The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #122160   Message #2678826
Posted By: Howard Jones
13-Jul-09 - 03:08 AM
Thread Name: Richard Digance
Subject: RE: Richard Digance
I don't want to turn this into a discussion of specific artists. As BE has said, the vaguely stated case against Richard Digance has not been substantiated, and Vin Garbutt's views have been discussed at length elsewhere. I will simply say that while he may cause offence and distress to some, there are others who applaud him for expressing an alternative point of view.

It is impossible to dissociate politics from folk song. One of the roles of folk song has always been to express political dissent. The folk revival in both the UK and US was strongly associated with political activism.

The point is that any material which addresses politically sensitive (in the broadest sense) issues, whether from the Left or the Right, is likely to give a degree of distress or offence to those in the audience who hold different views. If you accept that politics has a place in folk music, then you must be prepared to hear views put forward which you may not share.