As you may already know, I have a fondness for folk music from the United Kingdom. This week we sample some new and some classic U.K. folk. Weâll hear new music from Fay Hield, Martin Simpson, Ye Vagabonds, John Smith … Continue reading →
Introduction â âCome little girlâŚâ A couple of years back, I blogged over two weeks about what I called my âEssential Eleven Traditional Murder Balladsâ and my âEssential Eleven Non-Traditional Murder Ballads.â  I cataloged a variety of tunes and performances … Continue reading →
This is the second post on âMaria Martenâ and other songs inspired by the Red Barn Murder in Polstead, England in 1827. The first is here. The third is here. It is time for my confession.  Donât worry. Itâs nowhere near as … Continue reading →
(photo by K. Bigger) This is our second post on the ballad âBold William Taylor.â Â To read the first post, click here.When is a murder ballad not a murder ballad?The performance that brought âWilliam Taylorâ back to my attention (acknowledging … Continue reading →
Thereby Hangs a (Folk) Tale In the last post, I suggested that there seemed to be a certain implausible, or perhaps contrived, quality, to the narrative of  âBabylon,â âThe Bonnie Banks oâ Fordie,â or âFair Flowers of the Valley,â … Continue reading →
Note: This is Part 2 of a 4 part series â see also Part 1, Part 3, and Part 4 We saw in the introductory post for the week that in the murder ballad âEdwardâ, or Child 13, at least … Continue reading →
River Clyde, near Abington Drawn into the Clyde Water My introduction to âDrowned Loversâ began with hearing a spare bit of guitar playing, opening up with regular, almost transmitter-like pulses as the tenth track on Kate Rusbyâs solo debut album, … Continue reading →
The River Clyde âMotherâs Malisonâ (Child 216) If the first song discussed in this blog was about the potentially dire consequences of following the counsel of oneâs parents instead of the counsel of oneâs heart, this week weâll show just how … Continue reading →
Romeo and Juliet â Sir Frank Dicksee, 1884 Note: This is Part 3 of a three part series.  See also Part 1 and Part 2. Introduction What is it about this weekâs song, âMatty Grovesâ, that attracts us so?  (If youâre … Continue reading →
