April is dead and summer is a-coming in! This episode of Folk Files explores the tradition of May songs and festivals, specifically focusing on Hal an Tow and the Flora Day celebrations in Cornwall. Morris dancing, maypoles, and the origin of May Day are also discussed.
Host: Olivia Harding
Special thanks to: Stephen Winick, Donna Smith, Aaron J. Morton, The Soup

Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: Marc Block
WORK: Hal an Tow
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgBzSNOc3A8

ARTIST: Ranarim
WORK: Maj vare välkommen
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7wXcJiGH-o

ARTIST: The Halekulani Girls
WORK: May Day is Lei Day
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3GuJp2PZPU

ARTIST: The Watersons
WORK: Hal an Tow
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5kyvYoiS8c

ARTIST: Helston Flora Day, recorded by artcornwall.org
WORK: Hal an Tow
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rftBZKbZRg

ARTIST: Shirley Collins And The Albion Country Band
WORK: Hal-an-Tow
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5vUj6j8hjI

ARTIST: David Hansen
WORK: The Helston Furry Dance
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tGk9RODnRw

ARTIST: The Ashdown Forest Morris Men, recorded by Britclip
WORK: May Day 2024
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXhh8ClqDaw

ARTIST: Lillian Short
WORK: Robin Hood
SOURCE: Vance Randolph Collection AFC 1941/001: AFS 5263 B2 (https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2022/05/more-about-hal-an-tow-early-evidence-of-a-may-song/)

ARTIST: Roger Miller
WORK: Oo-De-Lally
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsyG3-IlY3Y

ARTIST: Richard Thompson
WORK: Sumer Is Icumen In
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKikjYdf1DA

ARTIST: Lisa Knapp
WORK: Till April is Dead
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe-WWMHQASg