How older people can join together in online folk singing group

A virtual singing group is providing thousands of older people from across the UK with a vital sense of community and friendship during the coronavirus lockdown.

The sessions are led by Dr Fay Hield, a critically acclaimed folk singer who is also a lecturer in ethnomusicology and music management at the University of Sheffield. They provide a virtual space in which amateur folk singers can continue to gather, sing songs and make friends following the closure of folk clubs due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Many folk clubs in the UK were initially launched in the 1960s and continue to be popular with many of the same people, now in their 70s and 80s, as well as attracting younger musicians.

With older people already being especially vulnerable to loneliness before the coronavirus lockdown, the regular weekly meetings that folk clubs held were often one of the few chances that many older singers had to meet with friends and share their love of folk music. The social-distancing measures introduced in response to the coronavirus, together with older people being at a higher risk of developing the disease, has meant that some older folk fans have been cut-off from this vital part of their social lives.

Now, the sessions led by Dr Hield are enabling amateur folk singers to gather virtually through Zoom every Tuesday evening to sing songs together and share folk-related stories.

Launched last month, the online singarounds have already attracted more than 200 singers, as well as thousands of viewers each week. The sessions have also welcomed amateur folk singers from around the world, including people from countries such as Ireland, the USA and Canada. Anyone with an interest in folk music is welcome to take part.