Bandcamp Day Recommendations
On March 20, 2020, Bandcamp waived their revenue share in order to help artists and labels impacted by the pandemic. The Bandcamp community showed up in a massive way, spending $4.3 million on music and merch—15x the amount of a normal Friday— helping artists cover rents, mortgages, groceries, medications, and so much more. The site waived their fees again on May 1, and intends to do so again on June 5 and July 3 (the first Fridays of the month).
Bandcamp also just announced that on Friday, June 19th, they will donate 100% of their share of sales to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. They also put together a list of artists sharing procceeds from tomorrow’s sales with racial and social justice funds: check it out.
Bandcamp has some specific recommendations for artists on how to get the most out of these fundraiser days.
Our Bandcamp Recommendations
We’ve now started our own Bandcamp page, where you can find albums from all of the Ministry of Folk teachers in one place. This month we also wanted to highlight some of the artists in our community that have released music since the pandemic hit. We’d like to thank them, and artists everywhere, for continuing to bring light into this world. Musicians have a way of giving voice to the things we sometimes find hard to say. May we all practice better listening in the days ahead.
Jake Blount, Spider Tales
released May 29, 2020
Featuring Tatiana Hargreaves, Nic Gareiss, Rachel Eddy and Haselden Ciaccio
“The purpose of Spider Tales is to chronicle the fury, the resentment and the desperation for justice that have simmered beneath the surface of this nation since time immemorial, and that have been encoded into the traditions passed down to me. It seems only fitting that the record should be released minutes after protesters in Minneapolis breached and burned a police precinct, exacting an incomplete vengeance for the public lynching of George Floyd and ensuring the arrest of his killer. It may be that the past several years' unrest has been the first, scattered sparks of a conflagration for which generations of my ancestors have prayed. I am honored to carry those prayers forward in song -- for my forebears' sake, for my own, and for all of us who want to set the world on fire. The reckoning to come may be grim for us all, but it is overdue.” Read Jake’s post on Facebook.
“Anansesem (Spider Tales): Stories of Anansi the Spider, a trickster who dwells in the interstices between the Akan people’s folklore and religion. Anansi is best known for his wit and wisdom—and his aptitude for weaponizing them against oppressors more powerful than himself. The Spider Tales survived the Middle Passage, and persisted amongst enslaved Africans and their descendants in the American colonies for centuries. The telling of Spider Tales was (and is) not only a pastime, but an act of cultural rebellion. We feel their innate significance as vestiges of our ancestors that live on in us: their stolen progeny.
The pieces included here are Spider Tales in their own right, passed down largely amongst the same people, in the same ways and for the same reasons. Though the form is different, the function is the same. In this new decade, we will face escalating patterns of violence and ecological crises that threaten the survival of our species. We must remember that we are not the first to fear the loss of our loved ones, the erasure of our legacies or the destruction of what we have made. Attend the words and works of forebears who felt the same grief, powerlessness, and fury—and, whether by spurning or embracing those emotions, found the strength to survive.
May we find it within ourselves to do what is needed.”
Take a lesson with Tatiana Hargreaves on Ministry of Folk here.
Sam Sweeney, Unearth Repeat
released March 27, 2020
We have to agree with Songlines magazine: “Sweeney’s playing is unearthly at times… an outstanding and deeply moving experience.” Tracks like ‘Half of One’ are especially likely to give you the feels.
“Unearth Repeat celebrates a new direction, not only for Sam but for English music. His new band are injecting into the English tradition something that has never been heard before. The music has the groove and swagger of traditional English music with the huge sound, flare, energy and festival spirit of bands coming out of the Celtic and Scandinavian music scenes. Leaving string sections, brass, concertina and harmonium behind, the new band brings together Sam’s unique fiddle playing, the acoustic and electric guitars of Jack Rutter (Seth Lakeman, Moore Moss Rutter) and Louis Campbell (National Youth Folk Ensemble), the double bass of Ben Nicholls (Seth Lakeman, Nadine Shah) and the keyboards of Dave Mackay (Art Garfunkel). Unearth Repeat also sees Sam team up again with award winning record producer Andy Bell.”
Support Sam and his band’s cancelled album tour on GoFundMe.
Take a lesson with Sam on Ministry of Folk here.
Elise Leavy, Home for the Summer
released February 9, 2018
Though the album isn’t 2020-new, this beautiful collection of songs makes the heart ache for more peaceful summer days. Elise Leavy is a singer and songwriter from the the north of California where the hills are green and the lakes are clean. Coming from a background of Beatles and Bob Dylan, she began writing songs at the age of 8 and has since began her endeavor to bring back the accordion to the folk world, through her own songs.
Take a lesson with Elise on Ministry of Folk here.
Ethan Setiawan & Julian Pinelli, More of the Same
released May 1, 2020
“Julian Pinelli and Ethan Setiawan have been collaborating and creating music in various ensembles, most recently as a funky acoustic duo featuring original music. Both musicians have participated in Savannah Music Festival’s Acoustic Music seminar, a professional development program for young musicians. They are committed to playing all types of music with the palette of acoustic instruments.” More of the Same is the second collection of tunes both original and traditional from the genre-hopping duo.
Take a lesson with Ethan on Ministry of Folk here.
Alex Cumming, Isolation Sessions: The Songs and Folk & Acoustic Show: The Lockdown Series
released March 25, 2020
Alex Cumming is a singer, accordionist, Pianist and dance caller hailing from Somerset, UK, now living in Greater Boston, MA, USA. He performs songs and tunes from around the United Kingdom and America with a great depth of knowledge of the tradition. Alex has made his mark on the folk scene with his rhythmic dance-able accordion style, strong voice and his fun and engaging stage presence.
Isolation Sessions: The Songs is a “very special album of a Capella songs recorded whilst in quarantine my home studio set up! A mix of ballads, chorus songs and even a hymn.”
On Alex’s Folk & Acoustic Show: The Lockdown Series, he interviews artists who are doing something cool and creative during the crisis, from music videos, online collaborations, events, facebook groups and more. Guests include Kevin Lees, Ciaran Algar, Julie Vallimont, Martin Clarke and The Teacups. The show is broadcasting live every Tuesday at 3pm EST/8pm UK. Watch the show live and catch up here.
Take a lesson with Alex on Ministry of Folk here.
