# Anti-folk > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Anti-folk > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Anti-folk.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-folk > Source revision: 1333810975 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Music genre}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox music genre | name = Anti-folk | other_names = Antifolk | stylistic_origins = {{hlist|[Contemporary folk](/source/Contemporary_folk)|[punk rock](/source/punk_rock)}} | cultural_origins = Mid-1980s, United States | other_topics = *[Folk punk](/source/Folk_punk) *[freak folk](/source/freak_folk) *[indie folk](/source/indie_folk) *[neofolk](/source/neofolk) *[free folk](/source/free_folk) }} '''Anti-folk''' (sometimes spelled '''antifolk''') is a [genre](/source/music_genre) of [folk music](/source/folk_music) that emerged in the 1980s in New York City. It was founded by the musician, author, and comedian [Lach](/source/Lach), as a reaction to the commercialization of [folk music](/source/folk_music). It is characterized by its amateur sound, [DIY ethos](/source/do_it_yourself), and often humorous, rebellious, or satirical lyrics. Antifolk music was made to diverge from, and sometimes mock, the perceived seriousness of the era's mainstream music scene,{{cite book|author=Amanda Petrusich|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tgWco-s-Zp4C&q=%22hybrid%20that%20mocked%20the%20mushiness%22&pg=PT153|title=It Still Moves: Lost Songs, Lost Highways, and the Search for the Next American Music|date=August 19, 2008|publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux|isbn=978-1-4299-5755-7|pages=153–157}} while often still being [protest music](/source/protest_song) aimed at social change.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/subgenre/anti-folk-ma0000004417|title=Anti-Folk Music Genre Overview {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 21, 2017}}[https://www.popmatters.com/folk-punk-three-chords-and-truth Folk Punk, Rogue Folk, Anti-Folk: Three Chords and the Truth|PopMatters] The latter element especially overlaps with [folk punk](/source/folk_punk). ==History== ===In the United States=== Antifolk was introduced by artists who were unable to obtain gigs at established folk venues in [Greenwich Village](/source/Greenwich_Village) such as [Folk City](/source/Folk_City) and The Speakeasy.{{cite magazine |last1=Bessman |first1=J. |title=Rising singer/songwriters redefine folk in the '90s |magazine=Billboard |date=July 16, 1994 |volume=106 |issue=29 |pages=1, 36 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XwgEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Rising%20singer%2Fsongwriters%20redefine%20folk%20in%20the%20'90s%22 |access-date=June 2, 2018}} (article in on pages 1 and 36) In the mid-1980s, singer-songwriter [Lach](/source/Lach_(musician)) started The Fort,{{cite web | url = http://www.supersweet.org/main.aspx?atype=2&aname=Music_The_Anti-Folk_Movement&con=2&sc1=0&sc2=90 | title = The Anti-Folk Movement | access-date = October 24, 2013 | last = Howlett | first = Isaac | work = Supersweet Zoo}} an after-hours club on NYC's [Rivington Street](/source/Rivington_Street) on the [Lower East Side](/source/Lower_East_Side).{{cite magazine|title=A Scene Is Made|last=Kihn|first=Martin|date=September 12, 1994|magazine=New York Magazine|location=New York City|volume=27|number=36|pages=68–70|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MeQCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68|access-date=July 23, 2020}} The Fort's opening coincided with the New York Folk Festival. Because of this, Lach dubbed his event the [New York Antifolk Festival](/source/New_York_Antifolk_Festival).{{cite news |url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/08/11/arts/music/11folk.html |title=How Does It Feel, Antifolkies, to Have a Home, Not Be Unknown? |first= Alan |last=Light |newspaper=The New York Times |date= August 11, 2006}} Other early proponents of the movement included [the Washington Squares](/source/the_Washington_Squares), [Cindy Lee Berryhill](/source/Cindy_Lee_Berryhill), [Brenda Kahn](/source/Brenda_Kahn), [Paleface](/source/Paleface_(musician)), [Beck](/source/Beck), [Hamell on Trial](/source/Hamell_on_Trial), [Michelle Shocked](/source/Michelle_Shocked), Zane Campbell, [John S. Hall](/source/John_S._Hall),{{cite book |last=Kimpel |first=Dan |title=How They Made It: True Stories of How Music's Biggest Stars Went from Start to Stardom! |url=https://archive.org/details/howtheymadeittru0000kimp |url-access=registration |quote=Anti-Folk John S. Hall. |year=2006 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=978-0-634-07642-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/howtheymadeittru0000kimp/page/7 7]}} [Roger Manning](/source/Roger_Manning),{{cite news | first = Ben | last = Krieger | title = NYC Anti-Folk Scene | date = February 10, 2009 | url = http://www.thedelimagazine.com/FeatureView.php?artist=antifolk | work = The Deli | access-date = October 24, 2013 | archive-date = April 5, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230405000628/http://www.thedelimagazine.com/FeatureView.php?artist=antifolk | url-status = dead }} [Kirk Kelly](/source/Kirk_Kelly),{{cite news | first = Steve | last = Hochman | title = Bicoastal Anti-Folk of Kirk Kelly at Gaslight | date = January 10, 1989 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-10-ca-43-story.html | work = Los Angeles Times | access-date = October 24, 2013}} and [Block](/source/Block_(musician)).{{cn|date=February 2025}} The original Fort was shut down in 1985 by the police, and because of this the club moved locations several times, including [East Village](/source/East_Village%2C_Manhattan) bars Sophie's and Chameleon, before settling in the back room of the [SideWalk Cafe](/source/SideWalk_Cafe) starting in 1993. The [New York Antifolk Festival](/source/New_York_Antifolk_Festival) was held annually at the [SideWalk Cafe](/source/SideWalk_Cafe) until its closure in 2019 (long outlasting the original Folk Festival).{{cite news |first=James C. Jr. |last=McKinley |title=Staying Undefined at the Antifolk Festival, and That's Fine |newspaper=The New York Times |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/antifolk-festival-2011/ |date=September 23, 2011 |access-date=June 22, 2012}} Events have also taken place in the [band shell](/source/band_shell)s in [Tompkins Square Park](/source/Tompkins_Square_Park) and [Central Park](/source/Central_Park). While living in San Francisco in the early 1990s, Lach helped establish a West Coast anti-folk movement at the Sacred Grounds Coffee House. Other artists to have achieved a notable level of success who have been considered anti-folk include [Jeffrey Lewis](/source/Jeffrey_Lewis), [Regina Spektor](/source/Regina_Spektor) and [the Moldy Peaches](/source/the_Moldy_Peaches).{{cite news|author=Caroline Sullivan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jan/20/jeffrey-lewis-peter-stampfel-review |title=Jeffrey Lewis – review | Music |newspaper=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian) |access-date=September 15, 2021}}{{cite web| url=http://www.2-4-7-music.com/newsitems/aug01/moldypeaches.asp | title=Moldy Peaches Interview – Anti-Folk For Dummies. | publisher=CRUD Magazine |date=October 15, 2001|access-date=September 15, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/so-weird-but-amazing-an-oral-history-of-sidewalk-cafe-antifolk|title='So Weird But Amazing': An Oral History Of Sidewalk Cafe & Antifolk|first=Jake|last=Offenhartz|date=February 27, 2019|website=[The Gothamist](/source/The_Gothamist)|accessdate=September 16, 2021}} ===In Britain=== In the 2000s the term was adopted in Britain, particularly in the London underground scene, with acts including [David Cronenberg's Wife](/source/David_Cronenberg's_Wife) and The Bobby McGee's.{{cite web|last=Parkin |first=Chris |url=http://www.timeout.com/london/features/1971/Secret_scenes-Antifolk.html |title=Secret scenes: Antifolk |publisher=Timeout.com |date=September 12, 2006 |access-date=July 29, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223212718/https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/secret-scenes-antifolk |archive-date=February 23, 2017 |url-status=live}} The UK antifolk scene, largely centred in London and [Brighton](/source/Brighton), has established its own identity, which was written about in a six-page feature in the September 2007 issue of ''[Plan B](/source/Plan_B_(magazine))'' magazine.{{Cite web |url=https://everetttrue.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/25-antifolk.pdf |title=Plan B |last=Everett True |first=Thom Dowse |date=September 2009 |access-date=June 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821170007/https://everetttrue.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/25-antifolk.pdf |archive-date=August 21, 2017 |url-status=live}} In 2004 the [lo-fi](/source/Lo-fi_music) musician [Filthy Pedro](/source/Filthy_Pedro) started seasonal anti-folk festivals, which he promoted with Tom Mayne of the band David Cronenberg's Wife.{{cite journal |last1=True |first1=Everett |title=The opposite of attraction |journal=Plan B |pages=54–59}} An anti-folk scene in Brighton, curated primarily by Mertle, was quick to follow that of London. Other key figures within the UK anti-folk community include [Dan Treacy](/source/Dan_Treacy) of Television Personalities, [Jack Hayter](/source/Jack_Hayter), Milk Kan, [Extradition Order](/source/Extradition_Order_(band)), [Benjamin Shaw](/source/Benjamin_Shaw_(musician)), Lucy Joplin, Candythief, JJ Crash, Larry Pickleman and [Paul Hawkins](/source/Paul_Hawkins_(musician)).{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} [Emmy the Great](/source/Emmy_the_Great) and [Laura Marling](/source/Laura_Marling) were added to the roster of antifolk artists as they play antifolk music with mocking lyrics.{{cite web |title=Emmy The Great: The 'Anti-Folk' Takeover |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101031578 |website=National Public Radio |access-date=April 10, 2021 |date=February 23, 2009}} [Kate Nash](/source/Kate_Nash) started her music career playing anti-folk-style shows, including a concert promoted by Larry Pickleman and Mertle in Brighton.{{cite web |url=http://www.moshimoshimusic.com/artists/kate-nash |title=Moshi Moshi Records | Artists: Kate Nash |publisher=Moshimoshimusic.com |access-date=June 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720032214/http://www.moshimoshimusic.com/artists/kate-nash |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |url-status=dead}} Dan Willson, who performs under the name [Withered Hand](/source/Withered_Hand), is an Edinburgh-based musician often considered part of the genre. His first studio album, ''Good News'', was released in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/withered-hand-new-gods-147760|title=Withered Hand – New Gods|website=[The Line of Best Fit](/source/The_Line_of_Best_Fit)|first=Finnbar|last=Bermingham|date=March 10, 2014|access-date=September 15, 2021}} Welsh antifolk artist Mr Duke has gained some popularity in Wales, and [Crywank](/source/Crywank), an antifolk project from Manchester, surfaced in 2009. ==See also== * [Anticomp Folkilation](/source/Anticomp_Folkilation) * [Psychedelic folk](/source/Psychedelic_folk) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{cite web |last1=Kihn |first1=Martin |title=A Scene Is Made |url=http://www.martinkihn.com/scan/ny/lach.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714043817/http://www.martinkihn.com/scan/ny/lach.pdf |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |date=September 12, 1994 |work=New York Magazine |pages=68–70}} * [http://www.antifolk.com ''Antifolk.com'' The most updated Antifolk website, covering the movement across the world] * [http://www.antifolk.net ''Antifolk.net'' The New York Antifolk website, started by Lach to promote the scene] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175006/http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/35556 ''Morning Star'' article on Anti-folk] * [http://www.timeout.com/london/features/1971.html ''Time Out London'' feature on Anti-folk] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080110180859/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2007/08/hugs_and_kisses_5.php ''Village Voice'' article on UK Anti-folk] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071121061737/http://festivals.musicomh.com/swn-2007-1_1107.htm musicomh.com's Review of Anti-folk night at Sŵn Fest, Cardiff 2007] * [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2018/02/01/feature/this-hillbilly-madman-is-country-music-royalty-so-why-havent-you-heard-of-him/ Washington Post article about Zane Campbell's part in Anti-folk] {{Folk music}} {{punk}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Anti-Folk}} Category:Anti-folk music Category:American styles of music Category:Punk rock genres Category:1980s in music Category:1990s in music Category:2000s in music Category:2010s in music --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Anti-folk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-folk) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-folk?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.