Living Tradition - Reduced advertising rates

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From Simon Haines

I am passing on the email below just received from the editor of LIVING TRADITION MAGAZINE, the only serious national folk magazine since the demise of Foots. Like many involved with music industry, this not-for-profit magazine has been affected financially by Covid19 and the resulting cancellation of folk festivals, on whose advertising they depend for much of their annual income.  The editor's email, which was originally sent to all subscribers, suggests a number of ways in which people can help them. I am already a subscriber, but the offer that attracted me was the reduced advertising rates for the next issue. We are buying advertising for Hadleigh Folk and Acoustic Music Nights.

If you are already a subscriber, you may have read this email already, but if not, you might consider supporting the magazine in one of the three ways suggested in the editor's email.

Hello again,

Hope this finds you and your family well, and that you are finding ways to survive these strange and worrying times.  Rural Donegal has never looked more beautiful, and in many ways not much has changed for Jim and me, as we worked from home in semi-isolation most of the time anyway.  But we really are aware of how lucky we are to be able to do that, and in such a beautiful place.  

Anyway, we promised we’d get back to you after our last email newsletter to let you know about a couple of ways you could help us to keep to our publishing schedule through this coronavirus pandemic.  As we explained, we are hoping to be able to proceed as normal and print our next issue at the start of June, but with the loss of so much advertising from festivals and individual artists’ tours and the like, we need to ‘plug the gap’ in our income stream somehow in order to ensure that the future of the magazine isn’t impacted.

Many of you have been in touch already with kind words and suggestions, but for now, here are three ways you can help.

• Make sure your personal subscription is up to date!  Although we rely on advertising revenue, subscriptions are our lifeline, and without subscribers there would be no point.  You can subscribe at any time at www.livingtradition.co.uk/subscribe, and we will add any issues you have left to run on your current subscription onto your new subscription.  And do tell your friends that they should subscribe too!

• If you feel able, you could make a one-off donation, by cheque or on our website at www.livingtradition.co.uk/donate (part of the ‘Subscribe’ menu).  Individual donations have made a huge difference to us in the past and could really help now.  We are aware, though, that we are just one of a huge group of artists, organisations and businesses who need similar support at the moment, and that people’s ability to help financially is limited.  But if you can, the option is there.

• One thing we do have to offer is space in the magazine, so in addition to our normal rates, we have devised a special one-off advertising offer that may help both us and you.  For a limited period, we are offering everyone the chance to have an eighth page colour advert in the magazine for only £50+VAT.  This can be used to advertise anything from CD releases, future festival or tour dates, artists plans and contact details, club updates, stock clearances, instrument sales, personal ads – anything!  The idea behind these specially reduced rate adverts is that they makes promotion affordable for those who may be struggling at the moment, they allow you to support us while getting the word out about something you have to offer, and they also help us towards our printing and postage costs – everybody wins.  If you can possibly avail of them, please do.  We can even help with artwork if needed.  In terms of timing, for our June issue we would need to have these adverts booked by Monday 4^th May.  Size details in the attached rate card… get in touch if you want to discuss them further.

Please do continue to support us in any way you can – every little thing helps.

With gratitude,

Fi, Jim, Pete & Heather.

On-Line Folk Concerts and Virtual Sessions

Due to the on-going Corona virus situation,  a huge number of Folk Concerts and Festivals have unfortunately had to be cancelled resulting in a huge loss of income for musicians and performers. Many are finding innovative ways of taking their music on-line. Some of these are ticketed, some are free and some invite donations.

**  A new table in Whats On Special Events now lists online Events  **  All future online events will be listed there **

Here are some of them:-

Doug Eunson and Sarah Matthews Duo Friday 29th May

Kitchen Ceilidh with Caller Martyn Harvey Hosted by Folk Weekend Oxford. Details HERE

Miranda Sykes Saturday 23rd May

FaceBook live Concert details HERE

Jackie Oates Friday 22nd May 8.00pm

Hosted by Downend Folk Club. Details HERE

Richard Digance Sunday 17th May 8pm

Richard Digance Sunday Funday Concert live show on his Facebook page  HERE  Free (donations invited for local charity)

Royal Albert Hall: Sunday 10th May 7.30pm

Legendary British singer-songwriter Richard Thompson will deliver an exclusive set from his home as part of the Royal Albert Home sessions.

Free broadcast, details HERE. Donations invited to support the Royal Albert Hall

The Waveney Valley Folk Collective 

See their FaceBook page HERE for Lockdown sessions.

Thursday 7th May 8.15pm with Ralph Barnett, Elsi, Bernie Baines, Daniel Nestlerode

Folk Off The Pier:  8th May 14.30 to 10th May 21.30

The Folk Off The Pier Fringe Festival. A weekends worth of live watch parties. videos & links of musicians past , present and future.

See their FaceBook page HERE for details

The CCC Festival: Sat 9th - Sun 10th May

Watch live on FaceBook (@ciaranalgarmusic) or YouTube (search Ciaran Algar) 

Tickets / Donations to Eventbrite HERE  - All proceeds split between the Artists

An Evening with Faustus: Friday 15th May 20.00 - 21.30pm

Join Benji, Paul and Saul live from ther homes, hosted by Jon Wilks. Live performances from each band member, interviews, chat, audience Q & A and more. The event will be accessible for all via the Good Honest Music FaceBook page. See their page HERE. 

Folk on Foot Front Room Festival  - Easter Bank Holiday Monday 13th April from 2pm for over six hours of unique music. 
Donations welcomed

"Half the money we raise will go to the charity Help Musicians UK – which supports  musicians undergoing financial hardship – and the other half will be divided equally between the artists who take part in the Festival. Music is hugely important in lifting our spirits and salving our souls in these troubling
times, so please make a donation to support the talented people who make it."

Folks at Home 

25 Acts - 100 musicians
27 hours of film footage plus market stalls, guitar workshop, merchandise and interviews
The gates are now open in case you haven't yet checked in
Buy your ticket now for just £25 and it's all there for you. Watch as many times as you like.
Enjoy our music and keep safe and well

Folk Weekend Oxford 17th-19th April

Ticketed events via Zoom (priced much less than a normal concert)
Free events via Facebook
Virtual sessions

John Spiers is doing "Isolation Pub Sessions" in his shed

Simon Care - Simon Care's Musical Jukebox.

"I've had a lot of people messaging asking where they can donate etc ... I am incredibly touched by your offers of generosity. I have decided that i am going to try to do 2 live shows a week on Sunday and Wednesday evenings at 6.30 -7.30pm, and I am going to introduce a tip jar for those kind souls that wish to donate. However, as i have already stated, luckily i am in a fortunate position financially at the moment, so at the end of each month I will donate what ever I collect to someone less fortunate than myself. I will continue this for as long as possible, or until i become that less fortunate person. I hope that is ok. See you on wednesday night. Please keep sending your requests of Morris/English ceilidh tunes. Stay safe."

Keep an eye on his FaceBook page HERE  Donations can be made HERE 

Please keep an eye on Mardles Facebook page as some Artistes are putting details of virtual events direct on there

If you can manage it, please consider buying a CD direct from your favourite artistes website. This will help to support them through this difficult time. Buying direct results in more going to the artiste as streaming websites pay a very small amount per play. 

Finally, If you know of any virtual events that could be listed here, please send details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Earache 2020 April (for those with their finger on the pulse...)

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