Challenging the past – a new perspective on Folk Music?

It is impossible to pull together large projects without the support and collaboration of other people and it is important that this is recognised.

So, I am grateful to the following folk without whose help neither Sayers Creek nor the Folk Trail would have been remotely possible:

Fellow MA students Dave Coates (for his unerring advice) and Dave Eccles (for totally redesigning the Folk Trail leaflet and the Sayers Creek poster)
Everyone at Kardomah94 – Mal Scott (who gave tremendous support despite illness), Ellie Scott and soundman Matt Lund
The Hull Folk Collective (John & Rosie Butler & Kath Jordan) plus former members Andy Buckton & Jerry walker
Musicians Lisa Knapp and Rick & Nellie Heavisides (Hautbois) for advice
BBC Radio 3’s Lucie Skeaping
Oxford University Don and archaeologist at Fulford, Charles Jones
The following people for adding to the narration in Sayers Creek: Charles Jones, Kath Jordan, Lucie Speaping, Ed Williamson & Jackson Steer
For allowing me to stage the Folk Trail as part of the 2018 Hull Folk & Maritime Festival – all of the committee (Lloyd Dobbs, Mark Pollard, Mick McGarry, Steve Gardham et al)
For videoing and photographing Sayers Creek & the Folk Trail, Chris Warkup and Mick Murphy
For advice in close harmonising on stage, ex BBC Radio Humberside Sound Engineer & folkie, Brian Swinton
For unerring support, advice & believing in the projects, Craig Steer
For her invaluable support and research via the British Newspaper Archive and various books, my wife Kath Jordan.

Thank you all!

The past five years have been a wonderful experience personally, however it is important not to let all the lessons learned go to dust.

In many ways my academic experience has taught me far more in 5 years than my near 40 years in a position of working for a living. I need to use my abilities to research, think critically, enable, write and play as much as possible and to pass on what I have learned to others willing to learn.

With this in mind, I have set myself a series of projects to further develop both my research and performance.

In no particular order of importance these are:

To edit the sound recordings from Sayers Creek so they are suitable for playing on Max Robert’s Folk Hour Xmas Special programme. This will mean they might be listened to across the entire North of England.
To use the edited recording as a double CD album release complete with notes and artwork.
To master the video recordings so they can be released as a DVD recording of the show, again with notes and artwork.
To fully investigate the possible staging at festivals, or elsewhere, of Sayers Creek and Keep Your Gansey Dry.
To fully investigate putting on a performance of A Country Life For Me as part of the Remembrance Day events.
To use my knowledge gained in the five years of harmony to improve the harmonic work and structure of the songs performed by the HFC.
When I first attended Hull College my aim was to record an album. This is, as yet an unfulfilled dream. I intend to record, to professional standard with the HFC a studio album suitable for CD and vinyl release.
To look to stage a new show at Kardomah based on early Music Hall. All four of us in the HFC like performing songs with a touch of the theatrical thrown in. It would be a pity not to use this experience.
To contact Hull City Council with a view to making the Hull Folk & History Trail a permanent event throughout the summer months.
To write down my research into book form so that others might carry on the research into the development of folk song.

Finally, to try and get the HFC playing at as many festivals as possible and to keep on enjoying the playing and music at the same time.

As you may see, I fully intend putting my academic experiences to full use!

Challenging the past – a new perspective on Folk Music?

Bibliography

Thank you!

Index and links to blog posts

The future? – Utilising my BA Hons & MA research.