The Forum - The Forum

mac, Birmingham - 22nd August (1 reply)

Matthew Carter — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:28:11 +0100

Hi Jim (or anyone else who knows),

Is the show @ mac, Birmingham on August 22nd going to be the same musicians that are playing the Wayward tour and have I read it correctly that it will be in the outdoor amphitheatre?

Ta.

Matt.

Jim's concert in Devoran Village Hall, 16 March 2013 (no replies)

Trevor — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:05:19 +0000

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed Jim's concert at Devoran Village Hall (near Truro) last Saturday. I'm not exactly a folk music groupie, preferring to attend concerts of classical or choral music. However, I have well-loved CDs by Kathryn Tickell, Andy Cutting, Karen Tweed and a couple of others of similar vein so my taste is quite eclectic. I first heard of Jim Moray on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction about ten years ago and was immediately struck by the tone and clarity of his unique voice. It was fun to listen to songs I hadn't heard since a boy in the fifties, (e. g. Gypsies and Early One Morning). I began to collect his CDs and I play them very often.

The concert was a great way to hear him live and to buy the new CD, Skulk. I really enjoyed myself. Jim is such an engaging and self-deprecating young man that I felt by the end of the evening that I'd known him for years. We had a very pleasant chat during the interval, when he kindly signed my CD covers. His delivery is so clear that you can hear every word and therefore make sense of the songs. His introductions to each song were very valuable - I had little idea of the provenance of English folk songs, other than what I already knew about the collecting habits of Vaughan Williams and Grainger.

Listening to Jim's CDs is all the more enjoyable now that I've seen him operating but nothing prepared me for the impact Skulk has had on me. I must have played it half a dozen times daily since the concert. No wonder Jim wins all those awards. The CD is simply marvellous, although it's difficult to say that the emotions it generates are universally joyful. The Captain's Apprentice is utterly harrowing, for example. I have found a BBC podcast from last year's Proms with a 20-minute slot about the song and who should be singing it but Jim!

There are disturbing aspects to the lyrics of several of the songs but as Jim said himself: "My emotional range is quite narrow" and I've learnt that traditional folk songs are not overflowing with sweetness and light, any more than are classic fairy tales. How many times I must have played 'Ring a ring of roses' as an infant without the faintest idea that it's all to do with the Black Death!

So, I have gained a lot through Jim's music. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting him and watching him perform and his CDs will continue to be among my most favourite. Please pass my appreciation to him.

Trevor, Cornwall

Young people in folk (4 replies)

Triana — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:15:35 +0100

I noticed in the Shrewsbury thread LizzieA raised a question about young people in folk..

Quote:
LizzieA
"I would also be interested to get your views on young people listening to Folk? I'm 18, a Folk fan and go to big inner city college, I do not know one young person who listens to or at least would dare admit to liking any kind of Folk music. Do you think folk music has a future? And do you think folk music will ever be perceived as "cool" or even acceptable to listen to within schools and colleges? "

Well... I am 23, I started listening to folk at about 16, and to this day I only know a handful of young people who are into folk, almost all of whom I met at university. I appear to be the only one I know of who doesn't also play or sing and equally almost the only one who didn't have folk around me as I grew up. I have met a few more individuals in the last year or two but I suspect that was more to do with being at university than an actual increase in numbers.

Strangely enough the only people I know who think folk is cool are the very few individuals I know who are into it, my work colleagues usually cringe when I tell them! I suspect it will take a long while for the stereotype to fade and the preconceptions about the genera to evaporate.

I went to Jim's Dorchester gig a few nights ago and there were only a couple of people near my age. This has been my experience with most gigs and sessions I have been too. I hear anecdotally that there are more young people in folk than ever before, but as far as I can see numbers are still fairly low, if anyone knows where to find them please point me in the right direction!

It would be great to hear more peoples opinions on this :)

Barbara Allen/This Is The Sound (no replies)

Doogyrev — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:29:42 +0000

Hi all
Going back a bit here - but does anybody know if its possible to get Barbara Allen (new version) and This Is The Sound as a download anywhere? Got the vinyl, but the iPod is feeling a bit left out...
Thanks!
D.

Sweet England 10th Anniversary (6 replies)

clarros — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:36:51 +0100

They were giving out flyers at last nights gig at Cecil Sharp House:

Pre-order link for Sweet England (10th Anniversay Edition)
[jimmoray.bandcamp.com]

And tickets for the Anniversary Party in November
[www.folkbytheoak.com]

P.S. the gig was great, but then that's a given ;)

And the five-piece 'Skulk Ensemble' were in fine form B)

Facebook (9 replies)

webmaster — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:24:02 +0000

Who here is on Facebook? Or rather, who is *not* on facebook?

A new website is being designed and the suggestion is that the forum content will move over to being powered by Facebook, allowing commenting on news stories and a space to upload photos and videos etc. Of course, non-facebook members will still be able to view the content, but you'd need an account to join in the conversation.

Views for/against?

1 Out Of 3 Ain't Bad (4 replies)

bigsnitch — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:18:24 +0000

Congratulations Jim on winning the award for best traditional song - well deserved. A shame you got pipped at the post in the other 2 categories, but you were up against some pretty stiff competition.

Also, congratulations to Blair Dunlop for getting the Horizon award.

Looking forward to seeing the pair of you at the RNCM in February.

Well done, both of you >:D<

Martin

Modern History Club Lump? (2 replies)

Lenora Rose — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:34:01 +0000

It seems like time to prod Jim again on the promised bonus songs for the Modern History Club members, since the last forum topic on the subject was from 2011. At that point, he said they're coming, but in a lump instead of one at a time -- which is all well and good, but some sense of when might be appreciated.

A Folk Slam!? (4 replies)

Matthew Carter — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:25:43 +0000

Happy New Year to everyone, it seems quite quiet on here at the moment...

I was just wondering if anyone knew what a folk slam entailed? - It sounds intriguing!

Matt.

Merry Christmas one and all.... (1 reply)

Windflower — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 13:17:11 +0000

I'd just like to wish all the members of the Forum, and of course Jim himself a Very Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.... May you all be blessed with good health, food, warmth, love and laughter.

Here's to 2013 and much more excellent music - and especially looking forward to what Jim has to offer in the months to come!

Carry on enjoying the music - and Jim, hope you continue to enjoy making the music too!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! :)-D

Alison x

Spotify? (no replies)

iamthedans — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:03:01 +0000

I was just wondering whether there are any known plans for an expansion of the coverage of Mr. Moray on Spotify. Although I am an album owner, atm it is very awkward to transfer songs to your phone for use within Spotify if they are not on their network, so currently (although others are stored on my phone) the only tracks I can listen to in a sequence along with other stuff, through spotify, are those on A Beginner's Guide .

Thanks
Dans

2012 Top 10 Jim Songs Poll (15 replies)

bigsnitch — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:17:24 +0000

Hi guys,

It’s that time of year again, when you can vote for your favourite 10 Jim songs. We’ve had a new album, 2 tours and a festival filled summer so hopefully you’ll all have something to contribute. It’s only for fun, so please join in.

I know that my favourites change all the time – Skulk features prominently in my list this year - and it'll give all of the newer forum members who weren't around in previous years a chance to let us all know their top songs.

As usual, I'll mark the songs Eurovision style, 1 to 8, 10 and 12.

If anyone lists 10 songs, but in no particular order, e.g. alphabetical, number of iTunes plays, drawn out of a hat etc., I'll mark them with the first song in the list getting the 12 points, the second song getting the 10 points, down to the tenth song getting the 1 point.

Voting will stay open until midnight on New Year's Eve (what are you doing (:P)?), and I'll collate and publish the results in early January.

So, to start you off, here are my top 10 Jim Moray songs for 2012.

01 – Seven Long Years

02 – Poverty Knock

03 – Lord Douglas

04 – Nightvisting

05 – Spencer The Writer

06 – Hind Etin

07 – The Captain’s Apprentice

08 – Annachie Gordon

09 – Gilderoy

10 – The Lowlands Of Holland

I’m looking forward to seeing how people’s choices have changed since last year, so get voting.

Jim, as usual, you’re most welcome to vote too, it’s always good to see which of your own songs you’ve enjoyed playing most.

Martin

BBC Folk Awards 2013 (3 replies)

redpete — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 11:14:15 +0000

Nominations in three categories for Mr Moray: Folk Singer of the Year, Best Album, Best Traditional Track (for Lord Douglas).

The Best Album award is based on a public vote from the five nominees, if anyone feels like having their say:
BBC Folk Awards

"Skulk" Up For fRoots Award (1 reply)

bigsnitch — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:46:18 +0000

For anyone who didn't get Jim's post on Facebook, here's a link to fRoots Magazine's Album Of The Year listing.

[www.frootsmag.com]

Martin

Coming Soon - The 3rd Annual Top 10 Jim Songs Poll (no replies)

bigsnitch — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 17:24:42 +0000

Following on from the success of the last 2 polls, voting for the 2012 Top 10 Jim Songs will open at midnight on Saturday 1st December, closing at midnight on Monday 31st December, the results to published early in 2013.

We've had a new album and a couple of tours, not to mention a very busy festival season, so I hope everyone will contribute and make this year's poll a real success.

More details to follow nearer the time.

Martin >:D<

Shrewsbury Folk Festival (11 replies)

LizzieA — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:31:28 +0000

I have just got back from the Shrewsbury Folk Festival and wanted to say how much I enjoyed all 3 of your performances. I thought every concert you did were special, unique and basically just incredible. In Your two solo ones, you sang all the songs I was desperate to hear and furthermore you made me fall in love with songs I had never heard, so thank you! Then the "Jim Moray and the Folk Slammers" (as affectionately nicknamed by the Sweetback Sisters) concert blew my mind! So amazing! And put together in one afternoon? Work of a genius! :) the man next to me cried his eyes out with happiness during the last encore, you should be so proud! What a way to end the festival! :) I was wondering what the second from last song was called? You sang it, it was old style rock and you wanted everyone to do the twist to it? Also would like to get your views on the concert you did on Saturday night in the big tent? How did you feel it went?

Also, this is directed at everyone including jim. If I only had £10 to spend on iTunes and I wanted to buy one of jim's albums (if I already had Skulk) which one should I buy?

Thank you for an amazing weekend! :)

Lizzie

October/November tour (14 replies)

Matthew Carter — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 00:01:25 +0000

Looking forward to the tour in October/November. I think the MAC in Birmingham is a must for me.

Does anybody know if it is Jim solo, the normal band set up (4 piece) or the Skulk ensemble for the tour?

Whatever, can't wait...

Long Lankin (2 replies)

Matthew Carter — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 08:01:12 +0100

I've just finished reading this...

[www.amazon.co.uk]

Anybody else on here read it? It is well worth a read, a bit of a slow start, but one you end up not putting down. Not as good as Jim's rendition though, of course! ;)

When Did You Discover Jim's Music? (19 replies)

bigsnitch — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:21:49 +0100

After listening to Jim's interview with Mike Harding, and as someone who didn't really know much about folk music until I heard Jim, I began to wonder when people first discovered his music.

In the interview, Jim makes an observation regarding the general types of people who used to listen to folk music in the 'good old days' and said that many younger people are now listening to it, and although he doesn't know where they're coming from, he's happy that they are there.

There's no way I'd describe myself as 'young' any more, but I first heard Jim completely by accident when he was doing an interview on the Janice Long show on Radio 2 around the time that Sweet England came out. I'd been visiting a friend up in Oldham and had stayed later that usual and was driving home after midnight, didn't fancy any of the CDs I had in the car and decided to listen to the radio. I was completely bowled over by what I heard and the next weekend I trawled HMV and Virgin in Manchester looking for the album.

The rest is history!

Martin

Mike Harding interview (2 replies)

jimmoray — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 19:31:14 +0100

In case you missed it, here is a podcast version of the Radio 2 interview. It'll be available for 7 days

[www.bbc.co.uk]

Jim Moray and the Skulk Ensemble, Bristol, July 20th (6 replies)

jimmoray — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:17:33 +0100

It's just been decided that we'll be playing a festival warm-up - and the only non-festival band gig of the year - in Bristol on the 20th July. It's going to be an eight piece band, replicating the Skulk line-up as closely as possible - drums, double bass, trumpet, saxophone, melodeon etc. More line-up details to follow, but you can guess who's involved...

The Fleece, Thomas Street, Bristol
£10, doors 7:30

[www.facebook.com]

New t-shirts in the shop! (23 replies)

jimmoray — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:38:00 +0000

The Skulk t-shirts are finally underway.

This is going to work like the pre-order system. If you order your t-shirt now, you get it a couple of quid cheaper and in the exact size and colour you want from the first batch. They'll take a couple of weeks to arrive. Then I'll also order some for mercy stock.

If anyone wants a different colour or shirt (within reason), then email me and I'll add it to the shop.

Jackie Oates on BBC 2 (4 replies)

Valentine — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:37:06 +0100

Hi All/Jim,

I have just finished watching the 1st episode of the Historian Michael Woods new series
The Great British Story:A Peoples History on BBC 2 and as I was watching the credits sadly Wizz through
(Oh how that frustrates me)I was watching out for who did the music as there was a lovely vocal piece that I have to admit thought sounded like the The Wurzels when I just managed to see the name of Jims Sister
Jackie but I wasnt quick enough to read what the song was.
Can you give any info please Jim, it was Beautiful I must say. :-)

Peace,
Andrew.

Weirdlore (no replies)

jimmoray — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:30:31 +0100

Our friends at fRoots present to you Weirdlore - featuring our friends Jonny Kearney and Lucy Farrell, Corncrow, Boxcar Aldous Huxley, Telling The Bees and more.

10th of June, The Folkhouse, Bristol. Please come along.

[www.facebook.com]

In which I write a few paragraphs about Mr. Moray (no replies)

mattdp — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:57:38 +0100

For many years now I've been blogging regularly about my favourite hobby, strategy board games. I set up my own site which has become reasonably popular in the niche and which now has a number of other writers working on it. But I also write for other sites, and whenever I do, I post a short article on my own site with a link to the material, supported by some opinions on contemporary books, films and music. Not my areas of expertise, but it helps to bulk things out.

Anyway, this time I decided to write a bit about Jim. Hopefully some of my audience (which does number a few thousand) might end up enjoying the material as a result. The relevant paragraphs are right at the bottom if you want to cut to the chase:

[fortressat.com]

Kick out the Jam! (no replies)

GreenMan — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:22:55 +0100

Hey Jimbo - good to know that you appreciate The Dukes.

Comic Man! B)

Happy Bonny Black Hare day! (4 replies)

jimmoray — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:57:25 +0100

"On the 14th of May at the dawn of the day..."

[soundcloud.com]

Skulk Plug on Radio 5 Live (no replies)

bigsnitch — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:52:23 +0100

I've just heard the podcast of last week's movie discussion with Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode, and at the end, Simon mentioned that Skulk was his album of the week.

I don't listen to the show on the radio, only the podcast, so I don't know if this comment made it to a national audience, but a friend of mine alerted me to it after he'd heard the podcast, saying that the singer I'm always banging on about got a mention and he was going to check him out on YouTube.

Martin

Lyrics (10 replies)

Doogyrev — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:04:33 +0100

It would be great to have a lyrics page on here. I don't know how it sits with copyright issues as there are a number of songs based on trad stories and other old folf songs. It would be great to read what changes you've made in lyrics Jim from original versions. Plus my daughters fav song in the whole world is your Silver Dagger (despite it being tragic!) and I can't quite make out all the words when I sing it to her haha! :)

I was thinking of Selling my "I am Jim Moray EP"...but I'm not now. (14 replies)

cnm — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:24:50 +0100

Hi all,

Anyone interested in an original copy of the EP?

Thought about listing it on ebay, but probably better to reach a real fan here.

I bought it via mail order after seeing Jim perform his showcase slot in the club tent at the Cambridge Folk Festival many years ago (before SE came out).

I've now got two kids and another car seat to buy, and having this sat on my shelf is getting too tempting to ignore.

I've not really looked at the prices of these recently, but a completed listings search on eBay shows this one ebay link

Anyone interested?

Thanks,
Col