Item Details

How musical was my valley? Exploring resources and relationships in local popular music-making between 1996 and 2006

Issue: Vol 12 No. 1 (2019) Special Issue: Lost Musical Histories— Curating and Documenting Local Popular Music-Making in the UK

Journal: Popular Music History

Subject Areas: Popular Music

DOI: 10.1558/pomh.39560

Abstract:

Influenced by the work of Howard Becker and Ruth Finnegan, this article incorporates an ethnographicapproach combined with concepts from social network theory to investigate the historicalimpacts of 'musical networks' on the town of Aberdare, between 1996 and 2006. Focusingspecifically on the local music scene, via a series of interviews, the article uncovers various strategicconnections between the conventions and understandings of the musical community,such as generationally passing down information, musical tastes and values, and local musicalhierarchies. After briefly describing the positioning and social construction of Aberdare withinthe Welsh Valleys, the article proceeds to investigate the motivations of the community to participatein popular music, in addition to the historical significance of material resources such astransport links, venues and rehearsal rooms.

Author: Anne Cleaton

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