you did too. (I did hard, physical labor at the time.) I said, "I got 97 cents, and you deserve those cigars."

He looked at me and said these words. "Thank you. Today, you just got here youngster, and I been doin' this for 55 years. Thank you."

And THANK YOU for what you will have to offer the mudcat.

Hardiman the Fiddler

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: claudine
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 10:24 PM

Regarding what Dickie said about minorities in folk - funny how it's fashionable for white people to enjoy 'world' music - which is folk music under a different name. But for eg. Asians to care about British folk music doesn't seem so obvious, somehow. Now my origins are Chinese, but I've been listening to western classical and popular music all my life, and folk music seems a natural progression for me.

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Mbo
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 10:27 PM

Too right claudine! My background is Italian and German, but I'm just mad about Irish & Scottish folk music! I am ragingly proud of my heritage, but fer some reason I like Irish & Scottish stuff...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Annabelle
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 01:27 AM

WOW-im really excited to even get any replies. everyone is so full hearted. i live in indiana. many would boo and hiss, but it isn't a bad place. sure, it's a little narrow and conservative, a little untouched by the world, but so are we all in a way. its beautiful and you can drive 5 miles from my house(downtown) and be in the middle of nowhere. that is an excellent feeling-to know that you are so close to nothing...does that sound sensical. yeah, im aboout the only one interested in the folk and blues scene around here, where the only safe thing to listen to is TRL and Dave Matthews Band, but people tend to like people who stand out. i dont know why more people dont try to be themselves--im sure they would like it. anyway-thanks and keep it comin'. ANNA

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 02:08 AM

Welcome Annabelle.

You should find this an interesting place. Wish something like this had existed when I was 18. I probably still would have been expelled from high school......but I'd have been happier!

Rick

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: GUEST,ruby
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 02:40 AM

hell no you aint the only youngster into folk/blues etc i just turned 21 and have been into it my whole life its REAL music i guess but dont dis all other or new music to quickly theres still good stuff that comes out (and i have to add bein pierced or tattooed does 'nt necessarily mean that you have bad music taste like a coupla people implied above just like a straw hat dont mean you do!!!)and one other thing while im at it to all those that say they are young at heart there is nothin wrong with age its just that most people think there is and get boring coz of that ,older people should be proud of there expirience and age , most cultures have respect for that its only here that people hide there elders in homes and disregard there point of view and anyway think about it if your 40 you probably got another 40 years so its not like your old anyway .anyway im rantin! music is for everyone Ruby

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: GUEST,Lea
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 03:02 AM

This is my first post here (I was poking around in the database and decided to check out the forum)...but anyway, I'm turning 21 on Sunday, and I fell in love with folk music at the age of 15, when my English teacher played Steeleye Span's "King Henry" for us in class. (He was a very influential teacher -- I'm majoring in English largely because of that class, though you may not be able to tell from that monstrous sentence I just wrote!)

Oh, and my sisters are both 18, and are also folk junkies -- I got them hooked. :-)

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Callie
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 03:18 AM

Hiya Claudine. Dunno about Melbourne, but most Sydney folkies are white men with beards. However, I don't fit any of those descriptions and I still love folk music. (DOn't let 'em fool you: they call it World Music in music shops to sell more CDs.)

The youngest folkies I know are Chicky's children (3 and 5) who know "Three Drunken Maidens", "Walzing With Bears" and "Plastic Jesus".

I have been to some gatherings where younger people who give it a go at singing are (only just) tolerated by some of the older, harder core folkies who will only sing certain songs in certain ways.

Doesn't stop us, though!

Callie

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 03:20 AM

Welcome to the 'Cat Annabelle......as ceits said, this is a kinds' ageless place. There's lots of good music and lots of very special people. Some of us are a tad older physically, but we are still learners. That's true of even some of our septagenarian members, people of great knowledge, but still learning and still young at heart.

Join in on any threads you like and feel free to say what you like. Age isn't a barrier here unless you're a miserable old git like Kendall or Banjer or me!!!

BTW, the "middle of nowhere" isn't 5 miles from the center of my town...its two blocks!!! I live next door to you in Ohio.....You know Ohio......We're the folks who sent you Bobby Knight.

Spaw

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: sledge
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 05:52 AM

If you should go to the summer Fairport Convention festival at Cropredy village, in rural Oxfordshire, UK then you will only too aware that there are a great many young people enjoying folk music today.

P.S. can I be 36 years young

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Willie-O
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 08:50 AM

Slight thread creep...Tonight I will be participating in the first public concert of the Blue Skies Community Fiddle Orchestra (now there's a mouthful), an aggregation of folks aged from about 10 to 50-something. It's a great thing, about sixteen players in all, including _three_ parent-and-child pairs. (And I think in all those cases, the kids started playing first, then got the parents into it.) The levels of playing skill vary greatly and learning to all contribute, work together and appreciate each other is really valuable for all of us--the experienced and novices alike.

I'm the most experienced player by many years, except for the group leader, but there are several players who are my peers in technique and style, and one who is definitely technically better than me--I recently found out she is twelve years old! We all learn a lot from each other, starting from the love of the music.

Yours for tunes and more tunes
Willie-O

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 03:18 PM

Our youngest band member ain't turned two yet. She's a full participant, has been since before she was born.

Start em early!

Hmmm. That would explain.... my son... when I was carrying him... a BeeGees concert! (Yes! I confess! I liked it!) But also Itzhak Perlman.... and countless Midnight Special radio programs (folk) on WFMT Chicago and folk clubs.... OK, yeah, I can hope the folk and blues influence prevails!

We liked to tease our teen boys that it was a real shame when a generation had to turn to their parents music and rebel against their culture's music, instead of the usual obverse. Hard to argue generation differences when everyone in the car is singing along with Tom Waits or Joh Hurt on the tape player.

~S~

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Annabelle
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 08:37 PM

wahoooooooooo-i think i love this cat

MEEOWWW-and thanks, i love bobby knight

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: canoer
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 03:13 AM

Hi Annabelle, Welcome. You know, maybe you could think of yourself not as the "only" y.i.f.a.b. in your town -- but simply -- the first.

If you share your enthusiasm with family and friends (just give 'em samples, of course, don't force it), it's quite possible someone will be interested. This stuff is catching.

Pick some samples that deal in some way with life-as-we-know-it-in-Indiana, the better to catch someone's attention. For instance, if there's lots of farming around, Stan Rogers' Field Behind the Plow would be very familiar to everyone.

Just some thoughts for you. I do believe it is way more fun to be first, instead of only.

Cheers! --Larry in Detroit

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Locolobo
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 06:13 PM

A couple of weekends ago, I went to the Washington Old Time Fiddlers State Fiddle Contest. There were about 300 fiddlers there, and easily 75% were under the age of 21. there were a few young-younguns, of course, but probably 40% were teens and young adults.

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Catlin
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 06:29 PM

I'm another young folkie person-type-thing :) I'm twenty and I'm in Yorkshire in the UK. My brother and sister are both really into folk as well. Our parents were into the folk revival thing in the 60's too, and they stopped buying records when I was small. They decided to play music in the car to keep us all quiet, but discovered that we just used to sing instead :)
All of us sing, but I am the only one who really enjoys performing. I'm hoping to get down to Cropedy in the summer (All About Eve are playing on my birthday!!!), and there has been talk on another thread of a meet near Welshpool (in Wales) in the autumn. I hope to learn some new songs this year if nothing else! :)
I love Fairport and Sanny Denny in particular, but I like the variety of folk most of all. Even if you just stick to folk music from the UK, the choice is just so varied, you can spend a happy lifetime just going through it all :) I've already started my son on singing folk. He's nearly 10 months old, but he loves to listen to me sing, and it's just so sweet now he tries to join in

*Hugs* Catlin

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: GUEST,Sam Pirt
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 06:00 AM

NO you are not alone. I play in three bands all of which I am the oldest (only 20 though!!) I play in 422 (www.the-422.co.uk) of which the youngest member is 17 and Ian Stephenson is a part of as well as being a mudcatte.

Then

I also play in a 13 piece supergroup called THE PACK of which unfortunatly for me I am the poldest and 17 is the youngest.

Find out more at my website: www.sampirt.co.uk

Welcome to Mudcat may you meet many interesting people.

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Kara
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 04:10 PM

You are as young as you act

http://www.geocities.com/mengirlingent

the take a look at the Joseph Schnider Set

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Caitrin
Date: 10 Jun 00 - 10:22 PM

I'm a young folk and blues fan, too! 18, to be exact. (I know, I haven't been around much lately...I'm working at ECU Summer Theater, and the hours tend to be long and tiring.) Don't feel alone, Annabelle...there's lots of us out here.

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Aoife
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 12:38 AM

hello annabelle- of COURSE you are not the only youngster. I am 17 and as others have said, born and raised a folkie. I sing Irish music and some appalachian ballads, and love all kinds of folk, world, blues and jazz. I'm from the boston area and and continuing my study next year at the new england conservatory. I posted a thread like this a while ago and didn't get a large response... I found mudcat through my dad who is a big folkie! i hope to talk to you soon gotta run cheers aoife

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: Benjamin
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 03:40 AM

I listen to lots of blues as well as classical and world (and some pop, soul and gospel). I was raised on Blind Willie Johnson et al.
You should check out the link Mbo posted. There's quite a few of us around.

BMW

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: GUEST,Chad McClellan.. (TenorChad)
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 04:13 PM

Hey, I'm 16, and I come here all the time.. This place is great! ;o)

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: GUEST,Ely
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 01:53 AM

I'll be 23 in a month--is that young enough? (I still pass for 15, I'm sorry to say.) I was--drum roll, please--raised on the stuff, too (Bessie Smith, Red Clay Ramblers, New Golden Ring, Bob Beers, Leadbelly, Doc Watson) and never recovered. In a good way.

Subject: RE: am i the only youngster into folk and bl
From: GUEST,Claire M
Date: 28 Jun 12 - 07:41 AM

Hiya,

I've got spiky hair and some sports clothes, but that's because those dresses and long hair aren't very practical.

Due to disability I tend to meet younger people who are nothing like me at all. A lot of them don't even know what folk/blues is, and it's pointless telling them it's good.

My rule is, if it makes me happy it stays, if it doesn't it goes.

To Claudine: you lucky girl, can I come with you??!!