March 18th – ‘Where goes English Folk?’

‘Where Goes English Folk’ – Chaired by Will Hodkinson.

Judy Collins
Jim Moray
Alex and Lavinia from Trembling Bells
Rachel Unthank

12.30pm – The Austin Convention Center
500 East Cesar Chavez Street
Austin, TX 78701-4121
map
www.austinconventioncenter.com

“I believe the old folk songs have intrinsic value because of their beautiful melodies and lyrics that were in many cases used to spread the news. They have stories of human interest. To see them disappear would be like bulldozing old Victorian houses and putting up glass and steel high rise buildings in their place.” - Roger McGuinn

“As culture becomes more global, it is possible to envision a future of homogenous blandness, but I believe we will want to emphasise more strongly our regional and cultural roots, to celebrate the differences. I hope things will cycle back to a feeling of connection with the past, and with place. It is amazing how powerful the old songs are, if you see them as part of a bigger picture, and if you let yourself feel that you are further down the road of the same  tradition. A song, for instance, written about a river, is still there when you stand beside that river, but adds resonance and history to your experience. Every song we write now is built on those that have gone before, and the more you know about the old music, the richer the pleasure you take from all  music.” – Richard Thompson