We want to use this instalment of Folk & Mirrors to tell you about a new project we are excited to be part of. You might have seen the poster for our upcoming gig- ‘Mountain Song Revival Presents A Night Of Live Music’ - and wondered what it was all about. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know.
Mountain Song Revival is a collective of folk musicians based in South Wales. We use the term ‘folk’ broadly, encompassing traditional folk, doom folk, dark folk, country folk, acoustic folk and more. The aim of the collective is to organise events that embody the sense of community and togetherness that is sometimes missing from the modern music scene. This will include charity gigs to raise funds and awareness for various causes, events that bring folk music to smaller communities, and opportunities for musicians and local communities to create meaningful connections.
The origins of word ‘folk’ can be traced back to Germanic and Old English terms for ‘people’ or ‘common people’. Folk music was traditionally created for and by the lower socio-economic classes. It was passed around the community and down the generations by listening and sharing in social groups, as opposed to hymns taught in church or formal music education in schools. Many folk musicians were amateurs as folk music was more about participation than performance. The songs were incorporated into daily life- work, play, celebrations, rituals etc, which made folk music integral to the local community.
In modern culture, folk music is often associated with traditional instruments, acoustic style, story-telling, and songs with political messages. The Mountain Song Revival collective will strive to embody these elements of modern folk music. The Logo, designed by Kristian (artist name ‘Our Mother The Mountain’), represents this well. The colliery lamp is a symbol of the longstanding connection between folk music and the working classes in Wales. The head of the bull references the Tawr Scotch who were prevalent in the 1800s for their defence of worker's rights. Their motto, ‘The Enemy Of All Tyranny’ is apt for what Mountain Song Revival represents. The sun is rising above the lamp and the bull, signifying a new dawn. This new dawn is the revival of the mountain song- empowerment through music.
Act Happy started in 2022, so we are fairly new to the South Wales Music scene. In our experience, there is so much pressure to create a strong online presence in order to promote music. ‘Success’ is often measured in terms of monetising music and getting as many streams as possible, rather than connecting with people through music. Whilst we have embraced social media and online communities as part of our journey, we jumped at the chance to be part of a group that puts humanity and community at the heart of music.
The first Mountain Song Revival event will take place on 27th November in Le Pub on Newport High Street. Entry is a minimum donation of £5 to raise money for Cwtches For Gaza- a small fundraising operation run by a small group of people in the Rhymney valley. The donations are taken to Palestinian refugees living in Egypt to be used for basic necessities like food, housing and medical expenses. The event was originally due to take place at alternative venue, but they did not want to be associated with a charity offering support to Gaza. You can find out more about this on our social media pages. We are very grateful to Le Pub for their support which has allowed the event to go ahead.
The gig will be a wonderful night of live music featuring performances from 6 local artists. Our Mother The Mountain will open the evening, followed by Moonface The Mage, Ryan Keyse, Irish Tom, Act Happy, and our headliner, Burn The Ladder. This is just a sample of the musicians who make up Mountain Song Revival, and future events will include other artists in the collective. We have lots of ideas for the types of events we want to organise. If you have suggestions or would like to get involved, please reach out.
If you would like to show your support for Mountain Song Revival, please follow the collective on Facebook and Instagram and share the poster for the first event. We would love to see as many people there as possible, so save the date and bring a mate!
