Blog – Page 23 – Folk Horror Revival & Urban Wyrd Project ⨘

Winter Ghosts: What is This? What is Coming? 3

December 8, 2017December 9, 2017 fertilitycult

On the weekend of 15th and 16th December 2017, a strange mist will fall upon the coastal town of Whitby. From the sea fret will come haunting sounds and tales and more besides. Here over the coming days we shall in turn usher in the ghosts of winter …

To see full line-up and buy tickets visit here

We are happy to announce that speaking at the Met on Saturday 17th December, will be George Cromack delivering a wave of Coastal Terrors.

George Cromack is a writer, tutor/lecturer in H.E and Adult Education whose core subject areas are creative fiction, specifically Scriptwriting for film & T.V, and Film Studies. In 2013 George devised and scripted Cold Calling a ghost story turned chiller for Calavera Cafe Productions which premiered at Whitby’s own Bram Stoker International Film Festival. For almost ten years George taught on a number of programmes at the University of Hull’s Scarborough Campus – including modules on their Creative Writing Degree. It was during this time he developed his interest in what has become widely known as the Folk Horror genre, the subject of his film based PhD thesis. A keen writer of fiction, George’s work has appeared in several small short story anthologies.

Also speaking at Winter Ghosts is Dr Elaine Edmunds who has been a major force in bringing Folk Horror Revival to Whitby.

After a long career as a senior practitioner in NHS mental health Elaine relocated to Whitby at the end of 2010 to focus on developing arts practice.

Her interest in themes relating to Folk Horror started in early life with a happy childhood experience of Hammer House of Horror, Pan and Fontana books, and Tales of Mystery and Imagination.

Her enlightened parents also allowed her to read Man Myth and Magic as a comic. As a social psychiatrist she has always been interested in social anthropology and comparative folklore.

Decadent Drawing was started by Elaine and husband Laurence Mitchell in 2013. This started suitably at La Rosa as a loose community arts group exploring themes outside the mainstream, challenging boundaries and allowing for art mischief. Many of our sessions have specifically referred to Folk Horror, The Tell Tale Art was the title of their Poe exploration with vignettes from his stories being staged for people to draw or interpret any way they wished. They have also featured Dadd, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, the Dybbuk, Victorian Spiritualism. The court of King Rudolph II with Alchemy and of course Krampus.

More recently they put on art events including Dark Arts Exhibition at the Bram Stoker International Film Festival and various fundraisers. They have recently successfully launched the 3rd Whitby Krampus Run.

Visit us at Winter Ghosts

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Winter Ghosts: What is this What is coming? 2

December 8, 2017December 9, 2017 fertilitycult

To see full line-up and buy tickets visit here

In addition to the live events we are happy to present the Folk Horror Emporium

On sale at the Emporium will be a wide array of great quality folk horror merchandise. books and art. Plenty of choice for Yule treats for the special folk in your life or for yourself, so bring along a few extra pennies in anticipation of tempting, quality and fairly-priced special things.

The Emporium is run by Kt Mehers of Honeycake Candles
and Eolith Designs
Eolith Designs showcases the talents of Kt’s husband Cobweb.

Cobweb lives in a little house at the edge of the world with his wife Kt and their cats Sekhmet and Baal. He claims to have been sculpting and painting for as long as he can remember, but it’s been longer than that. In recent years he has devoted himself more and more to sculpture based around mythical and historical themes many of which can be found at www.eolithdesigns.co.uk. In his spare time he paints things he wishes he hadn’t seen, and pokes dead religions with sticks. He’s currently in the early stages of a new project called “Beyond the fields we know”, inspired by the landscape and folklore of the North Pennines. This will include 2D and 3D work and a lot of being very cold in the middle of nowhere seeing things he wishes he wasn’t seeing.

Cobweb will be one of the artists exhibiting in the Decadent Drawing & Winter Ghosts art exhibition at Rusty Shears on Saturday 17th December and at the Hark exhibition at Stuart Duckett Design Shop

Image by Glass Coffin

Visit us at Winter Ghosts

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Winter Ghosts: What is This What is Coming? 1

December 5, 2017 fertilitycult

To see full line-up and buy tickets visit here

On Friday 15th December at Whitby Bookshop at and on Saturday 17th December at Rusty Shears gin cafe on and at the Metropole Ballroom Chris Lambert (with The Soulless Party) – Storyteller – Teacher – Traveller of Mist – Mythogeographer – Demiurge – Liar will be treating us to much mysteriousness from his impressive array of books.

Chris Lambert is the curator of the Black Meadow and its associated phenomena. He works closely with Kev Oyston as part of “The Soulless Party” to uncover the mysteries hidden within its dense mist.

He writes far too much. As well as the critically lauded Tales from the Black Meadow he has also recently published (with Folk Horror Revival progenitor and illustrator Andy Paciorek) a new collection of folk horror short stories entitled Wyrd Kalendar and Christmas on the Black Meadow.

He has had short stories published in Dark Spirits, The Ghastling, The Dead Files and Tales of the Damned. He has had four plays published and over 20 performed professionally including: The Simple Process of Alchemy, Loving Chopin and Ship of Fools. He occasionally dabbles with music too. In 2016 he curated Songs from the Black Meadow (Mega Dodo) a folk horror album featuring the music of artists from around the world. He is currently putting together a new album based on the Wyrd Kalendar which will be released by Mega Dodo in the autumn of 2018.

Starburst Magazine has this to say about Tales from the Black Meadow: “The stand out entries include “Beyond the Moor” a poem about a maiden accosted by a bandit who remains unafraid due to having been to the “beyond” of the title and returned. Also of note are “Children of the Black Meadow” where a bereaved mother resurrects her deceased kids as blackberry bramble homunculi; cyclical damnation tale “The Coal Man and the Creature” and the paranoia-inducing sucker punch “The Watcher From the Village” … this is a collection that strongly invites a second reading…”

Sebastian Baczkiewicz – Creator of BBC Radio 4’s “Pilgrim” said this about Wyrd Kalendar – “Gripping, sometimes terrifying but always surprising: this is the year described in the Wyrd Kalendar. Live it if you dare…”

For more of Lambert visit:
Blackmeadowtales.blogspot.co.uk
Wyrdkalendar.blogspot.co.uk
Musicforzombies.blogspot.co.uk
Lambertthewriter.blogspot.co.uk

You can buy Tales from the Black Meadow here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tales-Black-Meadow-Chris-Lambert/dp/148417173X
You can buy Christmas on the Black Meadow here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Black-Meadow-Chris-Lambert/dp/1539767248
You can buy Songs from the Black Meadow (the album) here: https://megadodo.bandcamp.com/album/songs-from-the-black-meadow
You can buy Songs from the Black Meadow (the book) here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Songs-Black-Meadow-Chris-Lambert/dp/1502305399
You can buy Wyrd Kalendar here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/http://www.lulu.com/shop/chris-lambert/wyrd-kalendar/paperback/product-23371751.html

Folk Horror Revival: Winter Ghosts

Hares in the Moonlight

December 3, 2017 fertilitycult

A tale of magic and adventure for readers aged 8 – 12 in the tradition of Alan Garner and Susan Cooper. Twins Lucy and Jay rescue a caged hare and then follow it to a moonlit gathering of hares. They find themselves falling into a world of shapeshifting and becoming hares themselves.

To celebrate the Full Cold (Super)Moon, Wyrd Harvest Press are delighted to present Hares in The Moonlight – a magical tale for older children by the accomplished singer-songwriter Sharron Kraus

Save 10% with the code BOOKCALSAVE
at checkout at – http://www.lulu.com/…/hares…/paperback/product-23432343.html
Offer ends December 4th at 23:59

100% of profits from FHR / Wyrd Harvest Press books sold in the Lulu store will be charitably donated at Solstices and Equinoxes to different environmental, wildlife and community projects undertaken by the Wildlife Trusts.

The Wyrd Kalendar – The December Mix

December 1, 2017 skaldsummerisle

It is December.

The bells are ringing and the Old Father is coming. Find out what happens to those who displease the Old Father in extracts from the final tale of the Wyrd Kalendar entitled "Santa Claus and the Witch".

You can buy the book at – http://www.lulu.com/shop/http://www.lulu.com/shop/chris-lambert/wyrd-kalendar/paperback/product-23371751.html – All profits go to Wildlife Trusts.

As you wander through the snow and ice of the Kalendar Heath you will hear Simon and Garfunkel, Sufjan Stevens, Marc Almond, Iron and the Wine, Broadcast, Bjork, Bert Jansch, Anne Briggs, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Zen, The Divine Comedy, CAN, Kate Bush, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Sea of Bees, Sean Wesche, Lindisfarne, Jethro Tull, Mazzy Star, The Rolling Stones, Spinal Tap, Jimmy Smith, The Free Design, David Cain, Neal Casan, Vashti Bunyan, The Who, The Fall, Scott Walker, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Grateful Dead, David Gray and Victor Hely-Hutchinson as well as extracts from Winter Landscape by Laurie Lee.

This is the last Wyrd Kalendar mix of the year. You can hear all the others for every month of the year by visiting – https://www.mixcloud.com/Wyrd_Kalendar

There will be four seasonal mixes next year. Look out for the Spring mix on March 21st.

Happy Christmas!

Run Krampus Run!!

November 17, 2017 fertilitycult

Once again Krampus will appear in Whitby for Whitby Krampus Run III.

Taking place on 2nd December the costumed parade led by St Nicholas

will wend it’s way down Church Street collecting for Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary.

Our own particular interpretation and take on the age old European tradition weaves in local folklore,

history and wintry figures alongside our Krampus, Perchten and St. Nicholas.

This is a celebration of an alternative Yule bringing the wonder and excitement of the season

back to the ideal setting of Whitby’s quaint and cobbled streets turning the East side into Krampus Town.

The parade finishes with a finale letting you decide who will be crowned ‘ The Thing of The North ‘.

This year Whitby Krampus Run is now a public event with approval of the necessary authorities and support from Tourism.

We’ve got a street collection licence for Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary as this event is a fundraiser for one of our favourite local charities.

There’s evening entertainment with the usual activities such as raffles associated with fundraisers.

Midnight Mugs

November 16, 2017November 16, 2017 fertilitycult

Open up and let the devil in … Folk up your coffee time with the excellent Folk Horror collection of cups from the marvelous Midnight Mugs

Check out their vast selection of cool movie and music themed drinkware.
Visit their facebook group or call Steve on (UK) 07980 871769

Yonder on the horizon …

Pagan Dawn

November 16, 2017 fertilitycult

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Pagan Dawn is a quarterly magazine featuring articles, reviews and research on Polytheism, Pantheism, cultural history and nature-based spirituality, published by the Pagan Federation in the United Kingdom.

In issue no 205, Samhain 2017 You will find an article about the Folk Horror Revival by Darren Charles & Andy Paciorek.
With imagery by Julia Jeffrey, Andy Paciorek & Graeme Cunningham.

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“A Persistence of Geraniums” by John Linwood Grant.

November 9, 2017November 9, 2017 skaldsummerisle

Please do not be fooled by the slimness of this volume, these are tales to charm, chill, intrigue and entertain.

The collection opens two differing ghost stories. Firstly the eponymous "A Persistence of Geraniums". A wonderfully humorous ghost story with a twist. Full of witty one line descriptions which capture the nature of the characters with a cutting perfection. Following this comes "His Heart Shall Speak No More" a darker, more serious tale in the vein of traditional ghost stories. Exploring the well loved theme that some things which are found would be much better not found at all and having all of the required shivers one would expect of a tale of this kind.

It then moves on to a series of stories concerning Edwin Dry, The Deptford Assassin. No ordinary assassin in any way, shape or form. By turns he shows a social conscience, a chilling coldness and lack of emotion and a humour entirely his own. From impersonating an asylum inmate, to shrugging off a demonic possession, nothing it seems can shake his steady nerve and calm demeanor. An extremely intriguing character that I would be more than happy to read more of.

The closing story is an alternative view of Thomas Carnacki, which I will say little about, other than it shows the great Occult Detective in a very different light. Definite food for thought.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, I would be hard pushed to chose a favourite from these entertaining tales. What stands out throughout is John Linwood Grant’s skill of description and humour. With a minimum of words he makes these characters alive. A passing mention of one item of clothing or a small but telling personality trait and somehow their essence is captured. Tales with dark edges and at times a dark humour to match.

I only have two complaints concerning this book,

1. There was a distinct lack of geraniums.
2. It really wasn’t long enough.

Reading it has left me with the desire to read more of the back catalogue of short stories available and to hope that more will be forthcoming!

To say a little about the author, John Linwood Grant frequently entertains the members of the Folk Horror Revival group with his excellently funny St Botolph’s Parish Newsletters. Those of us lucky enough to be on his Facebook friends list get extra snippets from St Botolphs which are often some of the funniest things I find in my newfeed. John is also part of the editorial team behind the Occult Detective Quarterly magazine and his short stories have appeared in numerous publications. More from John can be found on his Greydogtales blog. He also likes lurchers, a lot.

(http://greydogtales.com/blog/)

The Wyrd Kalendar – The November Mix

November 2, 2017 skaldsummerisle

The Saints are on the march and on the look out for sinners to punish this month so tread carefully upon the Kalendar Heath.

This month’s mix features extracts from "All Saint’s Day" the tale for November from "Wyrd Kalendar" which was published at the end of October 2017 and can be bought here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/http://www.lulu.com/shop/chris-lambert/wyrd-kalendar/paperback/product-23371751.html

As well as these extracts you will hear from the following musical artists exploring All Saint’s Day, Bonfire Night and the month of November; The Silent Comedy, Blonde on Blonde, The Monroe Brothers, David Bowie, Gorillaz, Voice of the Seven Woods, Magnet, Cobra Verde, Eire Apparent, Lamb, David Cain, Shirley Bassey, Matt Berry, Carter USM, Dizzy Gillespie, Gram Parsons, New Model Army, Julie London, Tom Waits, The Will-O-Bees, Sammy Davis Junior, Sandy Denny, Peter Fonda, Pavlov’s Dog, The Wilderness of Manitoba and Vashti Bunyan.