Death and the Lady: The Genius of Shirley Collins

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On October 16th at the British Museum Folk Horror Revival: Otherworldly event, we were proud and delighted to present to the public a viewing of the video of Death and the Lady, a new recording by the folk legend Shirley Collins. Furthermore we were fortunate enough to hear the great lady speak of her work and inspirations, and to experience her wit and wisdom as part of the folk horror finale panel.

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Just don’t mention sheep … spectral sheep that is …

The video for the track is a film by Nick Abrahams captured at the ossuary of St Leonard’s Church in Hythe, Kent.

Born in Hastings in 1935, Shirley was fascinated by folk songs as she was growing up, songs she heard on the radio or sung by her grandparents.

hires-Oct 16 2016 63.jpgShe left home for London to immerse herself in the burgeoning folk scene; at a party held by Ewan MacColl she met Alan Lomax, and in 1959 she joined him in the USA on the renowned field trip ‘Southern Journey’, recording American folk songs and blues.

On her return to England, Shirley cemented her role at the forefront of the Folk Revival, recording over a dozen albums including the influential Folk Roots, New Routes with avant-garde guitarist Davy Graham, and No Roses, from which The Albion Country Band was formed. In the 1980s, Shirley lost her singing voice – a form of dysphonia — and withdrew from performing live. It was only in 2014, after coaxing from David Tibet (Current 93), that Shirley sang in public for the first time since 1982.

Though Shirley Collins (MBE) has been absent from the music scene for many years, her impact has not diminished, the likes of Graham Coxon, Jonny Greenwood, Stewart Lee and Angel Olsen laud her, and a documentary The Ballad of Shirley Collins is currently in progress. Shirley released her first memoir, America Over the Water, in 2004 and is currently working on her second book.

Her new Album Lodestar is released on 4th November 2016

Folk Horor Revival

Photos: © Graeme Cunningham

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Otherworldly: Through the Eyes of Jason Atomic

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Chris Lambert Singing

Jason Atomic is an artist inspired by a love of underground cultures, scenes and fashion tribes, he investigates and documents them in his sketchbooks as quick, clean line drawings.

This love of fashion has led to collaborations with labels Charles of London, Yes!Future! & Milkboy Tokyo.

His speedy drawing style led to the development of live portrait sketching performances in galleries, clubs and at events around the world, during these he makes life-size, full-length sketches of his willing victims in marker pen on long rolls of paper. In  2008 he set an un-official world land/speed record for portraiture at The National Portrait Gallery, London.

He has curated various art shows on occult & comic book themes, Including Hail To The King (a tribute to Jack Kirby), Iconography Of Mask, Image Duplicator (a response to Roy Lichtenstein) & Magick Eye.

More recently, upon discovering that an anagram of his name is ‘Satanic Mojo’, he has embarked on a multi-platform collaborative project of that title. Inspired by cults, conspiracy theories and the counter culture.

This has spawned ‘Satanic Mojo Comix’, an annual ‘Festival Of Dark Arts’ and seasonal ‘Satanic Flea Market’

 

The Satanic Mojo Manifesto

https://vimeo.com/91959688

www.jasonatomic.co.uk

www.satanicmojo.com

On October 16th Jason ventured into the hallowed halls of the British Museum to observe and capture the Folk Horror Revival: Otherworldly event … this is what he saw …
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Lee Gerrard-Barlow

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Shirley Collins
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Jim Peters & Sharron Kraus

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Reece Shearsmith
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Andy Paciorek & Darren Charles
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Adam Scovell
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James Riley  & Gary Lachman

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Gary Parsons

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Shirley Collins & Reece Shearsmith

All Images © Jason Atomic

Folk Horror Revival: British Museum Otherworldly (Third Reveal)

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The first Folk Horror Revival event will be taking place at the British Museum, London on  October 16th 2016, featuring talks, lectures, short films, poetry readings, museum tours and other wyrd and intriguing happenings.

Cult television programmes and films of the 1960s and 70s are inspiring a new generation of poets, writers, artists and musicians with their atmospheric themes of contemporary individuals interacting with a uniquely British world of ancient mythology and magic, often uncanny and unsettling.

This special event will feature lectures, film screenings, performances and gallery tours of featured objects in the Museum’s collection to explore themes of cultural rituals, earth mysteries, psychogeography and folklore. Come along and prepare to be scared!

Ticket details to be announced very shortly.

We are proud to reveal other additions to the line up – see also

Folk Horror Revival: British Museum Otherworldly (First Reveal)

Folk Horror Revival: British Museum Otherworldly (Second Reveal)

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We have already announced filmmaker Adam Scovell as one of the wonderful guest speakers at the FHR event on 16th October so now it is time to reveal our second filmmaker to be screening and speaking about his work – Gary Parsons

Gary is an MA film graduate from Goldsmiths College London who specialises in short films. Utilizing both, elements of the surrealist genre and images of the occult, these films are both beautiful and at times disturbing.

We are very excited that Gary has chosen the event at the British Museum to premier his latest film – ‘Conjuration’. It is a film about magick being a neutral energy and it’s residue from ancient times that is there for people to draw on and includes a re-enactment of an Alex Sanders ritual.

thelemafilms.com

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Revealing the Master of Ceremonies.

To make sure the day proceeds as has been planned by the FHR cabal Chris Lambert will be taking on the role of Master of Puppets for the day – introducing each speaker as well as welcoming you all to the event and summing up at the end of the day. Please allow me to introduce Chris Lambert – Storyteller – Teacher – Traveller of Mist – Mythogeographer – Demiurge – Liar

Chris 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 and Songs from the Black Meadow he has also had short stories published in 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.
He is currently working with Folk Horror emperor Andy Paciorek on a new collection of short stories entitled Wyrd Kalendar and Christmas on the Black Meadow.
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…”

blackmeadowtales.blogspot.co.uk

More speakers and ticket details to be revealed soon. Follow us on Facebook

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