News
Folk Awards
1 February 2008 - back to view bulletin
With folk music enjoying a resurgence, a whole new generation of musicians and music fans are now being introduced not just to a genre, but also to a range of instruments which may be new to them.
On 4 February, the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards will take place at The Brewery in London. Award nominees reflect artists, old and new, who are making their way in the folk scene, many of whom are using instruments considered long-forgotten: think banjo, ukulele, accordion and harp. Kate Rusby, Spiers & Boden, Bellowhead, Rachel Unthank & The Winterset, Tunng, Lisa Knapp and Lau are among the new wave of folk artists with nominations, who have been influenced by the likes of older nominees Richard Thompson, John Simpson, and John Martyn (who’s set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award).
Even as part of the recent BBC Electric Proms, the renowned Waterson family (including Norma and Mike Waterson, and Eliza Carthy) gathered at Cecil Sharpe House in London to celebrate the songs of one of Britain’s most revered folk singers, Lal Waterson. They were joined by a newer generation of folk artists including James Yorkston, Alasdair Roberts, Tim Van Eyken and Kathryn Williams.
If you wanted to find out more about the origins of British folk music, or folk instruments, you won’t do better than exploring Folk Arts England, and the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS).
The EFDSS, formed in 1932, is ever evolving and has devised a programme of workshops and classes designed to encourage participation.
Folk Arts England (FAE) aims to promote Folk Arts and widen participation. They produce Direct Roots, a comprehensive guide to artists, festivals, agents, promoters, venues, clubs, societies, tutors, shops, media, record labels, regional contacts and plenty more for folk, roots and related music and arts in the UK.
More information about the English Folk Dance and Song Society
More information about Folk Arts England
Hobgoblin is a musical instrument shop specialising in folk instruments. For more information about them as well as all other Take it away retailers, see the stores page
