IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
We have been considering launching another website to deal with listing Artists and Performers in a more professional manner. On April 11th 2012 we launched 'Folk Music Artists' website.
When we have populated the new website, these pages will be here to provide a link to the new website. We intend to make the Folk Music Artists website an essential directory for the Folk Scene and hope that it will be invaluable for artists and folk music fans alike.
The pages have been set up to provide a central point for artists on the folk scene to have a presence on the web where there is the potential of being seen by the thousands of people who visit the UK Folk Music group of website every month. The pages will generate far more hit than any artist website, and you will be able to access and manage the pages to add information and gig details.
We have decided to keep the cost of your access to a low, affordable level and offer the pages for just £45.00 for twelve months.
The initial service will be FREE OF CHARGE until the end of May so we suggest that you register with the web pages as soon as possible - please indicate tfhat you are a performer and provide your website address when you register to allow us to grant you access to your page. One page per artist / band please - extra pages will be charged for.
Click here: FolkMusicArtists
Folk Music Artists and Performers
The variety of folk music artists across the British Isles is an astounding mixture of traditional songs and dances and modern contemporary style, and offers something to suit everyone. From the historical songs, performed by unaccompanied singers in traditional style, through to the modern approach of large folk bands.
Central to it all are the Folk Music Artists themselves, and their audience.
Unaccompanied Ballads
The captivating enchantment of an unaccompanied traditional ballad sang well, is still a powerful medium and able to move the listener and stir the emotions. Through the years there have been many fine practitioners of the style and thankfully there are younger performers who carry on the convention.
Sea Shanties
Shanties were originally sung as work songs on the merchant sailing ships of the 19th Century. With the coming of steam power, the relevance of the songs ceased to be and they almost died out.
During the folk revival of the 1960’s many of the old songs began to enjoy renewed popularity. Very recently a young folk music artist, Shanty Singer from Portsmouth named Chris Ricketts, has put his own stamp on the songs with his refreshing interpretations of the old shanties.
Fisherman’s Friends from Port Isaac and similar bands have increased the public interest in shanties and they now very much in demand across the country.
Singer- Songwriters
Since the beginning of the folk music revival Folk Music Artists have been performing their own material and some of it has almost passed into the tradition. Songs such as ‘Shoals of Herring’ and ‘Dirty Old Town’ by Ewan McColl , and John Conolly’s song ‘Fiddler’s Green’ are great examples of songs being mistaken for traditional folk songs.
A towering example of a modern singer/songwriter is the prolific Mr. Richard Thompson. Since his rise to fame with Fairport Convention, his song-writing and musicianship have continued to be of the highest quality. Many people have recorded cover versions of his songs and he is still an inspiration to many a musician both young and old.
Folk Rock
When the new folk rock band burst onto the scene in the early 70’s they unleashed a new twist to the traditional material. The musicianship of the bands allowed them to popularise jigs and reels with driving percussion, strong bass lines and electrifying melody lines on fiddles, mandolins etc.
Bands such as Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention and The Incredible String Band engaged younger audiences, and blazed a trail for many of today’s Folk Music Artists.
Folk Music Artists
UK Folk Music is delighted to be supporting established and new folk music artists and raising the public awareness.
Our feature pages focus on performers and our lists and 'Search Pages' will enable folk music artists to be discovered by enthusiastic folk fans nationwide.
Photograph by - Folk Festival Photos.
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The Foundry Recording Studio, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire offered their services to record the FOLKWAVES programme from UK Folk Music. Sound Engineer, Paul made the Folkwaves Team feel welcome and at ease as the programme was recorded in the relaxed atmosphere of the intimate recording studio. Situated in the middle of Chesterfield not far from the famous 'Crooked Spire', easy to reach from Motorway Junction 29 of the M1. Give Paul a call. |
