How musical was my valley? Exploring resources and relationships in local popular music-making between 1996 and 2006
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/pomh.39560Keywords:
music communities, local music history, music ethnographyAbstract
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.
References
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Bourdieu, Pierre. 1990. The Logic of Practice. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Carr, Paul 2011. Investigating the Live Music Industry within Wales: A Critical Analysis. A Report for Welsh Music Foundation. http://livemusicexchange.org/wp-content/uploads/Paul-Carr-WMF-Report.pdf.
Cohen, Sara. 1991. Rock Culture in Liverpool. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Crossley, Nick. 2010. ‘The Social World of the Network: Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Elements in Social Network Analysis’. Sociologica 1: 1–34. https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.2383/32049
Crossley, Nick, Siobhan McAndrew and Paul Widdop. 2015. ‘Introduction’. In Social Networks and Music Worlds, ed. N. Crossley, S. McAndrew and P. Widdop, 1–13. Oxon: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315867793
David, Rhys, Nigel Blewitt, Eilidh Johnston and Suzanne Grazier. 2003. The Socio-Economic Characteristics of the South Wales Valleys in a Broader Context. A Report for the Welsh Assembly Government. https://www.iwa.wales/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/socio-econ-valleys2004.pdf
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Dickins, Sarah, and Steve Duffy. 2016. ‘Pontypool: Struggles and Opportunity in a Valleys Town’. BBC Wales News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-37756759
Dorling, Daniel, Jan Rigby, Ben Wheeler, Dimitris Ballas, Bethan Thomas, Eldin Fahmy, David Gordon and Ruth Lupton. 2007. Poverty, Wealth and Place in Britain, 1968–2005. Bristol: Joseph Rowntree Foundation/The Policy Press.
Easton, Mark. 2013. ‘The Unbearable Sadness of the Welsh Valleys’. BBC Wales News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23028078
Edwards, Rebecca. 2007. ‘Everyday, When I Wake Up, I Thank the Lord I’m Welsh: Reading the Markers of Welsh Identity in 1990s Pop Music’. Contemporary Wales 19/1: 142–60.
Finnegan, Ruth. 1989. The Hidden Musicians: Music-Making in an English Town. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Flanagan, Linda. 1999. ‘The Battle of the Bands’. Cynon Valley Leader, 20 May: 30–31.
Harris, John. 2007. ‘Cool Cymru, Rugby Union and an Imagined Community’. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 27.3-4: 151–62. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443330710741084
Hesmondhalgh, David. 1997. ‘Post-Punk’s Attempt to Democratise the Music Industry: The Success and Failure of Rough Trade’. Popular Music 16/3: 255–74. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261143000008400
Hill, Sarah. 2002. ‘Blerwytirhwng?I: The Place of Welsh Pop Music. London: Routledge.
Hoban, Martin. 2013. ‘Regeneration has Failed in the Welsh Valleys—Now We Must Listen to Locals’. The Guardian, 20 November. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/20/welsh-valleys-regeneration-failure-local-control
Houghton, Tom. 2017. ‘Aberdare is “Turning into a Ghost Town” following Poundstretcher Closure, it is Claimed’. Wales Online. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/aberdare-turning-ghost-town-following-13511514
Katz, Nancy, David Lazer, Holly Arrow and Noshir Contractor. 2004. ‘Network Theory and Small Groups’. Small Group Research 35/3: 307–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496404264941
MORI. 2004. A Survey of Live Music Staged in England and Wales in 2003/4. London: Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Phillips, Chris, and Dai Hill. 2009. Tomorrows Gonna Be Alright. Shine On Productions. DVD.
Reynolds, Simon. 2005. Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984. London: Faber and Faber.
Shank, Barry. 1994. Dissonant Identities. Hanover, CT: Wesleyan University Press.
Watson, Allan, Michael Hoyler and Christoph Mager. 2009. ‘Spaces and Networks of Musical Creativity in the City’. Geography Compass 3/2: 856–78. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-8198.2009.00222.x
Welsh Assembly Government. 2004. The Socio-Economic Characteristics of the South Wales Valleys in a Broader Context. http://www.iwa.wales/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/socio-econ-valleys2004.pdf
Bottero, Wendy. 2005. Stratification: Social Division and Inequality. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203339367
Bourdieu, Pierre. 1990. The Logic of Practice. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Carr, Paul 2011. Investigating the Live Music Industry within Wales: A Critical Analysis. A Report for Welsh Music Foundation. http://livemusicexchange.org/wp-content/uploads/Paul-Carr-WMF-Report.pdf.
Cohen, Sara. 1991. Rock Culture in Liverpool. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Crossley, Nick. 2010. ‘The Social World of the Network: Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Elements in Social Network Analysis’. Sociologica 1: 1–34. https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.2383/32049
Crossley, Nick, Siobhan McAndrew and Paul Widdop. 2015. ‘Introduction’. In Social Networks and Music Worlds, ed. N. Crossley, S. McAndrew and P. Widdop, 1–13. Oxon: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315867793
David, Rhys, Nigel Blewitt, Eilidh Johnston and Suzanne Grazier. 2003. The Socio-Economic Characteristics of the South Wales Valleys in a Broader Context. A Report for the Welsh Assembly Government. https://www.iwa.wales/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/socio-econ-valleys2004.pdf
Davies, Graham. 1999. ‘The Battle of the Bands Hots up’. Cynon Valley Leader, 6 May: 11.
Dickins, Sarah, and Steve Duffy. 2016. ‘Pontypool: Struggles and Opportunity in a Valleys Town’. BBC Wales News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-37756759
Dorling, Daniel, Jan Rigby, Ben Wheeler, Dimitris Ballas, Bethan Thomas, Eldin Fahmy, David Gordon and Ruth Lupton. 2007. Poverty, Wealth and Place in Britain, 1968–2005. Bristol: Joseph Rowntree Foundation/The Policy Press.
Easton, Mark. 2013. ‘The Unbearable Sadness of the Welsh Valleys’. BBC Wales News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23028078
Edwards, Rebecca. 2007. ‘Everyday, When I Wake Up, I Thank the Lord I’m Welsh: Reading the Markers of Welsh Identity in 1990s Pop Music’. Contemporary Wales 19/1: 142–60.
Finnegan, Ruth. 1989. The Hidden Musicians: Music-Making in an English Town. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Flanagan, Linda. 1999. ‘The Battle of the Bands’. Cynon Valley Leader, 20 May: 30–31.
Harris, John. 2007. ‘Cool Cymru, Rugby Union and an Imagined Community’. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 27.3-4: 151–62. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443330710741084
Hesmondhalgh, David. 1997. ‘Post-Punk’s Attempt to Democratise the Music Industry: The Success and Failure of Rough Trade’. Popular Music 16/3: 255–74. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261143000008400
Hill, Sarah. 2002. ‘Blerwytirhwng?I: The Place of Welsh Pop Music. London: Routledge.
Hoban, Martin. 2013. ‘Regeneration has Failed in the Welsh Valleys—Now We Must Listen to Locals’. The Guardian, 20 November. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/20/welsh-valleys-regeneration-failure-local-control
Houghton, Tom. 2017. ‘Aberdare is “Turning into a Ghost Town” following Poundstretcher Closure, it is Claimed’. Wales Online. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/aberdare-turning-ghost-town-following-13511514
Katz, Nancy, David Lazer, Holly Arrow and Noshir Contractor. 2004. ‘Network Theory and Small Groups’. Small Group Research 35/3: 307–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496404264941
MORI. 2004. A Survey of Live Music Staged in England and Wales in 2003/4. London: Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Phillips, Chris, and Dai Hill. 2009. Tomorrows Gonna Be Alright. Shine On Productions. DVD.
Reynolds, Simon. 2005. Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984. London: Faber and Faber.
Shank, Barry. 1994. Dissonant Identities. Hanover, CT: Wesleyan University Press.
Watson, Allan, Michael Hoyler and Christoph Mager. 2009. ‘Spaces and Networks of Musical Creativity in the City’. Geography Compass 3/2: 856–78. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-8198.2009.00222.x
Welsh Assembly Government. 2004. The Socio-Economic Characteristics of the South Wales Valleys in a Broader Context. http://www.iwa.wales/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/socio-econ-valleys2004.pdf
Published
2020-01-24
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Cleaton, A. (2020). How musical was my valley? Exploring resources and relationships in local popular music-making between 1996 and 2006. Popular Music History, 12(1), 94-111. https://doi.org/10.1558/pomh.39560
