Album Notes

When far right political parties advise their members to infiltrate the celebration of English folk traditions, such as folk music clubs and Morris sides, the question of whether folk music is political by its very nature or not becomes a bit redundant. The stories of this sacred land have been held in tales, song, poetry and dance for hundreds of years. From tunes rooted in medieval times that can still have crowds up on the dance floor, to modern songs of modern times; poems that trace the stories of the land and its people and dances that great the Sun on a May morning. All of this, and more of the same, holds the heritage of people.
We share with you some examples of artists who align themselves to the “Folk” genre, and who see paganism as a vibrant and valuable spirituality. All have given their time and talents for free, all have responded swiftly and passionately to the request for support. Others have given technical support, and some national organisations have donated funds or other assistance to this project. At a time when ‘taking a stand’ mostly seems to mean pressing the “report” button on a social networking site or wearing a plastic wrist band, it has been heartening to have been involved in a project that has been so fully supported by the wider pagan community.
The exposure of the hypocrisies held in the public and hidden philosophies and rhetoric of the far right is not a role for the Pagan Folk Against Fascism project. That will happen elsewhere. Instead the aim here is quite simple. We hope you will raise awareness of just how great folk music and traditions are, and how the evolving tradition has a place within the wider pagan community. We hope you will get out there and support your local folk community, attend your local tree dressing, turn up to your local music night down your local pub. We hope you will listen to more poetry and maybe even learn a few songs. It would be great if the members of folk clubs across this land were to be a little surprised, but very happy, about the number of really nice people wearing pentagrams who were suddenly coming to their events!