OFFICIAL WEB SITE: The 'official' FolkWords web site:www.folkwords.com
CONTENT: To save time loading all the FolkWords 'words' in two places, everything is now on the official site only.
So if you want to read what FolkWords says about folk music (or add some comment yourself) then please go to: www.folkwords.com - that's where you'll find the views, reviews, opinions, comments and articles and the real 'low down and dirty' on folk.
Music
REVIEWS: FolkWords Reviews - If you would like FolkWords to review your music then visit the 'Contact' section on the main FolkWords website at www.folkwords.com and send me your latest album or demo.
For a tiny taste of what FolkWords writes about take a look below - there's much more on www.folkwords.com
A POINT OF VIEW: Folk music what's it all about?
How often do I hear: "It's just that finger in the ear hole style with some old 'beardy' in a flowery waistcoat droning on."
Actually, no it bloody well isn't!
It's the music of everyday people who put their feelings, emotions, observations and individual way of life into music and song. Of course, the old 'beardy' has a prefect right to sing about what he wants in the style he wants - and still be part of the 'folk' genre. However, (and this is the important bit) so does the folk-punk with the blue mohican haircut, the celtic goth, the thrash metal folk and the electronic folk-hippie.
That's the beauty of folk music. If you don't believe me, just turn up at any folk festival and glory in the wealth of musical styles, fashions and tastes. You won't find a single 'fashionista' scared to show their own identity in case they're no longer considered to be 'one of the in crowd'.
Long may the international richness of music continue to cross borders and build relationships. And long may all 'folkies' (whatever their take on the genre) keep their minds as open as the skies above.
About me: I'm Tim Carroll, researching a book about folk and building a folk web site looking at folk music and it's influences.- www.folkwords.com
Rather than concentrating purely on the historical perspective, I want to see where folk is going (with due reverence to the past) and how folk music relates to people today.
My research is not restricted to the MySpace community (this is one source) it also involves interviews, gigs, listening to music and gathering opinions. This section of MySpace just gives you a 'taste' - to find the reviews, observations and comment go to the FolkWords web site: www.folkwords.com
Who I'd like to meet: Everyone involved in folk - new and established bands, musicians, singers and songwriters. People who have said it all before. People with something new to say. People who think they've created a new or different (or the same but slightly different) corner of the folk genre. People at the centre of, on the fringe of and the far, dark reaches of this style of expression called 'folk' music. Anyone kind enough to share and air the views and opinions circulating around folk.
We may encounter each other on a web site, at a festival or a gig, in the pub or over a cup of strong tea. Wherever we meet - I look forward to talking to you.
A big thank you to the kind people that I've interviewed already, to all those who contributed their views and to those who have agreed to help as soon as their schedules allow.
A bit of advance notice - MondayMonday proudly presents Rún and Steven Finn and more at The Wilmington Arms, Clerkenwell on Monday 7th December
Rún collect and arrange old folk songs written in the ancient language of Erin. So far, thanks to Nora from Donegal, they have a nice wee collection of well-known ditties and are now adding to their repertoire with some unusual old forgotten songs from the province of Ulster. Rún are five fantastic lassies who perform four-part vocal arrangements of old Gaelic songs like ’An Cailín Rua’ (the red-haired girl), ’Casadh an tSúgain’ (twisting the hayrope) and ’Bo Na Leath Adhairce’ (the one-horned cow). Rún is the Gaelic word for ’secret, wish or love’ (cf. rune). See http://www.myspace.com/runceol ..
Steven Finn’s ears were filled with the music of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Johnny Cash and old time country music. Aged 15 he began teaching himself the guitar, learning songs like Leadbelly’s ‘Bourgeois Blues’ and Charlie Daniels’ ‘The devil went down to Georgia’. On hearing Bob Dylan songs Finn started to write his own words and in doing so found a lifelong passion for Jazz and Folk Blues, a getaway car he could drive. See http://www.myspace.com/stevenfinn for more details
See http://event.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.detail&eventID=515763.72936 for more details.
Just a reminder that Clerkenwell's best Monday Night Folk Night will next be taking place on Monday 2nd November, featuring: Chris Sarjeant and Emma Scarr,plus floor spots and more
Emma Scarr has been active on London’s live scene for approaching two decades. A proficient performer on guitar, fiddle and banjo, in recent years she has concentrated on song craft.
Chris Sarjeant has been recently described as,".a very major addition to the British Folk Scene.." by BBC Folk-musician of the year Tom McConville who added that his guitar work is "...impeccable.."
See www.folkonmonday.co.uk for details
Come along and start your week in full blooded folky mode.
hi tim,hope you are well,just popping by to let you know we are playing in a groovy old barn in rickmansworth on 19th sept. it may be up your street. if you wanna come,let me know. also check our new website.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Hello Tim, We hope you are well. The Hare And The Moon are proud to announce the release of their debut album on Reverb Worship. www.reverbworship.com (Reverb Worship also have an Ebay store). 14 tracks of dark, psychedelic folk in a lovely handmade, numbered sleeve. Limited to 51 copies. Only £5!
Online Now!
