It pervades all cultures, has done at all times (as far as we can tell) and will, seemingly, continue to do so till the end of time. Music is both reflective of and a tool for promulgating culture. It is difficult to go through a day without hearing music, whether it’s in the car, the shopping centre, being hummed externally or mused on internally, often subconsciously.

In the milieu of modern western culture, music takes many forms and is underpinned by a host of influence and ideology, but there is one genre that stands apart, folk. Most music in the world as we know it, despite claiming to be unique and express individuality is, in fact, peddling one meta-ideology - consumerism.

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According to the Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs the origin of the phrase ‘clutching at straws’ is found in its earliest form in the 1583 work, ‘Fruitful and Brief Discourse,’ by John Prime: “We do not as men redie to be drowned, catch at euery straw.” This may in turn be a reference to an earlier text by Sir Thomas More: “like a man that in peril of drowning catcheth whatsoever cometh next to hand, and that holdeth he fast, be it never so simple as a stick.” (A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation, 1534).

The phrase clearly caught on and can be found in a more familiar form in Samuel Richardson’s Clarissa: ‘A drowning man will catch at a straw’ (1748). It is not until 1832, however, that we find it in its current form: ‘As drowning men clutch at straws.’  (The New-York Mirror).

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It’s been a pretty busy year here in ‘Strawsville’ (which exists exclusively inside our heads). We’ve had a busy year of touring the pubs of counties far and wide, the ever so slightly damp festivals of summer and appearances at folk clubs, charity events, weddings and birthday parties to boot.

We hope to see you there!

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