5. Lunatraktors - Finding a voice in Broken Folk

Folk singers and musicians Joanie Bones and Oliver Cross discuss some of the themes that emerged from the Access Folk research project about participation and inclusion in folk singing in England. Drawing on findings from the research report Accessing Folk Singing in England they interview singers, musicians and educators as well as drawing on their own lived experience to discuss issues around disability, gender, ethnicity and much more.

In this episode Joanie interviews Clair Le Couteur and Carli Jefferson who together make up the duo Lunatraktors. They talk about their personal journeys to reimagining folk music, thoughts about difference, gender and embracing the carnivalesque and fun in folk. Drawing on the interview Joanie and Oliver discuss how we get to a point of feeling comfortable to participate in the folk scene and how the work of Lunatrakors and others can help people to feel connected through song.  

Clair and Carli mention the folk costume exhibition Making Mischief and at the end of the episode Joanie talks about the work of Madge Bray on women's voices. You can learn more about Lunatraktors and their music on their website and through social media @lunatraktors

Music in the episode: “Now the Time” by Lunatraktors (2021)