Folk recommendations

[Melaszka]

Can anyone recommend any folk musicians/bands/albums they love?

A friend recently converted me to Jim Moray (he's my recommendation ) and it's made me remember how much I loved folk songs when I was a child. I'd love to listen to some more, but I hardly know where to start.

[Melaszka]

No? Oh, well, I'd better answer my own question, then.

The 3 albums I'm listening to obsessively at the moment are:

The Bairns Rachel Unthank and the Winterset
The Imagined Village The Imagined Village
Low Culture Jim Moray

But as a large percentage of CoS users identified Folk as one of their favourite genres in the relevant poll and I notice that 95 people have been sufficiently interested in the title "Folk recommendations" to view this thread, I can't be the only person on CoS to like folk.

Anyone care to discuss what folk artists they like, be they US, English, Scots, Irish, Albanian, Mongolian or whatever...?

[HurrahforHermy]

I quite like Taylor Swift's first album. Her 2nd album, "Fearless" is good too, but a bit more leaning towards pop than country.
I also like Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" album.
Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are also really good.

My all time favourite, though, is Bob Dylan

[Mad_Druid]

Originally Posted by Melaszka

Can anyone recommend any folk musicians/bands/albums they love?

A friend recently converted me to Jim Moray (he's my recommendation ) and it's made me remember how much I loved folk songs when I was a child. I'd love to listen to some more, but I hardly know where to start.

I've just listened to his version of Three Black Feathers; it's beautiful. I'll have to find the rest of the album.

I really only know some of the older, more well known performers. The Dubliners of course, and The Pogues - even though they're really more Celtic fusion. I'm very fond of Silly Wizard, too.

[Melaszka]

Originally Posted by Mad_Druid

I've just listened to his version of Three Black Feathers; it's beautiful. I'll have to find the rest of the album.

I actually prefer it to Bella Hardy's original.

It's from Low Culture, his third album, which is probably my favourite - it's got a more traditional, live instrumentation feel (well, not that traditional - he does do folk/hip-hop fusion at one point!) with less folktronica than his first two albums.

If you want to check out Low Culture, there are currently samples on Jim's website:

http://www.jimmoray.co.uk/

Although he has a 4th album out soon, so he may replace these tracks quite soon. I think a lot of it is also on YouTube. My favourite tracks are "Rufford Park Poachers" and "I'll Go List For A Sailor"

I really only know some of the older, more well known performers. The Dubliners of course, and The Pogues - even though they're really more Celtic fusion. I'm very fond of Silly Wizard, too.

These are great recommendations. As I got into folk via fusion, folktronica and Nu Folk, the older artists are not at all "obvious" or "well known" to me, so it's really helpful to hear which ones people think are good.

If anyone fancies Celtic folk/world/electronic fusion, I can recommend the Afro-Celt Sound System and Delhi 2 Dublin.

ETA: If very traditional folk is more your thing, there's a young Scottish duo called Jeana Leslie and Siobhan Miller who I think are just jaw-droppingly amazing:

http://www.myspace.com/jeanalesliesiobhanmiller

[MistressofRaven]

Gillian Welch is very good

[Melaszka]

Originally Posted by Mad_Druid

I've just listened to his version of Three Black Feathers; it's beautiful. I'll have to find the rest of the album.

Addendum to my above post - he's also got a compilation album coming out soon A Beginner's Guide To Jim Moray, but I don't know if it's on that.

[vampiricduck]

I really think that if you like folk, an investigation into the depths of Bob Dylan is an essential part of life itself. Bruce Springsteen's project with the Seeger Sessions Band is well worth a look too (We Shall Overcome is the name of the album), and his tour with them was actually astounding and made me cry. It was music as it was meant to be- mostly unrehearsed, with additions, mistakes, and a band that really and truly, hands down wanted to be there. No single smile was faked and they just had a blast on stage. Amazing stuff.

The Traveling Wilburys are worth a look- Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison getting together on the spur of the moment to record music made one great project! Tom Petty alone is also amazing.

And the Alabama 3 are worth a check out too- in America they're better known as A3 I believe- they fuse everything together. And I do mean everything. if you thought that Folk-Electronica could never work, check them out and see the results!

[Melaszka]

Have checked out a lot of these recommendations and like a lot. Gillian Welch reminds me slightly of Michelle Shocked, who I used to be massively into and still like very much.

I'm currently so much in love with The Imagined Village's second album Empire and Love, it hurts. A laidback, jammy, trippy mix of traditional English folk, chillout and Indian instrumentation that has to be heard to be believed, including a version of "Scarborough Fair" which has totally banished Simon and Garfunkel from my mind).

http://www.myspace.com/theimaginedvillage

[FrejyaAthena]

Ooh, I love folk.

If you like Jim Moray, you may like to check out a band called "Wheeler Street". Their first album was produced by him and they have a great modern folk sound. They keep it traditional but original. Their lives shows are unmissable- you just have to get up and dance.

http://www.myspace.com/wheelerstreet

I also really like Bellowhead, Kate Rusby, The Watersons, Nic Jones, Anne Briggs, Martin Carthy, Flook, Blazing Fiddles, The Imagined Village... etc.

[APolaris]

I've actually never really understood the definition of "folk" relative to other music, let alone what differentiates it from, say, rock, country, jazz, bluegrass, or for that matter disco and metal. In fact, the only place I've even encountered the word "folk" itself in reference to music is on a site dedicated to the history of Russian anthems that I researched in college, where a "Russian folk" version of the USSR's 1944-1991 anthem, by "5nizza," was included as an mp3 file. The site has since changed that description to "reggae" and personally I always thought it resembled reggae anyway.

[FrejyaAthena]

I think folk is a difficult one to describe, especially in different cultures. But generally it means "music of the people". In today's terms, of course that could mean anything. But if we go back 100 years or more, the music of the people would be anything that was sung by the poor; beggars, ploughboys, prostitutes...etc. That's why a lot of folk songs, especially English folk songs, are about the common life and common woes of life from the point of view of those who are less privileged. We can call this "traditional folk music".

Good examples of traditional folk music include Anne Briggs, Martin Carthy, Nic Jones...these people take traditional ballads and usually stick with their original tunes (as much as possible since they often get lost) and sing them with their "true" voice (e.g. if the singer sings out of tune, then he sings out of tune and makes no real effort to correct this).

A lot of modern folk artists, such as the ones above (Wheeler Street, Jim Moray, Imagined Village) take traditional ballads and merge them with other genres. So, they may keep the traditional words and tune of the song but arrange them like a rock band (with drums, electric guitars and different timings).

There is also a craze in the UK at the moment, known as nu-folk. Personally, to me, it isn't folky at all since there is nothing traditional about what they do. For me, I would say they are folk influenced acoustic acts. I mean bands like Mumford and Sons, Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale. I love all of those artists too though, I think they're amazing, I just wouldn't consider them folk music.


I would also take note that I am from England and my interest is mainly in English folk music, so it is quite difficult for me to try and explain any other cultures view of folk.

[APolaris]

Originally Posted by FrejyaAthena

I think folk is a difficult one to describe, especially in different cultures. But generally it means "music of the people". In today's terms, of course that could mean anything. But if we go back 100 years or more, the music of the people would be anything that was sung by the poor; beggars, ploughboys, prostitutes...etc. That's why a lot of folk songs, especially English folk songs, are about the common life and common woes of life from the point of view of those who are less privileged. We can call this "traditional folk music".

Hmm... so, for instance, "Waltzing Matilda," "House of the Rising Sun," and "Turkey in the Straw" would be common examples of folk music?

What about national anthems? Some of those are set to previously known tunes. For instance, the Star-Spangled Banner ripped its tune from an old British drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven." From 1918 to 1944, the USSR used the "Internationale," an international "people's"/party hymn of socialism that, before then, was a "people's hymn" of the Paris Commune. Germany's is set to an Austrian royal march by Haydn that had, by then, been commonly known and replaced by various lyrics - would this be treated differently due to its origin?

[Melaszka]

Originally Posted by FrejyaAthena

If you like Jim Moray, you may like to check out a band called "Wheeler Street". Their first album was produced by him and they have a great modern folk sound. They keep it traditional but original. Their lives shows are unmissable- you just have to get up and dance.

http://www.myspace.com/wheelerstreet

Will definitely check them out. Thanks.

I also really like Bellowhead

I like bits by them, but I've never really taken to them. I know they're hugely talented and they're supposed to be incredible live, but I find something just a little bit too clever-clever and classical musicianish about their arrangements for my taste (which I know is inconsistent of me, given that a lot of the folk artists I do like are also from a classically trained background). I must dig out my copy of Matachin and give it another go, though, as I've a feeling they may be slow growers.

I like Spiers and Boden's stuff as a duo more.

Nic Jones

Just started listening to him (on Jim Moray's recommendation). I do feel a bit of a folk bozo, as I only got into it recently, so know most of the young generation, but am completely ignorant of the classic English folk Second Wave that form the central folk canon.

Am very keen to check out your other recommendations.

Originally Posted by APolaris

I've actually never really understood the definition of "folk" relative to other music, let alone what differentiates it from, say, rock, country, jazz, bluegrass, or for that matter disco and metal.

I think country and bluegrass would be considered types of folk, but I'm no expert, so don't take my word for it.

Originally Posted by FrejyaAthena

There is also a craze in the UK at the moment, known as nu-folk. Personally, to me, it isn't folky at all since there is nothing traditional about what they do. For me, I would say they are folk influenced acoustic acts. I mean bands like Mumford and Sons, Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale. I love all of those artists too though, I think they're amazing, I just wouldn't consider them folk music.

Oh, is that what nu-folk is? I've heard the phrase and have been using it (I now realise inaccurately) to apply to people like Jim Moray and the Imagined Village.

There are lots of joke about the definition of folk singer meaning "Some bloke with an acoustic guitar who only knows a few chords" or a synonym for "drippy singer-songwriter" It's quite a fluid term, isn't it?

Btw, have you heard the UNITE album and, if so, what do you think?

[FrejyaAthena]

Well, I was a bit like that with Bellowhead too actually. Everyone was raving about them, and I caught a bit of them live at Cambridge folk festival last year and couldn't hear very much since I was so far back. I always felt their albums lacked something... raw?

But this year, my friend was supporting them at the Sweeps Festival in Kent which meant I got a free ticket to see them. They really blew my mind actually. I understand what you mean about classical elements but seeing as it is put together but Spiers and Boden the folk tradition is certainly alive within the group. Most of the other musicians also seem to be genuinely interested in the tradition too, and I would say that only about 3 of them were from a classical background- but even so, they use this very well to add vibrancy and a unique edge on these old tales of woe, love, etc. I think they're a great bridge from the folk world into the commercial world. Certainly worth seeing them live if you get the chance since their sound is different and better.

Country and Bluegrass, I think are defined as different genres because of their use of different timing patterns, I think. However, I would certainly say that they are the folk music of America- again, the voice of the "common" people but here in England it is defined as a separate genre (but they're always next to each other in the music shops).

I'm sure you could arguably call the likes of Jim Moray nu-folk and I'm sure a lot of the die hard folkies who only listen to pure traditional artists would welcome that term. But I gather that it is used more to describe folk influenced commercial artists. Marina and the diamonds, Alessi's Ark, Johnny Flynn, etc...

It is a hard genre to define and has no fixed definition, so everyone will think differently. However, what I have come to understand is that we have people who like traditional folk- they want the original tunings, the original songs, the warbling out of tune voice...and these are usually old men with beards :P We then have the people who like "folk" which usually include all of those traditional artists plus the newer stream of folk artists who still keep everything traditional but use contemporary tunings, instruments or vocal styles, e.g. Kate Rusby, Wheeler Street, Jim Moray, Bellowhead, Jackie Oates (who is Jim's sister), The Imagined Village...gosh, there are too many to name! We also have a sort of traditional crossover into other genres, usually rock which include classic artists such as Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Fotheringay, etc. Finally, you get these artists who are still embraced by the folk community but aren't as obviously weaved in, a term known as nu folk which include the artists I named previously and lots more.

Folk is an odd genre I think, in the sense that much of the "folk world" in intertwined with eachother. For example, Martin Carthy is arguably considered "folk royalty". He was part of the first revolution and has played a strong role in folk music ever since. He married Norma Waterson and became part of the family and sang with them (The Watersons are a big name in the "folk world"). They had a daughter, Eliza Carthy, who is amongst the Kate Rusby's and Jim Moray's in terms of age and style (I would say) and she is a very talented singer and fiddle player. Martin Carthy has teamed up with many artists throughout the years but his most recent collaboration is with his daughter in The Imagined Village! So really, most of the folk world is weaved in with each other, excluding perhaps the nu-folk movement which seems to be strong on it's own.

Anyway, I hope this helps in some way. Of course, this is all just my point of view but I think it is the general view. Have fun with it, it's a great genre, easy to get involved with and very welcoming, if you find the right areas Maybe go to a folk club and sing some songs of your own or play an instrument at a session. If you don't play, the tin whistle is a relatively easy one to pick up.

[caitsQuill]

An amazing folk band that I love is MilkDrive.
At least I think you would call them folk. haha. They are so original and kind of indescribable. They hail from Texas but I was fortunate enough to see live in Denver. It's a small band: A violin, a guitar, a banjo, and an upright bass, no vocals. They are amazing.

[FrejyaAthena]

Originally Posted by APolaris

Hmm... so, for instance, "Waltzing Matilda," "House of the Rising Sun," and "Turkey in the Straw" would be common examples of folk music?

What about national anthems? Some of those are set to previously known tunes. For instance, the Star-Spangled Banner ripped its tune from an old British drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven." From 1918 to 1944, the USSR used the "Internationale," an international "people's"/party hymn of socialism that, before then, was a "people's hymn" of the Paris Commune. Germany's is set to an Austrian royal march by Haydn that had, by then, been commonly known and replaced by various lyrics - would this be treated differently due to its origin?

Sorry, I missed this post. The songs you mentioned would be considered by some as folk and by some extremists, not as folk. You could argue either way really. All I know is, that all the folk clubs I attend (about 4 a month), all of them would accept and embrace those songs being sung.

National Anthems wouldn't really be considered as folk music since they would have been composed by professional musicians of the time (in some instances). However, as you mention, some are set to previously known tunes- those tunes themselves would probably be considered folk music but not the anthem themselves. I'm sure, again, you could argue that they are forms of folk music but I do think they would be treated differently by most "folkies" because of their over ornamented, thought out and orchestral arrangements. Folk music is often pure and unrehearsed (which is why sometimes it can be very pitchy or "raw"- this is the appeal, however and not so much true for newer folk artists).


In response to everyone who has listed Country and Bluegrass bands, I don't think they would be considered as folk here in England but just as "Country, Bluegrass and Roots". However, I'm sure that is America's version of our folk music, haha.

It is a difficult one!

Definitions of folk music on the Web:

the traditional and typically anonymous music that is an expression of the life of people in a community
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

The term folk music originated in the 19th century as a term for musical folklore. It has been defined in several ways; as music transmitted by word of mouth, music of the lower classes, music with no known composer. It has been contrasted with commercial and classical styles.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_music

Folk Music was the fourth studio album by English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_Music_(album)

any genre of music originating from the ethnic community of a specific region; often not recorded, but passed down orally; contemporary music in the style of traditional folk music
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/folk_music

1. Music that originates among the common people of a nation or region and is spread about or passed down orally. It is characterized by simple melodies.
www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0776052.html

The early 20th century witnessed an initiative to elevate respect for folk music and increase its appeal as compositional material. This trend created a desire for arrangements to suit various performance mediums, such as vocal quartet, choir, band, and orchestra. ...
www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm

Gospel, bluegrass, string band, blues - South Carolina is home to a wide variety of dynamic folk music. This music is community-based, learned and played in the family room, local church, social club, or street corner. ...
www.digitaltraditions.net/html/Glossary.cfm

music ensembles and single musicians performing traditional music and its arrangements.
pub.stat.ee/px-web.2001/I_Databas/Social_life/01Culture/02Amateur_cultural_activities/CU_61_1.htm

....

[Melaszka]

Originally Posted by FrejyaAthena

Well, I was a bit like that with Bellowhead too actually. Everyone was raving about them, and I caught a bit of them live at Cambridge folk festival last year and couldn't hear very much since I was so far back. I always felt their albums lacked something... raw?

But this year, my friend was supporting them at the Sweeps Festival in Kent which meant I got a free ticket to see them. They really blew my mind actually.

Yes - everyone tells me you have to see them live, THEN you'll get it. So perhaps one day I will! I will certainly attempt to, although domestic circumstances make gig-going a bit hard at the moment.

Folk is an odd genre I think, in the sense that much of the "folk world" in intertwined with eachother. For example, Martin Carthy is arguably considered "folk royalty". He was part of the first revolution and has played a strong role in folk music ever since. He married Norma Waterson and became part of the family and sang with them (The Watersons are a big name in the "folk world"). They had a daughter, Eliza Carthy, who is amongst the Kate Rusby's and Jim Moray's in terms of age and style (I would say) and she is a very talented singer and fiddle player. Martin Carthy has teamed up with many artists throughout the years but his most recent collaboration is with his daughter in The Imagined Village! So really, most of the folk world is weaved in with each other, excluding perhaps the nu-folk movement which seems to be strong on it's own.

See, the "folk royalty" thing gets me a bit (and I know I'm not the only one who feels this way - I've heard a lot of newish folk fans say something similar). It just seems wrong, somehow, that a music that grew out of the tradition of the musically untrained common man/woman (kind of like a pre-20th century proto-punk movement!) has become something that you seemingly either have to be born into or be expensively trained in to do. I do take the point that between the Second Folk Revival of the 60s/70s and the Third Folk Revival of recent years practically the only young people showing an interest in the genre at all were the children of old folkies and the tradition would have died out if they hadn't kept it alive. On a more personal level, I utterly worship Eliza Carthy and think she deserves her career, no matter who her mum/dad is! But it does niggle a bit that a music form that was born out of a philosophy of inclusiveness and accessibility has seemingly become such an exclusive members' club, at least on a professional level.

Btw, I'm an insanely obsessive Transglobal Underground fan, so The Imagined Village has been on my radar for a long, long while.

Btw 2 - I'm so glad you're here. It's great to have a British folkie on here to chat to.

[SilverSunMuse]

My friend's a folk lover, and I think he recommended the band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros once, I think they're quite good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjFaenf1T-Y

[FrejyaAthena]

Originally Posted by Melaszka

Yes - everyone tells me you have to see them live, THEN you'll get it. So perhaps one day I will! I will certainly attempt to, although domestic circumstances make gig-going a bit hard at the moment.



See, the "folk royalty" thing gets me a bit (and I know I'm not the only one who feels this way - I've heard a lot of newish folk fans say something similar). It just seems wrong, somehow, that a music that grew out of the tradition of the musically untrained common man/woman (kind of like a pre-20th century proto-punk movement!) has become something that you seemingly either have to be born into or be expensively trained in to do. I do take the point that between the Second Folk Revival of the 60s/70s and the Third Folk Revival of recent years practically the only young people showing an interest in the genre at all were the children of old folkies and the tradition would have died out if they hadn't kept it alive. On a more personal level, I utterly worship Eliza Carthy and think she deserves her career, no matter who her mum/dad is! But it does niggle a bit that a music form that was born out of a philosophy of inclusiveness and accessibility has seemingly become such an exclusive members' club, at least on a professional level.

Btw, I'm an insanely obsessive Transglobal Underground fan, so The Imagined Village has been on my radar for a long, long while.

Btw 2 - I'm so glad you're here. It's great to have a British folkie on here to chat to.

Wow, I'm really surprised to hear about your experience with "folkies". Where do you live? I live in the south east, and honestly, i have only come across one or two people who are elitist, small minded and stupid (and they were both accountants! As if they have any right to preserve the poor man's tradition, haha). I may just be really lucky that I have walked in to a lovely group of people and a really good session, but I have always been welcomed warmly into the folk tradition and often encouraged. Let me tell you that my friends and family hate folk music, I had never heard folk music before and I am a terrible musician! This was almost exciting for them, because that's what folk is all about- passing on tradition, learning from your ears, singing for the sake of a story rather than a tune (although it is nicer if you can stay in tune of course :P ).

I have also met both Martin Carthy and the two main members of Bellowhead- Martin Carthy sat and listened to everyone in the room sing. Most people in that room could not sing but were delighted to be singing in front of someone who probably knows so much about the tradition 9 he knows so many songs, it's actually ridiculous). Could you imagine anyone in popular music taking time out of their personal lives to sit and listen to people singing, even if they weren't very good? I just found that very touching. And Jon Boden said to me, I should keep on playing just for the enjoyment of playing- and to screw those people who hate my off key warbling.

I may have been very lucky, I know but I really have found everyone in the "folk world" to be welcoming, warm and so encouraging. The exceptions are usually middle class old men who are stuck in their ways.

Ps. I'm really glad you're here too, it's not often I get to hear from someone who likes folk as well Did you like Wheeler street by the way?