pring brings the promise of new life and A recent Ofsted report found that only a minority rejuvenation. All around our patch, Morris of pupils now receive a good-quality music sides are girding their loins for a new education, suggesting that in future folk music dancing season, and in this issue our roving may have more difficulty in passing the baton to reporter looks into Morris on May Day, tracing the next generation. One established and highly its history back to its origins in ancient fertility effective way of passing on the techniques and rituals. Folk music itself continually needs new the ethos of folk music is informal coaching blood, and in our last issue we took pride in at the local club, but we also need to replace the healthy state of recruitment – the Radio 2 at least some of the formal tuition previously Folk Awards, where emerging talents competed provided by schools. on broadly equal terms with more established artists, justified our optimism. Many of you already participate in training schemes, some of which involve working with Folk music has benefited from an education schools (as EFDSS does), while others are led system which provided a steady stream of by private concerns like the Stables, by music recruits, many with a good general grounding, trusts and foundations such as Folkstock, or by some with advanced musical proficiency. the many independent teachers in our region. We However, student numbers in formal music believe that education and training will become a education – GCSE and A-level, instrument continuing strand in Unicorn, and we begin with grades, youth orchestras and bands – have some thoughtful observations from readers (see been steadily falling. Teachers suggest various our blog), a news snippet in Chatterbox, and of reasons, such as the rival attractions of sport course with the forthright views of Long Lankin. and socialising, the easy thrill of computer games, and of course the recession. To these If you’d like to join the discussion, drop us a line. factors must now be added the marginalisation Meanwhile, we’ll see you round the clubs and of music in the school curriculum, and the the maypoles. consequent reduction in funding. Simon, Clive & Mike Editorial 1 Unicorn Diary 23 – 25 Editorial Staff: Contents 1 Club Index 26 Simon Bailes Interview: The Foxglove Trio 3 Tune: St Anne’s at Sunset 29 07807 535110 [email protected] Chatterbox 5 Feature: St Albans Folk Festival 31 Clive Batkin Club Profile: Royston Folk Club 7 Shall We Dance? 34 07771 822414 Book Review: English Folk Tunes for Uke 8 Feature: Towersey Folk Festival 39 [email protected] Sessions 10 Interview: Nikita Strange, Limelight 42 Mike Nacey 07879 024193 Feature: Morris on Mayday 13 Advertiser Information 43 [email protected] Morris Diary 14 – 15 Feature: Folk on Internet Radio 44 Contact address: Feature: Said The Maiden 19 Interview: Dan Evans 47 10 Chapel Street, Dunton, CD Reviews: 20 Broadside by Long Lankin 48 Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8RW Front cover photo by Al Rogers – “The Dudley Fighting Guitar” Printed by KJB UK Ltd Resonator guitar courtesy of Peter Phipps © Unicorn Magazine 2014 CB1069 • April 2014 VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.UNICORNMAGAZINE.ORG UNICORN MAGAZINE: Issue 126 1 The Foxglove Trio he Foxglove Trio make an instant impression. melodeon maestro Andy Cutting, plus Oysterband, Seeing them for the first time at St Alban’s Faustus, Lau and Peatbog Faeries. TFolk Day last year, I was struck by their rich sound, their inventive arrangements, and most Another factor, less tangible but equally important of all by their assured approach to performance. in creating a coherent sound, is that the Foxgloves Catching up with them in February at NAF Club, are entirely comfortable in each other’s company, Silsoe, we chatted about what goes into creating both musically and personally. Ffion and Patrick their distinctive performances. were friends at Durham University, and are now married, while Ffion and Cathy began playing The Trio comprises Cathy Mason on guitar and together at 6th form college in south Wales. Ffion cello, Ffion Mair on whistle and bodhran, and went solo after reaching the New Roots finals, and Patrick Dean on melodeon, cello and concertina; turned naturally to her comrades when the band all three also sing. The cellos are deployed in a formed in November 2010. style which evokes a string quartet, whether using double-stopping to create full chords, or weaving The Foxgloves plan to release their first full CD a sinuous counterpoint around the melody. Add to in late summer or autumn. Patrick explains that this Ffion’s precise vocal phrasing and articulation, they intend to include more self-penned songs and the carefully balanced structure of their and reworkings of traditional material, alongside material, and the classical influence is clear. some well-known singalong favourites. Meanwhile Ffion, a native Welsh speaker, has started a blog to How has their formal training contributed explore the rich seam of Welsh song, focusing on to their sound? Ffion suggests that it builds less well-known traditional material. confidence, Cathy adding that it instils discipline in preparation and performance, but they feel The Foxglove Trio are right to assert that their strongly that a more important factor is their music resists categorisation. This elusive quality immersion in music-making from an early age. reflects the sheer diversity of their influences, Ffion began singing in public aged three, entering drawn from their classical training, allied to a competitions and rising to the level demanded keen appreciation of folk music, and informed by the International Eisteddfod. She thus gained by eclectic listening tastes. This potent blend a thorough grounding in the folk tradition, while encourages an approach to innovation which working through the grades in oboe, harp, piano respects convention without being hindered by it, and recorder. Cathy started at about 6 on piano, and I for one look forward to discovering where moving quickly to cello in the school orchestra this will take them next. and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. Patrick was a late starter, reaching the grand age of seven Mike Nacey before embarking on cello grades, and like Cathy Foxglove Trio website: he moved into folk at 6th form and university. www.thefoxglovetrio.co.uk Welsh folk song blog: What musical influences help shape the sound? caneuongwerin.wordpress.com Ffion is wary of the question: “We try not to base our sound on any one band or musical style.” Patrick amplifies her point, saying “We are as likely to draw inspiration from Radiohead as from Bellowhead”, while Cathy cites pop band Muse, who “in their use of orchestral interludes and piano solos inspire me not to be scared of experimenting”. Yet they do admit to some folk influences. Ffion admires singers Julie Murphy and Kris Drever for their voice quality, “genuine, understated and always clear”. Patrick’s favourites include Bellowhead cellist Rachael McShane and (L TO R) PATRICK DEAN, FFION MAIR, CATHY MASON 2 PLEASE MENTION UNICORN MagazINE WHEN replying to ADS UNICORN MAGAZINE: Issue 126 UNICORN MAGAZINE: Issue 126 WWW.unicornmagazINE.ORG 3 The Full English in MK: Barry Goodman and Dave assures us that his mainspring is still in good Graeme Meek (Beds / Herts based duo Life order, and he plans to spend more time playing his & Times) are working with Patrick Dean (The trusty guitar – perhaps with banjo or mandolin as Foxglove Trio) on the EFDSS Full English project, a new sideline. His many customers will miss his using the society’s recently digitised archive of enthusiasm, unfailing good humour and excellent traditional material to inspire workshops around service, and will no doubt join us in sending him the country. At Loughton School, Milton Keynes, our best wishes. their workshops are augmenting the school’s own Puzzles & competitions: Unicorn reader Clive work on local history. Patrick will help Barry with Brittain muses, as he does, on whether Unicorn the dance element, teaching children a local May could become more interactive. We must admit song collected by Douglas Kennedy; Graeme will that our blog-based photo contest – Unicorn in far- prepare May celebratory paraphernalia such as a flung places – is not over-subscribed, but would hobby horse and May garlands, for Year 3 children readers be more interested in quizzes or puzzles? to decorate. Graeme and Barry will then work And if so, do any of you have skills in that field? with each class to write songs about the area, set Answers, inevitably, on a postcard… to traditional tunes. The project ends in June at Birmingham Town Hall, when all 18 participating CD reviews: While in feedback mode you may like schools in England will present a short to comment on our policy, established by Alan performance, backed by a house band including & Theo, of reviewing only CDs by locally-based Graeme and led by John Kirkpatrick. artists. We have no plans to abandon this local focus, but we receive a steady stream of CDs Folk by the Oak: Tickets are on sale for the 7th from artists outside the region – when time and annual festival on Sunday 20 July – for early space permit, would you like us to review the pick bird tickets see www.folkbytheoak.com. Lineup of these? includes Richard Thompson, Seth Lakeman, Kathryn Tickell and The Side, Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita, and Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker. Also, the Elizabethan Session will create new music inspired by the Elizabethan age, Black Fen FC (formerly Cambridge Portland FC) rounding off a project commissioned by Folk by the has settled at the new venue, Hot Numbers Cafe, Oak and EFDSS – see www.folkbytheoak.com/TES.