Folk Files

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. Le...

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 Blo...

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 Stran...

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 Har...

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, Jose...

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...

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...

Folk Files is a podcast hosted by Olivia Harding that seeks to uncover the mysteries of folk music through the ages. Each episode dives deep into the tangled history of murder ballads, sea shanties, rebel songs, and other music that has withstood the test of time.