2018 BBC Folk Awards

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Johnny J
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 06:06 PM

Incidentally, I just got around to watching the programme tonight with the aid of my Amazon Firestick.... Aaarrrggh

I thought the choice of performers was fine. All talented and currently highly respected. However, I was less keen on the actual performanCES themselves.
Whether it was the choice of material that The BBC chose to televise or the songs chosen by the acts themselves "to suit the occasion", the excerpts didn't really show most of them at their best although I did quite enjoy the contributions from Donald Lunny and Paul Brady.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Johnny J
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 06:00 PM

"it's a useful credential to quote to those who may not know so much about "this" sort of music"

Of course, these things can be very meaningful when it suits. When I helping out on the folk club committee and helping to organise other folkie events, I would also mention any such successes too.
:-)

And, YES, I also genuinely believe Siobhan is very worthy of recognition too but I can't say that about everyone who wins awards.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Hamish
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 10:31 AM

I am delighted that Siobhan Miller has deservedly won a category (and been nominated in another) cos she's fab ...
...and I have got her booked to play Berkhamsted Campaign for Real Music in November and it's a useful credential to quote to those who may not know so much about "this" sort of music.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 06:57 AM

"Please spare me those breathy singers with little-girl voices"

I couldn't agree more!!

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 06:41 AM

Dónal Lunny with Zoe Conway were sublime and Paul Brady showed how it's done. The rest ranged from dreary to dross. Please spare me those breathy singers with little-girl voices!

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Apr 18 - 09:34 PM

Sue Townshend was a great truth teller about English society.

I always loved that bit where Adrian Mole says, "I'm fed up with this life. I want to live on Planet Radio 4."

We're not going to sort out the problem of the BBC's divorce from reality.
Every so often it bites us on the bum. The reporting of the miners strike. The Brexit referendum. The 'troubles' in Northern Ireland. John Major's claim that he 'had no plans' to increase taxes. Blair's fear of attack from Saddam Hussein's WMD's.

On a scale of one to ten - the Folk Awards are about minus 14 thousand.

I get more than a bit fed up with the misguided belief that the beeb has some unique relationship with English society. Its loyalties are always to the poshocracy.

And this discussion every year is a pain in the balls.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Morris-ey
Date: 13 Apr 18 - 06:40 AM

Vic

I do not know how the BBC decides what programmes to commission, but I do know that I have never been asked about it.

Anyway, I was not suggesting the BBC should not continue to host folk awards but whether they do or not is their call.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Vic Smith
Date: 13 Apr 18 - 06:19 AM

Morris-ey -
It is their programme, so their choice whether they continue to commission it.

The BBC is not an investor directed commercial business. It is a public government broadcasting company funded almost exclusively by taxpayers. I would have thought that each of us has a say in what the BBC chooses to broadcast and in the way it presents British traditional culture.
I chose the music that I broadcast in the 27 years that I presented in a BBC local radio but the decisions that I made about what should or should not be included went far beyond my personal choice or taste. There were a myriad of other factors taken into consideration.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Apr 18 - 05:03 AM

"Best Original Track" :https://youtu.be/cZo5qs2VamE

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 11:11 AM

... Mr Leonard didn't have the heart to correct her!". Or possibly the knowledge.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 10:40 AM

OOPS! Sorry about the blank post.
Mary Portas talking to (I think) John Leonard was embarassing, especially when she confused Donovan with Don Partridge - Mr Leonard didn't have the heart to correct her!

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 05:37 AM

BBC Radio 2 Simon Mayo Drivetime
Mary Portas sits in with a Folk Awards warm-up

Mary prepares for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in Belfast by linking up with hosts Julie Fowlis and Mark Radcliffe. 2015 Young Folk Award nominees Wildwood Kin will play live in the studio for Mary and pay tribute to Martin Luther King.

In the final extended part of the show Mary will be taking All Request Folk calls, plus we'll be hearing about the songs that influenced some folk legends from the stars themselves in First Time Folk, including Judy Collins, Seth Lakeman, Jon Boden and more.

22 days left to listen; Awards warm up

Clip; Wildwood Kin

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Apr 18 - 04:10 PM

I suspect BBC is possibly losing interest judging by the decreased coverage this year...?????

No Red button full extended version...

No HD catch up - SD streaming / download only...

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Morris-ey
Date: 11 Apr 18 - 03:35 PM

It is their programme, so their choice whether they continue to commission it.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Apr 18 - 12:04 PM

"No one cares what those who don't like either the concept or the programme think."

What if the BBC no longer likes it...???

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Morris-ey
Date: 11 Apr 18 - 11:22 AM

A couple of points:

It is not a "competition" because no one can apply for entry to it;

If you don't like it, don't listen;

No one cares what those who don't like either the concept or the programme think.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Allan Conn
Date: 11 Apr 18 - 07:32 AM

Punkfolkrocker I think you would enjoy listening to more of Lankum who won the Best Group category. Both their current album and their previous one under the name Lynched. Here they are live doing a more uptempo song from their current album. They are also shown quite a bit on the series "This Aint No Disco" which shows that they seem to be quite far from the middle-class stereotype that folk are throwing about concerning modern bands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzciq8q0Gfw

Likewise I really like The Young'uns. Who won the best album category and are maybe not all that young but can sing a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuK0C_zj3_0

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Allan Conn
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 06:14 PM

I enjoyed the performances on the whole. Especially Lankum but I love their albums and love her voice. Yes more of a Lizzy Higgins earthy type voice but I like that. I know some people prefer a sweeter voice. I wasn't so keen on Eliza's performance though I do like the track itself and said album.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 11:37 AM

In the middle of all this whingeing I'd like to say congratulations to all the artists nominated, shortlisted and the winners.

In my view the Awards celebrate folk music and bring people together for a good time which is no bad thing. They also raise awareness of the genre which no amount of playing in the back room of a pub would do.

In running Awards there are many different ways of creating a shortlist and whichever way you choose to do it you will get complaints. I know that to be a fact as I am involved in the multi genre Yorkshire Gig Guide Grassroots Awards! We do it differently to the folk awards (in that we have public nominations and votes followed by a judging panel to choose between the top 5 nominations) but still a small minority complain about the outcome. However the atmosphere in the room on the night of the Awards makes it worth while. In our case our Awards are a way of celebrating the riches we have in the Yorkshire live music scene. Though they do it differently (and I only occasionally agree with the results) the Folk Awards do the same for the music we purport to love

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 10:34 AM

Exactly, Peter. On the slow air it started with I could hardly hear Donal as the fiddle was drowning him out. Laughable considering he was the one being showcased, but the Beeb rarely get anything right.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 09:13 AM

OK, in fairness, it's probably the BBC sounddepartment that has the cottonwool up their ears, or isn't up to the job.

Donal Lunny & Zoe Conway at folk awards 2018

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 09:11 AM

Donal Lunny [played there with Zoe Conway didn't he? She's a highly trained and versatile fiddle[player/violinist. Mark Bluemel must be either a grumpy bollocks or have cotton wool in his ears.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 08:13 AM

To be honest, I didn't like any of the performances broadcast either, but I find it hard to fathom how someone interested in the current "folk" scene of the UK and Ireland, - [ of which traditional music seems to be becoming an increasingly small part*, and that is something I deplore ] - could not have heard of Cara Dillon, "Lankum" [ changed their name from "Lynched" ], Eliza Carthy, Paul Brady and Donal Lunny. Apart from "Lankum", the others have been performing for between 20 and 40 years plus.
[* less so in Ireland, thankfully ]

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: OldNicKilby
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 06:54 AM

Had I stumbled on this sort of" Folk Music " 55 years ago I would have left it well alone. A P R Company Bull Shit event. I like Vic and TradSinger knew almost none of the performers. This is not the Music that many of us know and love . Utterly and totally divorced from the Grass-roots

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: r.padgett
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 04:01 AM

That's what it is Mark ~ what did you expect Elephants in kilts playing Uilleann pipes?

You either like it or you don't and fair play to you

and as I tell people the music is to be played and not so much to be listened to er um Donal Lunny is a brilliant professional musician and very deserving of his Award

I am still angry that people fail to realise that song choruses are meant to be joined in by everyone!

Ray

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 03:40 AM

We caught a few seconds when my wife was channel-hopping the other night. Donal and a fiddle-player were on, and my reaction was it sounded like the same approach to Irish tune playing that I'd heard on and off for something like 40 year, only with a harsher violin tone than most. We didn't listen for long.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 10 Apr 18 - 03:12 AM

Why do they employ manic camera persons? Flick Flick flick.
I don't want to see up performers noses or the underside of a piano players hands. I find it quite spoils what is quite nice - seeing what performers look like that I've heard of but not always seen.
FloraG.
PS Am I turning into the grumpy -----------

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Apr 18 - 12:23 PM

I refuse to feel guilty because it means sod all to me. "
I agree it is irrelevant to me,this weekend i was out doing two gigs singing folk music and getting paid.
I have no inclination or time and do not have a television, so thank goodness i have better things to do

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 09 Apr 18 - 05:24 AM

"Award" shows are everything folk music isn't.
Making it competative is an abomination and IMO, horribly destructive.

FWIW, a friend once said (cleaned up version) "The Oscars is Hollywood playing with itself". I tend to think the same re. all Award shows.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Cj
Date: 09 Apr 18 - 05:13 AM

I thought it was pretty good. Not all to my taste, but enough I didn't flick through. Glad Eliza is continually trying something different, she's quite easily talented enough to of coasted through life merely doing generic Waterson sounding material or MOR Disney-folk-toss, so here's to her for branching out.

Award ceremonies tend to be shite, not sure we can blame the folk awards for that.

Never knew Van Morrison spoke like Daffy Duck.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Howard Jones
Date: 09 Apr 18 - 04:09 AM

Let's face it, award shows in any genre are usually pretty dire. I think we have such high expectations of this because there is so little other folk music on TV. We want it to be a public showcase for folk music, in a way which doesn't apply to the Oscars, Baftas, Grammies etc where the subjects of the awards already have a high public profile. It's hardly surprising that we're inevitably disappointed when the show turns out to be a bit shit.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 09 Apr 18 - 02:18 AM

The best bits shown on BBC4 to me were Paul Brady and Donal Lunny.


Dave H

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: r.padgett
Date: 09 Apr 18 - 01:52 AM

The BBC2 radio Awards over ran by a good bit ~ at least it was live ~ the BBC4 televised seemed to cut out some interesting parts and thankfully the excess gushiness ~ thankfully the Young Un's slight tiff with David was cut out!
Liza Carthy is certainly a big girl and the band production was bit iffy on tv

I like Lankums female singers Travellers folk voice ~ but then I like Jim Eldon too and Ted Kemp ~ no no missus just saying!

Still a lot of English singers and groups out there of course and long may it be so ~ looks like you have to have had a CD released currently to qualify for nomination?

and yes lack of decent length sound clips does nothing for the overall ambience ~

For televisation I think quality not a good idea just to cut and paste

Ray

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 09:41 PM

Is even the BBC losing interest...

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 08:42 PM

we have the same discussion every year.

I suppose it all means something to somebody.

I refuse to feel guilty because it means sod all to me.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 07:58 PM

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.....
Some people cannot read properly. See other posts on on 5th April re "English": that was several years back, when just about every award went to English artists: more awards going to Scotland, Ireland and N Ireland NOW and last year. I thought I made that quite clear.
And some of the Scots Trad Awards are available to be won by artists performing in Scotland (so do not need necessarily to be Scottish). If they don't win them, tough!
As for geography, Belfast is where?

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 07:34 PM

"like a pathetic minor league attempt to copy the Baftas, the Oscars et al."
I knew we had to agree on something Vic
I watched it for as long as I could - pretty grim and very ,very amateurish in presentation
Where HAS all the music gone?
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 07:09 PM

Imagined conversation at Smooth Operations. 'Let's hold the folk awards in Ireland this year'....'Oh that's a good idea, best make sure we've got lots of Irish/celtic acts winning then!'

Just goes to show what a nonsense it all is. (for those that don't know, Smooth operations is the PR company that tell us what we must listen to)

Eliza Carthy was dreadful, and as for the wailing woman from Lankum!

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 05:19 PM

Well, it's not the English Folk Awards.... though it'd be interesting to see an English performer at either the Scots Trads or the TG awards in Ireland :-)
And actually I think 2 speeches were in Gaelic, but one didn't make it to the TV. Or am I misremembering?
Tradsinger. I don't get out much myself, but I'd heard of most of the performers!
Derek

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 05:10 PM

English?????? It was just about all 'Celtic' aka Irish and Scottish. One recipient even gave a speech in Gaelic - FGS.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Tradsinger
Date: 08 Apr 18 - 05:04 PM

I haven't heard of most of these performers. Should I get out more?

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 07 Apr 18 - 06:30 PM

Last couple of years I thought it was hideous.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 07 Apr 18 - 05:54 PM

Liking Donovan, got me into 'folk' when I was about 12...
Then shortly after, Lindisfarne were riding big in the pop charts and hooked me even further...

The best of Donovan & Lindisfarne's classic pop-folk tracks are still sublime...

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Apr 18 - 05:44 PM

Paul Brady was superb as always.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Rigby
Date: 07 Apr 18 - 05:11 PM

It's a guilty pleasure but I fecking love Donovan.

'A Gift From A Flower To A Garden' is one of my favourite albums ever, and some of the singles he made with Mickie Most are pure gold.

Though, arguably, not folk music in any meaningful sense.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 07:10 PM

Blimey, is that the show that had the execrable Donovan a year or two back, and, massive disappointment numero bleedin' uno, Don McClean with his out-of-tune guitar?

Mind you, Karine is sublime, and Donal Lunny has literally been the sine qua non of great Irish music for decades. So the whole thing is a curate's egg...

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: GUEST,Roger. Guest.
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 04:08 PM

Radcliffe always reminds me of Bruce Forsyth with all that waffling.
Roger

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 04:05 PM

Last year or the year before,
I saw someone I know, and have played in bands with, on the telly sat at a VIP table close to the stage..

He's now a rising 'young' mover and shaker in the folkie biz...

Whenever the camera glanced on him he was paying no attention to the acts or awards on stage,
but staring down at the table playing with his smart phone...

That must say a little about this award show...????

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: Reinhard
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 03:43 PM

I never found the nominees and winners self congratulatory. Rather more, though, motormouth Mark Radcliffe and the B class entertainment stars and starlets of the last years' shows who were supposed to present the awards to the winners instead of speaking about themselves. At least this year they used more knowledgeable and sensible award presenters.

Subject: RE: 2018 BBC Folk Awards
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 06 Apr 18 - 03:23 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZo5qs2VamE&feature=youtu.be


yes.. I did like that.. a bit slow and dirgy for the mood I'm in right now;
but If they are the band I think I liked on a previous years award show,
then I'm up for listening to more from them...

They remind me of another band I liked, but I've forgotten who they were....???