EFDSS awards funding for new music

Subject: RE: EFDSS awards funding for new music
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Aug 17 - 07:15 AM

"They way that I read it is that they are distributing money from PRS which is only available for these projects."
this seems logical since prs are about collecting royalties for song writing.

Subject: RE: EFDSS awards funding for new music
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Aug 17 - 06:06 AM

I would prefer to see funding inceased for musicians to teach or play traditional songs and tunes in schools.
However EFDSS members should criticise if they are inclined, decisions like this at EFDSS AGM, or write to those concerned, which would be more effective than criticising on this forum.
However on a positive note it is refreshing to see money being spent on some form of song.

Subject: RE: EFDSS awards funding for new music
From: Andy M
Date: 16 Aug 17 - 05:59 AM

The Creative Bursary awards all sound brilliant to me; exactly what should be happening. Clearly there are still too many who can only cope with listening to what they already know they like, something which defines so many festivals and audiences in this world of the 'folkscene'.

Subject: RE: EFDSS awards funding for new music
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 17 - 05:37 AM

"we don't need new music." Bloody hell... How narrow Peter. No wonder it is so hard to get young people interested ! We should welcome new music imho .

Subject: RE: EFDSS awards funding for new music
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 16 Aug 17 - 05:22 AM

Thanks for sharing that Vic.

I realise that to be criticising EFDSS's funding choices on Mudcat is a bit like Donald Trump criticising the media – in terms of sheer predictability and slotting into stereotypes.

But in this instance, I'm going to be that person... I do think it is slightly, well, wrong.

If these bursaries are essentially "money for singer-songwriters to record their albums", I wish they'd just come clean about it. That is what, essentially, the last three awards are. In saying so, I make no judgements on their music. They might be wonderful singer-songwriters who will record wonderful albums. But the fact remains they are three singer-songwriters (or groups of) whose chief focus is not traditional music. And the "project" they propose is, er, recording an album. Great.

I mean, the Elli Mae Winters description could fit any number of young singer-songwriters today. I also note that the India Electric Company's project is for their "second" release of "2017" – given we're in mid-August now, a cynic would wonder how much research they are really going to be doing, and really whether they actually required any funding at all, given it would appear they were going to do it anyway.

Well, I suppose at least the first four acts are engaged in projects that aren't quite so directly self-serving; they are not just "money for albums" and they are being given to musicians with demonstrable commitments to trad music.

That said they are very fiddle-centric and almost exclusively musicians engaged in classical-folk arrangements. You'd have thought that someone at EFDSS would have pointed out the notable homogeneity there.

I'm kicking myself for not putting in an application myself.

Subject: RE: EFDSS awards funding for new music
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 17 - 05:15 AM

@Vic - are EFDSS actually funding this? They way that I read it is that they are distributing money from PRS which is only available for these projects.

Subject: RE: EFDSS awards funding for new music
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 17 - 04:05 AM

Whether we agree or not we can all submit a paper for our pet project and see if we are lucky. I have to say personally there are couple there that have me shaking my head. But then what would I know I am an old northern folkie.

Subject: RE: EFDSS awards funding for new music
From: Vic Smith
Date: 15 Aug 17 - 04:10 PM

I must admit that I posted this press release with some trepidation because I know from experience that there are two buttons that you should not press on Mudcat - EFDSS and fRoots - because both will incite negative reactions.
Neither EFDSS nor fRoots are perfect but both do much more good than harm.
In this case I happen to know two of the young performers amongst those who have won awards and have seen on Facebook the delight that these talented hard working young performers have expressed at this. Giving opportunities and inspiration to them can only be useful for the cause of folk music.
On the one hand, I would have to wonder whether the EFDSS should be funding new work over research but on the other, I have had at least one conversation with and seen at least one performance of seven of the award winners listed. One I would regard as a total chancer but the others have shown a strong commitment to traditional song.

Subject: RE: EFDSS awards funding for new music
From: GUEST,Peter Cripps
Date: 15 Aug 17 - 04:09 PM

New music! We do not need 'new' music! We need more resources put in to prompting 'old' (ie traditional) music! (IMHO)

Subject: RE: EFDSS awards funding for new music
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 15 Aug 17 - 02:31 PM

Thanks for the warning Vic, it sounds bloody horrendous.

Folk music made to order what more could we ask for?

A modern day myth which might be investigated is that the EFDSS is really interested in folk music.

Subject: EFDSS awards funding for new music
From: Vic Smith
Date: 15 Aug 17 - 10:55 AM

August 15, 2017

English Folk Dance and Song Society awards funding for new music

Seven projects will create new music rooted in the English folk tradition following the latest round of funding awards by England's national development agency for the folk arts.

The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) has made four awards under its 2017 Creative Bursary scheme and three through its Creative Seed Funding programme.

Both initiatives are funded through the PRS for Music Foundation Talent Development Partner scheme. They come under the umbrella of EFDSS' Artists' Development Programme, which provides professional development support, both creative and business, to artists at all levels of their career.

Katy Spicer, EFDSS Chief Executive and Artistic Director, said: "All the successful applications are rooted in the folk arts but will bring a fresh take on their subject matter.

"By its very nature, folk music has always evolved and reflected the issues of its generation and these awards will help to develop some very innovative and relevant proposals. We look forward to supporting and working with the artists as their ideas take shape.

"Our bursary and funding schemes are designed to kickstart projects, giving the recipients time to bring their ideas to life. A great example is Sam Sweeney's Made in the Great War music and storytelling project which began thanks to an EFDSS Creative Bursary."

The Creative Bursary scheme invited applications from more established artists for an award of up to £2,000 to support creative research and development, together with use of rehearsal space at Cecil Sharp House and access to the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. They have been made to:

·       Alex Vann (Spiro) to create an instrumental concert trio using traditional English tunes as the basis for improvisation where each performance is one piece of improvised music using traditional tunes as the cornerstones

·       Tom Moore and Archie Churchill-Moss (Moore Moss Rutter) to develop and produce an album of new art-music based compositions and devised improvisations with their roots in local English folk tune traditions

·       Alma (John Dipper, Emily Askew & Adrian Lever) and Nick Hennessey to devise a new multi media experience including lighting, data projectors and other technology to enhance the performance and build bridges between inherited traditions and modern media experiences

·       Fiddler Rowan Piggott to explore traditional and contemporary folk songs highlighting the decline and environmental threats to our native honeybee and bumblebees.

The Creative Seed Funding Programme was open to emerging artists and involves a £750 bursary to research and develop new work linked to the English folk arts. The awards have been made to:

·       Emily Mae Winters to research, record and tour new songs dealing with modern socio-political issues including the movement of people, feminism, fake news, global warming, war and social media

·       Heg Brignall (Heg & The Wolf Chorus) to research new material based on modern day myths or myths and legends that have found their way back into our culture, leading to a single/EP release and finished studio album in 2018

·       India Electric Company to research, write, record and release the second in a series of releases for 2017 with the theme of country and the city on a six track EP/album.

Further EFDSS Artist Development opportunities:

More information on forthcoming Musicians in Museums residencies: www.efdss.org/efdss-artists-development/musicians-in-museums

Sign up to EFDSS' Artist Development e-mail newsletter highlighting upcoming shows and opportunities at: www.efdss.org/csh-visit-us/e-newsletter-sign-up

New opportunities information: https://www.efdss.org/efdss-artists-development/other-opportunities

For further press information please contact: Jo Cunningham (Press Manager, part time) [e-mail] or 07815 913887