Episodes
Episode 9 is all about birds! Embark on a journey around the world to sample bird songs and birdsong. Along the way, listen to the mockingbird, help the blackbird find his missing pieces, and rumple up the cuckoo’s nest. Note: This was recorded on the road (away from the studio) so please excuse any loss of audio quality!
Host: Olivia Harding
Join the Folk FIles Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FolkFilesPodcast
Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: Beatrice Harrison
WORK: “Actually recorded in...
Published 08/30/24
“Shady Grove” is an Appalachian folk song that is often linked to the English ballad “Matty Groves”. But what is the actual relationship between them? This episode of Folk Files discusses the meaning of “Shady Grove” and untangles the origins of these two songs.
Host: Olivia Harding
Special thanks to: Aaron J Morton.
Join the Folk Files Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FolkFilesPodcast
Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: Doc Watson
WORK: Shady Grove
SOURCE:...
Published 07/17/24
This month’s episode focuses on folk songs from the British Isles where the main character dresses, acts, or lives in a way that challenges gender norms. It also offers a glimpse into the work of “Queer Folk”, an English organization that highlights traditional songs with LGBTQIA+ themes.
Host: Olivia Harding
Special thanks to: Shiloh DeFabia, Lafayette Matthews, and Aaron J Morton.
Learn more about Queer Folk: https://www.queerfolk.co.uk/
Join the Folk Files Patreon:...
Published 06/18/24
April is dead and summer is a-coming in! This episode of Folk Files explores the tradition of May songs and festivals, specifically focusing on Hal an Tow and the Flora Day celebrations in Cornwall. Morris dancing, maypoles, and the origin of May Day are also discussed.
Host: Olivia Harding
Special thanks to: Stephen Winick, Donna Smith, Aaron J. Morton, The Soup
Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: Marc Block
WORK: Hal an Tow
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgBzSNOc3A8
ARTIST:...
Published 05/16/24
Wayfaring Stranger is the featured song in this episode of Folk Files, which explores the history of Appalachia, shape note tradition, and the difficulties of tracing the origins of early American folk music.
Host: Olivia Harding
Special thanks to: Aaron J. Morton, Jo Morton, Lucas "Whiskey Richards" Husted, and Mary White-Harding
Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: Jack White
WORK: Wayfaring Stranger
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25P08So3rfI
ARTIST: Cherokee National Youth...
Published 04/17/24
This episode of Folk Files traces the roots of popular sea shanties to Black work songs and African folk traditions.
Full list of referenced works: https://jmp.sh/gcOBH83N
To jump into the Black origins of country music, start here:
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/10/black-country-music-legacy/671818/
https://time.com/5673476/ken-burns-country-music-black-artists/
Host: Olivia Harding
Special thanks to Cherie and Michael Albert
Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: Paul Clayton...
Published 02/29/24
Ahoy! This episode of Folk Files explores the strange history of Mingulay, the island at the center of the Mingulay Boat Song. The episode also delves into the difference between sea shanties and fo’c’sle songs and discusses the tradition of naming songs “[Scottish Island] Boat Song”.
Host: Olivia Harding
Special thanks to Aaron J. Morton, Asia Lupo, Marc Mills, Arne Parrott, Joseph Maurer, Cherie Hopton Albert, and Michael Albert
Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: ARRR!!!
WORK: Mingulay Boat...
Published 02/07/24
In this holiday episode of Folk Files, we explore the old, wild, wonderful world of wassailing. Wæs hæl!
Host: Olivia Harding
Special thanks to Aaron J. Morton.
Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: The Brown University Madrigal Singers
WORK: Wassail Song, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams
SOURCE: 2010 Holiday Concert
ARTIST: Magpie Lane
WORK: The Somerset Wassail
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhWNp9vh39E
ARTIST: The King’s Singers
WORK: Here We Come A Wassailing
SOURCE:...
Published 12/20/23
Welcome to Folk Files, a podcast hosted by Olivia Harding that seeks to uncover the mysteries of folk music throughout the ages and dive deep into the tangled history of murder ballads, sea shanties, rebel songs, and other music that has withstood the test of time!
In this inaugural episode, we will discuss the meaning of "folk music" and explore the origins of the song "Health to the Company".
Special thanks to Misti Bernard, Jerry Barry, and Aaron J. Morton.
ARTIST: Sherrill...
Published 11/15/23