Berkeley Morris at Ilfracombe Festival of Morris 2025

[Rosie C]

I'm just back from a Morris festival in Devon, England. It's mostly what I use my accordions for, and I'm aware that it is a fairly regional thing. So I was heartened to see an American Morris side had flown over all the way from Berkeley, CA to take part in the festival, and they were very good. I grabbed a snippet. It's melodeon, not accordion, so I've posted in the pub!

 

[Ffingers]

A melodeon IS an accordion - just one of the many variations on a theme.

Many moons ago I took task at folkloristas in Italy, resplendant in period costume, wearing Nike etc. trainers which rather spoilt the authenticity of their performances.
I noticed the same anachronism in this video.

( I know, I know, I am a picky sod a times)

 

[Dingo40]

...I noticed the same anachronism in this video.

I guess all the makers of traditional footwear have gone the way of accordion technicians?

 

[Rosie C]

A melodeon IS an accordion - just one of the many variations on a theme.

Many moons ago I took task at folkloristas in Italy, resplendant in period costume, wearing Nike etc. trainers which rather spoilt the authenticity of their performances.
I noticed the same anachronism in this video.

( I know, I know, I am a picky sod a times)

Our side mostly wear Dr. Marten boots so we're hardly traditional. But there were a few 'clog' sides wearing wooden soled clogs - very traditional.

 

[Luke Hillman]

I'm just back from a Morris festival in Devon, England. It's mostly what I use my accordions for, and I'm aware that it is a fairly regional thing. So I was heartened to see an American Morris side had flown over all the way from Berkeley, CA to take part in the festival, and they were very good. I grabbed a snippet. It's melodeon, not accordion, so I've posted in the pub!

Oh wow, I just got back to California last night and saw this (I'm the melodeon player in the video). I'll be sure to convey your kind words to the team at practice this evening. Thank you! We had loads of fun in Devon and Oxfordshire before finishing up our trip at the Ely festival. I hope we can come back soon.

As for the rest of you, I'll pass along your feedback about our footwear, too

 

[Rosie C]

What a small world it is! We may have spoken - our sides shared a dancing spot twice over the weekend. I was with Widders Border Morris, and was playing my Roland digital accordion, recorder and tin whistle.

p.s. Welcome to the forum!

 

[Walker]

Many moons ago I took task at folkloristas in Italy, resplendant in period costume, wearing Nike etc. trainers which rather spoilt the authenticity of their performances.
I noticed the same anachronism in this video.

That's an interesting perspective and I see where you are coming from, but I would personally consider a different idea... Is Morris a living tradition?

If so, then I see no reason why the whole team don't wear custom colour-coordinated trainers or Dr. Martens boots, though uniformity is preferrable. These footwear choices are both a recent development that corresponds with the times. After all, the music is played on a melodeon and it's not really a historical choice, being only around 200 years old at most. Or how about waistcoats, are they authentic to the earliest days of Morris? I doubt it. I think new dances, outfits and styles will develop over time, perhaps augmenting or replacing what came before it. That just seems to be what happens sometimes.​

 

[Walker]

But there were a few 'clog' sides wearing wooden soled clogs - very traditional.

Hmm... perhaps... need more info... What species of wood were the clogs made from? Where was the tree grown that made the clogs? Who made the clogs? I'll probably need to check the archives on this one. ​

 

[dunlustin]

To avoid archives, search:

clogmaker.co.uk

 

[Tom]

Hmm... perhaps... need more info... What species of wood were the clogs made from? Where was the tree grown that made the clogs? Who made the clogs? I'll probably need to check the archives on this one. ​

I only wear handmade beech clogs with sugar maple soles tuned to 40 cents, preferably with one in cassotto.

 

[Ffingers]

That's an interesting perspective and I see where you are coming from, but I would personally consider a different idea... Is Morris a living tradition?

If so, then I see no reason why the whole team don't wear custom colour-coordinated trainers or Dr. Martens boots, though uniformity is preferrable. These footwear choices are both a recent development that corresponds with the times. After all, the music is played on a melodeon and it's not really a historical choice, being only around 200 years old at most. Or how about waistcoats, are they authentic to the earliest days of Morris? I doubt it. I think new dances, outfits and styles will develop over time, perhaps augmenting or replacing what came before it. That just seems to be what happens sometimes.​

It is all abit of fun, but essentially revivalist in the main; a bit like medieval music on reconstructions of instruments clean from limited historical resources.
Even worse, 'traditional' celtic/gaelic music played on blackfella banjos, bluegrass mandolins, German sqeezeboxes, Spanish guitars, and Italian fiddles!
Back to pipes and tabor, clarsach, triple harps etc., if you please

 

[Tom]

Blackfella banjos? You mean like with gourds and corncob pipes? Not sure that would pass the politically correct filters but whatever……. Don’t you have more colorful names for the Germans, Spanish and Italians? Just sayin’