Anti-folk (or antifolk) is a music genre that takes the earnestness of politically charged 1960s folk music and subverts it. The defining characteristics of this anti-folk are difficult to identify, as they vary from one artist to the next. Nonetheless, the music tends to sound raw or experimental; it also generally mocks the seriousness and pretension of the established mainstream music scene.

History

Anti-folk in the US

The New York City anti-folk movement began in 1984 at The Speakeasy , a club in Greenwich Village. It was conceived by artist Darryl Cherney as an alternative venue to the popular Folk City club , which generally booked more established artists. Roger Manning printed Anti-Folk T-Shirts. Musicians involved included Axe Masterson (AKA Axman Horowitz & The Blind Rev. Axeman), Billy Nova, and Steve “Wheels” Cottrell (Wykked Trip), were collectively known as The Big Bang.

Singer-songwriter Lach started The Fort, an after-hours club, on the Lower East Side, after a booker at Folk City told him his music was "too punk." The Fort's opening coincided with the New York Folk Festival, so Lach dubbed his own event the New York Antifolk Festival. The Big Bang became The Fort house band when needed.

The original Fort shut down in 1985 and moved from location to location, including East Village bars Sophie's and Chameleon, before winding up in the back room of the Sidewalk Café in 1993 where it remains . Buskers like Beck Hansen also began to make a name for themselves in the New York City area in the late '80s and early '90s. The Antifolk Festival continues to be held semi-annually in the East Village (outlasting the original Folk Festival). Events have also taken place in the band shells in Tompkins Square Park and Central Park.

Anti-folk in the UK

The anti-folk scene in the UK derives mainly from American influence . The UK anti-folk scene (largely centred in London, Manchester and Brighton) has established its own identity, which has been written about in a six-page feature in the September 2007 issue of Plan B magazine. Plan B held an anti-folk night at the Huw Stevens-curated Sŵn in Cardiff in November 2007. The beginnings of the UK anti-folk scene were in London, with shows promoted by Sergeant Buzfuz that, although not billed as anti-folk, featured many U.S. and UK anti-folk singer/songwriters. Around this time, Jaymay, a New York native, moved to London. In 2004, the lo-fi musician Filthy Pedro started seasonal anti-folk festivals, which he promoted with Tom Mayne of the band David Cronenberg's Wife.

The Brighton anti-folk scene was quick to follow , curated primarily by Larry Pickleman and Mertle. Other key figures within the UK anti-folk community include Dan Treacy of Television Personalities, JJ Crash, Milk Kan, Extradition Order, Lucy Joplin and Paul Hawkins. Emmy the Great is loosely connected with the English anti-folk scene, having played at Sgt Buzfuz's nights in 2003 as part of the duo Contraband. Kate Nash started her music career playing anti-folk-style shows, including a concert promoted by Larry Pickleman and mertle in Brighton. Laura Marling is sometimes linked with anti-folk, although this is less to do with the UK movement and more to do with her perceived musical style.

Anti-folk-influenced acts such as The Bobby McGee's have begun to pick up regular national radio airplay and media coverage. In August 2006, Timeout Magazine called anti-folk "One of London's hottest subcultures". The first anti-folk UK compilation album, Up the Anti, was released in 2007, mastered by Mark Kramer. The Welsh anti-folk artist Mr Duke has gained some popularity in Wales.

See also

• Anticomp Folkilation
• List of anti-folk bands and musicians
• Psych folk
• Urban Folk

References

1. How Does It Feel, Antifolkies, to Have a Home, Not Be Unknown?, Alan Light, The New York Times, August 11, 2006.

External links

• Morning Star article on Anti-folk
• Time Out London feature on Anti-folk
• Village Voice article on UK Anti-folk
• musicomh.com's Review of Anti-folk night at Sŵn Fest, Cardiff 2007