Folk music publications

"Folk Review" was a monthly national magazine devoted mainly to British folk music with occasional articles on folklore. It was edited by Fred Woods and started in November 1971 as "Folk & Country", becoming "Folk Review" from March 1972.

"Folk Review" featured articles and record reviews by musicians, journalists and enthusiasts and was run on a (sometimes very short and very brittle) shoe-string by its editor who was only occasionally able to reimburse his contributors. To raise capital for the magazine, two "Folk Review" long-playing records were produced, the artists giving their services free. These records are now very scarce and collectable. Woods handed over the reins to Bill Caddick in April 1979 but the magazine only lasted for one more month and ended with the May 1979 issue.

Karl Dallas, one of the many contributors to "Folk Review", had been editor of "Folk Music" (1963). There were many others, including "Sing" (May 1954 to 1974), "Spin", "Garland", "Ballads and Songs", "Southern Rag" (1980 to 1985, later "Folk Roots" 1985 to 2000, then "fRoots" (2000 to present), "Rock and Reel", "Tradition", "Irish Music", "Living Tradition" (still active), "Traditional Music Maker" (still active), "Musical Traditions", "Albion Sunrise" and "Swing 51" (from 1979, edited by Ken Hunt).

Members of the English Folk Dance and Song Society received an annual "Folk Music Journal" and a quarterly magazine "English Dance and Song". Members of the Morris Ring you received "The Nut". The University of Edinburgh's School of Scottish Studies produced "The Tocher". "Sandy Bell's Broadsheet" is one the few to have survived since the 70s. It covers the Edinburgh folk scene. The American magazine "Sing Out!" began in May 1950 and is still going strong.

Karl Dallas was the author of "Singers of an Empty Day" (1971) and "The Cruel Wars" (1972). An excellent 4-album set called "The Electric Music" was compiled in 1975 by Karl Dallas, Robin Denselow, David Laing and Robert Shelton. There was a book of the same title. Robin Denselow went on to write folk and world music reviews for "The Guardian" newspaper. Karl Dallas went on to write occasional reviews for a variety of magazines on computing, religion, pop music and the peace movement.

"Melody Maker" started writing about folk music in about 1965. The "New Musical Express" joined in around 1971. They both had at least one page devoted to folk music until the early 80s. There was a period of about 15 years when "Folk Roots" was the only publication on the news-stands in the UK that gave serious space to folk music. "The Guardian" newspaper, "The Scotsman" and "Time Out" occasionally review folk music. "Mojo" is a monthly magazine devoted to reissues and retro music. Two or three folk albums are usually reviewed, plus half a dozen "world music" albums.

"fRroots" has evolved into a magazine focusing on world music, with a specific slant against most Celtic music, American music and singer-songwriters. About twice per year they have a CD on the cover, containing at most two tracks of UK folk music. By contrast the American publication "Dirty Linen" reviews many UK folk albums. From the early 90's the Irish fortnightly pop newspaper "Hot Press" has reviewed Irish folk music. "Songlines" is devoted to world music, with about 10 pages for Europe. Two or three British albums are reviewed each month, but usually not Celtic ones.

There have been a few books. Albert Lloyd's "Folk Song in England" (1967) was widely available in the 70s. Dave Harker wrote "One for the Money: Politics and Popular Song" (1980) and "Fakesong: The Manufacture of British 'Folksong', 1700 to the Present Day" (1985). In 1993 there was "The Guinness Who's Who of Folk Music". Rough Guide have produced "World Music" (1st Ed) (1994), "World Music" (2nd Ed) vol 1 (1999) (Europe and the Middle East), and "World Music" (2nd Ed) vol 2 (2000) (Latin and North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific). More recently, Colin Harper has produced "Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch and the British Folk and Blues Revival" (2000). Among biographies, the most popular has been "Meet on the Ledge: Fairport Convention - The Classic Years" by Patrick Humphries (1982). "Acoustic Guitar" (founded 1990) is a California-based magazine containing interviews, reviews and transcriptions. It covers blues, Celtic, classical, flamenco and jazz.