Rough Music: Folk Customs, Transgression and Alternative Britain

Taking in a range of traditions from ancient Britain to the present day, a revealing look at the bristly underside of British folkloric culture.

Rough Music explores transgression and shame in British folklore and customs. It takes in a wide array of examples including Bonfire Night, Wassail, Morris dancing, Mari Lwyd, and Twelfth Night, along with happenings like Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, and street football. Liz Williams explores the roots and roles of violence, mockery, prot...