Is it similar the U.S and U.K folk music?Yesterday,watching a few folk,Indie U.K. band´s video´s on My Space I had the feeling that both are similar!I don´t know if I´m right,but if so why are they similar?Aren´t the cultures so different from each other?
Posted on: 15 October 2007 by Nigel Cavendish
Depends on what you mean by "folk" music. I mean here what might be called "traditional" folk as opposed to "singer-songwrite-with-an-acoustic-instrument" folk.
I would say that English folk is quite different from Welsh, Scottish, and Irish folk and all of those are quite different from US folk.
Posted on: 15 October 2007 by Guido Fawkes
I think English folk music is quite different from American folk music - Basia is from Canada, Karine from Scotland, Rachel and Kate are from England, as are Bellowhead.
The Folk Music revival was headed by Shirley Collins - probably the best folk singer in the world. Shirley sings mostly traditional English songs - I once heard her say she didn't know of any good songwriters, because they were all anonymous - though when pressed she named Richard Thompson (good choice IMO).
American folk songs often seem to be protest songs - often a bit sad and tragic. There is an overlap with country. It works quite nicely.
Irish folk music is, of course, superb - Planxty are worth their weight in gold: what a great band, and there's more ... or should that be Moore - yes Christy Moore. Try Ride On - what a wonderful album.
In the end, it is just music and no matter what its origin. it sounds great to me.
ATB Rotf
