FolkWorld #54 07/2014

German News

News & Gossip

Happy Birthday

Robb Johnson & Leon Rosselson

"Rosselsongs 1960-2010"
"No Gods No Masters"

www.leonrosselson.co.uk

Leon Rosselson (*22 June 1934, Harrow, Middlesex, UK). Brought up in North London, Leon's Jewish parents came to England as refugees from Tsarist Russia. After his early involvement in the folk music revival in Britain (The Galliards, The Three City Four), he came to prominence in the early 1960s singing satirical songs in the BBC programme That Was The Week That Was. He toured Britain and abroad, singing his own songs, some satirical, others showing the influence of French realist song.

In 1976, Leon Rosselson and Roy Bailey recorded That's Not The Way It's Got To Be, including one of his best-known songs, The World Turned Upside Down. In later years, Leon Rosselson has published 17 children's books. He continues to write and perform and collaborate with other musicians and performers (including Martin Carthy and Robb Johnson).

Judy Collins (*1 May 1939, Seattle, USA). The American singer and songwriter had the fortune of meeting many musicians through her father, a blind singer and radio DJ. Judy Collins studied classical piano, however, it was the music of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger that piqued her interest. She eventually made her way to Greenwich Village, New York City, where she busked and played in folk clubs.

"Paradise"

www.judycollins.com

At first Judy Collins sang traditional folk songs and the protest poets of the time. She was instrumental in bringing little-known musicians to a wider public, for example, Canadian poet Leonard Cohen. In the mid 1960s, she began branching out and including work from such diverse sources as The Beatles, Jacques Brel and Kurt Weill. With her 1967 album Wildflowers, Collins she began to record her own compositions. The album also provided her with a major hit, Both Sides, Now. Judy Collins still records and tours, and is currently a representative for UNICEF and campaigns on behalf of the abolition of landmines.


R.I.P.

Artist Video The songwriter, wit, folksinger and general Renaissance man, Stan Kelly, has died at 84. His real surname was Bootle. And that name was a clue to his most successful song: Liverpool Lullaby. A lovely bittersweet comment on tough working-class upbringings in a drink-fuelled home. There are several versions on YouTube, including the most famous by the likes of Cilla Black and Judy Collins. However, I have personally hunted out a rare gem for you. For no version get can even CLOSE to this one, of Stan himself singing his song at his son's wedding. I just loved the spoken intro, and his delivery. He gets the lines a bit tangled, but hey, wouldn't you with that much Guinness inside you?

David "Dai" Woosnam
(daigress@hotmail.com)

Charlotte Greig (1954-2014). The novelist, playwright, singer and songwriter died 19 June 2014 after a long battle against cancer. Greig worked as a music journalist in print and radio, reviewing folk and country music. She has written several novels, radio plays and musical theatre pieces (e.g. 'I Sing of a Maiden', an exploration of folk song and young motherhood in the Welsh valleys).

www.charlottegreig.com
In 1998, Greig issued the first of five albums, 'Night Visiting Songs', a mix of traditional and original acoustic understated gothic folk music. Her main influences were Lal Waterson and Nico, she played harmonium and mountain dulcimer with occasional electronic additions.

Rubin "Hurricane" Carter (1937-2014). The American middleweight boxer died on April 20th, 2014. In 1966, police arrested Carter for a triple homicide in the Lafayette Bar and Grill in Paterson, New Jersey. There was little physical evidence. None of the eyewitnesses identified Carter. Carter was tried and convicted twice (1967 and 1976) for the murders, but after the second conviction was overturned in 1985, prosecutors chose not to try the case for a third time. From 1993 to 2005, Carter served as executive director of the Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted.

Artist Video


Carter's story inspired the 1975 Bob Dylan song Hurricane.

Seán Potts (1930-2014). A native of Dublin and the nephew of famed Irish fiddler Tommy Potts, Seán was one of the original members of Seán Ó Riáda's Ceoltóirí Cualann and was a founding member of the group which became The Chieftains. In 1972, Seán Potts and fellow band member and whistle player Paddy Moloney released a duet album, Tin Whistles, showing the versatility of the underrated instrument.

Since his departure from The Chieftains in 1979, Potts had done radio work for RTÉ, served as Chairman and Honorary President of Na Píobairí Uilleann, and founded Bakerswell, with whom he undertook several fund-raising tours for NPU in the United States. Seán Potts died at age 83 on 11 February 2014.


  Launch of Áras na bPíobairí

Launch of Áras na bPíobairí

"Rakish Paddy Blues"

www.armaghpipers.com

www.armagh-
pipers.com

On Saturday 5th April 2014, the long awaited launch of the new Armagh Pipers Club premises Áras na bPíobairí took place with a 7 hour music session open to the public running throughout the day. Armagh Pipers Club was founded in 1966 and so the establishment of dedicated premises for the club's activities has long been an aspiration.

Armagh's Lord Mayor Cllr Robert Turner officially launched the premises with a speech paying tribute to the work of the club over all those years. He mentioned the diversity of activities that will take place in the club including the uilleann pipe making workshop, the proposed archive, meeting room, practice and rehearsal facilities, master-class studios, London College of Music exam centre as well as performance and session facilities.

Dr Fintan Vallely, the eminent musicologist and author of numerous books on the subject of traditional music, gave a talk on the club covering its foundation in the 1960's and then through all the difficult decades from the 1970s to the present day. He talked about the ground breaking music tutors composed by Eithne Vallely from the early 1970's. Eithne Vallely has continued as Music Director of the club up to the present day and still produces more and more music tutors as well as directing the music development of the club.

Fintan charted the development of the club's education programme from a couple of teachers 40 plus years ago to the staff of more than 30 who nowadays cater for the 268 registered pupils coming from at least 7 different counties. He wished the club well in the years to come and expressed confidence in its ability to continue its innovative role in traditional music. Concluding he speculated that upwards of five to six thousand pupils could have passed through the Armagh Pipers over the last 6 decades with many of these achieving International renown as performers and composers of the music.


  Radiofolk.dk

www.radiofolk.dk

Morten Alfred Høirup and friends have started a new Danish online radio station. Radiofolk.dk is a non-profit station for all those interested in Danish and Nordic roots and folk music in all its diversity. Radiofolk.dk's goal is to promote and provide information on Danish roots and folk music and its practitioners - in a Nordic perspective and based on a broad definition of "roots and folk music."

Tune into www.radiofolk.dk - 24 hours a day!


  ARC Music launches Pixie Pace imprint label

www.arcmusic.co.uk

World and folk music specialists ARC Music has been launched a new imprint label, Pixie Pace Records. Whereas ARC Music will continue to specialize in traditional music from around the world, Pixie Pace will work with contemporary folk acts and aspiring singer-songwriters who have one foot in tradition and the other in popular culture.

Artist Video


Its first release has been The Young Folk’s Way Home single in May 2014, followed by the full length album in summer.



Afro Celt Soundsystem
Cambridge Folk Festival
Afro Celt Soundsystem @
Cambridge Folk Festival


www.afroceltsoundsystem.net

  The Top 10 UK Summer Festivals

According to www.songlines.co.uk.


  44th Lorient Interceltic Festival: The Year of Ireland

Festival Interceltique de Lorient

The Year of Ireland

1 - 10 August 2014


Programme Highlights:

Festival Gala Opening
in tribute to the Nobel
prize-winning Irish
poet Seamus Heaney

Gaelic Ladies:
Mary Black
Frances Black
Aoife Scott

The Dublin Legends

Harp's Night

Lùnasa & the LIF orchestra

Grand Parade of
the Celtic Nations

Interceltic Nights
at Moustoir Studium


LIF 2012: Year of Acadia

www.festival-interceltique.com

Lúnasa

Artist Video Lúnasa @ FolkWorld:
FW#5, #12, #21, #27,
#28, #30, #32, #32,
#37, #39, #42, #42, #52

www.lunasa.ie

Artist Video

The Lorient Interceltic Festival (LIF) attracts some 700,000 festival goers every summer for a celebration of contemporary Celtic culture. Over ten days and ten nights, the LIF offers an exciting programme of 200 concerts and welcomes some of the biggest artists and best groups from the worlds of rock, folk and traditional music from all over the Celtic planet! The 2014 edition celebrates Ireland—the birthplace of Celtic tradition—and provides an opportunity to discover the diversity and wealth of Gaelic culture with its music, dance, literature and visual arts. Experience a variety of Celtic countries in the streets of Lorient with crêpes tastings, Irish dance classes, readings and discussions with authors, the marché interceltique (Interceltic Market), fest noz, parades, exhibitions, cinema programmes ... and plenty of free events on offer everyday in the city centre!

Artist Video

Successor of the deleted Rencontres Internationales de Luthiers et Maitres Sonneurs, Le son continu brings together lovers of traditional instruments, music and dance in the grounds of the Château d’Ars near La Châtre in the old province of Berry in central France. from 12th to 14th July 2014. At the heart of this event, a showcase of instrument craftsmanship, with more than one hundred exhibitors - makers of hurdy-gurdies, bagpipes, accordions and other instruments and accessories that find their place in the world of acoustic music. Around this showcase, various activities await the festival visitors: beginners’ workshops in traditional dance, demonstrations of instruments by their makers, conferences, competitions, 'open mike' stages and dancefloors. During the evening concerts, you can enjoy the performances of acclaimed international artists.

6 June - 25 July 2014 FESTIM - Festival Intermunicipal de Musicas do Mundo (Portugal)
ft. Yves Lambert, Bollywood Masala Orchestra, Fanfare Ciocarlia, ...
www.festim.pt

2 - 6 July 2014 Førde Folkmusic Festival (Norway)
ft. JPP, Çiğdem Aslan, Ana Moura, Mahsa Vahdat, Fromseier
Hockings, Erlend Apneseth, Soneros de Verdad, ...
www.fordefestival.no

3 - 6 July 2014 TFF Rudolstadt (Germany)
ft. Tanzania, Magic Bass, Samba, June Tabor & Oysterband, No Blues,
Çiğdem Aslan, Ahlberg Ek & Roswall, David Bromberg, Eddie Reader,
Hot Griselda, Janusz Prusinowski Trio, Russkaja, We Banjo 3, ...
www.tff-rudolstadt.de

4 - 6 July 2014 Na Fir Bolg, Vorselaar (Belgium)
ft. Kadril, Corvus Corax, Berlinski Beat, Daithi Rua, ...
www.folkfestival.be

7 - 13 July 2014 Kaustinen Folk Music Festival (Finland)
ft. Frigg, Trio Dhoore, Captain Cougar, Juuri & Juuri,
Ahlberg Ek & Roswall, Melech Mechaya, Hoven Droven,
Svjata Vatra, Etran Finatawa, Kardemimmit, ...
www.kaustinen.net

12 - 14 July 2014 Le Son Continu, Château d’Ars (France)
ft.  Laïs, Beoga, Máirtín O’Connor, ...
www.lesoncontinu.net

12 - 27 July 2014 Earagail Arts Festival (Ireland)
ft. Sharon Shannon, Frances Black, Mary Coughlan, Fidil,
The Henry Girls, We Banjo 3, Vincent Campbell, ...
www.eaf.ie

18 - 19 July 2014 Ethnoambient Salona, Solin (Croatia)
ft. Spiro, Janusz Prusinowski Trio, ...
www.ethnoambient.net

21 - 25 July 2014 Meitheal - Residential Summer School, Limerick (Ireland)
www.tradweek.com

24 - 27 July 2014 Viljandi Folk Music Festival (Estonia)
ft. Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, Etran Finatawa, ...
www.folk.ee

24 - 27 July 2014 Warwick Folk Festival (UK)
ft. Richard Thompson, Breabach, Habadekuk, Lucy Ward, ...
www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk

25 - 27 July 2014 Zilleghem Folk, Loppem (Belgium)
ft. Naragonia Quartet, Griff, Kadril, Trias, ...
www.zilleghemfolk.be

31 July- 2 August 2014 Urkult Festival (Sweden)
ft. Kíla, Hoven Droven, Triakel, Draupner, ...
www.urkult.se
Tønder Festival

28 - 31 August 2014

Tønder 2013: Hot, Hot, Hot

www.tf.dk

Dreamers Circus

Artist Video Dreamers’ Circus @ FW:
FW#44, #52, #52

www.dreamerscircus.com
31 July - 3 August 2014 Cambridge Folk Festival (UK)
ft. Van Morrison, Sinéad O’Connor, Richard Thompson, Afro Celt Sound System,
Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham, Oysterband, Julie Fowlis, My Darling Clementine,
Yves Lambert Trio, Peatbog Faeries, Cara Dillon, Peggy Seeger, Brian McNeill,
Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle, ...
www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk

1 - 3 August 2014 Castlefest, Schloss Keukenhof, Lisse (Netherlands)
ft. Asynje, Faun, Shantalla, Berlinski Beat, Corvus Corax, Omnia, Zirp, Embrun, ...
www.castlefest.nl

1 - 8 August 2014 Sidmouth FolkWeek (UK)
ft. Martin & Eliza Carthy, Barrule, Breabach, Martin Simpson,
Cara Dillon, Éamonn Coyne, Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson, ...
www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk

1 - 10 August 2014 Festival Interceltique de Lorient (France)
www.festival-interceltique.com

6 - 10 August 2014 Guča Festival (Serbia)
www.guca.rs

7 - 10 August 2014 Parkfest, Eindhoven (Netherlands)
ft. Cecilia, Dealan, Gonnagles, Naragonia, ...
www.parkfest.nl

7 - 9 August 2014 Fairport's Cropredy Convention (UK)
ft. Fairport Convention, Levellers, Peatbog Faeries, ...
www.fairportconvention.com

10 - 17 August 2014 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, Sligo (Ireland)
www.comhaltas.ie, www.fleadhcheoil.ie

13 - 17 August 2014 Summerlied, Ohlungen (Alsace, France)
ft. Tri Yann, I Muvrini, Goran Bregovic, ...
www.summerlied.org

15 - 17 August 2014 Deerlycke Folkfestival (Belgium)
ft. Jamie Smith's Mabon, Streetwings, Les Chauffeurs à pieds, ...
www.deerlycke.be

21 - 24 August 2014 Purbeck Folk Festival (UK)
ft. Eddi Reader, Chris Wood, Emily Barker & the Red Clay Halo, ...
www.purbeckfolk.co.uk

22 - 25 August 2014 Shrewsbury Folk Festival (UK)
ft. Bellowhead, Seth Lakeman, Lau, The Full English, The Chair,
Four Men and a Dog, Martin Simpson, Karine Polwart, Steve Tilston,
Moulettes, Madison Violet, The Young ‘uns, Blackbeard’s Tea Party, ...
www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk
Return to Camden Town Festival

22-26 October 2014

"Late Nights ..."

www.returntocamden.org

Return to Camden

Artist Video London Lasses@ FW:
FW#31, #43, #44

www.londonlasses.net
28 - 31 August 2014 Tønder Festival (Denmark)
ft. Steve Earle, Runrig, Julie Fowlis, Seth Lakeman, We Banjo 3, Eivør, 
Eileen Ivers, Le Vent du Nord, The Outside Track, Oysterband, Big Basco,
Madison Violet, Habadekuk, Harald Haugaard Band ft. Helene Blum, Chieftains,
Dreamers’ Circus, Foghorn Stringband, Rod Sinclair, Sheesham and Lotus, ...
www.tf.dk

29 - 31 August 2014 Off The Tracks (UK)
ft. Treacherous Orchestra, 3 Daft Monkeys, ...
www.offthetracks.co.uk

9 - 12 October 2014 Fira Mediterrània de Manresa (Spain)
ft. Dulce Pontes, Massilia Sound System, ...
www.firamediterrania.cat

11 - 17 October 2014 Blazin' in Beauly (Scotland, UK)
www.blazininbeauly.com

7 - 19 October 2014 Musicport Festival, Whitby (North Yorkshire, UK)
ft. Lucy Ward, O'Hooley & Tidow, Kathryn Williams, Robyn Hitchcock, ...
www.musicportfestival.com

22 - 26 October 2014 Return To Camden Town Festival, London (UK)
ft. Brock McGuire Band, Macalla, Donal Murphy Band, London Lasses, ...
www.returntocamden.org

22 - 26 October 2014 WOMEX World Music Expo, Santiago de Compostela (Galicia, Spain)
www.womex.com


  Last but not least: The Power of Song



"Atemlose Stille ..."

www.gerdschinkel.de

The German Federal Government, it has been reported, have today considered possibly banning the singer/songwriter residing in Cologne, Gerd Schinkel, from writing songs about politicians. Gerd has a history of writing well honed, socially critical songs about a group of people who are becoming known as „WOTTIPPs“. i.e. about personalities who are „Way Over The Top In Public Positions“ Gerd would still probably be little known outside of small musical circles, were it not for the fact that in March this year two „big hitters“, who both had original songs crafted about them by Gerd, spectacularly resigned from office after several long months of denial.

Is this a sign of the emergent power of song?

Artist Video

Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, the Bishop of Limburg, who was appointed by the last pope, had his resignation accepted by the current pope, for spending too much money on his opulently refurbished residence in Limburg on the river Lahn, and for being somewhat „frugal with the truth“ as Gerd describes in his song.

Artist Video

Uli Hoeneß the chairman of Bayern Munich football club succesfully tendered his resignation in March for not spending enough money on paying his taxes and for also being somewhat, „frugal with the truth“ as Gerd describes in his song, „Was Schoenes zu Hoeneß“.

So the moral of the tale is, what ever type of a WOTTIPP you may be, whether the lavish spendthrift or the wallet closed skinflint, if Gerd Schinkel recognises you as one and writes a song about you, the chances are you have roughly twelve months to carefully draft your letter of resignation before the „proverbial“ hits the fan big time.

There are several prominent politicians who may also perhaps be considered as being WOTTIPPs and many of them are also often considered somewhat „frugal with the truth“ when needs must. Little wonder then that politicians are being far thinking and prudent enough to avoid future disaster should Gerd Schinkel continue with his rhythmic and lyrical exposés of prominent people in public positions with a tendency to go way over the top. Frugality is normally a virtue, but „being frugal with the truth“ may not necessarily be. Understandable then that the politicians are worried in case they themselves may come into the firing line if Gerd decides to go for „the Holy Trinity“ in ecclesiastical parlance or for a „hat trick“ in football parlance and pen yet another song about WOTTIPPs.

Keep up the good work Gerd! John Harrison (Folk Club Bonn)

Gerd Schinkel is a thoroughly modern troubadour in the best traditional sense as was special guest at the Folk Club Bonn in March 2014. You can listen to a few more of his songs @ www.youtube.com/user/GerdSchinkel.

Folk Club 42


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