Ballroom Dancing

Photo by Gary Miller

Where Goes English Folk Music?

The old adage that "everything old is new again" is popping up in Britain once more, only on this occasion it's a fascination with traditional folk music. This fast-moving panel, led by author Will Hodgkinson, served as an attempt to alert Americans to the phenomenon with some of the movement's most influential artists, including Jim Moray, members of Trembling Bells, and Rachel Unthank, along with genuine American folk icon Judy Collins, known for her love of traditional British sounds. While bogging down at one point trying to define what folk music is, Moray offered great insight into what he does by explaining: "Folk is separate from traditional. Beyoncé's 'Crazy in Love' can be a folk song, but it can't be a traditional." Unaccompanied performances by the Trembling Bells and audience member Sam Lee offered examples of the music's sound – think old English ballads, i.e., story songs – although live, there are modern touches to what they do. Always the rebel, Collins agreed that bringing new ideas to the music was paramount to keeping it alive, while Adrian McNally, the Unthanks' manager, argued that "being truthful to the music and to yourself is all that matters."