Shirley Harry is a singer from Suffolk who has been participating as a performer, MC, organiser and behind-the-scenes volunteer in folk events in the area and beyond for many years. I recorded her at her in August 2020 talking about her experiences in folk music and singing a few songs.
NB: These recordings were made in July 2020 during the COVID-19 period. They were undertaken with social distancing measures in place according to government guidelines.
A summary of the interview can be downloaded above.
Interview keywords: folk music, Incredible String Band, Steeleye Span, High Level Ranters, acoustic music, pop music, Donovan, Simon and Garfunkel, Led Zeppelin, jazz, blues, Farnham, Surrey, Ian Anderson, Maggie Holland, Folk Roots Magazine, Alistair Anderson, song writing, Farnham Folk and Blues Festival, gig, live music, Joanne Kelly, South Wales, South East England, folk club, Stag Folk, Shackleford, ceilidh, dancing, Sidmouth, folk festival, morris dancing, recorder, percussion, Knockhundred Shuttles, Midhurst, pub, sessions, singing, East Anglia, singing group, Harp Beat, world music, acapella, women’s group, singing lessons, harmonies, East Anglian Traditional Music Trust, Old Hat Concert Party, John Howson, Katie Howson, Cherry Tree Public House, Ted Chaplain, step dancing, traditional singing, Lyn Barnes, John Barnes, Reel Dance Ceilidhs, step dance competition, volunteering, Traditional Music Day, Melodeons and More, MC, Norwich Arts Centre, Edgar’s Farmhouse, concerts, Mike Waterson, Louis Killen, networking, stories, cameraderie, community, friendly, safe, evolving tradition.
- Title: Up in the North
- Performer: Shirley Harry
- Date recorded: 19.8.2020
- Location: Bruisyard, Suffolk
- Recorded by: Megan Wisdom
- Roud No: 582
- Notes: This version collected from Freda Palmer in Whitney, Oxfordshire, in 1972 by Mike Yates. Listen to Freda here. It seems to have been popular material for 19th Century broadsides and chapbooks, and has often been collected in the United States, but rarely in England. See Mainly Norfolk.
- Title: Sorry the Day I was Married
- Performer: Shirley Harry
- Date recorded: 19.8.2020
- Location: Bruisyard, Suffolk
- Recorded by: Megan Wisdom
- Roud No: 1561
- Notes: A L Lloyd states the tune to be a slower version of an Irish reel, Scaip an drucht. It was collected by Frank Kidson from Charles Lolley of Leeds in 1892.
- Title: Moth
- Performer: Shirley Harry
- Date recorded: 19.8.2020
- Location: Bruisyard, Suffolk
- Recorded by: Megan Wisdom
- Composer: Anne Lister
- Notes: Listen to Anne singing her song here. It features on her album No Signposts.
- Title: The King of Rome
- Performer: Shirley Harry
- Date recorded: 19.8.2020
- Location: Bruisyard, Suffolk
- Recorded by: Megan Wisdom
- Composer: Dave Sudbury
- Notes: A picture of the (stuffed) King of Rome can be found here!
- Title: Come All You Fisher Lasses
- Performer: Shirley Harry
- Date recorded: 19.8.2020
- Location: Bruisyard, Suffolk
- Recorded by: Megan Wisdom
- Composer: Ewan McColl
- Notes: Written for Singing the Fishing, the third of eight Radio Ballads produced by Ewan McColl and Charles Parker from 1957-1964. Singing the Fishing is available on YouTube.
- Title: What Will We Do
- Performer: Shirley Harry
- Date recorded: 19.8.2020
- Location: Bruisyard, Suffolk
- Recorded by: Megan Wisdom
- Roud No: 16879
- Notes: Recorded by Jim Carroll and Pat Mackenzie from Mary Delaney in Co. Tipperary in the 1970s. Listen to Mary here.
- Title: Unicorns
- Performer: Shirley Harry
- Date recorded: 19.8.2020
- Location: Bruisyard, Suffolk
- Recorded by: Megan Wisdom
- Composer: Bill Caddick
- Notes: Written in 1974, inspired by a dream – watch Bill singing it here.