f4
T
hanks to everybody who has responded so far to the big subscrip- tion appeal that we
launched in July, and especially to those who have become Lifetime Subscribers. It’s much appreciated evidence of how much people value fRoots as a cornerstone of the scene. Read- er response was encouragingly swift and although we’ve not yet reached our target, it has already made a good difference. We’ve also, very pleasing- ly, had our best summer in more than a decade for sales of fRoots at festivals and events, perhaps reflecting what a focussed resource we’ve become in these days of digital information overload and mainstream inexpertise.
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The government seems hell bent on pushing the coun- try into double dip recession. fRoots wasn’t alone in notic- ing the immediate change as soon as the election results became known in May. We heard many stories from festi- vals, promoters and the travel/ tourism industry reporting that advance bookings fell off a cliff for several months. So we really do appreciate how readers are showing their con- fidence. We are also very grateful to the artists and organi- sations who have responded by linking to us on their web sites, with messages encouraging their own followers. Once again, this special musical community that we’re part of is pulling together as it did in earlier years, remembering the importance of symbiosis.
It will surely have to pull together even harder when the full details of the government’s savage spending cuts become known. It has been widely reported in the media that each department has been asked to prepare for 25 – 40% cuts. The Arts, however, are combined – for some unfathomable reason – in a ministry which also has respon- sibility for sport, and we are told that the massive costs of the 2012 Olympics are ringfenced. It doesn’t take much to work out, then, that the demanded cuts will have to be born almost entirely by the Arts side of the department.
The folk scene may be better placed to ride this one out than some other areas of the arts. For many decades it was largely funding free, used to surviving off its own hard work and resources. Just like it pioneered what is now the cutting edge model for artists making their own records independently, maybe other areas of music will be taking lessons from ours on ways to survive in hungry times.
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VIEW OUR DIGITAL EDITION! there’s a full sample issue to explore online
You’re in for a real treat next month. Like last year, we’re doing a November/ December double issue and with it you’ll get the second volume of our Looking For A New Eng- land CDs, this time putting a spotlight on the many wonder- ful artists from other traditions now living in England and enriching our culture, as many have done down the cen- turies. Once again funded by Arts Council England – luckily allocated before the government change – it’ll also fly the flag at Womex where it’ll be in all the delegate bags. We’re just mastering it right now and it’s a cracker!
Ian Anderson
Photo: Judith Burrows
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