Young Folkies Are Out There

Subject: RE: Young Folkies Are Out There
From: poetlady
Date: 17 Aug 03 - 04:15 AM

I think there are a number of young people who like and sing or play folk music. However, the majority of younger people I know are only interested in such music as can be commonly heard on the radio, and are afraid to try anything too different. Once they open their mind to it, they can enjoy it as thoroughly as anyone.

Subject: RE: Young Folkies Are Out There
From: Leo Condie
Date: 17 Aug 03 - 08:44 AM

dear poetlady: i'm afraid you'll find that's often the case regardless of age group.

Subject: RE: Young Folkies Are Out There
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 06:56 AM

Firecat said: I'm 19! Does that count as young enough, or are we just talking about under 18s?

According to this 'Shooting Roots' event at Towersey Festival - the age limit in order to attend in order to learn to play and participate in folk music appears to be 26!

http://www.mrscasey.co.uk/towersey/tShoot.htm

Are we in danger here - perhaps for the very best reasons - of creating and encouraging a totally bogus devide in our music making?

The idea surely is not to artificially create a situation where the young only feel that they can play with other young people?

-And where the older musicians are seen as only useful to learn from?

-And where younger musicians are seen as only useful to teach?

We can all learn from each other surely - regardless of our age? Perhaps if we have reached a stage where we can't learn anymore - that defines us as being TOO old? Or regardless of age - TOO conceited?

Subject: RE: Young Folkies Are Out There
From: VIN
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 07:33 AM

Nicely put Shambles!

Subject: RE: Young Folkies Are Out There
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Aug 03 - 08:51 AM

I suppose there are two ways of being a folkie - one way is where the company and the social side is the main thing, and the music and the song are the means towards this; and the other is where the music and the songs are more important.

Nothing wrong with either and I suspect that pretty well everyone starts off with the company and the social side being the main thing -but issues like age are likely to be more important than when the music and the songs take over centre stage. Folk clubs dominated by a bunch of friends who are much older aren't the best way through that phase.

I'd imagine that once you really get into it the fact that it's all ages would be one of the attractions.

There's also a tension in folk music between the wish to feel you are part of a continuing tradition, and that you are part of something new and fresh. That can never be resolved, because it is fundamental to the whole genre that it should be both things at the same time.