365 Days Of Folk
365 Days Of Folk
project description
- an online celebration of music, guided by the example of Jon Boden (afolksongaday.com).
- an ambitious multimedia discussion (aural, visual, and written) exploring the history of individual songs.
- a collaborative exploration of the positive effects on mental health & wellbeing (individual & societal) of individuals & groups learning a new folk song each day.
- an open forum for raising serious issues around mental illness.
goals
- discuss 366 songs during 2024, on social media (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X, Medium), ideally one per day.
- involve a large number of collaborators (musicians, visual artists, writers, musicologists, collectors, etc).
- accompany the discussions with podcast episodes via 365daysoffolk.buzzsprout.com.
- later (2025), consider releasing the audio as digital streams.
- later (2025), consider compiling the project into a book co-credited to the contributors.
- later (2025), iterate this template into a new series “365 days of folk singers” or “365 days of fork (traditional recipes)” etc.
FAQ
- why are you doing this… most artists release an album every 2 years if they’re lucky… 366 songs in 1 year is surely an impossible feat?
- as someone who’s tried CBT multiple times and other types of therapy, I’ve landed on the realisation that daily music-making is the solution for me. Learning a new song each day is my medication and keeps me sane. This rate of recording & releasing is what enables the rest of life to fit into place.
- why now?
- 2024 is a leap year so we get a free extra song.
- by 2025 it will be possible to tell an artificial intelligence to do things like “sing me song A in the voice of person B and put some guitar & harp into the mix”… 2024 is the last chance for a project that is humans-only.
- why did you pick Jon’s list as your guide?
- Jon Boden is an incredibly inspiring trad artist and song collector who set a brilliant example with his AFSAD project in 2010-11.
- the list he created is representative of many eras & styles of folk music, ancient & modern, from diverse cultures. It is generous & inclusive in its highlighting of many songs & singers that may otherwise have been forgotten but for Jon’s tending the flame of their legacy.
- i see the AFSAD list as a template that others could likewise follow in future, like in the Lake District the “Bob Graham Round” is an ultramarathon course designed by shepherd Bob Graham, which is run by endurance athletes every year; they receive a cake and Guinness as their prize. Maybe 365DOF will kick off a similar tradition for future “endurance folkies” to follow? I can’t guarantee I will be around to provide the cake & Guinness as they cross the finish line.
- please buy Jon’s records and go to his gigs.
- why did you start in January instead of July like he did?
- treating it as a New Year’s resolution, i have tried & failed every year since 2021 (the lockdowns were a catalyst for my mental health journey and original decision to tackle the list). 2024 is the one!
- also our baby arrived in October 2023 so it was only once we’d settled into parenthood after some weeks that I could consider picking up a daily-posting routine. (Time as a new parent is very scarce, so I usually end up recording the narrations in between household tasks whilst cradling the baby to sleep.)
https://linktr.ee/365daysoffolk
Episodes
54 episodes since 2024
February 23: y cap o las fawr, Feat @worldwidewelshman
February 23: y cap o las fawrFeat @worldwidewelshman #aiart #welshmusic
March 23, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 23
•
4:05
February 22: A pilgrims way
February 22: A pilgrims wayFull episode via linktr.ee/365daysoffolk#Alart
March 21, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 22
•
6:40
February 21: Grey Funnel Line
February 21: Grey Funnel Line#aiart #bouzouki #seashanty #tradfolk
March 14, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 21
•
4:38
February 20: The Shoals of Herring
February 20: The Shoals of HerringFeat the brilliant musicians (part of @eofishermen!) Sam Lightfoot Loftus, Lucinda Freeburn, and Loris Scarpa.#aiart #folkmusic
March 14, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 20
•
5:31
February 19: Bird in the Bush
February 19: Bird in the BushWelcoming @katyrydermusic back for another magnificent performance, with @alanafiddleton Full recording via linktr.ee/365daysoffolk#aiart #folkmusic
March 14, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 19
•
5:50
February 18: Over the Hills and Far Away
February 18: Over the Hills and Far AwayFull video via linktr.ee/365daysoffolk#aiart #folkmusic #antiwar
March 14, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 18
•
3:48
February 17: I Sowed the Seeds of Love
February 17: I Sowed the Seeds of LoveFull clip and story via linktr.ee/365daysoffolk#aiart
March 13, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 17
•
5:16
February 16: Donkey Riding Feat the champion Greg Hooper! 🙏🙌👏🥰 #aiart
February 16: Donkey RidingFeat the champion Greg Hooper! 🙏🙌👏🥰#aiart
March 01, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 16
•
3:02
February 15: Young Banker
February 15: Young BankerPerformed by the brilliant Maurice Sherlock#aiart
February 29, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 15
•
5:39
February 14: Cupids Garden
February 14: Cupids Garden
February 29, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 14
•
5:18
February 13: Willie o’ Winsbury
February 13: Willie o’ WinsburyFeat gorgeous guitar & vibilicious vocal from @DGSolarismusic Full clip via linktr.ee/366daysoffolk
February 20, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 13
•
6:34
February 12: false knight on the road
February 12: false knight on the roadFeaturing the amazing @GregHooper1!Full clip available from linktr.ee/365daysoffolk
February 20, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 12
•
4:24
February 11: she moves through the fair
February 11: she moves through the fair
February 16, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 11
•
6:27
February 10: Roll Down To Rio
February 10: Roll Down To Rio
February 15, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 10
•
3:06
February 9: Young Simon John
February 9: Young Simon John
February 10, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 9
•
4:56
February 8: the moon shines bright
February 8: the moon shines bright
February 08, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 8
•
4:00
February 7: king Henry was king James’s son Feat the return of Greg Hooper whom you need to follow via https://www.greghoopermusic.com
February 7: king Henry was king James’s sonFeat the return of Greg Hooper whom you need to follow via https://www.greghoopermusic.com
February 07, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 7
•
2:54
February 6: Cold Blow and the Rainy Night Feat the wonderful, inspiring voice of @worldwidewelshman
February 6: Cold Blow and the Rainy NightFeat the wonderful, inspiring voice of @worldwidewelshman
February 06, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 6
•
5:29
February 5: When First I Came To Caledonia
February 5: When First I Came To Caledonia
February 05, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 5
•
4:48
February 4: loch Erne shore
February 4: loch Erne shore
February 04, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 4
•
4:22
February 3: Clyde Water Huge thanks to @georgewashbourn1 for this fantastc recording of an epic ballad!
February 3: Clyde WaterHuge thanks to @georgewashbourn1 for this fantastc recording of an epic ballad!
February 03, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 3
•
6:58
February 2: Won’t You Go My Way
February 2: Won’t You Go My WayShoutout for @Josh Geffin
February 02, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 2
•
1:56
February 1: The Sheffield Apprentice
February 1: The Sheffield Apprentice
February 01, 2024
•
Season 2
•
Episode 1
•
4:47