European Folk Day

On Saturday 23 September 2023, the day of the Autumnal Equinox, over 25 EBU radio channels in Europe dedicated a special part of their radio programming to mark the first-ever European Folk Day – a day created by the European Folk Network to demonstrate the existence of a critical mass of people all over Europe, involved, in one way or another, in the traditional performing arts.

This joint partnership with the EBU Music Unit has pulled together radio stations across Europe who will use their strength as public service media broadcasters to shout about this day with special folk music programming, showcasing to the world the importance of keeping their local music traditions alive, as well as contributing to a joint celebratory offer to the Music Unit’s concert exchange platform.

In addition to the on-air programming planned by radio stations, the joint offer contains 16 recordings of current local folk talent, with traditional music offered from Estonia, Ireland, Scotland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Portugal, Sweden, Israel and Denmark, culminating in two live studio concerts on day itself from Croatia with the HRT Tamburitza Orchestra and Hungary with the fizzing virtuosity of Söndörgő, and folk singer Branka Básits. The offer is available in MUS under the reference FM/2023/08/03/01-16.

Recordings from the 2023 Euroradio Folk Festival at Rudolstadt have also been made available in time for this day, as well as other recordings from around the festival so that radio stations could also choose from and broadcast a wide variety of artists. The 2023 Euroradio Folk Festival is available in MUS under the reference FM/2023/08/02/01-12 and 31 other sets from the festival under FM/2023/08/05/01-31.

Follow #EuropeanFolkDay on social media for more on the campaign.