Folk Song in the North of England - Traditional Song Forum Autumn Conference with Leeds Libraries

Frank Kidson (1855-1926) was a key player in the explosion of interest in traditional song and music in late Victorian and Edwardian England, and his pioneering book Traditional Tunes (1891) was one of the three founding works of what became the first Folk Song Revival. As well as collecting songs in the field, he amassed a huge collection of printed and manuscript material, and his knowledge of the history of traditional and popular tunes was unrivalled, and always available to others through the Folk-Song Society and other organisations. He was one of the few researchers who concentrated on the northern counties, and was particularly associated with his home-town of Leeds, so it is most fitting that this meeting, which commemorates the centenary of his death, and celebrates his legacy, is organised jointly by the Traditional Song Forum and Leeds Libraries. The conference will also form a small part in the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Leeds as a city.

The venue is Leeds Libraries at Leeds Central Library, and the conference will be held on the 10th October 2026, The theme will be “Traditional Folk Song in the North of England”. Proposals for 20-minute papers are invited. This will be an in-person event, but pre-recorded remote papers will be considered.

Part of the Leeds400 celebrations in 2026.

Please send title / short abstract / short biography to Richard Spencer (towerofsark@gmail.com) by 1st July.