FOLKBEATS Authentic Folk Music and World Music Talent Search Programme

First prize: ’North American tour’

About us:

Everything derived from culture that is a living characteristic within us, or in other words, that which weaves our everyday lives is in effect propagated in various ways and in the most distinctive modes, from the simplest social associations to the most intricate aspects of the media. Folk culture, and more specifically, folk music occupies a space to express itself in the context of our modern world, even if at times the quality and extent of this space occasionally does not measure up to expectations by those who have already fully immersed themselves within this genre.

The course of musical training within Hungary has shown significant accomplishments. More and more skilled young musicians are being churned out by the táncház movement and from underneath the thumbs of their teachers. These musicians in part find ways of self-expression, or perhaps even a profession, either through the vehicle of authentic folk music or through the folk-rooted world music that essentially permeates the genre within the country.

All the talented musicians who hopefully try to find possibilities within the industry believe and anticipate that with all their hard work the audience will finally get to know them and eventually embrace their brand of music. However, reality is a little bleaker. Musicians, with of course the obvious exceptions, do not usually gain access to the wider public for whatever reason.

We, at folkbeats, have created a very unique opportunity for folk and world music musicians across Hungary. Our programme, in both its main prize and in its promise to care for the musicians on a long-term basis, provides a very exclusive prospect for all that take part. In fact, the complex buildup of the actual programme itself will provide the occasion for bands to become known throughout the country as well as the broader global world music and folk community.

Our main prize encompasses a North American tour, organized by the world renowned Centrum Management Ltd. from New York. Centrum Management will also sign a several year contract with the winning ensembles providing even more opportunity in the future for the winning bands.

Beyond the main prize and the consolation prizes, our talent search programme provides all bands that participate an opportunity to be heard in the wider world. Our programme will be broadcast through the internet giving access to an audience that otherwise would not have heard the participating bands. As well as listening, the audience will also have an opportunity to vote for their favourite bands, ultimately giving the audience members a vested interest in the eventual outcome of the programme. The fact that the programme will be running for several months will ensure a prolonged exposure for all involved.

We believe that with the folkbeats talent search concept we will provide an effective way to reach a wider world music and folk loving audience. Also, we believe that we will attract the cream of the budding talent in Hungary, providing both an opportunity for bands in Hungary and a means for audiences throughout the world to symbiotically gain from this experience.