Subject: Youth on Mudcat From: Mathew Raymond Date: 12 Mar 14 - 02:10 PM I am not sure the prevalence of youth on mudcat but it seems to me that it is lacking. The folk scene will not survive without the youth. I am 20 years old and have been subject to certain ageist tendencies on this site. I've seen it posted that the youth tend to prefer the pogues because they are folk-unaware. I disagree with this on two levels. 1: The pogues is different than a lot of irish folk and though they are London Irish instead of irish, they still played traditional music with traditional instruments. 2: The pogues are not my favourite folk artists. My favourites include Peter Bellamy, Ewan Maccoll, and A.L. Lloyd. I obviously enjoy much more but you get the idea. To label all youngsters as folk-unaware pogues lovers is incorrect Most of all I'd like to know how many youths frequent this site and if there's any hope for good traditional folk in the future. |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Amos Date: 12 Mar 14 - 02:28 PM Matthew: Good on ya, man. I don't know much about ageism, being permanently parked somewhere back in my early twenties despite the timelines on my material form. But in any case, it is clear to me that those who make sweeping generalizations such as "youth are unaware of real folk" are just talikng through their nethere regions, and I would advise not to let it bother you. As far as has been discovered there is no escaping small-mindedness in human circles, so let it roll off and carry on with what you know best. Regards, A |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: GUEST,Granpa Grouchybollocks Date: 12 Mar 14 - 02:33 PM YOUNG PERSON ALERT !!!!! Lock the doors, pull shut the curtains, switch off the lights, turn down the radio; pretend we're not in... |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 12 Mar 14 - 02:53 PM I think the prevailing attitude around here is that young people are to be welcomed, supported, and valued. That's certainly how I feel. I'm so glad to see your post, and to hear that your list of favourite artists is so close to mine. Don't pay too much attention to anyone who passes judgment about what "the youth of today" likes/feels/wants/hates - generalisations are unreliable and lazy. But I'll bet a lot of folks who talk like that don't really feel as negative as they sound. You're right… not a lot of young people on this site, to my (and many others') great regret. And if there's hope for traditional music in the future (and I think there is), you are it. Trad music has never been a mainstream-market big seller. But there are, and always will be, those who value it for its own beautiful sake. It's survived for centuries and I don't think it's going to die out. Carry on singing, playing, listening to your music, ignore the cranks, and - as they say around where I live - don't be a stranger. I'm really glad you've joined. |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Amos Date: 12 Mar 14 - 04:35 PM It was worth repeating, Bonnie! |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 Mar 14 - 04:45 PM As the parent of young people (22 and 25), I know they don't look at Mudcat much but at least know about it. They don't have folk interests at the time, but if they did, I'd encourage them to use the site, and hope that they'd be treated with courtesy and interest. I think we have more young people on the facebook side of things, but they miss out on all of the music culture and lore of the 'cat over there, the facebook site works mostly for announcements. SRS |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Rapparee Date: 12 Mar 14 - 05:00 PM Hey, I'm not yet 70!! I'm t not even close for a few more months!! I happen to like the Pogues a bit -- not my favorites, but okay. Like what's his name I just happen to be externally well-aged. Welcome, come by often. |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Mathew Raymond Date: 12 Mar 14 - 05:16 PM Is there an extension of Mudcat on facebook? It might be a good way to expand things a bit |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Manitas_at_home Date: 12 Mar 14 - 05:25 PM there is |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 12 Mar 14 - 05:38 PM I thought sure I was a member!! Guess who just joined... https://www.facebook.com/groups/mudcat/ |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Mathew Raymond Date: 12 Mar 14 - 05:46 PM Me! Thanks for the link I was looking for it to no avail |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Leadfingers Date: 12 Mar 14 - 06:05 PM My only problem with 'Young' people in folk is that in general they are took bloody good at it !!! |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 Mar 14 - 06:17 PM You're Mathew Ferrari on facebook? We do vet applicants because there are a lot of bot-like sunglass and porn peddlers out there. . . real people we usually let in! ;-D SRS |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Janie Date: 12 Mar 14 - 06:44 PM As long as there are folks there will be folk music. Having the history of trad songs from long ago (and sometimes not so long ago) documented on sites such as this in the days of the internet is lovely, but not necessary. Also reckonize that sites such as mudcat are very ethnocentric - pertaining mainly to origins, roots and culture in many ways that has to do with folk music going back and evolving from the early documented music of the British Isles (and I don't know if it is pc to think of Ireland and the many small isles off the Ireland and Scottish coasts as Brittish isles or not - I'm Appalachian American with ancestry that is English, Scottish, Irish, Scots-Irish, German, French, Native American, French, etc. No African ancestry that I know of or that is evident in our physical appearances, but very much influenced musically in my southern and Appalachian heritage by African-American culture. Folk music is music of the people, with historic and modern connections. It will not go away. Welcome here. May you visit often and spread the the access to the wonderful information available here. May you always know that this is only one source for "Source" material. May you also alwayts understand, and pass along that the longer we humans occupy this earth, the wider and deeper are the roots of folk music. All the best, Janie |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Janie Date: 12 Mar 14 - 06:45 PM and pardon the spelling errors. |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Mathew Raymond Date: 12 Mar 14 - 07:14 PM Raymond is my middle name so I went with it on Mudcat not knowing how much I trusted the site (silly as it seems to me now, mudcatters are generally very nice) Ferrari is my real last name and before anyone asks no I do not own one! My background is French and Italian, however I love the history and music of the British Isles and being from Canada I feel like I can sort of adopt the history as my own. I can trace my ancestors in Canada to the settlers of the region I live in now back in the early 19th century. Needless to say I also love Stan Rogers. Not sure what that last bit has to do with anything but i felt like I had to say it lol |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Stilly River Sage Date: 12 Mar 14 - 07:37 PM Mudcat is the place for sharing your interest in lots of things, music in particular. Welcome, Mathew! Maggie (Stilly River Sage) |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 12 Mar 14 - 07:54 PM As an Australian catter of English, Scottish & Irish heritage I also like Stan Rogers & Peter Bellamy & Ewen MacColl & traditional English, Scottish, Irish, Australian & American songs along with shanties & the work of past & current songwriters like Woody Guthrie, John Warner, Rick Fielding, George Papavgeris ... welcome to Mudcat, Raymond |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: Musket Date: 13 Mar 14 - 07:48 AM When I started going to folk clubs locally, there were people, mainly older than me, who I got to know. Almost forty years later, I still get out to say hi. Same people, (sadly losing a few as time goes on) singing the same songs in the same way with the same strings on the same guitar. That is folk in action! Keeping the tradition... Where are the younger ones? Tell you what, they are putting folk in the mainstream, they are doing some rather exciting stuff and the BBC Folk Awards are a snapshot of how exciting folk music is getting, and all younger than my kids...... The traditional folk club, upstairs in a pub with candles in bottles and listening patiently to a Richard Thompson song done "differently" is becoming a thing of the past in some areas. Folk music is thriving. Really thriving. The folk experience is changing, really changing. |
Subject: RE: Youth on Mudcat From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker Date: 13 Mar 14 - 08:02 AM I voluntarily went to a few folk clubs and folkie wine bars back in the 1970s when I was in my late teens. Didn't take to them; at worst the happy clappy join in singalong socialising reminded me too much of Sunday School and Boy Scouts, which was alays a childhood threat that I might be forced to attend. Yet I still developed a strong lifetime affinity for 'Trad' Folk LPs [later CDs] and occasional concert performances. Sorry, the cheery communal aspect of folk 'clubbing' culure is just not for me. Dare I imagine most 21st Century Teenagers may experience a similar relationship with 'real' folk music ? |
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