Post by Traditional Music Forum on Apr 6, 2021 11:00:40 GMT
A weekly two minute catch-up for members from the
TMF Director's desk
These are some of the things that have caught my attention this week.
Still a few to do, but thanks to everyone who took the time recently to chat over the phone with TMF Trustees. Lots of good thinking, great ideas, and a real sense of the challenges folk are facing and how they are meeting them. Still processing the info, but what emerges is that you are a very resilient, creative, compassionate, and perceptive group of people. (We knew that anyway, but it's nice to have it confirmed!)
One group that seems to be getting a particularly short end of the stick in the current situation is the production companies, the folk that provide sound, lights, staging and all the rest for live gigs and festivals. Over 30 years we've gone from having few Scottish-based companies providing these services to a well developed sector employing nearly 3,000 freelancers (SMIA figures). Kudos to the Commercial Music Industry Task Force for making sure they're not forgotten as the millions are handed out.
Six Men is a heartfelt and moving pair of Radio Scotland programmes made by musician and Take the Floor presenter, Gary Innes. Gary is also a renowned shinty player and the programme explores the reasons why six of his former team-mates have committed suicide over the past few years. A recurring theme is the reluctance of young men in particular to talk about their concerns. Music Minds Matter is a confidential helpline set up by Help Musicians UK.
The Paddy Bort Fund was established to support musicians in various ways and has been used recently to help out musicians in need of some financial support. If you know of anyone in that category (or are in that category) drop a line to John Barrow. All applications are treated in the strictest confidence.
Looking through this month's TMF newsletter, the word 'online' appears a zillion times. Don't forget about our Scotland Online service, a listing of livestream and digital events.
Continuing the online theme, weekly classes provided by the Fèisean, Glasgow Folk Workshop, Falkirk Fiddle Workshop, SCaT, SMG, Aberdeen Strathspey and Reel and more are starting up again and have moved online. We've set up a monthly Zoom drop-in for tutors who'd like to compare notes and share experiences of this way of working. Hosted by Mairi Campbell, the sessions are scheduled for 21 September, 19 October, 16 November and 14 December.
The cultural exchange organisation D6: Culture in Transit has sent an open letter to the UK Government expressing disappointment at its decision to withdraw from the Creative Europe programme. The obvious esteem that the signatories from all over Europe have for British artists and cultural organisations belies the isolationism seemingly being pursued by Westminster.
Welcome to new TMF members, the BIT Collective.
On the fringes of folk, maybe, but trumpeter Colin Steele's new album of arrangements of Joni Mitchell's music, featuring Dave Milligan on piano, is wonderful. Wee taste here.
RIP Audrey Parks, described as 'the mother and then the grandmother of Scotland's storytelling renaissance'.
All the best
DF
David Francis is Director of the Traditional Music Forum
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