CARRY on STREAMIN from EDINBURGH FOLK CLUB Probably the Best Folk Club in the World! Dateline: Wednesday 14 October 2020 Volume 1.10

CARRY ON STREAMIN from EDINBURGH FOLK CLUB Probably the best folk club in the world! Dateline: Wednesday 14 October 2020 Volume 1.10

EDINBURGH FOLK CARRY ON STREAMIN CLUB HITS TARGET You may recognise in our banner a ‘reworking’ of the of the Carrying BUT TO KEEP DOING Stream festival which EFC’s late chair, Paddy Bort, created shortly after the SO NEEDS YOUR HELP! death of Hamish Henderson.

After Paddy died in February 2017, EFC created the Paddy Bort Fund (PBF) to give financial assistance to folk performers who, through no fault of their own, fall on hard times. Eberhardt "Paddy" Bort No-one contemplated anything like the Since March the fund has been a lifeline for coronavirus. Now we need to many. Thanks to the generosity of small, and replenish PBF and have set a target of one or two large, donations, an early target (at least) £10 000. of £10,000 was achieved. This has enabled Edinburgh Folk Cub to make payouts to 40 There are two strands to Carry On struggling musicians to date. The sums have Streamin - this publication and our not been large, but have, in a couple of cases, YouTube channel where you will find, paid the month’s rent to hold off a threatened every fortnight, videos donated by eviction, bought children’s clothes and some of the best folk acts around. WHERE HAVE ALL the fiddlers, the groceries, bought art supplies to allow Please donate to PBF as best you can, guitarists, banjo-players, cellists, creative people to diversify, and simply using the PayPal links we provide. accordionists, mandolin players, singers, given individuals and families a breathing flautists, whistlers, and players of the space. Some of the recipients have been uillean and small pipes gone? Nowhere. “household names”, recording successes on the Scottish folk scene. Since lockdown commenced in March, there have been no live traditional music Although Paddy Bort, a folk fanatic but also events, no summer festivals, no pub an academic who ran student placements in sessions, no folk clubs. Our tradition has the Scottish Parliament, was well known in almost fallen silent. Holyrood, government is slow to respond to the needs of this sector of society. They are Edinburgh Folk Club has not been idle, not “key workers”, but, as the crisis drags on however, and has been engaged with all the and mental health problems are increasing, small enterprises to post “live” folk on line, we do well to remember the proven power of through its fortnightly YouTube postings music to lift the mood. “Carry on Streamin”. There are also new, and old, albums appearing on sites like (continued over … ) Bandcamp. These efforts have helped to stop the folkies crying into their beer. More vitally, however, these efforts are to some Click here PayPal to donate extent helping those musicians who can to the Paddy Bort Fund. afford no beer to cry into, and, quite literally, no shoes for the weans. And click here to go to The Paddy Bort Fund was set up as a EFC’s YouTube channel. legacy fund for the Club’s charismatic chairman who did not live to see the See the panel (right) for the pandemic. Its intention was always to help performers on the video musicians who found themselves in accompanying this edition of unanticipated financial trouble. COS.

http://efc1973.com/home :: https://www.facebook.com/Edinburgh-Folk-Club-155304611154742/ :: @edfolkclub Please note that Edinburgh Folk Club cannot accept responsibility for the content of third party websites displayed in this newsletter and offers all content in good faith. CARRY ON STREAMIN from EDINBURGH FOLK CLUB Probably the best folk club in the world! Dateline: Wednesday 14 October 2020 Volume 1.10

(… continued from front page) as we have considered and managed risk We all thought it would be over by September, and projected “what-if” scenarios as we but now only the wildest optimists think, as in contemplate what a new future will look 1914, that it will be over by Christmas. like. Christmas now looms for those musicians and From the get-go, our approach was very their families. The Paddy Bort Fund is not much about what we can do, and to not sit renewing fast enough to meet continuing need, on our laurels waiting on what might be. and donation fatigue is setting in. But for the musicians who were feeling the pinch in April, We were committed to providing a service May and June, nothing has changed. Of course Leith Theatre: main hall to the community while the building for many now facing new insecurity charity remained closed for public activity. LEITH THEATRE TRUST truly must begin at home, and the concept of During our public closure, we have been October 2020 – COVID up-date “spare change” is a mirage clung to by rough able to adapt to the changing landscape sleepers. But if anyone has enjoyed the Who would have thought what was ahead and provide a COVID-safe closed, non- traditional music that is embedded in our of us when we closed our doors on 20th public private hire space in our Main culture, and can spare a few quid, the Paddy March 2020? Suddenly, all of the things Auditorium. This has allowed us to host Bort Fund can place it where there is greatest we had planned, we were no longer able to various filming, livestreaming and digital immediate need. (click here for PayPal. In and we gradually saw our programme events. The venue has still managed to return, donors can listen to all those musicians slipping away. We were trying to operate play a key role within the community on-line and look forward to the days when our and look after a building from our stay-at- while also providing a home for creative venues will sing again. home offices and we have certainly faced activity. difficult business decisions along the way (continued over … )

(… continued from previous page) Musical’ Choir. The Edinburgh Council EMPTY KITCHENS FULL HEARTS funded project saw a musical collaboration Empty Kitchens Full Hearts, a charitable of some of Edinburgh’s finest musicians organisation tackling food poverty in from our Scots-African community. Edinburgh, moved into our Thomas PERFORMING ARTS VENUES Morton Hall and Kitchen area in July RELIEF FUND 2020. They have so far delivered and On the 24th September we were delighted served over 200,000 hot meals to the to announce our successful application for community. Leith Theatre has aided funding via the Performing Arts Venue EKFH by providing a safe space to Relief Fund, granted by Creative Scotland. prepare and distribute food across the city This funding is extremely welcome in Leith Theatre: We Make Events while also operating a hot food service on- such challenging times and helps us to site, serving lunch and dinner every day. keep the organisation alive and look to the need for a venue of our scale in Leith Theatre also hosts a donation point new ways of operating. Edinburgh and beyond. for the Edinburgh North East Foodbank THE SNUTS – ‘ALWAYS’ SINGLE DOORS OPEN DAY 2020 which has been incredibly well supported RELEASE VIDEO SHOOT 27th September saw us celebrate Doors by local residents. We finished the month of September by Open Day 2020 digitally. Our Finance WIDE DAYS – SCOTLAND’S MUSIC hosting the music video film shoot of and Fundraising Manager, Anna, took CONVENTION emerging, young Scottish Rock outfit The online visitors on a filmed, tour of the In July, we were very pleased to welcome Snuts. The band, who recently sold out the venue. Despite not being able to host Wide Days – Scotland’s Music 3000-capacity Edinburgh Corn Exchange visitors to the Theatre, we were still able Convention – to our Main Auditorium. in a matter of hours, have now released to highlight really interesting areas of the They utilised the MA to film their their latest single ‘Always’, captured on building which visitors usually are unable showcase acts. Due to the pandemic, Wide to access. By clicking here you can enjoy Days – who have been running Scotland’s the tour of the venue. foremost music industry conference for WE MAKE EVENTS CAMPAIGN the last 11 years – moved their convention On 1st October Leith Theatre proudly online to a digital audience. So that supported the global ‘We Make Events’ attendees could still enjoy Wide Days’ live campaign by blanketing the exterior of the showcases, they filmed all of their acts building in red lighting, installed by our playing live from our stage. These pre- technical partners Blacklight. This recordings with only the band and crew on showed our solidarity with live event site with Leith Theatre staff, were then workers, urging governments to do more broadcast to a live, digital audience. to support workers across the sector. HONEYBLOOD, MY LIGHT SHINES As we begin to enter the winter period, we ON, (Edinburgh International Festival) will strive to maintain a COVID-safe Wide Days was followed shortly by our space and despite our non-public and involvement in the Edinburgh capacity restrictions, we aim to continue to International Festival’s ‘My Light Shine’s host and engage directly with the creative On’ programme in August. Leith Theatre sector. once again played host to the filming of The last few months have shown the live music performances. These fantastic Theatre’s flexibility and adaptability and videos were then all shown live on BBC this has placed us in good stead for what Scotland and online. This programme could be an unprecedented and extremely allowed the EIF to deliver a cultural challenging future. platform despite not being able to host its Leith Theatre: The Snuts annual festivities in the flesh. (Ed: see We tell our story through our newsletters video, in Leith Theatre. The group who here for review in The Scotsman) and our social media platforms. You can played Leith Theatre back in 2018 were sign up for our newsletter or support and SHONA THE MUSICAL CHOIR very pleased to be back in the venue, donate via our website Leith Theatre and In September, we hosted the closed, making a number of statements regarding follow us on Twitter, Instagram and private rehearsal of the ‘Shona The the building’s authenticity, heritage and Facebook.

https://edinburghfolkclub.bandcamp.com/

so socialising and parties always ended up in music and singing sessions”. In the early 70s, she moved to the village of Balerno, on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Having been surrounded by such a vibrant musical community, the move was no doubt an adjustment – the music on offer limited to one weekly Saturday session in the lounge bar of a local pub. Seeing the need for more, she and some friends began arranging music nights in the Grey Horse pub. The nights started as fundraisers for the Scottish National Party but as the event’s popularity grew, the audiences became steadily larger and more apolitical. Soon there was talk of a folk club, leading to the institution that is the Morag Dunbar Balerno Folk Club, which Morag has been involved in running for more than SCOTS TRADITIONAL HALL OF John Weatherby FAME INDUCTEE #1 four decades, alongside a dedicated committee of volunteers, which in the SCOTS TRADITIONAL HALL OF MORAG DUNBAR’s love of folk early days also included Alex Hood, then FAME INDUCTEE #2 music started in Kirkcaldy in the 1960s. organiser of the Edinburgh Police Folk At the time, the legendary Elbow Room Club. Over the years, the club has given JOHN WEATHERBY … For nearly Lounge Bar was a firm fixture on the a stage to acts now household names, 40 years, John Weatherby has been Scottish folk circuit. She’d be there, including: Dougie MacLean, John behind the desk engineering and every Thursday after school, in the Martyn, Dick Gaughan, and The mixing live sound for some of the folk audience for the likes of Archie Fisher, McCalmans, who recorded their 1988 scene’s biggest acts. One of an early Hamish Imlach, The Corries and Matt album “Listen to the Heat” live in generation of sound engineers to McGinn. concert at the club. approach the craft as a specialist in traditional music, he has toured the Leaving school, she moved to Edinburgh As well as their regular monthly world with a number of legendary folk for university and soon found plenty programme, since 2008 the club has been names, as well as being a weel-kent things to get involved in. She joined the a partner of the Balerno Music Festival face at many festivals and events here Edinburgh University folk club, in her to bring folk events to this annually held in Scotland. words: “Not as good as The Elbow three week extravaganza of music in all Room but still good!” Much to her its forms. The Folk Club’s events form His involvement with music started flatmates’ horror, she took up guitar an integral and popular part of the array with the guitar, which he began lessons on offer there, and started of events on offer. learning aged 12. Over time, this playing and singing, contributing to the turned into playing with folk bands music at club nights, sessions and These years of involvement in the music alongside a day job as a primary parties. have led to many wonderful memories, school teacher. At this time – in the and unique moments. From being one of late 1970s, he discovered that when She recounts that there were so many the judges for the best folk group faced with a lineup of traditional and opportunities in Edinburgh for folk competition during the Edinburgh Folk acoustic instruments, most sound music: The Crown Bar, Sandy Bells, Ian Festival and receiving a demo tape from engineers were quickly stumped – Green’s legendary Police Social Club, a young Capercaillie – all still in school perhaps never having previously and the University Scottish Nationalist at the time, to visits to the TMSA encountered a harp, set of bagpipes, Club, a movement which has always had festivals in Kinross and Blairgowrie. But fiddle, or traditional music of any sort. a strong folk music tradition that most cherished of all are memories of continues to this day. As she put it: “My those earliest days in The Elbow Room, friends all tended to be in the folk scene, where it all began. (continued over … )

(… continued from previous page) As well as touring with these bands, and SCARY BISCUITS In response to this he set up Sound Sense in others including: Iron Horse, Malinky, the 1982 – a PA, sound engineering and Paul McKenna Band, Ceolbeg, and the recording company specialising in BBC Young Traditional Musician of the traditional music. As well as this, he wanted Year Tour, John has provided sound and to bring a different ethos to the work. Of production services to a number of events engineers of the era he remarked: “It was here in Scotland, including: Girvan Folk expected you’d have a beer or a joint before Festival, Glenfarg Folk Feast and even starting work”. Stonehaven Folk Festival. He spent six years as the technical director of the His services quickly found demand with Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, and Ossian, at the time a major presence on the has directed live sound at the legendary international folk circuit. With their Orkney Folk Festival for over 30 years. relentless touring schedule, it became clear that pursuit of the burgeoning Sound Sense His popularity is for good reason. As business was going to bring some clashes Maart Allcock put it: with playing and teaching. “I’ve been round the world a bit with the The largest clash came in 1986, when John likes of Fairport Convention and Jethro was asked to accompany Ossian on a six Tull, and I’ve had to deal with Soundman week tour of the United States. His request du Jour many times. I can safely say that for leave was declined, but undeterred he whenever I see Big John Weatherby at the Morag Neil: boss at Scary Biscuits took it to his union – EIS, and without console I know I have nothing to worry about…” waiting to hear the result, left for America. COVID 19 UPDATE - Morag Neil Unbeknownst to him, at home his request (Ed: click here to see the full list of writes ... Sadly, due to the ongoing was climbing the ladder, eventually landing inductees for Services to Community) coronavirus pandemic, all live tours on the desk of education director Frank and performances I have worked on Pignatelli. It was only after he’d been in the BURGLARY ALERT are cancelled/postponed throughout states for a few days that he got the call to EDGWARE GUITARS is a musical 2020. Hopefully they will be able to say his request had been approved. instrument shop in London who restart in 2021. Meanwhile, I am After this, performing and teaching took a posted this on Facebook at the working with my clients to develop back seat for life behind the sound desk. weekend just past: “It is with a very alternative, safe and innovative ways Touring with Ossian in the 80s gave way to heavy heart we report that sadly we to get their work out in the world, working with Four Men and a Dog including continuing to release new were broken into last night. The music and art, online performances throughout the 1990s, accompanying them thieves got away with 16 guitars, 13 across the world to engineer anything up to etc. of which are in the images 260 gigs a year, including a career highlight This is such a difficult time for – mixing shows with Rick Danko of The attached. Please can we ask everyone to share this post far and everyone, but especially for the whole Band appearing as special guest, in support professional creative ecosystem, where wide to keep a look out for the of their 1995 release Doctor A’s Secret we are all interconnected – artists, Remedies. guitars. If you have any venues, promoters, agents, tour His long and varied career as a live sound information, please contact John managers and FOH staff, not to and recording engineer has had its on 07950 476237. Many thanks mention the printers (and all the diversions: Work as a support artist for a everyone.” Go to their people who put up the posters), press, number TV and film series, including Facebook page here to see the photographers, record labels… the list Rebus and Outlander, presenting a folk images mentioned. The shop is enormous. And of course, the program with Alive Radio, and address is 25 Station Road, audiences too. programming and promoting events: Edgware, London HA8 7JE. Please take care, be kind to each other, Curating the folk program at the former SPREAD THE WORD. stay safe, and hopefully we can all Washington Street Arts Centre, house meet again on the other side. concerts in Moffat and Leadhills, and most This appeared in our last edition recently, an annual music festival – and it looks like the bad guys Leadhills Music Blast. haven’t been nicked yet! (continued over … )

(… continued from previous page) Goodbye Mr McKenzie. Infirmary Street. I miss his laugh that always turned into a cough, but most of all, I miss I have been working in the arts for over 25 Previous clients include singer Camille hearing his harmony in my right ear as I sang years (20 of them freelance) as producer, O’Sullivan, writer/director/actor Donal this song with my eyes closed on those publicist and administrator, working with O’Kelly, singer/songwriter Adam magical afternoons. various venues, companies, individual Holmes, the mighty Tide Lines, Blue artists and events, including five years as Rose Code, Chile’s inspirational I was very fortunate to have had his hand on Marketing Manager for Edinburgh Mela musicians Quilapayún, the epic Struileag my back at a fragile moment in time that and two years as Project Development production Children of the Smoke could have gone either way. I know right Manager with The Audience Business, (created by Jim Sutherland) and The now it seems like we have no music, no Scotland’s first audience development Famous Spiegeltent – programming their magic, no art. But as I cast my mind on this agency. 'Before the Fringe' music lineup and time and these dear companions I can see it's Over those years I have worked with a promoting their summer music in me! As it is in you too. In your spirit and huge number of very talented and programme in 2016. And waaay back your recollections, in our imaginings. Never inspirational people, from a wide variety when, I started with innovative Scottish could it be quelled or extinguished. theatre company Communicado, and of backgrounds. The aim of Scary Biscuits Do not, my friends, underestimate the reach helped set up Blues 2000 (the very first Promotions, my company, is to use these of your encouragement or example. May you festival at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange, connections to provide a complete find your way through this. And may you featuring Otis Rush, Odetta, Lazy Lester marketing package and encourage find purpose and connection wherever you and many more). collaborative ways of working. can. Never unviable. Never a victim. Other Irish connections include the very Scary Biscuits is for musicians, artists, Much love to you all x writers, directors and performers who talented Katie O’Kelly, UK Premieres of Irish plays Remember to Breathe and don’t fit exactly into established categories OBITUARY but who have inspiration, talent, original Eggsistentialism, and the innovative ideas and who simply want, and need, to Fishamble – the New Play Company connect! I am interested in long and short (Dublin) – Donal O’Kelly’s Little Thing, term projects, for marketing, promotion or Big Thing and Maz & Bricks. simply to offer support and advice. International dance companies include the frankly stunning Lok Chhanda from India, and Charo Cala Flamenco Company from Seville.

ADAM HOLMES When I first decided to become a full time musician, my HQ was a rocky little boat Kieran Halpin down on infirmary street by the name of The Royal Oak. There I would stash my guitar, KIERAN HALPIN and coming in from the cold of a day's June 4 1955 – October 5 2020 Dean Owens winter busking, I would warm my hands “Strange news is come to town, strange news with with hot pies and play songs for deep, Current clients include the award winning is carried”. We heard that Kieran Halpin has dark pints of guinness and drams of black “Man from Leith” Dean Owens, US/UK died aged 65 years, about week ago. From bottle. collective Buffalo Blood, award winning Drogheda near Dublin originally, Kieran Glasgow chanteuse Christine Bovill, The heart of the Royal Oak was a bear of a played Edinburgh FC many times and always Alabama’s “queen of Southern gothic” man by the name of Martin Boland. We impressed with his direct style of addressing Hannah Aldridge and the acclaimed shared many a precious afternoon together. the subject matter of his songs well matched multimedia event SHAMANIC – a Many a serious and steady conversation by his forthright guitar accompaniment. He dynamic collision of art, music and about life. A lot about John Martyn and how hit the spot every time. And a lovely man to architecture led by Edinburgh-based to treat a guitar. A lot about love is a lesson boot. Concerned, passionate, a carrier of Russian artist Maria Rud, iconic we learn in our time. This was a song that we news throughout his wide touring and an frontwoman of the Rezillos, Fay Fife, and used to sing together. I miss his heavy figure enjoyable conversational companion. He’ll Martin Metcalfe of The Filthy Tongues/ leaning on his staff in that doorway on be missed (is missed)! jb

three years in the making were shelved will need to continue to rely on food HOW CORONAVIRUS indefinitely, and there was an immediate halt packages sent by family, small one-off HAS HIT THE UK’S of cashflow in many cases. charitable grants, and (for some) universal credit allowances, in the hope that some of Many creative freelancers have “portfolio the rescue package eventually trickles down CREATIVE INDUSTRIES careers”, with multiple jobs. But a high to them. In the meantime, the rent and (this article is reprinted in full from the proportion of these ancillary jobs, such as mortgage holidays, which had been keeping excellent The Conversation (October 8 teaching, were also halted due to lockdown. some afloat, will come to an end. 2020) under their Creative Commons This meant many were unable to make any licence). money. Plus, the reasons that people were The creative economy makes an enormous As the days get shorter and the second wave excluded from government support – such as contribution to the cultural fabric of British of coronavirus sets in, the UK is switching to being newly self-employed or having part- society. Its value to the UK economy is a new winter economy plan. The package time work on a payroll, which generated estimated to be £13 million per hour. of measures marks a shift in government around 50% of their total income – were also Before the pandemic, the creative industries rhetoric from “jobs retention” to “jobs the reasons that these workers were were one of the fastest-growing sectors of support” as the new plan focuses on so- particularly in need of support. For example, the economy, contributing £111 billion in called “viable” jobs, rather than protecting because they were new graduates or still 2018. emerging in their profession and had a mix jobs in general. But the coronavirus pandemic has exposed of jobs. For those that previously made their living in the inherent precarity of the creative labour the creative industries, this is worrying news. The cancellation of arts festivals has further market. Creative work is often poorly paid, With many sectors of the creative economy removed vital opportunities for creatives to insecure, and it requires a great deal of unable to resume activity due to the show and develop new work, find investment to create and sustain a creative pandemic, many creative jobs may not be collaborators and make the industry career. With the recent announcement of seen as viable under the rules of the new connections who would commission them or redundancies by the Sage Gateshead scheme. fund future events and tours. And while concert venue and the V&A museum, it is much creative work has found an audience clear that even the biggest and most An even greater crisis faces the many online during this period, many are worried important performing arts venues in our creative freelancers who have been excluded that by giving this content away for free, country will struggle to survive. from all forms of jobs and business support they are setting a precedent that their work Less visible, but just as important, the vast since the pandemic hit in March. Campaign lacks value and risks devaluing their practice freelance workforce that delivers the artistic group Excluded UK estimates that 3 million as a whole. UK taxpayers have been unable to access content and support for these organisations meaningful government support. For some, Many creatives we spoke to described has already been depleted and will continue this may be because they have a part-time experiencing a pressure to somehow to suffer until the government and sector job on a company’s payroll. For others, it is maintain an active profile, stay relevant, and leaders find a way to adequately support due to the small profits made by their limited find some kind of artistic response to current freelancers directly. Otherwise, there is a risk companies. And there is a litany of other events – but often with little promise of any that we will retain the country’s cultural reasons. tangible reward. Undoubtedly, many architecture but without the artists necessary creatives have taken opportunities to develop to produce the plays, songs and visual art Ironically, many of the excluded are those new skills and expand their practice in new needed to fill it. Worse, diversity in the arts creatives who worked on the recorded ways. But their capacity to actually earn any will be considerably set back as artists content – the TV shows, the albums, the money from this, or other jobs, remains without the connections and finances to National Theatre streams – that sustained the fundamentally limited. survive six months or more of nation during lockdown. While 15% of the unemployment are driven out of the industry. working population is freelance, i in creative Support is slow to appear sectors that leaps to 47%. While the government has pledged support to the creative industries, this money is slow (Authors:: Holly Patrick, Lecturer in Creative responses to coronavirus in appearing. Despite being announced on Human Resource Management, Edinburgh In our research on the effects of the July 5, none of the UK government’s £1.57 Napier University. pandemic on creative freelancers, most of billion rescue package has yet been Chris Elsden, Postdoctoral Research those we have spoken to had every gig, job distributed. It is also aimed at larger cultural Associate in Design Informatics, University or commission in their diaries cancelled in institutions. those first few days and weeks of lockdown of Edinburgh ) earlier this year. Projects that may have been The creative freelancers we have spoken to

CLUES ACROSS 1 & 18 Hair style adopted by Bill Haley, CROSSWORD (1.10) compiled by The Bairn some say, to distract from his blind eye (4, 4) 5 & 14. Song by Scottish singer songwriter Gerry Cinnamon (4, 4) 7. Longest running (still) children’s comic published in Dundee, main character was a menace (5) 9. Area of Edinburgh next to Pentlands, with evidence of humans back to Iron Age (6) 10. Previously a member of Malinky, now with a strong solo singer/songwriter career, ______Polwart (6) 11. An extra perk (e.g. could be a music track or money) (5) 13. Beam that sits across shoulders of an animal to allow pulling of farm equipment (4) 14. See 5 Across 15. Smiley face at EFC nights with lovely wife Rosemary McMillan (5) 16. Fossil fuel (sometimes known as ‘black gold’) once widely mined across UK (4) 18. See 1 Across 19. Luke _____, founding member of The Dubliners (5) 23. Debut album by Canadian fiddler Quin 5. To be made to seem smaller than 21. One of the five distinct ‘tastes’, found Etheridge-Pedden (only 15 years old something (7) in gravy, meats and other savory when released!) (6) 6. Scotland (esp. West Coast) can often dishes (5) 25. 70’s Scottish traditional group fronted be described as this (5) 22. One of Scotlands most famous rugby by Billy Ross (6) 7. Fife coastal town, Dalgety ___ (3) players, _____ Hastings (5) 26. Song by American singer/songwriter 8. Hard wood used to make traditional 24. Term used for juvenile goat (3) John Denver, Never A _____ (5) furniture (3) 25. Cereal grain eaten by humans and animals alike (3) 27. Musical instruction to play a piece of 11. Paint it _____’ major hit for The music at a quickened pace (4) Rolling Stones (5) 29. Chinese philosophy, opposite to yin (4) 12. Husband and musical partner to Cher (5) 17. American singer/songwriter from CLUES DOWN Pennsylvania, ______Knott (7) 2. House made of ice bricks (5) 18. American female jazz, folk, and blues 3. Leonard Cohen poem (originally), now singer, popular in UK, died at 33 Eva his most covered song (7) 4. Irish folk band led by Frankie Gavin, ______(7) 20. Awards winning Irish contemporary folk band, De ______(6) Solutions to the crossword in COS1.09 can be most recent album The Livelong Day (6) found on page 16.

OFFICIAL FOLK ALBUMS CHART Official Charts Company to launch the first folk albums chart

(This article was originally carried on the Official Charts Company website. We reprint it here without comment – what’s your take on this though? Write to us with your thoughts)

In recognition of the popularity of the folk music genre, the Official Charts Company announces the first Official Folk Albums Chart.

Launched in partnership with English Folk Expo’s Manchester Folk Festival and supported by Showcase Scotland Expo, the first chart will be revealed on October 17.

The monthly chart will be compiled using physical and digital album sales, downloads and streams, from UK and Irish musicians releasing folk albums within the past 18 months.

The chart will be unveiled on the first Monday of each month on OfficialCharts.com and to englishfolkexpo.com. A monthly Official Folk Albums Chart playlist will also be available to stream on Spotify.

The very first chart will be unveiled at a special live-streamed event from HOME in Manchester on 17 October, the weekend which would have seen the fourth annual edition of the Manchester Folk Festival.

Hosted by BBC Radio 2’s Folk Show Scottish Domestic Bliss 2020 Lockdown by Allan & Rosemary McMillan. Grace Note presenter, Mark Radcliffe, the event will Publications. Full of fun, poems & pictures (proceeds towards Paddy Bort Fund). Available feature performances from top UK and from Amazon, or copies can be purchased direct from the authors (signed optional) £10 + £2 Irish folk artists, with more details to be p&p . announced. Unthanks, Julie Fowlis, The Gloaming, Afrobeats Chart which joined a list of All the Official Albums Chart Number 1s Dougie MacLean (to name a few) have genre-specific charts – including A broad genre taking in everything achieved significant profile in recent Americana, Jazz & Blues and Progressive between acoustic pop and traditional months. The Official Folk Albums Chart is – all genres characterised by a high music, folk artists including Laura now set to offer a dedicated platform for percentage of independent releases. Marling, Richard Thompson, Cara Dillon, this rich genre. Eliza Carthy, Karine Polwart, Kate Rusby, According to new Official Charts Seth Lakeman, Eddi Reader, Sam Lee, The Official Folk Albums Chart follows Tide Lines, Frank Turner, Skerryvore, The the launch of July’s inaugural Official UK (continued over … )

(… continued from previous page) Also, with no gigs at the moment it's a government’s £1.57 billion Company analysis, over 90% of the great way for new people to listen to my CORONAVIRUS RECOVERY FUND. biggest new folk albums of 2020 are music.” ACE aree administering £257 million of this money. Recipients in this first round independent releases, showing the Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2’s The Folk of funding are English venues and potential for the new chart as a platform Show presenter adds: “Some people might organisations which applied for less than for discovery. Of the 40 best-selling folk say that folk and charts are odd £1m, with future releases of the cash of up albums released in 2020, 92.5% were self- bedfellows, but I don’t think so. Whatever to £3m going to larger organisations later released or via independent record labels. kind of musician you are, you want to be this month. Sidmouth Folk Week has successful, and imagine the thrill, whoever The Official Folk Albums Chart aims to received £93k, Shrewsbury Folk you are, of being number one in the do more than recognise the popularity of Festival, £93k and Cropredy, £200k. It’s charts! I’m very proud to be involved with the genre. Running parallel with the chart a start at last. Let’s hope these amounts the Official Folk Chart and wish are English Folk Expo and Showcase will indeed be significant in securing some everybody involved with it lots of luck…. Scotland Expo’s initiatives for providing sort of future for these much-loved (very) here we go!” career development tools for emerging long-running events. artists in the genre. Both will provide Tom Besford, Chief Executive English OI MUSICA … continued dedicated web pages addressing the need Folk Expo added: “I'm absolutely thrilled Heather Macleod writes to say that the choir for profile enhancement and chart about the launch of the Official Folk (COP26) started on Wednesday night 7 inclusion. Albums Charts presented by Manchester October with an attendance of 120! Says Folk Festival. As a genre, folk covers Celebrating the launch of the chart, Heather, “Massive”! Which we’re not thousands of artists at all career stages and musician Frank Turner said: “As an artist disputing! Great start to an important project it's really exciting to see this represented who has at least one foot in the folk world, (Ed: see COS1.08 and 1.09). I am extremely excited by the news that for the first time by the Official Charts there is going to be an Official Folk Company. For many artists, being THE NATIONAL PIPING CENTRE in Albums Chart for the UK and Ireland. recognised through chart placement can be Glasgow reminds us: “Have you got your an important step in raising their profile Glenfiddich Tickets yet?” … The "It’s a genre that quite often doesn’t get and building new audiences. Glenfiddich Piping Championships will be the props it deserves from the powers that premiered online from 10am (UK time) on "Now more than ever, English Folk Expo be and from the mainstream music Saturday 31 October, with a stellar line up of and our valued partners including industry, and at times that’s been invited pipers. It is only £15 to access the Showcase Scotland Expo are delighted to incredibly frustrating. So, it’s wonderful to online stream this year. By purchasing your work with the Official Charts Company to see the UK Official Charts Company ticket here , you will go into a prize draw to develop initiatives like this to help to giving it its backing…fingers crossed, at win one of two sets of pipes - a set of SL4 promote folk music.” some point down the road I might even MacRaes from McCallum Bagpipes Ltd see my name in there!“ Martin Talbot, Chief Executive of the and PH1HT Peter Henderson Heritage

Kate Rusby, who released her hugely Official Charts Company said: “We are pipes from RG Hardie & Co Bagpipes. successful folk album Hand Me Down last delighted to be supporting this fantastic You can register now, come back on October month, added: “It's fantastic news that folk new chart, celebrating all that is great 31, login and you’re all set! about British and Irish folk music. The music will now have its own officially Before the event, we are speaking to some of emergence of artists such as Laura recognised chart. This will give hundreds the pipers taking part. Head to our Marling, Frank Turner and Kate Rusby of incredible musicians across the UK and instagram stories to find out more! Find out as stars of the folk scene while also taking Ireland the recognition they deserve.” more at th i s link now ! their place in the mainstream charts and Rising star Jamie Webster, who put out award categories, illustrates how much DAVIE ROBERTSON East Lothian his thought-provoking debut album We love there is for this genre which is based songwriter – or, as Davie describes Get By in August, said: “I wrote this simultaneously one of the most ancient himself, “composer of Scottish songs” - album to tell a story about working class and contemporary genres in music.” scribbled a note to us saying, “DAVIE life, and that's what I feel folk music does ROBERTSON is pleased to announce the in a nutshell. So, to be included in this addition of a further twenty Works of Genius year’s Top 10 Official Folk Chart to date WEE BITS n PIECES to his website”. Just in case some readers is a massive achievement for myself as it HOT NEWS AS COS WENT TO BED may be unaware of Davie’s songs – one means my album has done its job and … Arts Council England (ACE) have people relate to the stories I'm telling. started ataggered paying out from the UK (continued over … )

(… continued from previous page) of the Shetland fiddle group at the Edinburgh coordinated a Scotland wide Black Lives Military Tattoo; Isobel Mieras, of the Clarsach Matter Mural Trail. Society; and Prof. Ian Russell, lately of the IONA FYFE’s latest newsletter tells us … Elphinstone Institute at Aberdeen University, “I'm delighted to be nominated for ballad singer and founder-trustee of the Performer of the Year at the Scots Traditional Music Forum (all MBEs). Also, not Language Awards and Oor Vyce, the a folkie as such, but a frequent collaborator organisation that campaigns for a Scots with the likes of Catriona McKay and Chris Language Act has been nominated in Stout, composer Sally Beamish (OBE).” So, Project of the Year category. Voting is our congratulations to them. open to the public and closes on THE EDINBURGH REPORTER … we October 18. VOTE HERE mentioned this local news daily in “Hosted by Alistair Heather, this years’ COS1.09 and here they are again reporting Davie Robertson Scots Language Awards is a free online on an interesting and really quite obvious event. You can watch over on Hands Up you should check out is “The Star Of The connection between ceilidh dancing and For Trad’s Facebook and YouTube on Bar” – an honourable and widely sung keeping fit. Click here to see what’s Saturday 24 October. addition to the tradition. In due course no what. doubt song collectors will catalogue it as EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL Iona Fyfe Trio - Hands Up For Trad “trad” without any provenance (it Music Club October 23 wouldn’t the first time either)! FESTIVAL … hosts Wezi Mhura for a live Q&A session on Wednesday 21 “As part of the weekend celebration of Another of Davie’s songs, “The Tranent October at 15:00. Scots Language, I will be doing a high Massacre” is about the 1797 uprising in definition TRIO livestream for Hands Up Tranent, East Lothian which Eileen “Following on from her keynote For Trad's Music Club on Friday 23 Penman pointed us at and which was discussion for EFI’s inaugural October. Virtual doors open at 19:45, show written up in COS1.05. The Scottish undergraduate course “Currents: starts at 20:00 UK time. You can opt for a Militia Act had enabled conscription of Understanding and Addressing Global ticket to view the stream, or a ticket to be able bodied Scottish men between the ages Challenges”, EFI is delighted to host Wezi sent a recording of the stream for keepsies, of 19 and 23 years into military service – Mhura for a live Q&A session on or if you were busy at the original time of enter some pretty irate folk stage left! You Wednesday the 21st of October at 15:00. broadcast. More information and B UY can find the song on Davie’s Greentrax In the keynote discussion Dr Jenny Reid TICKETS HERE speaks with Wezi Mhura, a creative CD CDTRAX254 (image below) … New Video - Lay Ye Doon Love producer. They discuss the role of public “As part of Global Music Match, art and the importance of art. Wezi works Showcase Scotland gave us a braw with artists in Scotland, across a variety of opportunity to play together and record a art forms including theatre, dance, music, few live videos at Capture Works in film and the visual arts. The Q&A session Glasgow. I'm joined by Graham Rorie will be an opportunity to further explore (Gnoss) and Jack McRobbie singing Lay these topics, particularly in the current Ye Doon Love, from the singing of context of COVID-19. Jimmy Hutchison. Watch here. About Wezi Mhura Spotify Playlists Wezi is a creative producer who has “I've created three new Spotify playlists, initiated and developed projects with to share with you my favourite tracks that widely diverse groups of artists, inspire me, and the various projects I've organisations and artforms including recorded on. Don't forget to like and theatre, dance, circus, physical theatre, follow the playlists! MRS WINDSOR'S B IRTHDAY digital, film, music and visual arts. Wezi is 1. Iona's Playlist - a selection of other HONOURS LIST was published recently also the founder of AfriFest, Scotland’s artists’ tracks I'm listening to at the and included some folk from the Scottish first festival commemoration of African moment. folk scene. Our man with the eagle eyes, Arts and Culture, and a celebratory 2. Introducing - my own music! Dave Francis, noted amongst the throng: showcase of visual, performing arts and Margaret Robertson, fiddle teacher and leader culture of the Scottish Pan-African community. She has most recently (continued over … )

(… continued from previous page) Deezer and online. link above to sign up in advance and offer yourself for a song or a tune spot. You’ll find BOTH SIDE S THE TWEED FOLK 3.Various Projects - tracks of other artists lots of other stuff there as well. SHOW - NEW is a monthly podcast that I've sung on presented by Gareth Patterson bringing you LLANTRISANT FC in S. Wales is running a FOLLOW ON SPOTIFY the very best in folk & acoustic music. virtual Folk Club every Wednesday at Global Music Match Interviews Submissions welcomed from artists who 8:20pm; music starts 8:30pm. Tune in here. would like Gareth to play their music. A CD “Over the last six weeks, I've been taking PAUL WALKER & KAREN PFEIFFER would be appreciated but please remember it part in Global Music Match, a mammoth invite you to their live streams Afternoon Tea must be FOLK. project featuring 96 artists from 14 with Paul & Karen every Friday at 4pm countries. I was in Team 5 with musicians SOUNDART FOLK SHOW - NEW hosted (UK time) on their Facebook and YouTube from Los Angeles, Texas, Finland, by Steve B. The station is situated in the pages. 45 minutes of music, banter and light- England and Canada. As part of the Dartington manor estate near Totnes in hearted chat. project, see my interviews here .“ Devon and is also available on Mixcloud CLAIRE HASTINGS As always, I am live (listen again option). The show airs folk in every Sunday morning at 10am on Claire's its many guises live monthly to a world-wide MUSIC WAVES Music Club Facebook page, aimed at under audience. There are live sessions every few MUSIC ROUTES Jim Welsh broadcasts 5s.” on-line on Edinburgh's Radio Summerhall. weeks with some very special guests playing and chatting live in the studio. Read more THE GOOSE IS OUT is (usually) a popular TRAVELLING FOLK Sunday (7pm) about the show on their Facebook page Friday weekly gig in South London. However, Bruce MacGrego r presents BBC Radio of course, as is happening all over the UK they Scotland's flagship two-hour folk STREAM RADIO STATIONS AROUND now run monthly Zoom singarounds on the programme. THE WORLD WITH RADIO GARDEN – eg Edinburgh (242 Radio), Glasgow nights they would normally have been having B LACK DIAMOND 107.8 FM (Celtic Music Radio), London (BBC Radio their "real" singarounds. Organiser Sue Midlothian, Sunday 8pm-9pm (and 5 Live) … and thousands more. - NEW Whitehead says, “These online sessions, which available 24*7). Brian Miller presents "one Radio Garden is a non-profit Dutch radio are on second Sundays monthly, have been of the finest folk music programmes on and digital research project developed from going well (despite a few technical hitches!). radio". 2013 to 2016, by the Netherlands Institute for Obviously there isn't any geographical barrier C LICK HERE for a long list of folk music Sound and Vision, the Transnational Radio to joining in we’ve had singers from as far shows on BBC Radio. Knowledge Platform and five other European afield as Japan, Scotland and, er, Birmingham universities. It is funded by HERA. - so it would be great if you could give them a F OLK ALLEY (USA) is a 24*7 internet plug in COS.” (Ed: job done!) radio service produced by the FreshGrass THE ONLINE FAB FOLK CLUB - NEW Foundation which went online in September is a pre-recorded on-air singaround folk club “We send out the Zoom link with full 2003, streaming a unique blend of traditional presented by Tony Haynes in York. Anyone is information the day before the singaround. folk, roots, Americana, contemporary singer/ invited in. Video not needed, obviously, People are asked to let us know by the Friday songwriters, indie-folk, Celtic, bluegrass, because this is radio, so just record yourself before if they would like us to send them the and other world sounds. performing, say, three of your favourite songs link (singers and listeners all welcome!). BLUES AND ROOTS RADIO - NEW - or tunes and email them or use WeTransfer. “People can message us here, the contact based in Mississauga, ON, Canada. Liz Obviously they would have to be close to radio form on our website .” quality, but don’t get too hung up about that. Franklin (@lizlipwig) presents 'Folk (Ed: there are so many on-line gigs just now Try to avoid background noises such as fridge Garden' every Tuesday 6pm - 8pm. All the that this is the merest sample of what we’ve motors, but a bit of bird song would be fine. best in folk, roots and acoustic music. noticed. If you want your gig listed please ACROSS THE POND - NEW is hosted by C OPPERPLATE , promoting Irish music, send us the information). Ed Miller on Sunradio every Sunday 3-4pm present a monthly podcast ... Copperplate UK time - straight from Austin, Texas, USA! Podcast … 60 minutes of Irish traditional music now accessible 24/7 from their roster. P URE BEAT RADIO - NEW from Aberdeen, Scotland is an internet radio GIGS ON-LINE station that broadcasts all over the world MAIRI CAMPBELL is doing weekly 24*7. Playing a Better Music Mix! You can (Sundays) on-line ‘sessions’ under the tune in on your Smartphone, Smartspeaker, heading, Campbell’s Ceilidh. Just click on the (continued over … )

(… continued from previous page) FOLK MONTHLY E. Midlands, Derbyshire, Leics, Lincs and Notts. cyberPRINT SOLENT WAVES (Folk Association of South LIVING TRADITION (UK, monthly, print, Hampshire) Hampshire, Sussex and Dorset. on-line) – next edition out August 2020. See PUDDINGSTONE (Hertfordshire Folk advert in this issue of COS. Living Tradition is Association) Hertfordshire. a major UK and international folk music magazine published in Scotland with a 20 year AROUND KENT FOLK Kent (and some history of carrying news, reviews and articles, of Sussex); e mail . with a focus on the traditional folk scene in the LANCASHIRE WAKES Lancashire. UK and Ireland. FOLK NORTH WEST (North West THE LIST (Edinburgh HQ but national; Federation of Folk Clubs) Lancashire, print, on-line,) This widely read and nationally Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, distributed magzine is one to seek out for gig North Wales and Cheshire. and cultural information in general. LEICESTER FOLK DIARY R2 MAGAZINE Leicestershire FOLKTALK Lincolnshire. See here for information on subscribing R2 FOLK LONDON London & Home Magazine (UK, bi-monthly) was 'Rock n Reel' Counties. back in the 1990s, hit a rocky patch, but songs from all five of the just-announced batch returned several years ago as a great MAD FOLK Merseyside. of 2020 Steve Martin Banjo Prize winners, commentator, supporter and reviewer of the introduced by the actor/comedian/novelist/ NORTHAMPTONSHIRE FOLK UK music scene in general (see advert page 5). playwright/banjo picker himself. Read more ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION BOX AND FIDDLE (UK, monthly) is the about the prize and the winners below, along Northamptonshire. publication of the National Association of with other great reads posted recently in NO SHREDS AND PATCHES Shropshire. Accordion & Fiddle Clubs with an estimated DEPRESSION. SUSSEX PIE AND EVENTS SHEET home and overseas readership of 6,000+. FOLKER (Germany, bi-monthly, print, on- (Sussex Folk Association) Sussex MAVERICK (UK, monthly) leading line) one of continental Europe's major folk SUSSEX FOLK GUIDE (NB: Online) independent country music magazine. mags – in fact, probably the leading mag. Folker covers mostly European traditional/folk FOLK SOUTH EAST Surrey RAMBLES (USA, on-line) a wide range of music and world music and is a valuable reviews of books and albums. TAPLAS Wales + The Borders & Beyond source on German and other European artists NO DEPRESSION (USA. quarterly) – and the festival scene. It also carries book, FOLKWALES ONLINE MAGAZINE NEW is an advert-free, long-form journal record and cassette reviews. (Ed: Folker’s FOLK MONTHLY West Midlands: about roots music published by the publisher is Michael Kamp who was a Sandy Worcs, Warks, Staffs, Shropshire, FreshGrass Foundation. Each issue features Bell’s Man back in the 1970’s). Herefordshire. original in-depth articles and artist profiles, FOLKFAX - Diary of events, news and original illustrations, and stunning ENGLISH/WELSH local gossip. (NB: Online only). photography. The original music magazine began in 1995 and ran through 2008 but folk mags – ALL NEW WILTSHIRE FOLK ARTS Wiltshire. restarted in 2015 and is running yet. Their UNICORN Bedfordshire, FOLKLIFE WEST Worcs, Glos and The ‘fall’ 2020 print edition has now sold out. Buckinghamshire, Cambridgshire and West (Quarterly Magazine and Folk Directory). If you need a little something to look forward Hertfordshire. to this week, set yourself a reminder for the SHIRE FOLK Berkshire, Buckinghamshire FOLK ROUNDABOUT Yorkshire, North FreshGrass Foundation's latest and Oxfordshire. & East, Teesside, Cleveland, #FreshStreams tomorrow at 8 p.m. (ET) - you Northumberland. FOLKNEWS KERNOW Cornwall. can watch it on No Depression’s Facebook TYKES NEWS (incorporating Stirrings) WHAT'S AFOOT Devon. page (RSVP here). There will be Yorkshire, South And West. performances from Chris Thile and Dom SAD Folk Somerset and Dorset. Flemons, an exciting collaboration between Alison Brown and the Kronos Quartet, and MARDLES East Anglia, Norfolk

THE TRADITIONAL MUSIC FORUM REMINDERS … (aka TMF) is a key participant in the SOLUTIONS to the SANDY BELL’S BAR RESCUE FUND Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on crossword in COS 1.09 ... At the time of writing £3,908 had been Culture, the Music Education Partnership raised towards the target of £15,000. To Across Down Group, Culture Counts and Heads of 7. PIPER 1 BAA contribute please visit the Save Sandy Instrumental Teaching Scotland (HITS) to Bell's Go Fund Me page. 9. MAMMY 2. APE name but a few. Through the website, 11. APE 3. IRE GLASGOW FIDDLE WORKSHOP (GFW) newsletter and social media channels, 12. PERTH 4. OMA restarted with ZOOM classes on Monday 7 TMF continually showcases the diverse 13. ESP 5. RYE and Wednesday 9 September 2020, 19:30- activities of their wide membership and 16. SHY 6. SAP 21:00 shares news, events, and information. And 17. RESOLVE 8. PRAYER notably, EFC's man, Dave Francis is the 18. AKA 10. MISTLE For details click the link above (face-to-face TMF Director and Lori Watson, is chair. classes postponed for time being), Monday 19. ART 14. SHANK Slow Session K AREN TWEED , accordion wizard, 21. UNHITCH 15. POOZIES composer and artist, has been settled in 23. STY 20. ROYAL 1 18:45-19:25 Wednesday Warm-up Session Orkney now for 2 /2 years. During 25. ALE 21. URSULA 18:45-19:25 #trad #music lockdown she has been teaching accordion 29. ADS 22. HEALER via Zoom both one-to-one as well as 31. GRANT 24. TWEED The FRIENDS OF THOMAS MUIR Friday Zoom accordion workshops – 32. HARRY 25. ANT organisation website lists a lot of activity email Karen for details . 26. EGG showing what the Friends are up to on a Karen has published her first sketchbook 27. ATE continuing basis behind the scenes. To find 28. A-HA out more use their contact details here. called: “ Karen Tweed - A S ketchbook W ith L ove from Orkney ”. 29. AYE CEILIDH DANCING in Edinburgh of 30. SOD course has been put on hold during the Karen also runs a weekly Live Slow current crisis but will, no doubt at all, Tunes Session (which is free) via her restart when deemed safe to do so. Facebook page on Mondays at 6.30pm - Meanwhile have a look at all welcome. Click here PayPa l to donate to EDINBURGH CEILIDH CLUB. EASTGATE THEATRE, Peebles, is the Paddy Bort Fund. ROBIN LAING, songwriter and singer of struggling to keep going just now. They’ve whisky themed songs tells us he has a new been posting events on YouTube including And click here to go to EFC’s CD out. Entitled ‘Holding Gold' there are four half-hour “Garden Ceilidh Events”. YouTube channel. a couple of whisky songs, some family These were organised by members of songs, love songs and songs drawn from Penicuik FC and 18 acts were videoed in a Scotland's rich history. The CD is only beautiful garden setting to create 90-minutes available at the moment from R obin of song, music and spoken word which all himself or from Music Scotland. showcased an impressive array of local talent. If you are able to help the theatre re- P ENICUIK ARTS promotes and open by donating go to their crowd funding encourages the study, practice and page here or to their own website here. knowledge of the Arts in Penicuik and surrounding district. Contact them by email or phone: 01968 678804. THE SCOTTISH Storytelling Centre in FESTIVAL ROUND-UP Edinburgh's High Street may be closed There are so many festivals around these just now but it is keeping busy with all islands, not to mention abroad, that a better kinds of streams and on-line stuff. Click use of the limited space in the newsletter is to here to find out what's what. list websites offering lists of festival. The TMSA (Traditional Music and Song B ritish Arts Festivals Association Association) has a calendar list of upcoming European Forum of Worldwide Music events it's involved in on its website. Festivals - Member Festivals Folk and Roots - UK Festivals.