FRoots

''fRoots'' (pronounced "eff-Roots", originally ''Folk Roots'') was a specialist music magazine published in the UK between 1979 and 2019. It specialised in folk and world music, and featured regular compilation downloadable albums, with occasional specials. In 2006, the circulation of the magazine was 12,000 worldwide. (the year is matched from th
"fRoots Advertising Information"
that provides the same "readership of 40,000" data for their "2006 readership survey" as the main "around 12,000 worldwide (giving a readership of around 40,000)" claim).

The magazine was also involved in live music production, as well as the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music and the Europe in Union concert series.

Overview

In 1979, ''Southern Rag'' was founded by folk musician Ian A. Anderson with Caroline Hurrell and Lawrence Heath.
It was renamed as ''Folk Roots'' in 1985, and in 1998 it became ''fRoots''.
The headquarters was initially in Farnham, Surrey and later moved to Bristol.
Anderson remained the editor for the magazine's entire forty-year lifespan.

Since 1985, the magazine was published on a monthly basis, with compilation albums twice-yearly.
After a 2017 Kickstarter campaign, it was re-launched in April 2018 as a larger quarterly magazine, including a compilation album with every issue.

On 2 July 2019, the editor announced that the magazine was suspending publication due to lack of funding, and that the Summer 2019 issue (issue 425) would be its last.

Albums of the year

The ''fRoots'' Critics Poll Album of the Year was determined by a panel of "hundreds of experts" in the UK and internationally:

* 1986 '' Graceland'' by Paul Simon
* 1987 '' Soro'' by Salif Keita
* 1988 ''Amnesia'' by Richard Thompson
* 1989 ''Djam Leelii'' by Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck
* 1990 '' The Complete Recordings'' by Robert Johnson
* 1991 ''Barking Mad'' by Four Men and a Dog
* 1992 ''Lam Toro'' by Baaba Maal
* 1993 '' A Meeting by the River'' by Ry Cooder and V.M. Bhatt
* 1994 ''Waterson:Carthy'' by Waterson–Carthy
* 1995 ''Kate Rusby and Kathryn Roberts'' by Kate Rusby and Kathryn Roberts
* 1996 '' Norma Waterson'' by Norma Waterson
* 1997 '' Buena Vista Social Club'' by Buena Vista Social Club
* 1998 ''Red Rice'' by Eliza Carthy
* 1999 '' Kulanjan'' by Taj Mahal and Toumani Diabaté
* 2000 ''Wanita'' by Rokia Traoré
* 2001 ''Missing You / Mee Yeewnii'' by Baaba Maal
* 2002 ''Specialist in All Styles'' by Orchestra Baobab
* 2003 ''Bowmboi'' by Rokia Traoré
* 2004 '' Egypt'' by Youssou N'Dour
* 2005 ''Dimanche à Bamako'' by Amadou & Mariam
* 2006 '' Savane'' by Ali Farka Touré
* 2007 ''Segu Blue'' by Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
* 2008 ''Low Culture'' by Jim Moray
* 2009 ''Très Très Fort'' by Staff Benda Bilili
* 2010 ''Hedonism'' by Bellowhead
* 2011 ''Ragged Kingdom'' by June Tabor & Oysterband
* 2012 ''Ground of Its Own'' by Sam Lee
* 2013 ''Clychau Dybon'' by Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita
* 2014 ''The Moral of the Elephant'' by Martin Carthy & Eliza Carthy
* 2015 '' From Here'' by Stick in the Wheel
* 2016 '' Lodestar'' by Shirley Collins
* 2017 ''Ladilikan'' by Trio Da Kali & Kronos Quartet
* 2018 ''SOAR'' by Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita

Between 2002 and 2008 the award was incorporated into the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music.

References

Sources

*

External links

Official website
* Rogers, Jude (8 July 2019)
"'A big tree has fallen': the sad demise of fRoots, bible of British folk"
'' The Guardian''.

1979 establishments in England
2019 disestablishments in England
British music awards
Folk music magazines
Magazines established in 1979
Mass media in Surrey
Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom
Music magazines published in the United Kingdom
World music awards

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