The British National Party’s manifesto encourages its members to insinuate themselves into the folk and traditional customs of Britain. This involves the appropriation of British folk music and culture as a means of spreading its peculiar brand of racism
and intolerance.
The UK folk scene is a welcoming and inclusive one; folk music and dance have always been about collaboration, participation, communication and respect.
Folk Against Fascism has been created to take a stand against the BNP’s targeting of folk music,
a stand against the appropriation of our culture. Folk Against Fascism isn’t a political party or a bureaucratic, top-heavy organisation. It is any and all of us who want to make ourselves aware of the BNP’s bigoted view of our history and culture, and who want to do something about it.
The BNP want to take our music, want to twist it into something it isn’t; something
exclusive, not inclusive. We must not let them.
Folk Against Fascism is a way to demonstrate our anger at the way the BNP wants to remodel folk music in its own narrow-minded image.
The BNP’s Activists and Organisers Handbook encourages its members to get involved
in the folk scene; Folk Against Fascism aims to make such infiltration impossible, with
support coming from all sections of the folk community. We can be found on the web
and at various folk clubs and festivals, and we encourage people to organise and support events in their own area.
If you sign up to our newsletter at www.folkagainstfascism.com you’ll receive updates and information on Folk Against Fascism events. We are currently organising a series of large-scale concerts to be held starting next year, but also encourage people to join the group, set up shows,
distribute our stickers, badges and T Shirts, or simply pass on information to friends.
If you’re a Folk club or organisation, you can affiliate to Folk Against Fascism.
“Maybe I should talk to you about fascism. It is a big word and it hides in some pretty
little places. And it is nothing in the world but greed for profit and greed for the power
to hurt and make slaves out of the people. Fascism and freedom are the only two sides
battling.”
Woody Guthrie
Thank you for everything you are doing. I love folk music of all countries. But I've noticed that when there is a rise in popularity of the folk music scene in a country, there is also a rise of racism and fascism...
Thanks for the add. I wish you all the best. Please let me know if there are any events in the Glasgow area. We would be happy to get involved. All the Best, Paul.
TWILIGHT FOLK PRESENTS…. SHARRON KRAUS With support from Peter Delaney and C Joynes Live at Orange Street Music Club, Canterbury Weds October the 21st 8.00pm £5 in advance/£6 on door
“Sharron Kraus is a dark-folk gem. Listening to her high, clear voice cut through melodies woven from acoustic guitar, banjo and hurdy-gurdy, you may struggle to remember which late-'60s traditionalists beat her to the material.Here's one folklore expert whose originals feel both authentic and alive….Exquisite second album by this wonderful singer. She conjures up visions of Karen Dalton, Shirley Collins, Judy Dyble and even early Joni. Live she was fantastic too. ..this moves from traditional folk (in a Shirley Collins, Anne Briggs style) to her own songs and enchants all the way. An immaculate album from a major new singer.”
Peter Delaney lives in Limerick, Ireland. He comes from a folk music background and plays his own unique style, drawing on early Hawaiian folk songs and Alan Lomax field recordings as well as more contemporary musicians such as Joanna Newsom and Josephine Foster. Peter released his debut EP/Mini Album "Duck Egg Blue" in April 2007 to much acclaim.
Peter has played throughout the UK, Ireland and Norway and has shared the bill with A Hawk and a Hacksaw, Alasdair Roberts, Jozef van Wissem, Juana Molina and The Swell Season. www.myspace.com/peterdelaney
"English acoustic guitarist C Joynes uses traditional country-blues and early ragtime t
The 73rd anniversary of the battle of cable street, where 300,000 residents fought off an attempt by Oswald Mosley’s Fascists Black-shirts to goose-step down the streets of Whitechapel. In commemoration of the Battle, the infamous Martin Lux, author of “Antifascist”, will be giving a step by step tour of the battle. Meet at Tower hill tube at 1pm. And then at 5pm in the Rag Factory on Heneage Street, just off Brick Lane, antifascist / anarchist Martin Lux will be debating with a priest, a politician and a policeman on the issue of freedom: “Restrictions, Revelations, Rights, Wrongs, Rules, Regulations. Can or does freedom exist in this society – does it need structure?”. Free.
I’m so pleased and honoured to appear in your Top Friends! Preventing the BNP from infiltrating and influencing music and the Arts is incredibly important to me. Music is the ultimate means of expression, and the music we decide to make, perform and listen to represents our freedom to choose our experiences and identities for ourselves. This is the very freedom that the BNP would like to restrict, control and manipulate for their own purposes, were they ever to come to power. The BNP are trying to claim that “folk music” equates to “British music” - that it is the purest form of white people’s music and came from a golden age when the vast population of the country was caucasian. Well, pride for being British and making British music shouldn’t be something people are ashamed of, as an increasing number of folk acts in the UK are merging styles and instrumentation from all over the world, fusing together cultural influences and collaborating on multi-ethnic musical projects. Today we live in a multi-cultural Britain, and folk music is increasingly starting to reflect this. At the same time, just because I AM a white person making folk music, does NOT mean that I will uphold or stand for the BNP’s racism in any form, simply because their racism is not aimed at me. The BNP’s arguments and policies are incredibly dated - we have come too far to support their backwards and intolerant beliefs. The Nazis had their day, and never will again.
Thanks for adding “unfolk”! Well, you say your brilliant page is mostly against British National Party but I think that your msg is loud, clear & universal. We have our own racist movement in Italy right now (Lega Nord) and daily madness is everywhere… it’s so sad. ...but music is culture and can help people think with progressive ideas: thanks indeed for your contribution.
This machine(computer) can kill racists & fascists… that’s for sure!
TOP FRIENDS from now on... All the best from Venice – a.m.
we strongly oppose the BNP & all fascist groups in britain/ireland & overseas- Nick Griffin uses his "great white" label to promote racial hatred, let's take folk music back from the fascists!
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