Paul Cowdell
@paulcowdell.bsky.social
I research, write on, & talk about folklore. Happy to have been variously described as an 'expert in morbid eschatology' and a 'cannibalism celebrity'.
Udo Kier, Jimmy Cliff, Jack Shepherd... This week can just pack it the f**k in.
November 26, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Udo Kier, Jimmy Cliff, Jack Shepherd... This week can just pack it the f**k in.
Well, either this frying pan isn't flat or the hob is possessed.
November 26, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Well, either this frying pan isn't flat or the hob is possessed.
Reposted by Paul Cowdell
Are you a PhD student & interested in using museum collections in your teaching or research?
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Are you a PhD student & interested in using museum collections in your teaching or research?
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
No! Udo Kier.
To know death, Otto, you have to fuck life - in the gall bladder.
To know death, Otto, you have to fuck life - in the gall bladder.
November 24, 2025 at 1:22 PM
No! Udo Kier.
To know death, Otto, you have to fuck life - in the gall bladder.
To know death, Otto, you have to fuck life - in the gall bladder.
Ooh, this ferry's ... bouncy
November 22, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Ooh, this ferry's ... bouncy
Reposted by Paul Cowdell
I love getting @folkloresociety.bsky.social newsletter in the post - it's wonderful to see in print all the fascinating folklore people are encountering. I'm especially proud of this issue because one of my MA Folklore students reviewed an exhibition for it: Dark Secrets in London
November 19, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I love getting @folkloresociety.bsky.social newsletter in the post - it's wonderful to see in print all the fascinating folklore people are encountering. I'm especially proud of this issue because one of my MA Folklore students reviewed an exhibition for it: Dark Secrets in London
Reposted by Paul Cowdell
‘I never wanted to sing into a vacuum’: Scottish folk pioneer Dick Gaughan’s fight for his lost music – top work by @juderogers.bsky.social here
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
‘I never wanted to sing into a vacuum’: Scottish folk pioneer Dick Gaughan’s fight for his lost music
A skilled interpreter and social justice champion, Gaughan is a hero to the likes of Richard Hawley and Billy Bragg. Yet much of his work has been stuck in limbo for decades – until a determined fan s...
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:46 PM
‘I never wanted to sing into a vacuum’: Scottish folk pioneer Dick Gaughan’s fight for his lost music – top work by @juderogers.bsky.social here
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Awww. I wasn't entirely surprised to receive this--having my address checked about 10 minutes after AFS announced they were producing them was a clue--but I'm proper made up. Thanks all y'all x
November 19, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Awww. I wasn't entirely surprised to receive this--having my address checked about 10 minutes after AFS announced they were producing them was a clue--but I'm proper made up. Thanks all y'all x
If it falls on you while you're trying to retrieve something from it, can it properly be called a filing system?
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 PM
If it falls on you while you're trying to retrieve something from it, can it properly be called a filing system?
Well that's exciting. It's seminal and has long been a huge influence, but I didn't have a pdf of Herbert Halpert's 'Truth in Folk-Songs' introduction to John Harrington Cox, Traditional Ballads Mainly from West Virginia. But now I do.
Traditional ballads : Mainly from West Virginia
Traditional ballads : Mainly from West Virginia, University of Kentucky Libraries - ExploreUK
exploreuk.uky.edu
November 18, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Well that's exciting. It's seminal and has long been a huge influence, but I didn't have a pdf of Herbert Halpert's 'Truth in Folk-Songs' introduction to John Harrington Cox, Traditional Ballads Mainly from West Virginia. But now I do.
These are the times we dread and hunger for.
(Happy birthday Alan Moore)
(Happy birthday Alan Moore)
November 18, 2025 at 5:06 PM
These are the times we dread and hunger for.
(Happy birthday Alan Moore)
(Happy birthday Alan Moore)
Reposted by Paul Cowdell
The December-January edition of Folk London is at the printers and will go out to readers later this week. With:
• Our tribute to Garry Walker of the HogEye Men, the ‘quiet gentleman of folk’
• Best albums of 2025
• Reviews, listings and more
Preorder here: folklondon.co.uk/product/dece...
• Our tribute to Garry Walker of the HogEye Men, the ‘quiet gentleman of folk’
• Best albums of 2025
• Reviews, listings and more
Preorder here: folklondon.co.uk/product/dece...
November 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The December-January edition of Folk London is at the printers and will go out to readers later this week. With:
• Our tribute to Garry Walker of the HogEye Men, the ‘quiet gentleman of folk’
• Best albums of 2025
• Reviews, listings and more
Preorder here: folklondon.co.uk/product/dece...
• Our tribute to Garry Walker of the HogEye Men, the ‘quiet gentleman of folk’
• Best albums of 2025
• Reviews, listings and more
Preorder here: folklondon.co.uk/product/dece...
Sometimes these can only be heard in Vivian Stanshall's voice.
November 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Sometimes these can only be heard in Vivian Stanshall's voice.
Poverty is the Muses' patrimony - Robert Burton
November 17, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Poverty is the Muses' patrimony - Robert Burton
A Poetical Commonwealth of My Own
A Poetical Commonwealth of My Own
poundhammers.blogspot.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:50 PM
A Poetical Commonwealth of My Own
Among the drinks Robert Burton identifies as 'harmful' in respect of melancholy is 'brown bastard'. I wonder what gave it away.
November 15, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Among the drinks Robert Burton identifies as 'harmful' in respect of melancholy is 'brown bastard'. I wonder what gave it away.
Sea mist creeping up the street from the shore, shrouding the house and the garden. This is my absolute favourite thing about living here.
November 15, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Sea mist creeping up the street from the shore, shrouding the house and the garden. This is my absolute favourite thing about living here.
I'm going to be spending a long time thinking this through in terms of folklore's disciplinary history, I suspect, so for now I'll just salute the @helleborezine.bsky.social graphic design work.
‘Demonic’ Wind in the Willows jumper banned from Westminster Abbey
Woman told to remove or cover up garment featuring 1908 illustration of Pan lest it offend worshippers
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:21 AM
I'm going to be spending a long time thinking this through in terms of folklore's disciplinary history, I suspect, so for now I'll just salute the @helleborezine.bsky.social graphic design work.
Chuffed to find this today. Jacques Brunius is a fascinating figure in British Surrealism.
November 12, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Chuffed to find this today. Jacques Brunius is a fascinating figure in British Surrealism.
A friend's dad yesterday identified me as 'the cockney academic from the University of Southampton'. I'm an East Londoner by (my dad's) family, by long-time residence and by inclination (COYI), but not by birth, as you can't hear Bow Bells from Tooting, where I was born. (1/2)
November 11, 2025 at 11:44 AM
A friend's dad yesterday identified me as 'the cockney academic from the University of Southampton'. I'm an East Londoner by (my dad's) family, by long-time residence and by inclination (COYI), but not by birth, as you can't hear Bow Bells from Tooting, where I was born. (1/2)
This is fantastic news, long-overdue recognition of Steve Roud's phenomenal work. Huge congratulations to Steve, and a word of thanks to those who finally made it happen (Marion).
The Open University awards Steve Roud the honorary degree of Doctor of the University in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the study of folk song and vernacular culture.
Congratulations Steve, our former Folklore Society Hon Librarian
Congratulations Steve, our former Folklore Society Hon Librarian
November 4, 2025 at 10:49 AM
This is fantastic news, long-overdue recognition of Steve Roud's phenomenal work. Huge congratulations to Steve, and a word of thanks to those who finally made it happen (Marion).
The weekend's big treat was the 1977 Louis Jourdan/Frank Finlay 'Dracula' - both magnificent and it really stood up. But the absolute knockout, the greatest take on the part ever, was Jack Shepherd's Renfield. The only one I've ever seen not ultimately traceable to Dwight Frye. Astonishing and real.
November 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The weekend's big treat was the 1977 Louis Jourdan/Frank Finlay 'Dracula' - both magnificent and it really stood up. But the absolute knockout, the greatest take on the part ever, was Jack Shepherd's Renfield. The only one I've ever seen not ultimately traceable to Dwight Frye. Astonishing and real.
Hey there London people, next week the mighty Doc Rowe will be talking (and boy can he talk) about what he's been documenting in a life well spent. Any opportunity to hear Doc is highly recommended
Buy tickets – OffBeat Presents: An Evening with Doc Rowe – Walthamstow Trades Hall
OffBeat Presents: An Evening with Doc Rowe – Walthamstow Trades Hall, Mon 10 Nov 2025 - OffBeat is back at the Walthamstow Trades Hall for a very special event. On the 10th of November, we will be wel...
www.tickettailor.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Hey there London people, next week the mighty Doc Rowe will be talking (and boy can he talk) about what he's been documenting in a life well spent. Any opportunity to hear Doc is highly recommended
This is not only an excellent story in itself, its acknowledgement of chains of research is also heartening.
Lost grave of daughter of Black abolitionist Olaudah Equiano found by A-level student
Fitzwilliam Museum has uncovered student’s work from 1977 that revealed Cambridgeshire location of child’s burial place
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:10 AM
This is not only an excellent story in itself, its acknowledgement of chains of research is also heartening.
Today's win: a whole cohort of students enthusing about Carl Wilhelm von Sydow.
October 30, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Today's win: a whole cohort of students enthusing about Carl Wilhelm von Sydow.