British Underground premiere Looking for a New England showcase as part of the US-based Folk Unlocked virtual music conference on 22 February

16 February 2021 - Press release

Filmed at Real World Studios, Looking for a New England will feature rising stars of English folk music including John Smith and Misty River and is introduced by BBC Radio's Mark Radcliffe

The Looking for a New England showcase will feature exclusive live performances and interviews with folk and roots artists John Smith, Misty River, Cardboard Fox and Lauren Housley filmed at the iconic Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire.  The streamed showcase is aimed at industry professionals and spearheads a roster of over a dozen more streamed UK and international acts at Folk Unlocked brought together by British Underground and curation partners Sounds Just Fine, Green Note, The Live Room and film-makers Northern Cowboys.
 
Presented by Folk Alliance International (FAI), Folk Unlocked replaces their in-person conference with a virtual event from 22nd February 2021.  The five-day programme brings together the entire international folk community for panels, workshops, showcases, affinity and peer group meetings, exhibit spaces, networking, and mentorship.  In January 2020 FAI in New Orleans was one of the last in-person international music conferences to take place where UK artists including Sam Lee and Cara Dillon showcased new work.  
 
Looking for a New England is British Underground’s first online music showcase of 2021 having produced live-streams at Planet Afropunk, SIM Sao Paulo, WOMEX and Nashville’s Thriving Roots last year.   
 
Crispin Parry, CEO of British Underground says “The pandemic is proving a challenge unlike any other but the showcase must go on and for nearly a year we have been developing and presenting an alternative version of our international work on-line.  All the artists found Real World Studios to be an inspiration and we look forward to working there and in other world-class British performances spaces as the year unfolds.”
 
Folk Unlocked 2021 brings together showcases from Australia to Brazil and delegates from across the globe who are invited to pick their own registration rate, including free if they are unable to afford it at this time.
 
To register and view the full Folk Unlocked programme, visit folk.org/unlocked.
To explore the Looking for a New England programme , visit lookingforanewengland.com
 
For more information contact:  crispin@britishunderground.net
 
Artists showcasing at Folk Unlocked include:
Looking for a New England Spotlight Showcase – 22nd February, 09.30 GMT
John Smith
Misty River
Cardboard Fox
Lauren Housley
 
British Underground Folk Unlocked Showcases – 22nd and 23rd February
The Live Room/Northern Cowboys
The Little Unsaid
Hamilton Loomis
Suzie Ungerleider
Track Dogs
Emily Barker
Heidi Talbot
 
Green Room/Northern Cowboys
Michele Stodart
Charm of Finches
Copper Viper
Diana Jones
Carsie Blanton, Devon Sproule, Kris Delmorst (ITR)
Robbie Cavanagh
The Rheingans Sisters