Repeating this here which I've posted on the fRoots board

I've been slowly re-working my way through my massive archive of old folkabilia, the majority of which was given to me by the late Eric Winter when he retired and moved back north.

I'm working up a fRoots feature on the early UK folk press from the 1950s and 60s. Among various smaller and more regional publications I have copies - lots in some cases, few in others - of the following. I'm wondering if anybody out there has direct experience or memories of them, can fill in details of how and why they started, were run, were considered at the time. For example I have a feeling that Abe's, under Bob Pegg's editorship, might well have been an English equivalent to the USA's abrasive but influential Little Sandy Review.

And of course cultural gold dust would be unearthing the production archives of any of them . . .


ABE's FOLK MUSIC (from Leeds, initially Abe's Folke Musicke Almanacke) (ed. C. Graham, later Bob Pegg)

CHAPBOOK (Scottish, from circa '63. Ed. Arthur Argo)

CLUB FOLK (Brit. Fed. Of Folk Clubs mag, Ed. Eric Winter)

ETHNIC (58/59 - " a quarterly survey of English folk music, dance & drama. Ed. board Peter Grant, Reg Hall, Mervyn Plunkett

FOLK ("Traditional Music Magazine" - '62/ '63. Ed. Peter Kennedy, published by EFDSS)

FOLK MUSIC/ FOLK MUSIC, BALLADS & SONGS (from Nov 63, edited by Karl Dallas)

FOLK SCENE (from Oct 64, edited by Dave Moran and Stuart Wallace). Ran to 18 issues a.f.a.i.k

HERITAGE (from 1958, mag of Oxford University Heritage Society)

ISIS FOLK (1966 - ?, from Oxford University. Ed Tony Coombs assisted by Robin Denselow & Michael Rosen)

NEW CITY SONGSTER (late 60s: associated with the Singers Club and poss, edited by Peggy Seeger?)

THE RAMBLER (1957/58. Ed. Michael Moorcock - yes, that Michael Moorcock - with contribs including John Brunner)

RECORDED FOLK MUSIC (from Jan 1958, "A review of British and foreign folk music recordings": Ed. AL Loyd, published by Collet's)

SING (Ran from 1954 through to 70s. Ed. Eric Winter)

SPIN (from Oct 1961: based in the Wirrall, associated with the Spinners club in Liverpool, Ed. Beryl Davis)

TOP & TRAD (a Sing spin off, edited by Tony McCarthy)

And what am I missing? - 50s/60s only please, things like Folk Review were 1970s.


All anecdotes, info, opinions gratefully received. Stuff that's too detailed for here, email me c/o fRoots.