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fRoots magazine

09 Oct 06 - 03:21 AM (#1853807)
Subject: fRoots magazine
From: Les in Chorlton

Has this magazine ceased publication?


09 Oct 06 - 03:43 AM (#1853816)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: s&r

No web activity. It would be a pity if it has.

Stu


09 Oct 06 - 04:33 AM (#1853848)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Shambles

How could we survive without it?


09 Oct 06 - 04:58 AM (#1853858)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST

>No web activity. It would be a pity if it has.

www.frootsmag.com has a lot of server trouble it seems. The new issue is out in the next few days however, and the forum is still going strong at froots.net/phpBB2. I'm sure the website will be back in an hour or so.


09 Oct 06 - 05:07 AM (#1853863)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Folk Form # 1

I wish it would disappear. I've never forgiven how the World Music mob hijacked it from the folkies and left England without a magazine for our music.


09 Oct 06 - 05:35 AM (#1853872)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: redsnapper

It was once reasonable many years ago. Now a complete waste of money (IMHO).

RS


09 Oct 06 - 06:15 AM (#1853887)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST, Topsie

Can a magazine be hijacked by its own editor?
Ian was already a 'world music' enthusiast back in the days when fRoots was Southern Rag.


09 Oct 06 - 06:29 AM (#1853892)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Les in Chorlton

Look, it was just an innocent question. But it looks like it will turn into one of those opportunities for people to moan about each other and the music they like and the music they do not.

I am a member of EFDSS and it doesn't take me long to read the magazine. What else is out their?


09 Oct 06 - 06:30 AM (#1853893)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Big Al Whittle

I'm sure everybody with a major recording contract will have sleepless nights over it. Others will be tormented as to how Zulu satirists and Inuit nose flute players will ever again gain the center stage and true recognition. I guess the rest of us will just have try and soldier on.

try radio 4's front Row - it has much the same flavour - sort, screw you! we're clever and you're not!

they should have amalgamated.


09 Oct 06 - 06:31 AM (#1853894)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Les in Chorlton

And thanks Guest for the link


09 Oct 06 - 08:15 AM (#1853962)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)

People have been moaning about Anderson since Southern Rag was a tiny A5-size pamphlet which you had to go to a folk club to buy. I remember Derek Brimstone writing a letter to the editor just after it became Folk Roots complaining about there being a picture of Flaco Jimenez on the cover. If it's so bad, where are all the other magazines that aggrieved English folkies have started in order that they can read about Peter Bellamy every month? Oh, sorry - there aren't any.


09 Oct 06 - 09:19 AM (#1854017)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Borchester Echo

A swift glance back at fR covers over the past six months reveals that six of them feature those making music from 'out there in England'. All but one are firmly what you might call (if you must) white anglo-saxon:

Tim Van Eyken
The Devil's Interval
Gloworms/Seth/Lakeman/18th Day Of May/Lou Rhodes
Kate Rusby
Bellowhead

The sixth, Susheela Rahman, is making music widespread in England today but rooted largely in her own tradition. Is that what some people are really objecting to?

fR policy is to promote musics of both indigenous and immigrant communities, musics made by current writers if they are rooted in a tradition but not to give space to music that has no sense of roots, place or community because there are plenty of other publications focussing on that. It is clearly stated in the FAQ:

http://www.frootsmag.com/content/about/faq/

fR does what it says on the tin. No-one forces anyone to buy and read it. But those who don't are likely to have a very distorted picture of what has actually been going on musically for the past 26 years.


09 Oct 06 - 09:27 AM (#1854021)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Borchester Echo

I actually meant to type 'over the past YEAR'. The street date for the November 2006 issue is 19 October.


09 Oct 06 - 09:35 AM (#1854026)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,sailorboy

The good point about FR for me is that it is the only publication apart from songlines that places english music on a level playing field with all other world music. It is our heritage and our music and as such should justly be veiwed in this context. One could rattle on forever about some of its inexplicable choices about which singer songwriters are 'rooted' and which aren't and perhaps other editorial aspects but by and large I'm glad it exists and does what it does. By the way. there are a plethora of regional 'folk'mags around the UK which are gradually improving in quality as time goes on. Living Tradition/Taplas/Folk on tap. These are all worth while checking out.


09 Oct 06 - 09:37 AM (#1854028)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Janine

Well, I can't say I'll miss it. I used to buy it a few years ago before it changed to that silly title, presumably when Folk Music became a dirty word. It didn't bother to review those Woody Guthrie CD's that Smithsonian-Folkways released a while ago. But then he plays an instrument we can recognise and sings in English.

Janine

I did buy a few copies of an English folk magazine a while ago which was very good but can't find it now. I've forgotten the title too - any ideas please.


09 Oct 06 - 09:38 AM (#1854029)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: muppitz

I prefer to read the Living Tradition.

muppitz x


09 Oct 06 - 09:46 AM (#1854036)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Richard Bridge

Yes. I like Living Tradition too.


09 Oct 06 - 09:52 AM (#1854042)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Borchester Echo

I don't much like LT because it's:

(a) poorly written and produced
(b) 'living' in its own unreal and distorted world.

Hey Richard Bridge, where were you on Friday? The Devil's Interval were REALLY looking forward to meeting you . . .


09 Oct 06 - 09:55 AM (#1854046)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Janine

Thanks muppitz - that's the one.

Janine


09 Oct 06 - 10:06 AM (#1854056)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: greg stephens

I used to think fRoots was an unitnteresting metropolitan rag. However, the last few issues have seen the Boat Band on the fRoots radio playlist, the subject of an extremely favourable review, and also the subject of an interesting article. So I would now like to state publicly that I think it is an intelligent and discerning magazine that all the citizens of the woerld should be forced to read.


09 Oct 06 - 10:10 AM (#1854059)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Sandman

I have to diagree, living tradition is not poorly produced,.
folk roots is an irrelevance.


09 Oct 06 - 10:11 AM (#1854060)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST

I like fr when I was running a folk radio show theyset me load of copies with cd's very useful.


09 Oct 06 - 10:31 AM (#1854076)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Richard Bridge

I told your ladyship - Tenterden. And I heard some cracking hell-bent harmonies from Kimber's Men, and also some from Tom Lewis when he and I and Capella were forming the naughty boys corner during the Saturday sing.


09 Oct 06 - 10:40 AM (#1854086)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Les in Chorlton

Is Living Tradition sold in shops or is it subscribers only?


09 Oct 06 - 10:59 AM (#1854102)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Paul from Hull

I've never found a shop that would carry it.

W.H. Smiths used to carry fRoots a good few years ago, but no longer.


09 Oct 06 - 11:15 AM (#1854119)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Surreysinger

I subscribe to Living Tradition, but have to say that production standards on the last edition were pretty poor - many,many typos, textual and grammatical errors, which suggested a lack of decent proof reading. Otherwise it's still my preferred magazine,as it features more of the type of music which I'm personally interested in, although my immediate perception of it is that there's an overly high emphasis on Scottish music. This isn't surprising, perhaps, in view of the land of it's birth. On taking this up with the editor on one occasion he said that he thought the split was about 50/50 between the various types of Celtic and English music. This may, in fact, be correct - on the various occasions I've felt inclined to check that out the split was mostly in that proportion (but not always!)

I used to buy fRoots under it's previous name, but gave up when WHS stopped stocking it locally. The high content of "World" music articles prevents me from taking out a sub, as my interest in the majority of that is only mild (and I can't afford more than one).Previously I used to flit through the content of the copy on the shelves before buying, in order to prevent purchase of an issue which might prove uninteresting,and therefore a costly mistake, to me.

As to fRoots disappearing - where on earth did that one come from??? No sign of that as far as I can see on the last time I ducked into the website (this morning).


09 Oct 06 - 11:30 AM (#1854131)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Folkiedave

try radio 4's front Row - it has much the same flavour - sort, screw you! we're clever and you're not!

Are you sure that is the programme you mean? That´s a wide ranging arts magazine that comes on after the Archers on weekdays.

There are one or two programmes which might be described a bit like Folk Roots, but they are on Radio 3. Late Junction being one of them.

Ralphie!! Where are you?


09 Oct 06 - 11:58 AM (#1854155)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST

Living Tradition is available in at least one branch of Borders - Buchanan Street, Glasgow.


09 Oct 06 - 02:38 PM (#1854254)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: shepherdlass

Got no problem with the world music content of fRoots, which has opened up whole new vistas over the years. The mag does have an NME-style tendency to seek out the "next big thing" - but I suppose that's inevitable. No music journalist wants to say that they overlooked someone really special in their formative years. Every music mag alternately delights and infuriates, but fRoots, Living Tradition and Songlines all help promote different aspects of roots music - surely we'd be sorry if any of them disappeared?


09 Oct 06 - 02:56 PM (#1854276)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Surreysinger

"surely we'd be sorry if any of them disappeared? "
Hear, hear - couldn't disagree with that. There's little enough in the way of informed comment on "our" sort of music (whatever type of label you wish to give it) around at the moment without that!


09 Oct 06 - 03:02 PM (#1854282)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Les in Chorlton

The reason I started this thread was that I couldn't find fRoots in WH Smug where I had often seen it before. When I googled I could not quickly find a fRoots website, although one has been brought to out attention above.

Perhaps magazine websites could indicate from where they are available to buy, or maybe they do?


09 Oct 06 - 03:34 PM (#1854296)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Ralphie

Hi Folkiedave.
Am reading with amusement. But will not take sides.
Like all the arguements regarding Radio shows and Magazines. If you don't like them, Don't read them, or listen to them. End.
Regards R


09 Oct 06 - 03:38 PM (#1854300)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Borchester Echo

Perhaps magazine websites could indicate from where they are available to buy, or maybe they do?

The fRoots site (which is the first to come up when you google) does:

http://www.frootsmag.com/content/check/outlets/


09 Oct 06 - 03:40 PM (#1854303)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Les in Chorlton

Thanks CR, too idle myself, but I did have food to scare.


09 Oct 06 - 05:10 PM (#1854392)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Herga Kitty

There seem to be problems with producing Folk on Tap at the moment too! Hope they will be sorted.

Kitty


10 Oct 06 - 05:38 AM (#1854723)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST

"fR policy is to promote musics of both indigenous and immigrant communities."

Codswallop! What is indigenious music, anyway - Heavy Metal, Prog Rock, Grime, Punk, Des O'Connor? What I like is folk music, be it from England, Scotland, Ireland or the North Americas and Southern Rag and then Folk Roots use to cover this. Why should I be interested in an Oud player from North Africa since he does not play the sort of music I like. Conversely, I do not expect someone from North Africa to listen to, say, Martin Carthy. One can do if one wants, that is a matter of choice, but don't lump it all under one label - the dreaded World Music - and expect me to listen to it.

What's Folk on Tap like, anyway, and where can I find it/


10 Oct 06 - 05:49 AM (#1854731)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg

The above is from me, by the way. I forgot to put my name on it.


10 Oct 06 - 06:05 AM (#1854739)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg

"Susheela Rahman... is making music widespread in England today but rooted largely in her own tradition. Is that what some people are really objecting to?"

Ofcourse not. She can what she likes, but why am I obliged to listen to her?


10 Oct 06 - 06:17 AM (#1854744)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Borchester Echo

indigenious

What is it indeed? You tell me . . .

England is, at last, part of 'the world', as indeed Scotland and Ireland have long been considered to be. Oud players are ten-a-penny nowadays in these islands, reflecting the fact that many musicians originally from North Africa (and from elsewhere across the globe, obviously, plus their respective instruments) are living in Britain and contributing to the cultural mix that is our society today. What is so wonderful about it is that as well as keeping their own cultural heritage alive in exile, they are enriching our own with collaborative projects. Admittedly, not all of these work but not every white, anglo-saxon purist combo works either, often on the grounds of sheer anachronism. Martin Carthy (who you mention) is one of the most open-minded musicians there is, always willing to investigate sources of his music that has parallels outside these islands and to try out the latest recording effects. Never would you hear him coming out with such xenophobic, blinkered penguin shit.


10 Oct 06 - 06:20 AM (#1854745)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Jon

Can someone explain what the problem with froots is. I can understand that its scope is not to everyone's taste (and my own "folk outlook" is pretty much "anglo/celtic") but it seems clear to me what the magazine offers. I don't understand why just about every mention of the magazine seems to end up going the same way as this thread.


10 Oct 06 - 06:32 AM (#1854750)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Borchester Echo

I don't understand

Don't you Jon? I do very clearly. As I said way back in #12 when I found this latest fR-bashing thread:

fR does what it says on the tin. No-one forces anyone to buy and read it

In other words, if you want to read 'Smash Hits' (does that still exist?) or 'Hey Nonny Monthly', produced well after advertised publication date on a steam driven roneo duplicator generously sprinkled with typos, bad spelling and inadequate research, no-one is preventing you. But no, there's still that cabal with nothing better to do than moan about what they cannot emulate themselves: a mag that's well-produced, always on time and an accurate representation of where roots music is today. Still, there's no such thing as bad publicity, is there?


10 Oct 06 - 06:51 AM (#1854759)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Jon

'Smash Hits' (does that still exist?)

Apparently not - seems like it ended this year. I've not looked at a copy since the early 80s btw.


10 Oct 06 - 07:17 AM (#1854770)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Borchester Echo

Even SH's former publisher was able to recognise that:

. . . 28 years later, the world is a very different place and the magazine's role and relevance on the news stand changed . . .

What happened in the December 1998 issue of fR (cos that is when it dropped the 'olk') was a moving on, a recognition of both a changing world and changing perceptions of just 'what is 'f*lk' (aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhh) and contemporary over-abusage of the term.

One of these was that, especially in the USA, the F-word was now used almost exclusively to mean 'singer-songwriter with acoustic guitar with no obligatory connection with traditionally-rooted music'. The other was the underlying, covertly racist, implication that local music from cultures other than indigenous English isn't 'f*lk' music.

The Ed always explains what he covers is 'local music from out there'. I think that's right.


10 Oct 06 - 07:22 AM (#1854774)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Dave Hanson

My local library subscribes to fRoots, and I scan through each issue for articles which interest me, I don't buy it, neither do I knock it.

If it's not to your taste, don't buy it or read it, if you only read it to knock it, I can't see the point.

eric


10 Oct 06 - 07:40 AM (#1854781)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg

Countess Richard, I would like to know what I have said that makes you think I am xenophobic? I like folk music. I don't like music from North Africa. I have nothing against North Africans and I have never said I did. I simply said I don't like their music, even if Martin Carthy does. I really dislike World Music because it is a label created by sanctimonious prigs who like to tell other people what sort of music they should listen to. Why the f**k should a British born Asian born in Bradford listen to British folk music if he doesn't want to?

World Music exists for all the wrong reasons. I can understand and relate to people the world over without having any appreciation of their culture. People are people and culture is irrelevant. How do you define English culture - Martin Carthy or Ossie Osbourne? Is Ossie Osbourne considered world music? Defendants of World Music very often come over like interferring school masters who are forever telling you what you should be reading, listening to, watching, in order to "improve" your mind, regardless of whether you actually enjoy any of their chosen selections. By the way, does anyone in North Africa listen to Martin Carthy - or is this an exclusive ring fenced area for white liberals to make themselves feel good in?

DEATH TO WORLD MUSIC AND THEIR HIGH PRIESTS!!


10 Oct 06 - 07:41 AM (#1854782)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Richard Bridge

When I have occasionally bought it I have found relatively little of relevance to me.

Presumably Algerians will find there is a lot of English/Inuit/Native American/Whatever and so relatively little of relevance to them. And so on.

But the resulting bulk costs (I suppose) to produce, so everyone who wants to read the little bit of relevance to them has no option but to pay for the lot (or go to a library)


10 Oct 06 - 07:47 AM (#1854785)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg

I wonder: Do Oud players who live in Britain have any inkling of the existance of British folk music - or care? Do they ever visit Mudcat?


10 Oct 06 - 07:49 AM (#1854786)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Leadfingers

I still have fond memories of when Melody Maker covered Folk Music , as well as Blues and Jazz !


10 Oct 06 - 07:56 AM (#1854792)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Borchester Echo

DEATH TO WORLD MUSIC AND THEIR HIGH PRIESTS

Good grief! As the fR Ed is also wont to say (again from the FAQ):

IAFWAFIAWMWQ (Old Malagasy proverb: "In a fight with a fool it's a wise man who quits.")

"World music' btw (for those who've forgotten) is merely a marketing term invented 20 years ago to give record retailers a name to put on a rack to display it in. Fortunately for most (but clearly not all), the time is just about here for it all to be just 'local music from out there'. We all live in, and play our music in, the world, innit?


10 Oct 06 - 08:00 AM (#1854795)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Borchester Echo

Do oud players visit Mudcat? Well maybe some do but I hope not as I shouldn't like them to feel racially and culturally abused.

Actually, not many 'white/acceptable' people living in England visit it either, nor have much awareness of their own cultural heritage.


10 Oct 06 - 08:35 AM (#1854813)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Surreysinger

I am at a loss to understand the vitriol being heaped upon fRoots - while it may not be the magazine of my personal choice, it's still a good and well produced one. I'd always thought that the point of buying a magazine was buying one that covered a topic that you're interested in. After all, you wouldn't expect to be complaining that the amount of English traditional music scene coverage was far too low if you were buying "Tractor Monthly", would you? As the Countess has said, the magazine does "what it says on the tin".... absolutely nothing wrong with that. And as for death threats for the editor (I presume he counts as a high priest??) .... now what did he do to deserve that??


10 Oct 06 - 08:42 AM (#1854816)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,baz

Penguin Egga wrote:

"""Susheela Rahman... is making music widespread in England today but rooted largely in her own tradition. Is that what some people are really objecting to?"

Ofcourse not. She can what she likes, but why am I obliged to listen to her? ""

Could you explain why you feel that you are *obliged* to listen to anyone? If you don't like it, ignore it.

Like I do with Martin Carthy :)


10 Oct 06 - 08:51 AM (#1854821)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg

I do ignore it.


10 Oct 06 - 09:36 AM (#1854849)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,baz

Then you're not obliged to listen at all are you?

In which case, you're probably not obliged to moan about it either. IF you don't like fRoots, but you want to see a magazine about music you DO like, why not start one up?

I bet you could solicit a few contributions from people you know, and people on the Mudcat as well.


10 Oct 06 - 10:21 AM (#1854868)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Nellie Clatt

The vitriol being heaped on fRoots is due to the popular misconception that Ian Anderson goes on about ' world music ' like it's the kings new clothes. ie. if you don't get it, you are the stupid one, actually it may not be a misconception.

Gobless you all, Nellie


10 Oct 06 - 10:23 AM (#1854870)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg

Baz, you have got me thinking. I would call it "Folk Music and Morris Dancing Monthly." I wonder if Colin Irwin and Karl Dallas are free?


10 Oct 06 - 10:31 AM (#1854874)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg

"I still have fond memories of when Melody Maker covered Folk Music , as well as Blues and Jazz!"

Me too, leadfingers, and not an oud in sight.


10 Oct 06 - 11:06 AM (#1854886)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,baz

Just out of interest, if you all edited your own music magazine, who would like to have on your first front cover?


10 Oct 06 - 11:51 AM (#1854921)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Leadfingers

I would be very strongly tempted to have one of my favourite white English Blues guitarists on the cover - Ian A Anderson !


12 Oct 06 - 07:43 AM (#1856646)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg

Good question. Shane MacGowan maybe, I would love to interview him. Nic Jones, perhaps. John Tams? I have so many favourites whom I would love to plaster over the front cover - in colour, of course. I'm not really up with the newer generation of folkies, so I would have to employ someone who is. Failing that, some naked bird to get the punters in.


12 Oct 06 - 07:58 AM (#1856662)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Les in Chorlton

Well, I couldn't find one in HMV today although I did find Songlines. Perhaps Froots will appear after the next issue.

Posting here is a bit like shouting at people from inside the car, we wouldn't do it face to face would we?


12 Oct 06 - 08:20 AM (#1856677)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Borchester Echo

The S*nglines that's on sale at present is the Sept/Oct issue. The street date of the new November fRoots is 19 November, as I said many posts above. I got mine in the post this morning. Here's what's in it:

http://www.frootsmag.com/


12 Oct 06 - 08:22 AM (#1856680)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: The Borchester Echo

Bugger, I meant to type 19 October, next week.


12 Oct 06 - 08:28 AM (#1856690)
Subject: RE: fRoots magazine
From: Les in Chorlton

Thanks again CR I shall search at length.