You might be interested in two statements posted on the BBC forum:

(1) from Seth Lakeman's management:

Seth Lakeman is extremely proud to have recently received nominations in various categories for the 2007 BBC Folk Awards and is grateful for the support he has been given over what has turned out to be a remarkable 18 months.

However, in response to recent queries about the source of the song, The White Hare, nominated in the Best Traditional Song category, Seth would like to explain where it comes from.

He adapted a tune he had heard from a local musician as a child and combined this with lyrics, which were based on a legend he grew up with and one which was also later recounted to him in a Cornish pub - the story of The White Hare.

As Seth adapted the tune and lyrics from a combination of what he believed were largely 'traditional' sources he thought it right to credit The White Hare, on his latest album, 'Freedom Fields', as 'trad/arr..', rather than suggest that it was completely 'original'.

If the BBC, voting panel and other experts involved believe that The White Hare does not fit the true definition of a 'traditional' song, then Seth agrees that it would be entirely appropriate for it to be withdrawn from the category in which it has been nominated.



And another from John Leonard of Smooth Ops:

Having considered the points raised here, and Seth's response to them, I am happy for 'The White Hare' to remain as one of the four nominations in the category for Best Traditional Song.

Given the sources from which it was adapted, it is also my personal opinion that Seth has been very honest in calling the song traditional, rather than claiming it as entirely his own.


If you want to see the fall-out, you'd better go to the site.