UK attitudes to folk music

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: smallpiper
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 07:02 AM

Eh Santa? The Romans built the Antonine wall, abandoned it and made the border Hadrians wall - The English did not exist at that time in this country or any other. It wasn't untill after the withdrawal of the legions in 4sumit or other that the Saxons, Jutes and Angles started to arrive here. They devided the country up into various kingdoms, non of which was called England. One of which ran from just outside my window (the River Humber) up to Hadrians wall i.e. Northumbria - these kingdoms eventually after much haking and slashing and other invasions (Vikings)and Normans that this place became England. And I think at the time that the Antonine wall was being built the people here were known as Brittons by the Romans and a whole lot of other things (Parisi, Briganti,Picts, Scots - even these names are roman - god knows what they called themselves but I'll bet it wasn't English).

AS an Irishman I think that The English should celebrate their national day and it grieves me that they belittle their own heritage whilst promoting that of minority cultures. I often think that the limited way Englishness is celebrated is essentially American anyway hence the pop culture thing at the millenium.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 06:18 AM

Let's not get too carried away into thinking that English Folk Music equates to Englishness! There are lots of people in England who do not like folk music, mummers plays or morris dancing! Let them celebrate their English heritage in their own way! Go for a curry; Climb Scafell Pike; Worship inside Old Trafford; Whatever!

My point is about the reluctance of the media to accept folk music in England. ANY folk music. The radio programs I was listening to had a great spectrum of different styles and cultures. The Welsh program was not all Welsh music, nor was the Scottish one Scottish or Irish one exclusively Irish!

It would be very nice indeed to have English folk music played but I will happily accept music from around the world. Just as we accept other peoples and cultures into England as well! However let us be just as proud of old English heritage as we are of current culture. Let us look to the future but not at the cost of the past:-)

Cheers

:D

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: GUEST,Santa
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 06:08 AM

Smallpiper: I see it as the key event that reversed the political expansion of the English (taking the Northumbrians as one of the leading political elements of the English). England as a single state did not exist at that time, true, but English as an identifiable people, with a common language, heritage and similar political organisation, did. It was the loss of Fortrenn and the collapse of Northumbrian control of the Scottish Lowlands that established the current borders, and nationalities (give or take a few miles here-and-there and over a thousand years).

McGrath: I half agree, with qualifications as to the geographical extent. Had the battle gone the other way, perhaps we could have had a Northern England from Lincoln and Cheshire up to the Grampians, including Clydeside. Whether this would have survived as an independent state against the combination of Wessex and Mercia or not is debatable. And later the Danes, the Vikings, etc etc...

I am still drawn by the statement that the term Sassenach was initially applied by the Gaelic-speaking highlanders to the Lowland Scots, who are thus clearly within the English/Anglo-Saxon world.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Forsh
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 06:01 AM

And of course, Brewick is in Northumberland, England, and Not in Berwickshire, Scotland! Alan ww: you illustrate my earlier points so well, (No late bar for St Georges day etc). I don't really care WHO our saint is, Cuthbert would be ok by me, as long as we (English) stand in equality with the Irish/Scots etc and HAVE a Day of National Celebration for Some Cultural reason, On Burns Night, the Hagis gets insinerated, So, lets all burn beef & over cook veg in a big way, and build little stne henges all over the place for summer solstice or what ever, In the words of William Connely, 'De Sumthin!' It's NOT about politics or the 'Nation State' but it is about the Nation and the Folk who live here. I love my heritage, I love the history of these islands, I love our folk culture,and I love the Land. F**k the political aspects of Nation, who gives ahoot for that?!

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 05:32 AM

No, Hadrians. By all rights Northumbria and Lothian ought to be seen as a single country distinct from Englkand or Scotland.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: smallpiper
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 05:23 AM

No it wasn't as England didn't exist at that time.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: GUEST,Santa
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 05:13 AM

McGrath: I believe you are thinking of the Antonine Wall. or you should be. The Northumbrian loss of the Lowlands was the greatest defeat in English history until Hastings.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 05:05 AM

No, they shifted him - Kim Howells is in charge of screwing up Transport now.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: GUEST,Crystal
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 04:56 AM

Hang on arn't we supposed to have a Culture minister to help keep our traditions alive by encouraging them in schools and giving grants to folk clubs/ morris teams etc to allow them to carry on?

Sorry I'm obviously getting caught up in an alternative universe, I'd forgotten that what we have is Dr Howell.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: DMcG
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 04:43 AM

Given the Guardian's music section listed above ("we have decided to stick to these musical classifications: pop, jazz, opera, world music and classical.") it was interesting to see June Tabor in today's review classified as "folk".

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 07:43 PM

Not a bad browser, Opera.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: tuggy mac
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 07:36 PM

OPERA ? Now whats that all about?

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: alanww
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 07:25 PM

I have celebrated St George's day for many years by doing a "St George and Dragons" Mummers play, most recently at a pub called The George next to the St George's Church in Brailes in Warwickshire. And recently we have performed it following the dancing of two traditional morris side - Ilmington and Adderbury Village Morris Men. What brilliant nights we have had!
But the landlord tells me that he was not able to get an extension to his licence until 12 midnight, even though he had been able to do so for Burns Night and St Patrick's Day. Now is that crazy or is it me being over patriotic?
"And did those feet in ancient times ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 03:58 PM

"Perhaps we should put pressure on the TV companies to produce a "Folk Idol..."

For folk's sake no!!

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: bill\sables
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 03:54 PM

As you say St George's day is not celeberated in England, in fact if you asked most English people if they knew the date they would probably have no idea. However in the local pubs near me in Yorkshire, over the past few years, I have run a St Geordie's night with stories, songs music and food from the North East of England (the land of the Geordies) These have gone down very well even in deepest Yorkshire.
I think you have to look at the Millenium celebrations to see the real attitude of the English media controllers. The whole world, that night, showed traditional music and dance from their own countries. What did the English show? The bloddy Spice Girls. Only a couple of months before the New Year 422 the folk band with Sam Pirt, Ian Stephenson, Emily and Sophie Ball and Joey Oliver won the BBC Young Folk Musicians Award. Why then did the BBC not show that trad music was alive and well and in the hands of these fine young musicians, they only needed to show one tune after all.
It seems very strange that we can attend a Folk Music Festival every weekend of the year as well as folk clubs and music sessions every night in all regions but the radio and TV producers don't recognise this fact. They seem to play "pop" all day every day but there are only a handfull of annual "Pop" festivals. There are even less Jazz, Country, and Clasical festivals but they all seem to have media coverage, some even have dedicated radio stations.
At present on TV we have the "Pop Idols" talent programme. some of the kids have very good voices but it is evident that the reason for this programme is for the recording company executives to earn millions of pounds exploiting these kids who will in all probability be on the scrap heap in a couple of years. Perhaps we should put pressure on the TV companies to produce a "Folk Idol" who will sell millions of copies of Wild Rover (Like the Spinners and Clancy Brothers did in the 60's) and put lots of arses on seats in folk clubs

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 01:48 PM

Interestingly (you may have already seen this news) there was a poll conducted by the Publican (newspaper for pub owners/landlords, etc) that asked about making St. George's day a national holiday. It was prompted by the Guinness PR people who were doing likewise for St. Paddy. Pretty cheeky trying to get St. Pat's Day designated a holiday in England! Anyway, St. George's Day won out by a huge margin. What I found really interesting, however, was that very soon after that another poll asked whether or not St. George should be the English patron saint. He came in a distant third behind St. Alban (runaway winner) and St. Cuthbert.

My favourite view on this topic was expressed by a good friend of mine whose observation makes him--in my opinion--quintessentially English, even though he's Geordie. When asked if he'd be participating in the St. George's day parade he said "I try to avoid those things; full of god botherers and sectarians."

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: DMcG
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 01:32 PM

I wrote to the Guardian and got this reply:

"Dear Dave,

Many thanks for your email with regards to our classification of reviews.

Although we are aware that the system of classification for live reviews is not ideal, and we know that this broadbrush approach will inevitably mean that some round pegs are squeezed into square holes, we have decided to stick to these musical classifications: pop, jazz, opera, world music and classical.

With best wishes,

Aster Greenhill
on behalf of

Dan Glaister
Arts Editor
The Guardian"

Anyone want to argue that English Folk would be better in the "World Music" category? Or maybe classical!

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 01:16 PM

But it can be argued that Northumbria is only notionally English... The Romans drew the border in a more sensible place when they built the Wall.

Bring back the Heptarchy. I just don't believe that thinking about England as one single cultural entity makes any real sense. Though one of the oddest thing about the current folk-dance scene is the way you have groups performing styles of dancing from the other end of the country, which has nothing whatever to do with the folk tradition in their part of the country.

Border Morris in Kent and so forth. Nothing wrong with that, but it's not really that different from Samba Bands based in the Home Counties. (Which always end up looking more like Molly Dancers to my mind. Tradition will out in spite of everything.)

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Forsh
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 12:43 PM

Yeah, maybe I will stay local next St Georges Day, and organize a Traditional Music thing ... hmmm ... could work. By the way, Northumbrian Music/ Folk/Trad wotever, is still going strong, but, alas, nor as strong as it could & should be. The Bridge Hotel Newcastle and Deleval Arms, Seaton Sluice are good uns, and likewise Ashington FC and Bedlington. More have died than have came along to replace them.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: GUEST,Santa
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 10:12 AM

I left the paper, folded to the right place, at my wife's spot for breakfast. The word "Pop!" exploded across the room.......

Ah well, if one more convert has been made, it can't hurt.

I would argue that some of the habits of the revival, notably what can be summed up as "finger in the ear", damaged "folk music" in this country. Plus the basic irrelevance of pastoral songs in a town and city culture. I came in with the 60s swell, when folk connected to protest and commercial music in a genuine popular movement. Unfortunately, this then hurt the music when the voting turned against socialist politics.

I do agree that the way the extreme right have taken over the flag of St.George doesn't help any cause that stands up and calls itself "English". Plus the outcry from the Celtic fringe at cultural imperialism. It's OK to be Scottish or Irish or Welsh, but being English is frowned on. Strangely, I think that the growth in use in the English flag at international football matches could actually help: not all football fans are rascist loonies and the more the flag is associated with mainstream "normal" events the less any attached stigma.

Overall, I'm fairly optimistic. There are good signs - there's just been a mystery play in York Cathedral: not exactly folk music but an indication of an increasing interest in traditions. OK, the clubs aren't as common or as full as in the 60s, but there are more festivals. Yes, the audience is ageing but people are living longer. I don't think it actually matters that we don't have commercial superstars in the field, as long as there is continuity. Fashions can change back again. And again.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: jacqui.c
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 08:38 AM

In Hertfordshire we have a nimbr of singarounds in pubs in local villages and towns. We do have some interested onlookers but I think that, on the whole, the general culture is against this type of music because it isn't instantly recognisable or it was the type of thing that was drummed into people at school during music lessons. All we can do is keep plugging away and trying to get the children interested in the music as a pleasure and not a chore to be got through in a classroom.

On the St George's day thing maybe we should be looking to arrange sessions wherever possible on the day and publicising them through Mudcat and anywhere else we can think of. How about having a charity theme so that people can see it, not just as a particular genre of music but as a way of raising funds for local charities? I'm sure that local landlords would be interested if it brings in the customers and, let's face it, Folkies and beer have been known to go together on the odd occasion!

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 08:37 AM

And of course the Guardian sub-editor put that review under the4 strapline "Pop". (Here's the review - Coope Boyes and Simpson

Pied Piper is right about regional diversity. (Though I'd take issue with some other points in the post). Roll on regional government and maybe we'll get more of a look in. That would also bring in the factor of local pride against centralisation.

I don't thing the niggling pressure against informal music by powers that be that has been exhaustingly explored in the PEL threads shouldn't be neglected as one reason why folk music of various sorts has found difficulty in establishing a niche for itself. As well as being cheaper, canned music involves fewer legal hassles.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: GUEST,Santa
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 08:22 AM

There's a lovely piece in the Guardian today. The reviewer had to go to a concert at which a surprise replacement was Coope Boyes and Simpson. They knocked him over! He thought they were great, wonderful, marvellous...but he couldn't bring himself to say that this was folk music, that you could see/hear them in a club near you. He eventually came out with "post-modern folk music".

Be interesting to hear what Lester has to say when he reads that.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Pied Piper
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 06:53 AM

The problem I have with "English Folk" is that English Traditional music is much more divers than Scottish or Welsh.
To say that the Northumberland tradition and the Cornish tradition have more in common because they're English, than the Northumberland and Scottish traditions, is of cause nonsense.
One of the reasons Scottish and Welsh traditions have a higher profile is basically down to subsidy from National and Local Government, and regional TV.
99.999% of the English arts budget is wasted on "High art" Bollox like Opera, witch still costs an arm and a leg to see.
Maybe if there was some democratic accountability in arts spending things would be different, but there isn't.
The self appointed Oxbridge arts fascists have control on what music your taxes are spent.
Personally I would abolish ALL subsidy of music.
With a level playing field the energy and commitment of traditional musicians would increase it's profile.
How many Orchestras and Opera companies could survive in the real world without signing on?

TTFN
PP

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Skipper Jack
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 05:36 AM

I think that you will find that Mike Harding's programme is on a Wednesday night from 8.00pm - 9.00pm.

But I am afraid that I am not a fan of his.

I presented a folk music programme on local radio for 19 years. The powers that be decided to scrap it, along with the Jazz music programme and Classical music. However, the Country & Western show is still going strong.

Let's face it - folk music is a minority interest. What chance have we got for its future when kids are brainwashed by the rubbish that seems to dominate TV, radio and discos etc.?

Dave R.

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: tuggy mac
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 05:16 AM

Mike harding radio 2 tuesday nights,seems to be the only folk champion for us.I used to listen to radio 1 for years and followed steve wrightpop music when he moved to radio 2.but even he has started playing   CRR..RAP.THIS WILL PROBIBLY PUSH OUT ANY SMALL WINDOW WE COULD USE FOR FOLK.

There is a market for good folk music ,and i for one would welcome a pirate radio station dedicated to world folk, not just english alone.

TUGGY

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: tuggy mac
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 05:08 AM

Spot the del spel mizt steaks,you spelling gurus!

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: tuggy mac
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 05:06 AM

The next generation are being brought up with no real values on thier heritage,i thing its to do with videos from the states.It seems to me that if there isnt any rap part in the music the kids dont want it.
In the imortal words of bruce willis in the last boy acout if you want to hurt me. play some "rap"

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Strupag
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 05:02 AM

j0hn
Do you not mean wrongly?

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 04:05 AM

Joan, agreed

RB

Subject: RE: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 09:05 PM

you spelled offence wrong! ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 07:16 PM

That's sometimes the trouble; people who get worked up about such things tend so often to be white middle-class fashion-victims labouring under the misapprehension that they are being sensitive. When a chain of charity shops (allegedly) banned christmas decorations for fear of giving offense (not to atheists, of course, but to adherents of other faiths) representatives of the Islamic community were quick to say that there could have been no question of their being offended, and that they couldn't understand why anyone should imagine that they might be; or why, indeed, anyone should imagine that they might have a right to be offended. Sensitivity is one thing; stupidity is another.

There's always a risk, though, that "national" symbols may be annexed by extremists; the Conservative party has always, when in a corner, tended to "wrap itself in the flag", and the tactics of openly fascist organisations are only too familiar. However unfair or ignorant it may be, there will always be people who fail to understand that these symbols belong to the people (all of them), and not to any particular group. We have to fight not only bigotry, but also facile intellectual laziness: "political correctness" is actually an admirable thing in the hands of those who understand what it's for, but, regrettably, is all too often embraced and administered by idiots.

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 07:00 PM

I've never heard till now of the English flag of St George being banned anywhere - the Union Jack on occasion, yes, as the flag of an empire rather than of a country.

I know the BNP seems to have taken to using the English flag more these days, but the main associations are still far more with the Church of England and the English football team.

I would be pretty certain that any ban on the flag of St George wouldn't have been done because of any genuine fear that it might offend those English people whose families immigrated to this country more recently than their neighbours; far more likely just it would be politicians playing silly games. And as like as not lily-white politicians.

There are a lot of different cultural traditions in England, and they are all to be welcomed and treasured. Disrespect towards any of them is disrespect to all - and that most definitely includes the native English traditions in all their oddity and variety.

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: GUEST,vectis
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 06:50 PM

My personal opinion is that calling traditional music and song "folk" is part of the problem. I always say I perform traditional music. The normal response from Joe Public is interest because they don't know what 'traditional English Music' is. Folk has gained too many negative connotations through the press etc to be interesting to non-affecionadoes.

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 06:05 PM

If they try to ban the cross of St George because it will offend the British born black and asian communities then they are saying that despite being born here they are not proper citizens of this country.

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Forsh
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 02:59 PM

I agree Joan, but try and put that flag up in some of the 'peoples republics' in London and the West Midlands! You will have to make sure that next years event is well publicised...just to remind me! I would love to come down south (!) to Wigan for a session. (Will it be an all-nighter ? :{D )

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 02:50 PM

The last few years I've made a point of organising a folkie night on St George's Day - I do ask performers to try to come with English material, but, as usual, anything goes! But I make sure the pub is decorated with St George's flags etc, and the response has been very positive. Some non-folkies have even made a point of saying that we should celebrate our own national day, and they've enjoyed what we've done. Nobody objects to celebrating St Patrick's Day, after all, so why not St George's? Any excuse for a knees-up, I say...

Joan

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Forsh
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 02:24 PM

I think that this may go deeper than we think, while I certainly like the idea of winging it in a public bar, ( I may Try it!) I doubt that this will be the full answer. It is a bit like a question I often ponder: If you are an Irish/Scottish/Welsh/Cornish Nationalist, that's fine; If you are an English Nationalist, you are a Facist.
Perhaps people are worried to dress/act/sing in the traditional English ways, or take part in anything 'ENGLISH' for fear of upsetting Hook the Moslim Cleric or other minorities. The number of councils who BAN the flying of The Cross of St George, even on the saint's own day, grows by the year, one of the main resons given for this, is that it may cause offence to said minorities; Christ! can you imagine the hoo-ha if we actually celebrated being English by SINGING about it!?
Your thought & responses to these thoughts most welcome.

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: izzy
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 02:23 PM

Hallo, Dave. I AM interested in folk music (hugely) it's just that I have started a website about the other thing (not at all unrelated, if you'll have a look at it!) The sidelining of English culture includes trad music etc. It's all of a piece.

Cheers,

Isabel

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 02:11 PM

Just checked out another which I thought would be a sililar one to this. "Ashamed or proud to be English". To my surprise I find 19 posts on there to the 7 here. So, if even Folkies find other stuff more interesting than folk music what chance have we got...;-) ?

Cheers

:D

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 12:17 PM

Of course sometimes the intellectually lazy comedian is also an intellectually lazy politician, like Kim Howell.

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 07:13 AM

The folk music revivals in places like France are fairly recent, and were largely inspired by the British revival of the 1950s and '60s. Germany is a bit different; it was quite dicey for a long while to seem too keen on folk tradition there because of a perceived connection (probably exaggerated, but Wolfgang and others have gone into this in more detail in the past and are the people to ask) with a particularly nasty episode of history. I suspect that "Irish" music is still more widely played in Germany than material from German traditions.

The reasons for the situation in England are complex, and you need to look quite deeply into social and political history in order to get very far. Certainly attitudes have been forming since well before the Civil War; on which subject I might just add that Oliver Cromwell liked music, and dancing, though there were Puritan factions who did not, and it is quite unfair to blame him for any of this. The bad press he received after his death is still widely believed, but much of it is propaganda-become-folklore rather than history.

I've said much the same things, and at greater length, in some of the many previous discussions on the subject. Better to be doing our bit to improve the situation, I think, rather than agonising about it; though of course we should certainly complain volubly every time some intellectually lazy comedian (or music journalist; in some cases the distinction is hard to see) resorts, through lack of imagination, to a cheap snigger at the expense of the "folk singer" or the morris dancer. They are family; so only we are allowed to laugh at them.

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 06:09 AM

Good points indeed one and all. I agree with the public room bit. The last couple of years at Swinton Festival we have had a 'public singaround' going on all day in the bar and it has gone down great with the pub regulars. Perhaps we should have our singers nights in the bar as well and keep the room for guest nights where we have to pay the artist and therefore charge at the door?

The identity point is a as well. But why then do other Countries outside the UK have a better folk scene? Or is that just my perception? Other mans grass and all that? Do Germany or France feel the need to maintain their identities more than the people of England do? Perhaps we do need the EU as something to remind us that we need to keep our identities as well! But that's a whole new bucket of whelks...

Cheers

:D

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 05:51 AM

Wales, Scotland and N Ireland have a motive that England doesn't have. They wish to maintain thier own identity and folk music is one means to that end. England on the other hand is quite content to be "the UK".

I know that doesn't answer why England mostly has no pride in its fine folk tradition but I think it is one big reason why the other countries within the UK try harder.

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 04:58 AM

When I'm carrying a guitar about, I'm often asked, "What sort of music do you play?" I answer, "Mostly folk music." The usual response is, "Is that country music?" Aaarrrrggghhhhh!!!

The truth is, most people don't even know what folk music is. And never mind other UK countries, other countries outside the UK give extensive funding to their folk music because they are (quite rightly) proud of their musical heritage.

Why doesn't it happen here? Many factors, possibly going back to Oliver Cromwell's ban on folks enjoying themselves, through to venues now being penalised for allowing folks to enjoy themselves musically if they haven't got the right PEL.

How to rectify the situation? The media could help, and some parts of it certainly do. Otherwise, we just have to carry on singing and playing in public. I run folk nights, without a PA, in public bars, as opposed to private function rooms. While there are certainly some problems with noise around the bar etc, it does open the whole thing up to the public, some of whom are pleasantly surprised and start coming regularly. These people would never have come into a private room to hear the music. And they now have a better idea of what folk music is. And even start singing it themselves.

I've no wish to criticise folk clubs who do meet privately, but I think public sessions are a good thing PR-wise. And if I understand the history of folk music correctly, the original singers, from whom the folk-songs were collected, would normally sing in a public or public-bar situation. So that would appear to be the "traditional" way of doing things!

As I said, no criticism intended, but if we're to educate the public, I think we've got to get out there where the public is. There is certainly a place for private club nights (let's face it, some people would be terrified of singing in an open bar but may be encouraged in a private situation). But, at least every so often, let the public know just how enjoyable folk music can be!

Joan

Subject: RE: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Sooz
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 04:15 AM

I do agree - what can we do about it?
At the moment I'm using the local paper to try to explain to the people in Gainsborough what Folk Music is and what happens at a Festival but I'm sure in a months time when the festival happens we won't have to take our shoes off to count the locals who turn up to have a goood time!

Subject: BS: UK attitudes to folk music
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 03:29 AM

I know we have talked about this before but it annoys me every time I come accross it:-(

Browsing through the cable TV channels about 10pm last night I noticed 3 radio channels together, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Ulster all had folk music programs on. In England? 4 BBC radio channels and not one one Folk program between them! Bob Harris on Radio 2 does a fine job of presenting some good roots music but it is not advertised as and you would not call it a folk program.

Why in England can we not acknowledge our folk heritage like they do in the other UK countries? I know the other countries have loads more folk music on than England. Why are they proud of their music while in England most mentions of folk music and dance on mainstream media are just to take the piss?

Aaarrrrggghhhhh!!! Makes me mad. There I have got it off my chest now. I'll go and have my cup of green tea and calm down a bit.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome