Great new (UK) folk band

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: GUEST,Boxosponge
Date: 31 Aug 13 - 11:35 AM

10 seconds was enough for me

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 31 Aug 13 - 07:56 AM

OK, just trying to examine all angles here...

FOR it being "folky":
1) I could (just) imagine this song being written/sung by Lindisfarne back in the 70s
2) The singer's voice/style is somewhat folky, natural and not exhibitionist
3) It has a bit of a folksy fiddle to it

But in every other way, I can't see it as a folk number, or indeed folk group:

1) Having an acoustic guitar among the electric instruments (and drums) does not make in fact it folk (the Mumford effect mentioned above)
2) The subject matter (relationships!) while it does also appear in folk, tends to be more the domain of pop-rock. It certainly does not help identify it as "folk"
3) The chord progressions are decidedly non-folky - more like the ones used by Crash Test Dummies; indeed the whole song seemed to owe more to Crash Test Dummies than anything else. And CTD, while I love them (a lot), are not "folk"; more like soft progressive rock.

Overall, I thought the song very decent, actually quite good. And the video enhances the experience, tongue-in-cheek like, so no problem with that. It will do well - it should - if marketed decently. I could imagine it on some of the Cambridge FF stages, and at Glastonbury. But not in any folk club I have been to.

So: Good song, wishing you and them all the best, Gary, but I wouldn't call it "folk" except for one reason: In order to differentiate from the X-Factor pop and the metal-end of the rock scene, and to attract the more laid-back younger listeners. It would work, but it would be dishonest.

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 31 Aug 13 - 07:26 AM

Guest Gary who started this thread is probably one of them, they just sound like a pop band to me.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 31 Aug 13 - 06:13 AM

Been wracking me noodle to figure out who they remind me of, now I've sussed it; like an acoustic Badly Drawn Boy!

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 31 Aug 13 - 06:06 AM

Surprised to find myself saying this (it must be the old git effect rubbing off on me - or the fact that I'm rapidly heading toward old-githood myself!) but they don't sound even marginally 'folkish' to me; pleasant bit of indie-pop yes, folk no.

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 31 Aug 13 - 05:40 AM

X Factor Folk, strings and background vocals none of which seem to played by the band members. Lighweight, insipid sounding, nothing really going for it at all.

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 30 Aug 13 - 12:45 PM

folk band...... ????

hmmm..... maybe, drippy polite pleasant retro soft rock..


but that's not necessarily always a bad thing.


I've played this track 3 or 4 times since late last night
without bothering to watch the video..

.. so that at least must say something positive...

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 30 Aug 13 - 11:52 AM

I thought I was just to old. I can remember when Folk was.....

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: johncharles
Date: 30 Aug 13 - 06:26 AM

Mumford effect?

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 30 Aug 13 - 05:55 AM

It's not really important but can someone explain to me what makes this a "folk band" and not just another group of musicians hoping for pop stardom.
If the music is that good it should be able to stand on it's own audio ability. Why do we need the attraction/distraction of watching old film clips.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 30 Aug 13 - 05:07 AM

It works for me

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 13 - 03:18 AM

No videos? The blue clicky does not work.....

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Aug 13 - 08:50 PM

Click

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Aug 13 - 07:22 PM

Afraid not! Still good though..

Subject: RE: Great new (UK) folk band
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 29 Aug 13 - 07:10 PM

For a moment I thought this might be Dom Cooper's excellent Straw Bear Band.

Subject: Tune Add: Great new (UK) folk band
From: GUEST,Gary, London
Date: 29 Aug 13 - 07:05 PM

Not totally familiar with this forum, but wanted to introduce you guys to a new folk/indie band in north London - Straw Bear. Really good... a fusion of folk with newer sounds.

Anyway, here is one of their latest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz9af2zSqHs