Jim Carroll

Tell me again Bryan that our music is in safe hands, or is this what I can expect to find at Lewes?

Sincee you ask, what you can expect to find at Lewes Saturday Folk Club is spelled out clearly here - Lewes Saturday Folk Club. On the whole, we "do what it says on the tin" although, with our policy of giving a floorspot to anyone who wants one, we get some interesting surprises. A few weeks ago, we had one young woman who gave us a bit of Italian light opera (I didn't catch the details but I gather she was a student studying at Glyndebourne.) and another who gave us a song which I think she said was from the singing of Norah Jones. Both were superb singers and both were friends of the booked guest. It would have been a bit embarrasing and counter-productive to drag them off stage as soon as I realised they weren't singing material within our remit. I don't think the future of folk music was damaged by the experience.

Back to the subject, I think Tom is confusing definition with usage. As I have pointed out, the term "folk music" has been used since at least the nineteen forties to describe music that does not fit the 1954 definition by people who have never heard of the 1954 definition. They simply used the words that other people were using to describe a concept. That's how language works.

Do I think "our" music will survive? Who knows, but if it does, it will survive on its merits as music, not on the strength of the label you put on it, nor will it be damaged by someone calling Annie's song a folk tune.




Who is Sally?