University Folk Clubs - 2010

Subject: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Ian Fyvie
Date: 03 Nov 09 - 10:31 PM

Which Universities expect to be running folk clubs in 2010?

There was a brilliant one where I did my degree in 1978 - and some Uni student mudcatters were asking for help earlier in the year.   So what's the score now?

Perhaps this thread could become a list; and a source of contacts for support and advice.

Ian Fyvie

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 04:54 AM

I assume you are talking about the UK. In my experience, the 60s and 70s had separate folk song and folk dance clubs (they did in manchester in 1969-72 anyway!) but now both have disappeared to be replaced by ceilidh societies in some universities. Places like Sheffield, Exeter, Cambridge seem to have very thriving such societies. Others, it's non-existent. Not sure why except it could be ... local thriving folk scene, graduates sticking around and continuing to be involved. The inter-varsity folk dance festival in March is a good central meeting place, though a significant proportion are not current students.
Derek Schofield

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: evansakes
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 06:57 AM

Mmm. Are you looking to compile a list of University folk clubs where singers can still get in without paying, Ian? (and where they can do at least three songs each?)

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 07:40 AM

Ian, I don't think Sussex and Brighton Universities have folk clubs but I've recently started sending Lewes Saturday Folk Club fliers to the Ents Secretaries of the Students' Union at both establishments. They may not wind up in a useful place, but I'll let you know if they appear to produce a result.

Possibly the staff common room would be a good destination as well, if there is such a thing.

Valmai

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Banjiman
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 07:42 AM

I think both York and Durham do....... could be wrong though.

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: JemmaGurney
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 07:46 AM

Some links:
Sheffield University Ceilidh Society (also runs a weekly session)
Exeter University Folk Society
University of Warwick Folk Society
Cambridge uni's "The Round"
Durham Universities Folk society
There also used to a Folked! society at UEA, I can't find evidence of them on the web at the mo though.

all these, plus a few other scottish societies attend IVFDF as mentioned by derek above, which is still mainly dance based, but there has been an increasing amount of concerts and sessions and music workshops during recent years. Not many sing- a - rounds though....

Jems

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Nick
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 07:58 AM

York definitely used to but I'm not sure if it still is going - the web site they had is no longer functioning.

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: JemmaGurney
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 08:10 AM

Also - Manchester ceilidh - Not as such a university associated society, but the vast majority of those who go are students and it is very much publicised in that direction. Also has a session pre-ceilidh.

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Ian Fyvie
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 08:44 PM

A few comments....

Valmai - no knowledge either, of folk Clubs at our two local Universities. However a lad who came along to Cellarfolk in the summer was interested in trying something at BIM, the Brighton music industry college. Hope your leaflets bear fruit.

TwickFolk - the thought never ever entered my head! I'm singing three nights every week with a twice monthly session also; I certainly couldn't fit any more folk nights in at this moment but would certainly make a special effort as a one-off if a local University needed help to start a folk night (they may not actually want anyone over 21 on stage...!).

Thanks to other contributors so far - we'll probably end up with a list so the more info the better. Keep it coming!

Ian

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 04:05 AM

Ian, what is the Brighton Music Industry college? This is a new one on me and sounds as if it could be a useful place to distribute my tracts.

Tootle pip,

Valmai

WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH HIM? Ahem.

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Smedley
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 06:34 AM

Valmai - details of the college in Brighton:


http://www.bimm.co.uk/brighton/

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 08:32 AM

Thanks, Smedley!

Valmai

(Just sold out of Cliffe programmes)

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Ian Fyvie
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 10:18 PM

Valmai

If you can get leaflets to either BIMM sites you should generate interest in the wider local folk scene. I gave a few I luckily had on me to a BIMM student at a radio interview earlier in the year. We had a BIMM based band and a couple of individual student come along to Cellarfolk as a result.

More widely... do all folk club organisers where their local music colleges are? There's an appetite among under 30's for Folk, Brass Bands, Morris Dancing and other cultural activities written off by the 30-50 generation as "Uncool"

Best of luck!

Ian

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: GUEST,baz parkes
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 04:21 AM

We're about to play the inaugaral dance for a new ceilidh society at Nottingham university...don't know how much of a "folk club" it will be tho

Baz

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Mr Red
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 08:54 AM

I have linked to Bristol University Folk Club but that sort of devolved to a session in a pub nearby. However with Phil Bassindale as an undergraduate I would expect there is still something - certainly a Morris side there. He is bringing them up to Stroud Ceilidhs website on Nov 14th when we have Trinculo. Who, if you didn't know, were born out of the Sheffield Ceilidh Soc, which AFAIK is thriving.
Not so sure about music/song but you would find students and folkies in pubs. A clue, I submit.

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: GUEST,Jane Bird (without cookie)
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 05:57 PM

If there's a folk club at York University it's fairly recent. Most of the folkie students (few as they were when I was there) went to the excellent Black Swan Folk Club or the sessions in town.

10-12 years ago it appeared to me that the main focus for folk activity at the university were ceilidhs run the Christian Union and the Gilbert & Sullivan Society.

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 06:26 AM

I spoke to a Folkie's daughter studying theoretical physics at York. She knew where both FC's were in town. She didn't mention any Folk Soc at the Uni. Another clue, I submit.

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Ian Fyvie
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 09:51 PM

Baz

For your gig at Nottingham Uni - a suggestion:

Get hold of a bundle of local Folk Diaries and put them out on the tables. Our local ones are free but if your ones have a cover price, perhaps a local club can let you have some leaflets.

Either way, anything you can announce from the 'stage' that's happening locally would surely help spread the 'Folk' word to students, who then might start a folk song club from the dance club.

Hope it goes well.

Ian

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Folkiedave
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 06:22 PM

It might just be worth mentioning that the Inter-Varsity Folk Dance Festival is the longest continuingly running folk festival and pre-dates Sidmouth by four (?) years.

Having seen rapper done to the Sisters of Mercy there, I thought the ones I have been to were great.

(And Derek is correct - not all students).

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 01:58 PM

When did Oxford Heritage pack up?

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: GUEST,Stuart Reed
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 08:28 PM

The almost complete absence of clubs in universities is depressing evidence of the inexorable withering of the roots folk music in our cultural life. Back in the day it was the indie music of its time and a whole generation of young people who went to listen to that then fashionable genre also absorbed the traditional music of the English-speaking world. This was due in no small measure to the folk club format, where amateurs performed alongside the professional acts in a tolerant milieu of diversity - for example, a floor singer or club resident tackling a big ballad when Jasper Carrott was the guest.

There have been hundreds of threads here and elsewhere about why this is no longer the case but it's a sad fact that, with a few exceptions - festivals for example - the audiences, even for the high profile acts that are supposed to be making a new breakthrough into the mainstream (Seth Lakeman, Kate Rusby, Bellowhead, Show Of Hands etc.) are mostly bald or grey.

On the other hand I have observed that in the Sussex (UK) area there is a burgeoning interest in "Americana", played by and attracting twenty-somethings in large numbers.

I put some of this down to the poularity of O Brother, Where Art Thou but I'd be interested to hear other explanations.

Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010
From: Ian Fyvie
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 08:57 PM

The fact is there are students NOW who want to start clubs at their Universities.

They may not have any links with the 'Folk Club' world so the more we can highlight their attempts and offer help when they put out feelers through Mudcat (which some have recently) - the healthier the folk scene of the future!

Ian