BellaOnline Forums Books and Music Folk Music New Forum

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to the all new Folk Music forum. As the editor of the new Folk topic on Bella, I would like to thank those of you who have visited.

I'd like some feedback from you all as to what you would like to see covered in the realm of Root Music. I personally have a passion for Zydeco, Cajun,

But I also love Bluegrass,Celtic music and dance, Folk and Folk Rock. There are many renowned singer, songwriters producing wonderful music outside of the pop scene. Those are the musicians and artists that I am targeting.

Tell me about your passions.

Hi Chris - great to see a Folk Music site and best of luck with it - looks and reads great. As a musician and music fan I'm interested in listening to all types of music myself, and Folk would have to be in there of course.

Of the top of my head, I have a triple CD I bought back in the 90s called "The Folk Box" and it's got some good stuff on it dating from the 60s and up. It's mostly English Folk but also includes the Celts too - Fairport Convention, Billy Connolly (well known Scottish comedian/actor who originally was a Folk singer with a band called "The Humblebums"), The Dubliners (some folk leanings), Gerry Rafferty (older Folky stuff), and so on.

I like Folk music because it's mostly genuine and played from the heart. I feel that nowadays, in the commercial world which we are presently living in, that this type of approach to music and thinking is not so common. Certainly it is not well represented in the Music Charts, and the innocence of the earlier recordings is not around much these days as a rule. Although I'm sure there are genuine Folk artists still out there of course - but I don't think they'll be taking over the Pop charts .. for now! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

When I was but a lad growing up in Ireland, one of my fave school teachers was in a Folk band called 'The Golden Dawn' - the band even appeared on B/W TV back then, singing a song to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in Irish!!!

I ended up playing the guitar partly through this experience, and became a professional musician - it's a long story <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

David

Thanks David ...

What type of music is it that you play and what instrument?

I have to admit I have no musical talents myself but music has been a big part of my life, all of my life. My tastes are highly diverse but (long story) since returning to Rhode Island to North Carolina, I have turned my attention to root music which is what I intend to do with the Folk Channel.

My primary PASSION is Cajun/Zydeco because I dance both styles but I have also become heavily emersed in Bluegrass and learning more every day. I did some Ceili dancing for a bit and would like to do more and perhaps learn a little bit of Step Dancing. We have a wonderful theater locally that features celtic artists from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Cape Brittian. They are now starting the expand the diversity to other root music. The theater is owned and home to a Celtic Folk band called Pendragon ... they have been together in New England for 25+ years and have a wonderful sound. Very popular and have a large following. They sing about the settlement of the Blackstone Valley and the large immigrant populations from the Celtic countries.

Hi Chris

I have mostly played in "Cover" bands doing chart/popular music from over the years, from Frank Sinatra right up to modern day stuff like U2/Coldplay and so on.

But I have a personal home recording studio where I like to record all types of music, from movie type scores to originals. But as I mentioned to u, I like to listen to all types of music from any century :>, and I think this all creeps into my music.

I'm working on releasing lots of stuff I've recorded, but "life", and my online work keeps me too busy at the moment to get this done ... it's getting there slowly LOL.

As to instruments, I started off on the Electric and Acoustic Guitar, then added Vocals to this. Mostly because of the studio, I have also learned Keyboards and Electric Bass but long story here. I program Drums and Keyboards too for the studio - this can range from programming classical style music to Pop and all styles in between. I'm a much better keyboard programmer than player, as, I learn a piece, record it, and then promptly forget how to play it - DOH!

I think, because of your love for Roots Music, that you should take up the guitar yourself <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Also your rhythm training from the dancing would be a great help here. The guitar would be ideal to suit this style of music (and loads of others - it's a most versatile instrument). I'm not biased towards the guitar or anything like that <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ...

David

I've toyed with the idea of learning Fiddle but guitar isn't something I'd thought about. I love the sound of the fiddle and it is so prevelent in the roots music which makes it even more intreguing. At Greyfox this year, during the All Star Jam ...Darol Anger came out with 6 fiddlers joinging Lori Lewis and Tim O'Brien both on fiddles ... that's 9 fiddlers! It was pretty interesting to watch/listen to ... plus Rushad Eggleston on Chello (mind you playing bluegrass on it) ... amazing.

Yo the Fiddle - over here in Switzerland it's called "The Violin" usually <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

In Ireland where I'm originally from, the Fiddle is very popular - it's heard in lots of Trad music - I like it. Although we do have "Violins" too! Basically I have found in my experience that people who play Classical music tend to call it the Violin, whereas the more "Trad" or "Roots" type musician and fan call it the Fiddle <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. I like both!

Whatever it's called it's a great sounding instrument isn't it? I have always had a soft spot for the odd Electric Fiddle - I've met a few players of this instrument over the years ... one in particular was a guy called Steve Wickham who ended up playing with a band called The Waterboys - a well known band in Europe. The other noticeable Electric Fiddle player for me was a guy called Charles O'Connor who played with a famous Irish group back in the 70s called Horslips - they originally pioneered a type of music which became known as Trad-Rock. http://www.horslipsrecords.com/

Bluegrass on Cello! ... <img src="/images/graemlins/beamedup.gif" alt="" />

David <img src="/images/graemlins/irish.gif" alt="" />

Just a thought Chris... If you ever did decide to pick up on the Fiddle and start playing in a band, it would probably take at least a few years before you would be good enough to gig with a band. Whereas the Guitar could allow you to get out "there" on stage much quicker!

This is mainly because the guitar can be used as a backing instrument (rhythm and chords, quicker to learn the basics), and the Fiddle is an instrument used mainly for soloing and playing melodies (takes a lot longer to get up to standard).

The great thing about the Guitar is that it can also be used as a soloing instrument aswell as a backing instrument. You can't use the Fiddle as a backing instrument (as a rule), and it's MUCH harder to get a soloing instrument up to gigging level.

That's one of the reasons why the Guitar is so versatile because it allows you to do both, and you can take it to higher soloing levels IF you want to.

But hey if you just like to listen it's not an issue ... enjoy the music :>. You must have a love for the instrument you choose of course, but the above might be something worth considering.

D <img src="/images/graemlins/irish.gif" alt="" />

PS I am not the "Minister For Guitars", I just like 'em - this is just the "facts" LOL!

Whoa .... don't think I'd ever perform in a band no matter what the instrument lol! I just like the sound of the fiddle and I'd be happy to be able to just get to the point where I could "fiddle" around in an evening jam at the festivals. We have a cajun band here with a terrific fiddler ... Michelle does give lessons and it is from her that I would consider learning. I also love Mark O'Conner and the fiddler from Little Johnny England and .. and ... and ... lol! I guess it those that seem to play with a passion as opposed to those who simple play. Natalie McMaster is quite revered and although she is good ... in her words she was taught to "play it as it is written, damn it" We saw a collaboration between her, Darol Anger and Mark O'Connor at Merlefest 2004 ... both Darol and Mark are amazing improvisors and stretch the boundries ... Natalie was so lost up on that stage it was visable.

Anyway ... I do love to listen to all of the music ... it brings joy to my soul.

Ok Chris I've Whoa'd! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

If " ... it brings joy to my soul. " ... that's what it's all about!

D

hahaha the Whoa was more for me than you lol! I never even envisioned performing .... I'm scared to death to even think of trying to learn ... my brain takes the sound of the music in but it doesn't decifer the notes that makes it so beautiful.

It truly is what life is all about .... joy!

Speaking of performing, here's an e-book I wrote that deals with exactly that subject Chris, called Sing 'n' Play Now! It deals with how to get out there and perform onstage - no previous musical experience necessary!

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32927.asp

It's got lots of tips and techniques for wannabes and musicians of all levels - including ways to remember lyrics, choose the correct songs, songs to avoid, getting gigs, preparing for gigs and loads more.

David