What Brought You to Trad?

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 06:54 AM

Started with a "skiffle group", thanks to the music of Lonnie Donegan, Chas McDevitt "et al". Attended the "Hootenannys" with Ewan McColl, Peggy Seeger and Fitzroy Coleman in London. Attended singing evenings with Bert Lloyd in Greenwich. Never looked back.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Banjiman
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 07:22 AM

My Dad's accordion......... and the company my parents kept.

But I am still not a purist. A good song (or tune) is a good song (or tune). I do like them fairly traddy styled though (be it American, English, Irish, Scottish or African).

Paul

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Gedi
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 08:21 AM

I started by listening to The Dubliners, shortly followed by Steeley Span (Parcel of Rogues album especially which is quite trad) and Fairport Convention back in the 70's. Learned to play guitar, later melodeon. Had a long break from folk clubs until recently when I discovered Chorlton FC, and from there The Beech singaround.

Like Pip Radish, I just love those old songs, steeped in history. I don't sing many really old songs myself, but I do like them, and from the people who frequent The Beech I am coming across 'new' old songs all the time.

I loved Ewan McColls stuff and do a few of his songs. Also I love songs about the Sea, sailing ships, men-of-war, shanties, etc.   

I consider Folk to be real music, of and for the people, unlike pop which I regard as manufactured. To me trad folk is a real connection to days gone by, to the land, to the sea, and to the people who went before. I just love it.

Ged

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Fidjit
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 08:31 AM

As Greg said above

Lonnie Donegan turned on a whole generation of Brit folkies to the old songs. Me included.

I resemble that

Chas

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 08:52 AM

The 'pop group' [that dates me, don't it ?] for which I played bass guitar started doing a couple of P P & M numbers, and they went down well. There was a 'Folk Cellar' literally in the basement of the

Conservative Club, and the beer was Robinson's. It was for me a short step from P P & M to traddy music.

That said - we didn't know, at this time, that there WAS any English trad. music.

What went on was mostly Irish - including the 'rebel' songs - and American.

Shortly after, the three-chord wonders in the denim caps, writing navel-gazing songs on shit-paper in the interval, started infesting the clubs. This might have been one reason for my tastes to crystallise as a

"hard-line Traddie".


(Do not misunderstand - there are many songs sung in the 'Folk Scene' by known writers, which I like, but probably would not sing, if I were still singing !)

It took the likes of Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, the Watersons, Alex Campbell, the Ian Campbell Group, inter alia, to "ground" the likes of me, described in a local Folk magazine, produced by Jack and Lynn Taylor as

"minuscule minded traddies" by some writer or other. The same issue had Harry Boardman (RIP - memory eternal !) spelling Mr Zimmerman's change of name as "Bob Dillon".

My mother and father were singers, as was my grandfather, so I guess my interest in trad. music comes with the gene-pool.

Moreover, there were people around who were extremely knowledgable about trational music at this time, not least Jim Carroll, who posts occasionally on the 'Cat. These people gave of their time and their

knowledge without stint. These, living and otherwise, I thank without reserve.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 08:54 AM

Three things combined in my case.

I was a reasonable recorder player at primary school, but rapidly lost interest at secondary school through the quasi-military and relentlessly classically-orientated teaching. However when my younger sister started learning to play (to a very high standard I might add) I reacquainted myself with one of her cast-off recorders when I was about 15 or 16, and quickly also acquired a tin whistle.

I was also exploring the further reaches of the Southend Central Library LP collection with a couple of school-friends; we were discovering stuff like The Albion Band, Fairport, and Steeleye Span, Planxty, The Bothy Band, and all sorts of other less-well-known but excellent stuff [and David Munrow and Renaissance music as well] - so I owe a great debt of thanks to those friends and also to whoever that fine Music Librarian was. Crucially some of these records featured wonderful music made on the very instruments I was in the process of learning to play, giving me both a repertoire and an immediate way in.

And thirdly, I was doing a Saturday job where most of the other people were in a ceilidh band together, so I got an early insight into both the joy of playing for dancing, and the whole social side of the music.

Combine those three and very quickly indeed, to mix Pip Radish's metaphor, the furnace door flew open and welcomed me in with open arms!

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 09:26 AM

Both sides of the family being fond of the music of the North East of England as performed by Owen Brannagin and Kathleen Ferrier.
Developing a (sic) unhealthy interest in skiffle at around the age of ten and listening to Lonnie Donegan, Johnny Duncan etc and then a few years later hearing Ramblin Jack Elliott on Radio Luxembourg.
Becomming passionately interested in the blues and the early work of Bob Dylan around 1964.
Being told by those who were activly interested in folk music to listen to the traditional music of this country and to get myself to Birtley Folk Club.
The rest is history.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Mooh
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 09:40 AM

Mum used to sing some old songs, so did Dad, and lots of hymn tunes, which were a large part of my upbringing, are trad melodies. I always dug the trad Led Zeppelin (eg, Gallows Pole), Steeleye Span, and some singer-songwriter folk, bluegrass, and blues, so "Trad" wasn't a reach at all, just a deeper education. Have played in folk groups, attended and played folk festivals, and generally tried to promote some trad in my instruction business.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 10:23 AM

What brought me to Trad - The Spinners.
What kept me in Trad - MacColl - 2 years later, just when I was heading for the door (having heard 'Fried Bread and Brandy O' for the 1,234,560,000th time.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Cats
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 11:11 AM

Some time ago I posted this as a tribute to Ken Stubbs the folklore and song collector. It expalins some of it
Ken was a great inspiration to me. He lived 4 houses away and I was a friend of his children when I was young. It was in his house that I first realised the importance of, and heard, many of the singers he recorded. It was in his house that I first saw a CND sign and banner and he took time to explain to a young child, as I was then, the importance of what he believed. It was with this, and the same message from my father, that I went into the world with the expectation that it was part of my job as a human being to stand up for what I believed in and to stand up for others. So, what do I do now? I am a trade union officer standing up for others and in what I believe. Ken always encouraged me to sing and helped me to remember snatches of tunes. I moved away in 1970 and lost contact. Last year at Bideford Festival as I came off stage a gentleman with long white hair, sitting on the front row, caught my arm and said, 'Did you used to live in Lingfield?' When I said yes he just replied, 'I'm Ken Stubbs'. As part of the performance I had given credit to the people I had learned the songs from and one of them was Ken.
And the rest? I had an 'aunt' from whom Ken had collected songs and who I heard playing and singing.
Both my parents played and sang, my mum played a Hohner 3 row and the first tune I remember was 'Johnny Todd'. She also played a zither. Osmosis I suppose.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: olddude
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 11:24 AM

Like others it was a family tradition. In my small town we would go to our friends camp on a saturday, the old timers would come out of the woods, bring the beer barrel, hotdogs, and their instruments, play songs with no names, other songs like flop ear mule. Play and sing all night long for nothing more than a good time with friends. The friends gathering turned into a town event about every saturday. People came out of the woods with their guitars, fiddles, banjo's, mandolins ...

and to quote John Sebastian .. and everyone can pick a damn site better than I will

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 11:38 AM

Lonnie Donegan, Pete Seeger, The Spinners, The Jug of Punch FC in Ellesmere Port, The Clancy Bros & TM, The Dubliners, Harry Boardman, Liverpool Folk Scene (Tony, Frank, Tom and lots of others) Jones's Ale Chester, The Hat & Feather, Bath, Harry Boardman again, Gorton Morris & Gorton Tank, Chorlton Folk Club. And all those people I keep thanking for coming to the Beech in .............

Les in Chorlton

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: John P
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 11:58 AM

A friend got a Steeleye Span album in high school. I like it a lot, but was mostly playing progressive rock. I thought folk music was Cat Stevens and Simon and Garfunkel. Shortly after I moved to Seattle in my early twenties, I was introduced - all within about six months - to Martin Carthy, Alan Stivell, Frankie Armstrong, Kornog, Malicorne, and the John Renbourn Band. I joined a medieval band that also played a lot of early trad music. The music spoke to me. Still does. I continue to play blues and rock sometimes for fun, but European trad music is my home. I'm currently lost somewhere in Sweden.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: BobKnight
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 03:22 PM

My family were nearly all musicians - uncles,aunties,cousins - mostly bagpipes, fiddle and accordian, so I was brought up with that background. However, I was led astray by rock'n'roll, and only returned to the fold about five years ago, by which time it was too late to learn the old songs and ballads from my granny and older relatives. So, now I write my own songs in the traditional style - and love singing in my "own voice," using the language of North East Scotland.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: JohnB
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 03:34 PM

A local skiffle group who my older sister knew, they did Lonnie Donegan material I seem to remember, so I bought a guitar (OK an egg slicer really the action was horrible)when I was about 11 years old, still trying to play one.
At school we had/developed a tradition to sing all the way home on any coach trip we went on. This required knowing many songs.
Folk Clubs when I was around 16, one of which at the "Noel Timpson Youth Centre" on Friday nights had loads of people on who were playing MSG on the Saturday, for far less admission fee.
My first date with my wife was a Spinners concert at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester
Yes there was always the Beer.
Steeleye Span got me into "English" Folk Music more.
Fortunately the "Dark Side" of singer songwriters NEVER EVER appealed to me.
JohnB

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 03:44 PM

Really enjoying getting a little insight into some of the personal Trad autobiographies here. Keep up the stories...

Couple of things that's interesting. Seems lot's of you learned your craft early on through family routes. Fewer of us seem to have 'discovered' the music by ourselves...

I certainly relate to Matt Milton there, with your Hip-Hop intro.
Though I was never a producer of music of any kind, electronica was my main bag during teens and twenties. Which is possibly as far from the core ethos of unacommpanied Trad Song as it's possible to get, being all modern and synthetic and all... ;-)
In fact I still get a real kick out of good solid electronic music, but I've got a feeling that Trad Song is with me to stay now it's found me.

And Sinister Supporters alchemical image, also remind me of a similar personal metaphor I mentioned elsewhere: it feels like I've gone for a rummage in some storytale grandmothers loft, and discovered an enchanted trunk of magically animated ancient photographs. Which when they recieve the breath of life-giving pneuma, each become a living gateway into a unique timeless world, inhabited by figures fullfilling their personal microcosmic and inevitable destinies.
Too captivating...

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Amos
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 04:34 PM

My mother taught me to sing the songs her father had song for her when she was growing up, taught us to sing in three-part harmony, and to play the uke. I was walked to sleep by Huddie Ledbetter one night in New York City in the 40's (my father had a habit of bringing strange entertainers home of a late evening for a nightcap). Or so I have been told by herself.

A

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 12:28 AM

The money.

Seamus

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 12:58 AM

could u=you explain guest???

Barry

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: CarolC
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 06:05 AM

My French great grandmother singing traditional French songs to my sister and me when we were little, and teaching us some of them. After that, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which I first attended some time in the early 1970s (probably 1972).

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 06:29 AM

Either a girlfriend years ago. Or

Divorce years later.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 07:22 AM

I still get a real kick out of good solid electronic music, but I've got a feeling that Trad Song is with me to stay

During my various exiles from the Folk Scene my love of Traditional Song & Balladry has never once wavered; on the contrary. Back in 2002, for example, it found a new energy with respect of the sort of virtual ambient electronic landscaping I began working on upon discovering the delights of Sound Forge Cubase & Ableton Live... One of my golden rules is Traditional Song transcends Folk - however so drawn to the latter I might be by way of context. One thing I do find though, is that whilst I might be able to slip a Traditional Ballad into a performance of Free-Improvisation or Experimental Ambient Electronica, one could never return the favour. I guess non-folk audiences are more open minded as regards musical possibility...

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Sailor Ron
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 07:58 AM

My primary school teacher Dorothy Bennet [wonderful woman] used to play thr piano for us to sing too. Lots of 'pretty-pretty' songs, but her favourites were Traditional, mainly, chanties. Quebec, Girl with the Blue dress on, Maid of Amsterdam, all of course the cleaned up version. She didn't call them folk songs, just 'old' songs, but these were the ones I enjoyed. But it was Joan Baez on the BBC singing [I think] Peddy Gordon, when I was 16 that opened my eyes that Enland had trad. songs, alright I know she sang an American version, but she said the song had come from over here. Aince then I.ve never looked back.   Ron

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 07:59 AM

"I might be able to slip a Traditional Ballad into a performance of Free-Improvisation or Experimental Ambient Electronica, one could never return the favour. I guess non-folk audiences are more open minded as regards musical possibility..."

It might be interesting to see how some so-called 'nu-folk' (I think) might evolve and tackle that?

Though I'm guessing your broadly on the button with non-devoted folk audiences v's devoted folk audiences. Folk - and perhaps English traditional music in particular - does indeed appear to exist in something of an hermetically sealed bubble?

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 08:14 AM

Once upon a time it was a matter of paying one's dues - you could do contemporary songs but it was de rigeur to do a "folk" (Karpeles definition) song or two to show you were not just a popster manque (I wonder where the acute accent is on here).

Then I found fewer and fewer people even nodding the the "roots" of what we were doing, and so I started doing more and more of them...

I also found the horse definitioners so infuriating...

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 09:43 AM

For me it was Television ! The Hootenanny Show on BBC TV from 'The Place' in Edinburg on a Saturday evening at my parents home when I was on Disemb leave from Germany . Then I joined a Folk Club by accident (Joint Membership of Jazz Club) where I met Louis Killen .
I drifted off abit when I realised that I wanted to sing a lot of Humourous Stuff , and learned guitar etc , but still enjoy a good Traddie Sing , and 'do' the odd Unacc song still !
      Forty Five years and STILL Loving ALL the music !!

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: matt milton
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 10:10 AM

"One thing I do find though, is that whilst I might be able to slip a Traditional Ballad into a performance of Free-Improvisation or Experimental Ambient Electronica, one could never return the favour. I guess non-folk audiences are more open minded as regards musical possibility."

Hmmm, well thinking of the free improv folk treatments on the violinist Sylvia Hallett's album "A boy leaves home", it's hard to tell which camp you'd place them in (http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/labels/mash/mash004.html)

(or I could have similarly mentioned Martin Archer's album "Heritage & Ringtones" http://www.discus-music.co.uk/dis18cd.htm)

What I mean is, if it's a successful hybrid then you shouldn't be able to describe it as "an interjection of folk into free improv" OR "an interjection of free improv into folk". It's just a something.

I take your point though: musicians from other musics experiment with folk in a way that folk musicians don't seem too with other musics.

...though typing it, I'm not sure how true that is...

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 10:15 AM

My parents would occasionally listen to music from their own era but
had no interest in making music themselves. I have always sung, in the Sunday School choir as a child and around the house ever since. I think that singing was the thing that kept taking me back to church for a while. I first heard folk music from Steeleye Span and The Spinners in the 60's and 70's. I didn't really get involved then, for one reason or another.

In 1999, just going through the end of a, by then, unhappy marriage, I took guitar classes at the local college. At the end of the first year we were told that they would not be continuing the classes and I found a group that got together to play at a nearby village hall. That went well for a while but than started falling apart but a small group of us continued meeting at the home of one of the guys.

We were playing a mixture of stuff, folk and relatively modern fringe pop at that time. One of the guys happened to mention a folk club that met at a pub in the town. I couldn't get anyone to go with me - my friends at that time didn't really have the interest - so, one August Bank Holiday evening, I decided to go on my own.

Haven't looked back since then. The guitar playing went by the board when I developed very painful eczema on both hands, although I will get back to it if I can get my fingers into better condition. I've concentrated more on learning and singing new songs, from both the UK and USA.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 10:38 AM

hermetically sealed bubble

aka Cultural Autism, wherein righteousness & pedantry are wont to thrive along with the idiosyncrasy, which I find so much more compelling. Folk accommodates both the eccentric & the purist, very often in the same skin; it is this bewildering duality that ensures I'll keep going back for more...

Nu-Folk, call it what you will, is a wonderland of possibility. A good place to start is the John Barleycorn Reborn compilation on Coldspring which finds Traditional Song alive and well in some quite surprising places!

Here's our version of True Thomas from 2003; we field-recorded Rachel's voice part actually by the actual Eildon Tree near Melrose, unaccompanied, along with incidental ambiences, processing it back in the studio with loops, drones and all manner of spectral leakage. Mention was made elsewhere of Diana Wynne Jones's supernatural novel Fire & Hemlock to which the ballad of True Thomas is pretty central; I see this is our Fire & Hemlock version. Best through headphones...

Venereum Arvum - True Thomas 2003 : Free & secure MP3 donwload via YouSendIt

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 11:56 AM

In my schooldays I listened to John Peel's 'Top Gear' programme on BBC Radio One and grew to like Fairport Convention. This prompted me to make my first visit (illegally, because I was under age) to a local folk club, The Lewes Arms, on 11th. September 1971. I was bloody lucky: it was Scan Tester's 93rd. birthday bash. The place was packed; I stood throughout the evening with Bob Copper singing heartily immediately behind me. Traditional music gripped me: not only the music itself, but also the social nature of it.

The date is a matter of record, because Alan Day's 'Anglo International' CD set includes Scan playing tunes recorded that evening by Vic Smith.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Hamish
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 01:13 PM

Chris Wood and Andy Cutting.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Ian Burdon
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 02:49 PM

For a long time I associated 'folk' with the usual suspects - The Spinners, The Corries etc. as well as Tom Paxton and Steeleye Span.

Then one day I heard Dave Burland on the radio singing The Shooting of His Dear and thought "f*^% me, that's good" and a new world opened up.

Ian

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 04:31 PM

1997 my daughter Andie joined Medieval Society for Creative Anacronisnt goup at her high school. Started learning trad stuff, brought it home to me. We started competing with each other finding artists like Kate Rusby to share with each other.

My honey added to my blossoming interest with Graham and Eileen Pratt, Peter Bellamy, Dave and Toni Arthur, Martin Wyndham Read. In 2007, I got up the nerve to perform at a sing around session during Rochester Sweeps (thanks Gastove and TDL for the encouragement). I have been hooked ever since.

Where has this music been all my life?

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 04:51 PM

Lonnie Donegan then back to Lead Belly, Woody & Cisco, then back across the Atlantic to Nic Jones etc.
Chris Barber etc then back to Kid Ory, Johnny Dodds etc.

Doc John

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 05:40 PM

A young chap named Jones running Brentwood Folk Club was an important influence but specifically for unacompanied song it had to be Young Tradition.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: bankley
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 05:42 PM

Johnny Cash...

I liked country when I was a kid, but there was something different about Cash that spoke to me.... I wore out his early concept record 'Ride this Train'... he drew on a lot of tradition with his songs, from the Natives, Civil War, coal mining, Americana in general... the music was simple and I learned to play along with his records..'boom chicka-boom' like a train rolling along.. then he did an album with the Carters, and introduced a lot of talented songwriters to a wide audience... he pretty well shaped my approach to music and of not being afraid of being myself or trying different styles.... a giant..

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Forsh
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 06:08 PM

Daddy Forsh.#
(Alan Forshaw of 'Rumbylowe' fame!)
I was into Reggae & Rugby songs prior, so, perhaps a natural progression? :)

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 09:07 PM

Slowly became besotted through firstly somehow discovering my local folk club in Addlestone Surrey, then later spending hours in my 20s sitting on the floor of my then boyfriend's bedroom listening to his albums - Steeleye Span, Fairport, Bothy Band, Five Hand Reel, Clannad, etc etc. Drove him crazy I think, listening to them over and over...

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Diva
Date: 09 May 09 - 06:52 PM

There was always music at home and I still remember bits of songs my gran sang. We had a huge collection of 78;s all sorts of music. I remember at one time my absolute favourite was Chuck Berry "Riding along in my automobile"

Got into listening to the radio and heard Steeleye Span and went out and bought the album, name escapes me at the moment and I wanted to be Maddy Prior but it doesn't really work with my accent!! Remember playing "All around my Hat" to my gran and she started singing different words to it.....

Then I found Travelling Folk on Radio Scotland and started going to the Kilmarnock Folk Club and made some good pals there who were generous with their time and recomendations of singers to listen to. First time I heard the Stewarts of Blair was at Kilmarnock.

Then I discovered folk festivals and first ever was Girvan and I remember hearing Lizzie Higgans there and was completely blown away by her and far to shy to go and speak to her. (it was a LONG time ago)

Met my now ex at a folk festival (where else!)and became part of his family. My late father in law was Bob Hobkirk the Border Fiddler and so the tunes fell in with the songs and I got the best of both worlds.

Its a nice community to belong to.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: GUEST,glueman
Date: 09 May 09 - 07:35 PM

Sheer perversity. Also that thing it does to you.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 May 09 - 09:47 PM

The chicks.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 09 May 09 - 11:28 PM

Born into it: trad & less-trad folk songs are how my mother & I did most of our singing together from my very early childhood onwards. Back then she added guitar or sometimes banjo; by the end of her life she was singing unaccompanied more often.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 May 09 - 03:43 AM

What keeps me here
The taste of Beer
The Ladies
And the Cracce

L in C

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Diva
Date: 10 May 09 - 07:21 AM

And then I went to Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival with pals 1980 was my first year. I was completely besotted by the whole experience; it was amazing. Combination of the setting, its a beautiful village. The sessions and the singarounds and the kindliness of the Copshawholm folk. I haven't missed a year since and now I am chair of the festival and as we speak fretting about finding a judge for the Border Ballad competition. Any takers?

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: GUEST,buspassed
Date: 11 May 09 - 06:34 AM

The generally unrewarding search for the hedonistic life we saw as part of our heritage as art students in the early '60's usually peaked on a Sunday with the cup of coffee & toasted teacake in the Coffee House! [Sundays in Hull were like purgatory with the enjoyment scraped off!].

One particular Sunday we heard of a pub in the Old Town that had live music upstairs so in desparation we attended to find a packed smokey room with two blokes and two girls singing songs we'd never heard, unaccompanied, and with the strangest style of harmony/unison. The two girls especially at times sang with this one voice and you couldn't tell who was singing what! We had of course discovered the Waterson family.

Been a fan ever since and now looking foward to the reformation of the Waterdaughters when Eliza's daughter is old enough [2 or 3 years from now!]

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: GUEST,Smedley
Date: 11 May 09 - 08:58 AM

I think at first it was the voices of certain singers - Sandy Denny, Linda Thompson, June Tabor. From there, a growing interest in British folk, seen primarily through a folk-rock lens to begin with, but widening out later to include assorted Watersons, Anne Briggs, etc. Always liked bluegrass too (those harmonies.....). The stories the songs tell intrigue me more & more, especially the bloodier end of the spectrum ! I suppose on balance I still respond more readily to music that develops traditions in interesting ways (Jim Moray, Rubus, Megson, Kris Drever), rather than stuff that is rigid about 'authenticity'.

And, perhaps because of that, I listen to folk & folk-based musics alongside other genres. Some '''''manufactured pop''''' is fine by me, as long as it the best of its kind. It is possible to like Karine Polwart AND the Sugababes, though I realise that saying this might make me a heretic on this board. I've never been a fan of puritans, in any field.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Leadbelly
Date: 11 May 09 - 03:11 PM

Lonnie Donegan, Vipers Skiffle Group, City Ramblers Skiffle Group, Slim Dusty from Australia and above all Huddie Ledbetter's Library of Congress Recordings.

Manfred from Germany

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Joe_F
Date: 11 May 09 - 04:24 PM

My parents.
Burl Ives.
Putney School.

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 11 May 09 - 04:35 PM

It was...

Poem 193 of 230: THE 35TH MORPETH NORTHUMBRIAN GATHERING – SPRING 2002

Toward Morpeth's Gathering,
    Either side of Great North Road,
Daffodils gleefully showed
    Their stalk-dressing flowering.

And then, at the Gathering,
    Another great flowering
Of English heritage, showed
    Through competitions that glowed
With competent folk-singing,
    Storytelling, bag-piping
(The small-pipes rapidly rode
    By hands, in staccato mode),
Clogdancing and stick-dressing:
    Things that are worth addressing.

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)

Subject: RE: What Brought You to Trad?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 May 09 - 07:00 PM

Duty. 100