Traditional Singers in Your Area

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 05:19 PM

Yeah, Brian Dawson, somewhere near the top of the list. A man with immense local knowledge of lore and most of it in his head, and he's no spring chicken. Some discerning Yellowbelly has got to start recording his knowledge before we lose most of it. None of us can go on for ever!

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Tradsinger
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 02:29 PM

Quite a few of us in Gloucestershire, but I don't feel that our numbers are increasing. To name but a few - Ken Langsbury, Paul Burgess, Roger Grimes, Ron Taylor, Bob Bray, Martin & Shan Graebe, Jeff Gillett, several of the Gloucestershire Morris Men and, ahem, me.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 06:28 PM

Plenty of them up in Scotland, tho' not all of them restrict themselves entirely to traditional songs: Jock Duncan, Joe Aitken, Geordie Murison, Scott Gardiner, Heather Heywood, Doris Rougvie, Anne Neilson, Gordeanna McCulloch, Adam McNaughtan, Sheila Stewart, Elizabeth Stewart, Peter Shepheard, Arthur Watson, Sheena Wellington, Maureen Jelks, Christine Kydd, Aileen Carr, Rod Paterson, Dick Gaughan, Sangsters, to name but a few. Many good younger singers too, such as Siobhan Miller, Jeana Reid, Emily Smith, Shona Donaldson and I haven't even started on those who sing in the Gaelic tradition!

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 06:07 PM

Ah. If you mean to restrict answers to those learning directly from live or recorded folk singers (as distinct from folksong singers) I know of none in or near Kent.

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 05:56 PM

DO Stitherum count Sooz I dont realy understand the question

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Sooz
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 05:36 PM

Brian Dawson for Lincolnshire UK

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: stallion
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 05:14 PM

Hi Tim,
We are planning to be in Mystic 2009 u coming? As unsung heroes go (unsung!!!!!) Ron Akehurst is a positive encyclopedia of songs and sings them very well, oh and he is one of 2BS&S!
Peter

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: RTim
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 04:46 PM

That's Boston, Mass, USA! Tim R

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 04:41 PM

Tim,
Is that Boston, Mass. or Boston, Lincs?

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: BB
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 03:42 PM

So where are you, Insane Beard (or have I missed something?)?

Barbara

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: RTim
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 07:53 AM

My trouble is - I'm a traditional singer (ie. I sing trad. songs) - BUT I am the only one in my area!! There are some in Boston but that is 80 plus miles away!! Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 07:27 AM

unsung footsoldiers
A noble cause, but there are very many out there, and I've mentioned but a few!

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 07:25 AM

I'm still not sure what you're after

Just a bit of credit where it's due to the otherwise unsung footsoldiers of The Revival who've never received a penny for their efforts, for whatever reason. I'm thinking of people like Derek Brinkley who for a number of years was a mainstay of the Durham City Folk Club with a repertoire equalled by both his authority and passion for The Tradition. I've met similar people over the years and continue to do so wherever I fetch up on my travels; amazing singers, with amazing songs, who are, to me, what this music is all about.

I'm a big fan of Jim Eldon too by the way; maybe I'll go and refresh my Jim Eldon Appeciation Society thread after this...

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 06:34 AM

Insane. Yorkshire has literally thousands of these singers who attend folk clubs and festivals throughout the year. I'm still not sure what you're after. If you want to know who my gods are, people like Will Noble, John Cocking, John Greaves, Ray Padgett, Jim Potter, Mick Haywood, Jim Eldon, any of the Waterson family, The Wilsons, Robin Garside, Roger Hinchliffe, Dave Burland etc etc. and Uncle Tom Cobley and all. They're the salt of the earth, know what they're singing about and respect those who have gone before them.

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 06:07 AM

Ahh but tat isnt in my area,so the 6 bells at Barrow on Humber is full off etc etc very good night in there too.

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 06:06 AM

OK I odnt realy know the difference.
But
If you call in to the folk club in Flaxton on a wednesday evening.
There are usualy many fine unacompanied singers there and they seem to know a very lovely array of songs.
To my uneducated ear they seem to be very old songs about Napolean,seafarers,harvesting etc.
Whatever the origins of the songs the haromies they let rip are breathtaking.
If you are gonna be in that area contact Nick on the cat for directions and information.
It is well worth avisit and if any of you go maybe you can post back on here and help to edgikate me.

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: mattkeen
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 05:56 AM

Silly me - I, of course, meant singer of traditional songs! - intense aplogies to all folk pedants present

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: mattkeen
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 05:54 AM

Jeff Westley is my favourite trad singer in Northants

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 05:35 AM

I intended this to be a sister thread to the Local Songwriter Thread, largely because, when it comes to Folk, I'm a total traddy who doesn't listen much to professionals unless I chance upon them in a singaround. What I'm hoping for here is a celebration of those non-professional singers in our local folk clubs and singarounds who concentrate on traditional songs and source them proudly from The Tradition, rather than The Revival.

And whilst you can nominate yourself, I'd rather you told us about someone else...

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 05:17 AM

Some quite good singing of old songs in the Beech, Chorlton - First Wednesday of the month - Oh, this Wednesday

L in C

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 04:42 AM

I've always described myself as a singer of traditional songs (rather than a 'folk singer') and I reckon about 80-85% of my repertoire is traditional English material. There are a quite a few songs that I've no clear memory of where or from whom I learned them. Most likely I picked up the melody from hearing hearing them sung at clubs in southern England in the mid 60s/early 70s and then found the words in books or journals. The majority, though, were learned from records by revival singers and gently (and inadvertently) altered by me over the years.

My forthcoming CD (sic) has 13 tracks and 10 of them are traditional. The other three are 'Somewhere in America', 'Wings of the Sphinx' and 'A Place Called England.'

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: greg stephens
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 04:25 AM

Well I am a died in the wool trad tune player. My songs are eclectic, but probably mainly trad as well.

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: r.padgett
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 04:15 AM

sheesh ~ could go on forever this with umpteen branches!

Ray

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 07:51 PM

It has to be pretty strict remit to be classed as an English traditional by you Richard.

i think nearly everybody has had a go at a tradtional song at some time or another.

I think the thread originator meant someone like martin carthy or brian peters - people for whom traditional songs are the main focus of their endeavours.

there are quite a lot - some of them make the trek out to The Tiger at Long Eaton, or pay six quid a time at derby gaol - but most sort of co-exist with the rest of us, and go to clubs that aren't exclusively trad. Far too many to mention. Must run into a couple of hundred at least, more.... that's not counting the Irish, who have their own scene as well as coming to the other clubs, but some who don't.

then you have the pubescents....avid sessioneers, that's another scene.

or do you mean professional singers?

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 07:34 PM

There's a songstress called Karen Harris - she sings with a local outfit called GU4(guffaw) here in the Leicester area - one of the most natural interpreters of a song that I've heard -really gets inside of whatever she sings.

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:59 PM

Anyway, as a band rather than solo, what Engish trad songs do you do other than Pleasant and Delightful (with the Pinball Wizard last verse) and the Boar's Head Carol?

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:56 PM

Stop fishing, you've had your compliment for this decade, and it was for a contemporary song.

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: growler
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 04:25 PM

Ruff and Reddy sing traditional songs in our own way and can upset some 'die-hards'. Rochester UK

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 03:43 PM

Just returned from a great singing/playing session in Hull as mentioned on another thread, with a good mixture of trad and new. What's important, lots of harmony with attitude and instrumentals on the songs.
Richard, surely you're not a million miles away from Sussex, that hotbed of good trad stuff.
Good hopping!

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 03:05 PM

Dick Frost is one of the best kept secrets of the South Bucks Folk Scene !

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Rasener
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 02:22 PM

Jon Loomes lives in Doncaster and this is his myspace website

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=112709732

And who better than Mary Humphreys & Anahata

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=204138803

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 02:21 PM

You are lucky Steve. Here in Kent there is a lot of contemporary and singer-songwriter (some very good), and I wish we heard more trad - particularly trad harmony with attitude.

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 02:18 PM

Hi Insane!
I'm not really very sure what you're after here or what you are trying to say, but I know hundreds of singers whose repertoire is largely made up of English traditional material. Whitby Folk Festival, amongst others, is one of our main stomping grounds.

Subject: RE: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 02:01 PM

Well, I probably have a fairly large proportion of my repertoire as English Traditional (and am trying to get more Kent Traditional). NE Kent

Essex Girl does largely traditional stuff too (SE London based).

Kev the Clogs sings unaccompanied with a fair share of traditional. (Mid-Kent)

Quite a lot of Dutch Pot's stuff is traditional or music hall. Also NE Kent. Non-catter.

No longer in this area, but Jon Loomes does almost wholly traditional stuff (and very well too).

Subject: Traditional Singers in Your Area
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 01:38 PM

Using the definition strictly with reference to The Revival of course, which is to say those singers who sing Traditional Songs, mostly, but not exclusively, with or without regional emphasis. Traddies in other words, those rare individuals who might disagree with general received Mudcat wisdom that the Source Singers are only worth listening to for their songs...

So who are they? Are where do they sing?