Observations and Comment
Folk festival or festival with folk - and other stuff? (June 29, 2009)
Strange isn’t it – many folk festival promotions show an
increasing number of so-called headline and support bands on the play list that
have about as much to do with folk as the government has with reality. Now why
is that?
Possibly organisers want to widen the spread and increase the
appeal of their event. Perhaps they feel that a folk-only folk festival will
have restricted appeal to a younger audience. Maybe they’re on a mission to
bring modern (or different) music to the jaded ears of old (and young) folkies.
There may even be a case for driving profits higher. Whatever the reason
there’s a noticeable increase in the number of events that throw in the odd
punk/rock/pop/swing/jazz band that are as incongruous at a folk festival as
Tracy Emin’s alleged art in an art gallery.
This phenomenon seems to apply more to the larger three, four-day
and more festival extravaganzas than smaller one-day events. Does that mean
that larger events are padding-out the play list with any genre of bands? Does
this mean that folk-events are morphing into Glastonbury clones? Although event
size and duration does not appear to dictate the inclusion of an anomaly band
or two, what does apply is the focus. And it appears that this is the deciding
factor. If the event is a ‘festival’ rather than a ‘folk festival’ then it’s
more likely that anything will go. The focus can be whatever the organisers
decide to include – as with Glastonbury – and good luck to them. However, if it’s
a folk festival is it reasonable to expect the focus to be on folk?
Now there are many bands that walk the line between folk and
other styles (such as rock and punk) with considerable dexterity and success.
Their idiosyncratic approach allows them to fit into many camps and their musical
range is such that even the most ardent folky can find time for them. The
Levellers are such an example – as punky and rocky as you like but with a
definite folk-influenced edge. Jethro Tull fit into a folky rock bracket and
many a folk fan has a few ‘Tull Cds in their collection. The list goes on and is
far too long to include here. However, those that definitely belong in it range
from Oysterband to Green Day. That’s because in each case there’s something very
folky going on in there (even if not all the time) along with the band’s
distinctive style.
So far so good ... but where does the inclusion of out and
out new wave, rap, house, garage, alternative, punk, power pop, swing, jazz and
indie rock bands without the slightest suspicion of folk in their approach fit
into a folk event? Now I’m sure that those who feel they belong will raise the
argument that we should all have a wider and more eclectic musical appreciation.
And as far as it goes that’s absolutely fine and good for one’s musical health.
There’s nothing whatever wrong with an eclectic taste. Be happy to listen to
Beethoven, Gilbert and Sullivan, Led Zeppelin, The Levellers, Fairport
Convention and Martin Carthy - and everything in between.
However, when it comes down to selling a folk event on the
strength of a line-up that includes an incompatible headline band and a couple
of additional ‘make-weights - that confuses the hell out of me.
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