I’ve always been left feeling slightly embarrassed by overt displays of pariotism – even singing the National Anthem makes me feel uncomfortable. So it’s probably not that surprising to hear I’ve never celebrated St George’s Day.
But a couple of weeks ago [sorry] I found myself shoulder-to-shoulder with the flag waving brigade in the shadow of Nelson’s Column.
It was all in aid of celebrating the huge variety of musical styles that British Folk has spawned. From Northumbria to Dartmoor via India and Zimbabwe, it would seem that Folk is not only still alive and kicking, it is evolving and experimenting, and attracting a whole new audience as a result.
But the celebration has provoked rumbles of discontent in the die-hard folk brigade, and not in the way you might think.
For centuries music has been used to cement ideologies and identities – just look at the Russian composers writing at the time of the Revolution or the hymns sung by anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. ‘Folk’ is no different. Traditionally the music of the people, its songs and tunes have been the people’s reaction to the situation and issues of the age. But more recently its revival in America during the time of the civil rights movement has meant that modern ‘folk’ has had a distinct socialist vibe.
So was it right for Boris Johnson to use the genre, and some of the country’s leading artists, to celebrate a day, which has, for all intents and purposes, been hijacked by the extreme Right? Well in all fairness, there was little politics at the concert itself – it seemed that most people had come to enjoy, what turned out to be a sunny day in London with some awesome music thrown in.
And as for the artists, they did all – in one way or another – keep the ‘protest’ tradition alive – with Bishi raising a round of applause when she came on stage wearing a fabulous dress encorporating both the Indian and Union flags. And her song Indian Skin definitely questionned what it is to be considered British. And with tracks like ‘Rise Up’ it would seem that the Demon Barbers embody the traditional folk spirit in a modern fusion style.
Folk is evolving - it needs to if it’s going to stay fresh. But I would hope it remains a genre ‘of the people’ and a space where we can make sense of the issues which surround us.
I went to the gig in my new role as a ‘contributor’ to the Daily Music Guide. As a result I was able to interview the very wonderful Netsayi.
Listen to my interview below - or read my review on the site!
Dragon slaying, London style! 23rd May 2009
Tags: Bishi, Concert, Daily Music Guide, Eliza Carthy, Folk music, Jim Moray, Live Music, London, Mary Stokes, Netsayi, Peter and Kathryn Tickell, Seth Lakeman, St George's Day, The Demon Barbers, Trafalgar Square
I’ve always been left feeling slightly embarrassed by overt displays of pariotism – even singing the National Anthem makes me feel uncomfortable. So it’s probably not that surprising to hear I’ve never celebrated St George’s Day.
But a couple of weeks ago [sorry] I found myself shoulder-to-shoulder with the flag waving brigade in the shadow of Nelson’s Column.
It was all in aid of celebrating the huge variety of musical styles that British Folk has spawned. From Northumbria to Dartmoor via India and Zimbabwe, it would seem that Folk is not only still alive and kicking, it is evolving and experimenting, and attracting a whole new audience as a result.
But the celebration has provoked rumbles of discontent in the die-hard folk brigade, and not in the way you might think.
For centuries music has been used to cement ideologies and identities – just look at the Russian composers writing at the time of the Revolution or the hymns sung by anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. ‘Folk’ is no different. Traditionally the music of the people, its songs and tunes have been the people’s reaction to the situation and issues of the age. But more recently its revival in America during the time of the civil rights movement has meant that modern ‘folk’ has had a distinct socialist vibe.
So was it right for Boris Johnson to use the genre, and some of the country’s leading artists, to celebrate a day, which has, for all intents and purposes, been hijacked by the extreme Right? Well in all fairness, there was little politics at the concert itself – it seemed that most people had come to enjoy, what turned out to be a sunny day in London with some awesome music thrown in.
And as for the artists, they did all – in one way or another – keep the ‘protest’ tradition alive – with Bishi raising a round of applause when she came on stage wearing a fabulous dress encorporating both the Indian and Union flags. And her song Indian Skin definitely questionned what it is to be considered British. And with tracks like ‘Rise Up’ it would seem that the Demon Barbers embody the traditional folk spirit in a modern fusion style.
Folk is evolving - it needs to if it’s going to stay fresh. But I would hope it remains a genre ‘of the people’ and a space where we can make sense of the issues which surround us.
I went to the gig in my new role as a ‘contributor’ to the Daily Music Guide. As a result I was able to interview the very wonderful Netsayi.
Listen to my interview below - or read my review on the site!
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