JULIE FOWLIS | INTERVIEW
As the The Radio 2 Folk Awards, Wales Millennium Centre Charlie Piercey talks to folk star, and host of the awards, Julie Fowlis
The term folk is quite indistinct. What sort of music do the awards recognize?
You are correct, I think the term ‘folk’ has evolved and become less distinct over the past few years, but I would add that I feel this applies to other genres also. The lines between one style and another are becoming increasingly blurred. Music being produced in these islands is open to – and regularly borrows from – multiple styles and musical form. The term folk, to me, embraces traditional vocal and instrumental acoustic music, music ‘belonging to’ or ‘of the people’, singer-songwriters working in a folk or traditional style, whilst also recognising the wealth of new music being produced using traditional or folk melodies, style or instrumentation to create new sounds.
The awards are championing a lot of lesser-known talent. How important is it that these groups appear on the bill?
It’s vital. The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards remain an important platform for lesser known artists to showcase their work, not just on mainstream radio and iPlayer TV, but also directly to the industry who are in attendance. I realise the importance of this one from personal experience!
Equally, I imagine there must be a number of stalwart folk heroes in attendance this year, who can we expect to see?
Performing this year is Grammy award-winning Loudon Wainwright III, English folk singer Kate Rusby, and the evening is being headlined with a performance by the legendary Yusuf / Cat Stevens.
Are there any acts the awards are especially pleased to acknowledge this year?
This decision was made earlier this year to bestow the Good Tradition Award to Meredydd Evans: tradition bearer, collector, academic and the foremost authority on Welsh language singing. Sadly, Meredith died only a few weeks ago, so I imagine this will be a particularly poignant and emotional award, especially since the ceremony is in Cardiff.
Tell us about the live performances and how they will feature during the course of the evening…
The live performances are interspersed with the presentation of awards, and they form an integral part of the night.
2015 sees Ewan MacColl inducted into the Hall of Fame, what influenced this decision for the ceremony this year?
The Folk Awards Committee makes that decision, and there are so many candidates worthy of this honour, but this year was a particularly fitting year as it is the centenary of Ewan MacColl’s birth.
Do you see Wales as an important location to host the awards, given its musical history and associated culture?
Of course and especially since the other cities such as Glasgow and Manchester have hosted the event, it’s absolutely right that we bring the show to Cardiff this year. I am particularly looking forward to hearing Welsh outfit 9Bach perform on the night.
The Radio 2 Folk Awards, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Wed 22 Apr. Tickets: £20-£27.50. Info: 029 2063 6464
