The State of Folk in the UK in 2016

Subject: RE: The State of Folk in the UK in 2016
From: GUEST,Peter C
Date: 29 Apr 16 - 11:48 AM

Glos Folk (Gloucestershire Folk Association) compiled some figures on this a while ago. The conclusion was that about 10,000 people a week took part or listed to 'folk' activities in the county each week. What evidence I have suggests that that number is on the increase overall, with folk clubs declining, but informal music and song sessions increasing.
My figures are at Here

Subject: RE: Review: The State of Folk in the UK in 2016
From: Harmonium Hero
Date: 29 Apr 16 - 11:29 AM

I'm a bit hesitant about getting involved in this, as everything I say on these matters either gets shot down in flames or kills the thread stone dead. However.....
Speaking as someone who has been involved in folk song, music and social and performance dance for 48 years, I think I might have a fair view of what's going on, so I'll try to answer some of Les's questions.
Folk Clubs: hanging on by a thread, I'd say. The number of clubs is much lower than in the boom years, but that's inevitable. The '80s left us with a 'lost generation', which has contributed greatly to the division between young and old folkies, where there should be no division. Folk Music is for everybody, and is not aimed at a particular generation; in fact it isn't aimed at all, but is just what people do. The young generation has brought a healthy influx of performers, but the young audience seems to be found at festivals rather than clubs. But I'd say that the number of clubs seems to be pretty steady at the moment.
Singarounds: these are proliferating. A number of clubs have gone over to the singaround format for singers' nights, and some have also given up booking guests. This is because many of the people who go to singarounds will not, on principle, attend when there is a booked (i.e. paid) performer. They tend to become cliquey, which discourages others. There is also the controversial proliferation of crib sheets. And, in my experience, a lot of what one hears isn't ....erm....Folk Music.....where did I put me coat?.... As far as audience numbers goes, on a singers' night, there may be 30 people in, of whom 27 sing. Same club next week, with a guest, there'll be maybe 15 people in, some of whom may be regulars - even regular singers - and some have come just to see the guest. So I'd say for regular singarounds, the audience is minimal.
Tunes sessions: audience is incidental. I doubt whether many people go just to listen, but then I don't know that it matters, as these are informal gatherings, with participation being the main aim.
Concerts: probably more common than in the old days. With the advent of Arts Centres, concerts are probably now, on average, in smaller venues, which are more suitable for folk music. Usually amplified, which, in my controversial opinion, is anathema to folk music. Attendance? - I haven't been to enough of them in recent years to judge, but I'd say probably not what the promoters would hope for. Something Les didn't mention are house concerts. These are not as common in UK as in the States, where they are an established part of the folk scene, but the idea may be slowly growing, and this might be a good thing, as folk is really small-venue music, and best unamplified. Trouble is, most people in UK live in such poky little houses that there isn't the room for much of an audience.
EFDSS affiliated Country Dance Clubs: sadly, these have become associated with an ageing
membership, and are declining. Some have ceased to operate, and others have amalgamated with others in a similar plight. The only thing that will save them is an influx of younger dancers.
Ceilidhs: or rather dances: a ceilidh used to be a dance with entertainment spots, but now the term 'Ceilidh Dancing' has come into vogue, and a dance of this sort has become a Ceilidh. These are organised by clubs, and as part of Morris Weekends and such. Also at festivals, and there areregular dances calling themselves 'Ceilidh Clubs', and even some REAL Ceilidh Clubs. I'd say this is doing all right, although the style of dance and music seems to be mostly 'English Ceilidh' - invented in the '70s, and not to everybody's taste.
Dances for PTAs, social clubs, barn dances, Masonic dinners etc: There was a period when such dances were regular bookings for Ceilidh/Country Dance Bands. However, over the last 15 years, there has been a steady decline, with many bands reporting a significant drop in bookings. 15 years ago, people were blaming line dancing, but that seems to have been largely a passing fad -although it does still exist. It was also a regular thing to have country dancing at weddings, but now the wedding venues seem to do a package deal, which includes all the extras - table decorations, balloons, flowers etc. and a disco seems to be part of the deal. If the mugs...sorry -Happy Couple- want any other kind of dancing, they have to find and book the necessary musicians themselves, but they are paying for the disco anyway, and as the band usually ends up only playing for an hour or so, it doesn't seem worth it. But it may also be due to changing fashion. Either way, wedding bookings seem to have declined. Mind you, they are a pain in the arse anyway- don't get me started!
Performance dance: Cotswold Morris doing fine. Rapper ditto. Longsword not so popular. It's not as spectacular as rapper, and is seen as more of a performers' dance than a spectators' dance. Also not as exciting, so fewer young people getting involved. I don't know whether things are any different now than formerly in the longsword community. Still seems to be doing ok on the continent. (For those not familiar with it, this form of dance is widespread across Europe). Perhaps our European neighbours are less subject to the whims of fashion than the English. Probably, I'd say. Appalachian, clog and other forms of step dance are pretty popular. Certainly clog dance has had a steady revival over recent decades, and a more spectacular rise in Wales, where it is, I believe, now on the National Curriculum. North West Morris (Lancashire Morris) may be doing ok elsewhere in the country, but not in the North West. The mens' dance in particular is likely to die out in the NW in the next 5-10 years, as there are no young men getting involved. Border Morris and Molly sides seem to be proliferating. It looks easy, it looks fun. Why not try something a bit more challenging? Like...erm....NW Morris?
Don't know too much about the state of affairs in Mumming/Pace Egging, as these things are usually local and seasonal. I know they still exist, many of them being independent of the Folk Revival.
I don't think that the existence of Folk Awards should be taken as indicative of the state of folk music. These things are run by the Music Industry, and are really there to help them to sell stuff. People imagine that, because folk is getting a higher media profile, that it must be doing all right. Wrong. It's the kiss of death. The Music Industry is what it says it is; you're talking about businessmen. They have heard that Folk is selling , and so they want to be behind the cash register, and will stuff anything they think they can get away with into the 'Folk' pigeon hole. But they have more than an eye on the sales figures, and as soon as there is a dip, you'll hear the cry of "Folk is Finished" and they'll drop it like a bag of warm dog turds. Trust me - I'm a folk singer -I know stuff.

John Kelly

Subject: RE: The State of Folk in the UK in 2016
From: John Minear
Date: 29 Apr 16 - 10:41 AM

From the other side of the water, I just wanted to say that we are very proud of Rhiannon Giddens Laffan, a dear friend and a fine folk singer. Our congratulations to her for winning the BBC's "Folk Singer of the Year" award.

Subject: RE: The State of Folk in the UK in 2016
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Apr 16 - 07:28 AM

In my area of Sussex, roughly within a 15-mile radius of home, I will probably play at the following events in May 2016:

* 29th April-1st May: Folk at the Fireside - a weekend of folk at the Woolpack in Burgess Hill.

* 2nd May: Brighton Acoustic Session, the Lord Nelson, Brighton (guests Dave Arthur & Dan Stewart), which I'll be MC'ing.

* 3rd May: English Tunes Session at the John Harvey Tavern, Lewes.

* 8th May: My own singaround/session at the George, Henfield.

* 9th May: The Village Singaround, Limes Bistro, Charlwood (strictly in Surreybut near enough to home!)

* 20th May: Seaford Folk Club (weekly) - Singers' Night

* 26th May: The Under Ground Theatre, Eastbourne - MC'ing and guesting at the monthly session, with Chris Wolferstan.

* 29th May: The White Horse Session in Ditchling - organised by members of the Unreel Ceilidh Band.

And, apart from that, I've got Unreel Ceilidh Band functions on 7th and 14th May and a rock'n roll gig at the Woolpack on 30th April.

And all that's without attending the weekly folk clubs at Lewes (Lewes Saturday Club) and the Willows Club at Arundel - plus others too numerous to mention here, and many other sessions in the locality. Actually, it's nice to have a night off occasionally!

Subject: Review: The State of Folk in the UK in 2016
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 29 Apr 16 - 06:53 AM

The State of Folk in the UK 2016

I recently responded to a questionnaire as a member of The EFDSS. It didn't really address or inquire much about "The State of Folk in the UK 2016" but it's basic and reasonable assumption was that I as a Member would be in favour, be a supporter and even promoter of "Folk".

Last night I watched the BBC 2 Folk Awards Ceremony at The Royal Albert Hall. I felt the quality and variety of performance was breathtaking and thought that anybody finding the recording on BBC iPlayer could only be impressed and entertained. On reflection I also felt that these Awards are mostly awards to professional singers and musicians.

I have no intention of getting into a discussion about how much "professional singers and musicians" contribute to or are part of the greater world of UK Folk but it made me think about how far "Folk" has come since the Folk Clubs of the 60s and 70s.

In many parts of the country Folk Clubs are few and far between but they are and always have been only one aspect of "Folk".

My question is: What are the other aspects and how are they fairing?

1. Folk Clubs – resident singers, audience, guests.
I don't know but I guess the collapse of the 80's & 90s has leveled out.
2. Singarounds – most people who go sing songs, small audience if any
Don't know – how can we find out?
3. Tunes Sessions - most people who go play tunes, small audience if any
Don't know – how can we find out?
4. Folk Concerts – in larger venues and small theatres pro and semi pro performers
Seem to be good in larger towns and cities
5. Folk Festivals – weekends to weeks, residential audiences pro and semi pro performers
Seem to be very popular – probably at least one every week or weekend through summer
6. Social Country Dance Clubs – often associated with The EFDSS, regular meetings to dance Social Dance to a Band or recorded music
Don't know but I guess EFDSS does.
7. Ceilidhs – sometimes organised by "Folkies" for "Folkies" Social Dance with a Band
Popular with some folk clubs and Morris sides etc.
8. Ceilidhs – sometimes organised by "Folkies" for "None Folkies" Social Dance with a Band
Popular with PTAs, Birthdays, Fundraisers etc.
9. Solo Clog Dancing – individuals learn the same routine but often dance together in public
Don't know – is their a national organisation?
10. Other regional solo display dancing -
Appalachian, Suffolk …...........................
11. Longsword and Rapper Dancing -
I guess in good shape but don't really know
12. Morris and related Dancing -
I guess in good shape but don't really know
13. Mummers Plays and other Folk Drama -
No idea!

With all this going on I am tempted to say that "Folk" in the widest sense is in good shape. How is it for you?