The Irish language broadcast channel, TG4, broadcasts a range of television programmes about traditional music and singing. Whilst it is obviously mostly in Irish, non Irish speakers can turn on subtitles, although song lyrics are not translated. On 11th June TG4 celebrated its 30th anniversary by launching a permanent online archive of programmes. The following … Read more
In November last year, The Times Literary Supplement carried an article headed “Who Controls the Past” which highlighted the terrible news that the BBC was planning to restrict access to its written archives house at Caversham near Reading. Even before that point, gaining access to these archives had not been easy, as there is no catalogue accessible … Read more
The team at Glostrad are appealing for support for the on-going maintenance and development of the project. This is well worth considering, even if you don’t live in Gloucestershire – there is some excellent stuff on the website What is Glostrad? Why is it important? Can you help? The Glostrad.com website was set up 10 … Read more
The first issue of the new magazine from Veteran has arrived, and it is very good. Edited and designed by Megan Wisdom, its visual appeal is as good as the content. Song enthusiasts should find the articles on Francis Collinson and Shirley Collins’ early traditional influences interesting. Music and dance are well covered too. As … Read more
The good news: https://bibsoc.org.uk/councils-choice-for-november-2025/?fbclid=IwY2xjawN1UKFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETA4UnlNa09mVjVTNEg0eWFsAR4J3ihpab-Fz0hsO4uRq-4RXN8pwp2on-1vt9emqILTZJwPbuF-ZJroEmyvjg_aem_1xct88nzNOuse2GC0oIkLw Steve Roud has come up with some sound advice on using the new version: The latest news on the Bodleian Broadsides site is very encouraging, but this is only the first step. As you will see, the catalogue is accessible, but the images are not yet there. The old ones were … Read more
A new film, made as part of the ongoing joint project ‘Gypsy and Traveller Voices in Music Archives’, involving the VWML, the University of East Anglia and researchers from the University of Sheffield, was premiered at the 9th Ake Dikhea? International Festival of Romani Film in Berlin on 11 October. Library and Archives Director Tiffany … Read more
The annual online lectures on contemporary and historical folk music, song and dance.13 January: Elizabeth Bennett – Dorothy Marshall and the Women of West Sussex10 February: Sue Allan – Merry neets, morris and more: social and display dancing in the Lake District and Cumbria10 March: Lucy Wright – Folk is a Feminist Issue! Uncovering the … Read more
Sat 15 Nov: 12:30pm This year’s Hamish Henderson Memorial Lecture is presented by David Francis, hosted by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland). Tradition as Heritage: Enclosing the Commons The UK Government signed the 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024 and is currently looking at what that means in practical terms. … Read more
This charitable organisation was founded to honour the memory of Dr Sarah Morgan and to continue her work in fostering and developing the community choir and promoting English traditional folk song.They make individual awards of up to £500 to individuals or groups promoting the inclusion of English traditional folk song in the community choir and/or … Read more
Steve had this communication from Dr Alexandra Franklin of the Bodleian Libraries, with an indication that the resource will be back on-line, in improved form, by the end of this month. At the end of 2024, the Bodleian Libraries reviewed a number of specialist digital resources including the Bodleian Broadside Ballads online database. As a … Read more