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CALL FOR PAPERS!
Collectomania! Folk Song and Music Collectors and their Worlds
VENUE: Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, London NW1 7AY
DATE: Sat. 20th July – Sun. 21st July 2024
Organised jointly by the English Folk Dance & Song Society (EFDSS) and the Traditional Song Forum (TSF); with the support of the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA), the Welsh Folk Song Society, and the Elphinstone Institute (Aberdeen).
Contact: Steve Roud (steveroud@gmail.com)
For well over two hundred years, and for a variety of reasons, ‘folk’ song and music enthusiasts have ventured into the field and become collectors – gatherers of the material which has greatly enhanced our understanding of the vernacular culture of the past. But their activities have come under increased scrutiny in recent years, and it is time for a wide-ranging re-assessment of the collectors’ lives and works. This major two-day conference will investigate collectors as individuals and networks, their achievements and failures, motives, methods, strengths and weaknesses, social and political context, and the underlying ethos of collecting itself.
The focus will be on collecting in Britain and Ireland, but we would also be pleased to hear from researchers in countries with strong historical folk cultural ties to these islands. The conference will be in-person, but papers from delegates who cannot attend can be pre-recorded and played on the day.
Proposals for papers (20 minutes) and other presentations are invited.
Closing date: 1st April 2024.
Filby’s Folk Radio Show and Unicorn Folk
Carl Filby, member of Unicorn Folk, also present a Radio Show – Filby’s Folk – on Royston Radio at 6pm on Sundays with a repeat on Tuesdays at 1pm. Click on the image below to take you to Filby’s Folk podcasts or listen live via Royston Radio.
East Suffolk Community Folk Orchestra
A new venture organised by Jo Poole after a very successful Community Folk Orchestra Workshop Day in December 2023 supported by Mardles is due to have its second meeting on Saturday 24th February at Bungay Community Centre. Meetings will be once a month and is gathering momentum!
The East Suffolk Community Folk Orchestra is open to any instrument, and to both experienced and less experienced players. Initially it will be just for adults, but once the community folk orchestra is confidently established younger players will be welcome to join.
The New Community Centre is situated on Old Grammar Lane, Bungay, between the medical centre and the fire station, adjacent to the playing field and skate park.
If you would like to join, or find out more, please contact: jopoole@protonmail.com / 07814 110784.
New pub session – Wheatsheaf, Gamlingay, Cambs SG19 3JJ – 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month 7.30pm
Rod Ward of Rod Ward Violins is setting up a new pub session with English and Scottish music in Gamlingay, at the Wheatsheaf pub, SG19 3JJ. The first one is Thursday 22nd June , 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm. Nice friendly local pub.
The venue is about 20 minutes West of Cambridge. Rod would like to include some singing, and step dancing.
1st Thursday of the month session
A new folk night session has been set up by Chris Holderness and Friends in Norwich.
For those who would like to come along but aren’t sure where the Belle Vue is, it’s 46 St Philips Road, Norwich NR2 3BL between Dereham Road and Earlham Road on the corner of Stafford Street and St Philips Road.
One Sunday a month – Stepdancing in Cambridgeshire
Following our visit into Cambridgeshire with our annual Stepdance Day, a keen group of dancers would like to encourage more likeminded individuals. All welcome! Get in touch if you’re interested where and when they are next meeting.
Stowmarket based Pallet Bar is looking for musicians! Either solo or duos welcome. Please get in touch with Eilish:
@Pallet Bar Stowmarket; email info@palletbar.uk; 01449 777109; www.palletbar.uk