No Folk on TV this New Year in UK

Subject: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Compton
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 08:16 PM

Well unless I've missed something in the Radio Times, It looks like another bleak year end for anything (remotely) folky. There was much wrong with last years effort...but it was something. Looks like it's just Jules Holland again...and again...and again.

Happy New Year UK TV Channels!!

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 02:38 AM

And you're saying all those years of the White Heather club were good?


LTS

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 03:22 AM

The Acoustic Stage online radio station has a virtual ceilidh with Whapweasel, Tiger Moth, All Blacked Up, New Victory Band, and many more.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 04:49 AM

BBC 4 had a great year for folk music, programmes about Bob Copper,
Martin Carthy and a whole series about the Blues plus lots more.

eric

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 04:50 AM

I forgot to add that most of them were repeated on BBC2

eric

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: John C.
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 08:54 AM

This shouldn't come as any sort of surprise - we've all known for a long time that our national media are ignorant of/ashamed of/contemptuous of, our national culture.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 08:54 AM

Are you sure there's nothing on Scottish TV? See http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcone/listings/programme.shtml?day=friday&service_id=4220&filename=20041231/20041231_2345_4220_32361_55

Last time I looked Scotland hadn't seceded.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Compton
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 09:37 AM

Well, I WAS talking about last years effort with the legendary Kate Rusby, Terrific Blazing Fiddles, extraordinary Johnny Cash's Daughter and the drunk buffoon from Glenbogle...and yes, Liz the Squeak...I have good thoughts of "The White Heather Club" where I recall had the excellent Robin Hall and Jimmy McGregor and the Corries (with Paddie Bell?)(It wasn't all Andy Stewart!!). It was in an era where innocence was a pleasure..and all was not "in your face"

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: GUEST,Gene Burton
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 11:36 AM

Well, I saw the same programme last year; and I was less than impressed. Roseanne Cash- not folk. Kate Rusby- gave what looked like a very nervous and unconvincing performance; just not a strong enough performer for TV IMO. Blazing fiddles- big yawns. Who wants to listen to a whole orchestra consisting of one instrument? I'd broadly agree that folk music isn't given nearly enough exposure by the mainstream media, but I have some sympathy with the schedulers when so many of the people who are held up as the keepers of the folk tradition just don't produce enough consistantly listenable and enjoyable music to justify their elevated status. Maybe a re-evaluation (ie. by the folk establishment) of what does and doesn't deserve championing would help rescue our music from obscurity? Just a thought.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 12:16 PM

Step back a few hours to Thursday December 30th (tomorrow) and you will see that there is seven hours non-stop of US Folk related material on BBC 4; Ralph Stanley, Gillian Welch, Doc Watson, Dolly Parton (I did say related), Alison Krauss and the film of the "Down From The Mountain" concert featuring some really good material.

The Scorsese series of Blues programmes is on next week on the same channel.

Not bad at all except it would be better if it was on the normal BBC channels that we could all see.

Enjoy

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Snuffy
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 04:53 PM

Not bad at all except it would be better if it was on the normal BBC channels that we could all see.

Not bad at all except it would be even better if there was a cat in hell's chance of seven hours non-stop programming of our own musical heritage on any channel at all

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 05:03 PM

If there was, it's as certain as bears shitting in the woods that the 'Cat would be swamped by moaning Folk-Nazis complaining that it wasn't 'the right kind of folk', or slagging off the featured artists. Maybe this year's a pay-back from Auntie for the whinging after last year's offerings - as predicted by several contributors to the threads at that time?

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: LesB
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 06:44 PM

Sorry if you think I am a nazi but as far as I am concerned the above mentioned ( good as they may be) are not folk but country. (Don't forget we are talking about U.K. New Year T.V. here.)
Les

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Compton
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 08:39 PM

Strollin' Johnny...do you seriously think that the BBC give a monkeys what anyone thought of the sadness that was New Year's TV last year!

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 09:43 PM

Whether they do or don't, I seriously think that most broadcasters' reaction to being constantly berated and abused over every single thing they put out would involve a lavish helping of that quaint old traditional phrase, "Fuck You". Words like 'you', 'asked', 'for' and 'it' spring readily to mind.

Anyway, shouldn't you be in bed? LOL!
S:0)

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Dec 04 - 03:42 AM

Why do some people assume that a major "festival" or celebration automatically must comform to their personal idea of a good time?

There are millions of people who watch TV at New Year, and there are millions more who are not sat in front of a square light box, but out actually making that music.....

If you had a party where the few people who came did nothing but complain about the entertainment, wouldn't you feel inclined to tell them where to get off?

A person is entitled to their opinion, but when you start making everyone around you conform to that opinion, you become an opressor. To attempt to make a national service which ALL subscribers pay for, provide only what you want, smacks of dictatorship.

Bet you anything you like, there are more people who listen to Country than there are listen to folk - and not just because it's more easily defined.....

LTS

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 30 Dec 04 - 03:47 AM

Well, at least at Gainsborough we'll be able to do our own folk stuff and have a great time - and all without the aid of the telly. Keep music live! as we say!.

Happy New year everyone.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 30 Dec 04 - 04:12 AM

As I mentioned much earlier, but since no-one has taken a scrap of notice I'll say it again, The Acoustic Stage has a New Year's Eve ceilidh on New Year's Eve, repeated at intervals throughout the evening and night, so that you don't have to stay in specially for it. Bands include Whapweasel, Tiger Moth, All Blacked up and New Victory.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Compton
Date: 30 Dec 04 - 05:17 AM

Countess Richard, Perhaps you should invite the TV Companies in so we can be there too!!.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Sooz
Date: 30 Dec 04 - 05:20 AM

So who will be spending New Years Eve in front of the TV? How sad!
I'm sure we can squeeze a few more in at Gainsborough Folk Club. As BBP says - Keep Music Live!

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 30 Dec 04 - 05:27 AM

Well Compton, is is perhaps a little...ahem...late in the day for either the TV companies or the bands themselves to organise a real ceilidh by tomorrow. But you could contact theacousticstage bods via their site and ask them to look into it for next year. In the meantime, this seems by far the best on offer this year.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 30 Dec 04 - 05:33 AM

New Years Eve...find a Folk Club near you and if necessary travel to get to one. Come to Gainsborough, camp out or beg a bed for the night from one of the regulars..it's all been done before.
As was said before.. "KEEP MUSIC LIVE".
Gainsborough New Years Eve get together is an extra...who needs the radio?
Best wishes to all for a Happy New Year. Mike.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 30 Dec 04 - 05:45 AM

You can listen to the virtual ceilidh before you go out, or after you get back. But for anyone who can't get out, this could be the only thing available to them. It is, in any event, an excellent and enterprising venture from a smal independent webcaster who's only been out there for three weeks, and well worth supporting.

Anyway, where is Lincolnshire? ;-)

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Dec 04 - 05:48 AM

What TV demands is entertainers, and not many of our best loved performers have that charisma that travels from the studio into your living room,I know it's sad but it's also true. I'm a bit out of date with most of the current crop of folk whiz-kids but I bet none of them have the pizazz of someone like Johnny Silvo, or Richard Digance, and how often do you see them on the box? I've heard many great current singers and instrumentalists, but would they turn out to have the personalities of Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham if we put them on the box. Think about it folks TVs about entertainment, and for too many that means Big Brother and I'm a Celebrity Get me Out of Here. Sad innit!!
Giok

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: GUEST,Anon
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 03:59 AM

Who needs TV or even New Year's Eve?

Just take yourself off to the fantastic 'Celtic Connections' Festival in Glasgow for 19 days in January.

It knocks spots off Hogmanay and Jools Holland!

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 05:02 AM

Celtic Connections is too loosely defined, and spread out over too many venues, it is difficult to get tickets for the best gigs, and most tickets are too expensive.
Apart from that it's all right.
Giok

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Nemesis
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 07:23 AM

Just stayed up watching until 5am the excellent BBC4 "night" on American music that Hootenanny, I think, mentions above...

Absolutely this is "Folk" music ... I mean some of this material is English, Scots, Irish songs, preserved by settlers. What the difference is that different influences (Blues, etc) have then combined to put this zestful, accessible, relevance to the music...

What happened with English folk is that the late-Victorian, then current vogue, Music-hall type variations of folk songs were collected and have been preserved in aspic (at a point in time) as the definitive versions of how they must be played/ sung. But, prior to this people always had changed and altered forms of these songs That's why, by and large we have stagnation in English folk ... and why by and large, it is not going to be as entertaining to the majority of people as the abovementioned American "folk.."

Personally, I would love to see a British Coen brothers take English folk and do for it what "Oh Brother, Where Art thou?" did for popularising American, oh okay, "Roots" music!

Any film-makers on Mudcat?

Nem

PS: Just read Shirley Collins "America Across the Water" and bought the Tangle Eye Re-mix original Alan Lomax recordings - remix is out of stock apparently!

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 07:55 AM

Well said liz, I'll either be out in a pub, singing somwhere, or too drunk to sing. Have to say I have fond memories of the White heather club though! That kind of thing still exists in some parts of scotland.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 08:30 AM

Thank you for the link, Countess, I can now listen while I work!

But if I tune my guitar where can I go to have live folk tonight? Does anyone know if the Three Mariners (Maz and Dan's/Derek Moore's venue) is folking tonight?

Area - North Kent, England.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: GUEST,Anon
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 09:01 AM

What absolute nonsense from Giok above.

I've never had any trouble purchasing tickets for any concerts at Celtic Connections. IMHO the tickets are very reasonably priced for the high quality music on offer and all the venues are within easy walking distance which is certainly not the case at English music festivals like Sidmouth.

As for folk on tv tonight, BBC Scotland are broadcasting a programme with a great guest list of traditional musicians.

It's just sad the programme is not being broadcast south of the border. Typical. Scotland win. England lose.

It was ever the case.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Bill the Collie
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 12:42 PM

BBC Scotland have Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain and Eddi Reader on that bird Jackie's show tonight. Get it on digital- sky, freeview etc. And before that we're promised a Hogmanay special of "Chewin the fat" yippee. Record them if you can if you're folking off to a club tonight.

As for Celtic Connections; them as are skint can go along to the free concerts at 2pm and 5pm most days in the magnificent Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. The 5pm shows are the Danny Kyle Open Stage, showcasing people new-ish to performing. I saw Malinky (with Karine Polwart) on the Open Stage not too long ago.
The 2pm shows include BBC Scotland live recordings of radio shows such as Archie's Travellin Folk. Who's been on them? - - everybody!

I love the audience at the free shows -I've met enthusiasts, bluespeople, traddies, Glasgow Ladies With Hats, people sheltering from the rain, ex-folkies rediscovering, pensioners and all enjoying the shows. Talk aboot giving the music back to the folk - magic.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 01:15 PM

I totally agree with both Anon. and Bill the Collie about 'Celtic Connections'. It's my favourite festival of the year.

Sure you can enjoy top-quality music in top-quality surroundings and the ticket prices for such quality are not unreasonable.

But you can also enjoy great music for free or see many top acts perform one-after-another at the Late Night Festival Club.

Those who have not yet been should give it a try.

See http://www.celticconnections.com for full details.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 06:33 PM

Mainstream TV, BBC in both cases today - a programme with Kate Rusby and John McCusker doing the soundtrack, another with morris dancing and yet another programme elsewhere had a contemporary folk soundtrack.... You just have to look for it.

LTS

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 06:36 PM

Sorry guys but I loved Jools Hootenanny1 Amy Winehouse is amazing as is Natasha Bedingfield, Eric Clapton playing Robert Johnson and the brilliant Ian Hunter-God i miss Mott the Hoople . All in all it was a fabulous music night, and I had caught Alison Kraus the night before on BBC 4, so things weren't all bad.

Subject: RE: No Folk on TV this New Year in UK
From: mooman
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 07:47 PM

Agree 100% with Linda! The best Hootenanny yet! And the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain (is this not folk?) performing Kurt Cobain's Smells Like Teen Spirit were sublime!

Peace

moo