Folk Song in England Study Day

Learn more about England’s cultural heritage through folk song, from ballads to shanties. This study day explores the history, development and purpose of folk songs collected in England. It will be led by renowned folklorist Steve Roud with Julia Bishop - a superb opportunity to share their knowledge and insights into folk song and music. Steve and Julia are co-editors of the acclaimed New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.

The day is ideal for those interested in finding out about the history of folk song and the part it played in everyday life in England up to the 1950s. The sessions will be informal, and there will be plenty of opportunity for discussion and questions. There will also be opportunities to hear rarely played archival recordings of singers from across England, as well as the chance to see archival film.

Lunch and refreshments are included.

Part of The Full English, a project by the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS), and supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Folk Music Fund and The Folklore Society. The Full English includes the launch of the most comprehensive free searchable digital archive in the world on 20 June alongside a nationwide community and schools learning programme. 

Steve Roud has been researching folk topics for over 30 years. Previously a local studies librarian from Sussex, he is now a freelance writer. His publications include: the New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, Oxford Dictionary of English Folklore, The Penguin Guide to Superstitions of Britain & Ireland, The English Year, London Lore and Lore of the Playground. 

Julia Bishop gained her PhD in Folklore from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1993. Since then she has been active in teaching and research in the UK, particularly in the fields of traditional music and children's folklore. She currently leads the project to produce a critical edition of the James Madison Carpenter Collection and is researching continuity and change in children's play. She is co-editor, with Steve Roud, of the New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.