03 Nov 09 - 10:31 PM (#2759102) Subject: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Ian Fyvie Which Universities expect to be running folk clubs in 2010? There was a brilliant one where I did my degree in 1978 - and some Uni student mudcatters were asking for help earlier in the year. So what's the score now? Perhaps this thread could become a list; and a source of contacts for support and advice. Ian Fyvie |
04 Nov 09 - 04:54 AM (#2759217) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: GUEST,Derek Schofield I assume you are talking about the UK. In my experience, the 60s and 70s had separate folk song and folk dance clubs (they did in manchester in 1969-72 anyway!) but now both have disappeared to be replaced by ceilidh societies in some universities. Places like Sheffield, Exeter, Cambridge seem to have very thriving such societies. Others, it's non-existent. Not sure why except it could be ... local thriving folk scene, graduates sticking around and continuing to be involved. The inter-varsity folk dance festival in March is a good central meeting place, though a significant proportion are not current students. Derek Schofield |
04 Nov 09 - 06:57 AM (#2759272) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: evansakes Mmm. Are you looking to compile a list of University folk clubs where singers can still get in without paying, Ian? (and where they can do at least three songs each?) |
04 Nov 09 - 07:40 AM (#2759292) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Valmai Goodyear Ian, I don't think Sussex and Brighton Universities have folk clubs but I've recently started sending Lewes Saturday Folk Club fliers to the Ents Secretaries of the Students' Union at both establishments. They may not wind up in a useful place, but I'll let you know if they appear to produce a result. Possibly the staff common room would be a good destination as well, if there is such a thing. Valmai |
04 Nov 09 - 07:42 AM (#2759294) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Banjiman I think both York and Durham do....... could be wrong though. |
04 Nov 09 - 07:46 AM (#2759298) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: JemmaGurney Some links: Sheffield University Ceilidh Society (also runs a weekly session) Exeter University Folk Society University of Warwick Folk Society Cambridge uni's "The Round" Durham Universities Folk society There also used to a Folked! society at UEA, I can't find evidence of them on the web at the mo though. all these, plus a few other scottish societies attend IVFDF as mentioned by derek above, which is still mainly dance based, but there has been an increasing amount of concerts and sessions and music workshops during recent years. Not many sing- a - rounds though.... Jems |
04 Nov 09 - 07:58 AM (#2759310) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Nick York definitely used to but I'm not sure if it still is going - the web site they had is no longer functioning. |
04 Nov 09 - 08:10 AM (#2759314) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: JemmaGurney Also - Manchester ceilidh - Not as such a university associated society, but the vast majority of those who go are students and it is very much publicised in that direction. Also has a session pre-ceilidh. |
04 Nov 09 - 08:44 PM (#2759812) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Ian Fyvie A few comments.... Valmai - no knowledge either, of folk Clubs at our two local Universities. However a lad who came along to Cellarfolk in the summer was interested in trying something at BIM, the Brighton music industry college. Hope your leaflets bear fruit. TwickFolk - the thought never ever entered my head! I'm singing three nights every week with a twice monthly session also; I certainly couldn't fit any more folk nights in at this moment but would certainly make a special effort as a one-off if a local University needed help to start a folk night (they may not actually want anyone over 21 on stage...!). Thanks to other contributors so far - we'll probably end up with a list so the more info the better. Keep it coming! Ian |
05 Nov 09 - 04:05 AM (#2759918) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Valmai Goodyear Ian, what is the Brighton Music Industry college? This is a new one on me and sounds as if it could be a useful place to distribute my tracts. Tootle pip, Valmai WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH HIM? Ahem. |
05 Nov 09 - 06:34 AM (#2759991) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Smedley Valmai - details of the college in Brighton: http://www.bimm.co.uk/brighton/ |
05 Nov 09 - 08:32 AM (#2760055) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Valmai Goodyear Thanks, Smedley! Valmai (Just sold out of Cliffe programmes) |
05 Nov 09 - 10:18 PM (#2760563) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Ian Fyvie Valmai If you can get leaflets to either BIMM sites you should generate interest in the wider local folk scene. I gave a few I luckily had on me to a BIMM student at a radio interview earlier in the year. We had a BIMM based band and a couple of individual student come along to Cellarfolk as a result. More widely... do all folk club organisers where their local music colleges are? There's an appetite among under 30's for Folk, Brass Bands, Morris Dancing and other cultural activities written off by the 30-50 generation as "Uncool" Best of luck! Ian |
06 Nov 09 - 04:21 AM (#2760654) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: GUEST,baz parkes We're about to play the inaugaral dance for a new ceilidh society at Nottingham university...don't know how much of a "folk club" it will be tho Baz |
06 Nov 09 - 08:54 AM (#2760787) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Mr Red I have linked to Bristol University Folk Club but that sort of devolved to a session in a pub nearby. However with Phil Bassindale as an undergraduate I would expect there is still something - certainly a Morris side there. He is bringing them up to Stroud Ceilidhs website on Nov 14th when we have Trinculo. Who, if you didn't know, were born out of the Sheffield Ceilidh Soc, which AFAIK is thriving. Not so sure about music/song but you would find students and folkies in pubs. A clue, I submit. |
06 Nov 09 - 05:57 PM (#2761164) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: GUEST,Jane Bird (without cookie) If there's a folk club at York University it's fairly recent. Most of the folkie students (few as they were when I was there) went to the excellent Black Swan Folk Club or the sessions in town. 10-12 years ago it appeared to me that the main focus for folk activity at the university were ceilidhs run the Christian Union and the Gilbert & Sullivan Society. |
07 Nov 09 - 06:26 AM (#2761415) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: GUEST,Mr Red I spoke to a Folkie's daughter studying theoretical physics at York. She knew where both FC's were in town. She didn't mention any Folk Soc at the Uni. Another clue, I submit. |
07 Nov 09 - 09:51 PM (#2761860) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Ian Fyvie Baz For your gig at Nottingham Uni - a suggestion: Get hold of a bundle of local Folk Diaries and put them out on the tables. Our local ones are free but if your ones have a cover price, perhaps a local club can let you have some leaflets. Either way, anything you can announce from the 'stage' that's happening locally would surely help spread the 'Folk' word to students, who then might start a folk song club from the dance club. Hope it goes well. Ian |
08 Nov 09 - 06:22 PM (#2762379) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Folkiedave It might just be worth mentioning that the Inter-Varsity Folk Dance Festival is the longest continuingly running folk festival and pre-dates Sidmouth by four (?) years. Having seen rapper done to the Sisters of Mercy there, I thought the ones I have been to were great. (And Derek is correct - not all students). |
09 Nov 09 - 01:58 PM (#2762915) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: McGrath of Harlow When did Oxford Heritage pack up? |
13 Nov 09 - 08:28 PM (#2765684) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: GUEST,Stuart Reed The almost complete absence of clubs in universities is depressing evidence of the inexorable withering of the roots folk music in our cultural life. Back in the day it was the indie music of its time and a whole generation of young people who went to listen to that then fashionable genre also absorbed the traditional music of the English-speaking world. This was due in no small measure to the folk club format, where amateurs performed alongside the professional acts in a tolerant milieu of diversity - for example, a floor singer or club resident tackling a big ballad when Jasper Carrott was the guest. There have been hundreds of threads here and elsewhere about why this is no longer the case but it's a sad fact that, with a few exceptions - festivals for example - the audiences, even for the high profile acts that are supposed to be making a new breakthrough into the mainstream (Seth Lakeman, Kate Rusby, Bellowhead, Show Of Hands etc.) are mostly bald or grey. On the other hand I have observed that in the Sussex (UK) area there is a burgeoning interest in "Americana", played by and attracting twenty-somethings in large numbers. I put some of this down to the poularity of O Brother, Where Art Thou but I'd be interested to hear other explanations. |
18 Nov 09 - 08:57 PM (#2768895) Subject: RE: University Folk Clubs - 2010 From: Ian Fyvie The fact is there are students NOW who want to start clubs at their Universities. They may not have any links with the 'Folk Club' world so the more we can highlight their attempts and offer help when they put out feelers through Mudcat (which some have recently) - the healthier the folk scene of the future! Ian |