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[metallumai]

Hello, any people in this forum! Maybe I'm just suffering a mild withdrawal from music of the sort that belongs here: our ever so efficient Homeland Security or whatever it's called has made it even sillier and more frustrating for musicians from the UK to tour the US, to the point that many great performers don't bother. Plus, I've been kicked off

Comments

[alagbon]

I live in the minuscule town of Schnecksville, PA, where the entire trad folk scene consists of me sitting on my futon figuring out old English and Welsh tunes on a Hohner anglo concertina which I've only had for a bit more than a month. (I also play tin whistle, guitar, mandolin, saz, and miscellaneous other things.) There's apparently some Celtic activity in the general area, which I mean to check out at some point; plus a decent open-mike blues night which I haven't been to in years. My favorite musicians include Shirley Collins, John Kirkpatrick, Pentangle, Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, A.L. Lloyd, and the like, plus a number of European traditional groups such as the Warsaw Village Band and Taraf de Haidouks. (And basically every other kind of music I can get my hands on, from classical Hindustani to metal; but folk is my greatest love.)

[spiralsheep]

I've been learning Phoebe Smith's version of A Blacksmith Courted Me (via Shirley Collins). :-)

[alagbon]

Excellent!

[cammykitty]

Ah, I'd heard that about the INS. A friend of mine used to approve visas & she was telling me about the crap some musicians have been getting lately. Explains why it feels like the Oysterband has retired if you live in the U.S. They toured Canada this year, but didn't come any further South. Thought it was because they were boycotting anyplace that would put the likes of Bush into office. (Yes, they are a very political folk band.)

romantic female voices with echo effects = sentimental. Can't stand singers who think all they have to do is sing Ireland over and over and they've got a song. Have you tried June Tabor? She sings a lot of ballads, and doesn't do stuff like that.

[spiralsheep]

I haven't managed to attend any festivals this year for various reasons, not even the local folk festival in a nearby village. But I'm lucky because there are several sessions, a folk club, and a singaround within reach of public transport (in addition to live acoustic music in several local pubs on a weekly basis). So I'm getting my fix. I also just noodle around with friends

[spiralsheep]

Oops, correction: Phoebe Smith's version of "The Blacksmith" was recorded as "A Blacksmith Courted Me".