'THE BEST ENGLISH SINGALONG FOLKSONGS ALBUM Volume 1' contains 22 superb, dynamic tracks PLUS a 48-page songbook with lyrics, chords, notations and song bios ( The digital Songbook in pdf format can be downloaded at http://www.phildrane.com/songbooks ). You will need Acrobat Reader (free software) to print this book.
PHIL DRANE, SInger, Guitarist and English Heritage Folk Musician.
Born and raised in Manchester, England, Phil’s early years were steeped in English and Lancashire folk-culture and tradition (from Wakes Festivals, Barn & Country Dancing, Morris & Clog Dancing to Whit Week Walks). Phil does not subscribe to being described as simply 'a folk singer' since his albums and live performances feature (almost exclusively) the traditional and contemporary folksongs of his English heritage and his Lancashire roots, plus a few of his own compositions . He calls it 'singing his ancestry'.
Phil is a man on a mission to encourage people of English cultural background, young and old and wherever they are in the world to (re-)connect with their English folk-culture and embrace it as a fundamental part of their cultural identity - something that makes ethnic English people as unique and respected as any other ethnic group.
Along the way he's keen to take English folk music to people of other cultures, and encourage folk around the world to sample the wonderful richness, diversity and origins of the heritage folk music that has influenced the folk-culture of just about every English-speaking country.
His albums, like his live performances are full of no-nonsense, grass-roots songs and tunes, intriguing arrangements, smooth vocals and guitar work and are(contrary to what many people might say about folk music) not at all staid or boring. When he's not in the recording studio Phil can be found performing around the UK and New Zealand every year - eclectic performances that appeals to folk and non-folk audiences alike.
Phil hopes The Best English Singalong Folksongs Volume 1 will be the first in a series of mixed-media albums that takes indigenous English folk music where it has never gone before – out of the folk clubs and folk festivals - out to the ordinary English people who have been disconnected from it, and to everyone else who has a passing interest in the music of English common folk.
As noted in the songbook Foreword ……
“A nation’s folk-heritage is worthless if the people to whom it belongs are not able to celebrate it freely. Folk-heritage is not just for the enjoyment of the privileged few, or to be analysed and studied ad nauseam; rather it is to be celebrated as often and by as many people as possible, so as to keep a people’s folk-culture and ethnic identity alive and well. It should be played, sung and danced from the earliest age – in schools, at home, in the pub and at social gatherings.
Sadly, thanks to New British cutural oppression the great majority of ordinary urban English people have been denied their folk-heritage and their cultural identity for more than twenty years. I’m sure this selection of English folk-heritage music will appeal to ethnic English people the whole world over.
I’m also sure that it will appeal to anyone who simply likes great singalong folksongs.”
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