But what is Englishness? That question has already provoked a swathe of books, mostly by Tory diehards – Roger Scruton’s England, An Elegy and Peter Hitchens’ The Abolition of Britain for example – though Billy Bragg’s The Progressive Patriot has recently joined the fray, arguing, like Orwell before him, that patriotism is not necessarily the refuge of rascals. Bragg’s point is that there is a distinctly English tradition that belongs not to royalists and imperialists, but to the people, a tradition that runs from The Diggers to The Clash. Then, after recording Bending The Dark in 2012, they took an unexpectedly lengthy break, from which they have at last thankfully returned. Simon touched the hearts of millions of people through his music and infinite wisdom. His legacy remains with the amazing people he bought together and they will continue to create the magic of his music with his guidance from above.

Simon Emmerson, who died in March a day after his 67th birthday, was a unique figure in world and roots music. A guitarist, Grammy-nominated producer, DJ and creative force behind both Afro Celt Sound System and The Imagined Village, above all he will be best remembered for his gift for fusing disparate musical styles and facilitating the diverse array of musicians his projects invariably required. Unexpected, surprising, innovative and often genre-defying though his ventures were, the end results went beyond mere novelty to produce something always coherent and invariably exciting. SE: “We were holed up in our West Dorset Studio, winter was closing in and people were taking to the streets across Europe as the recession was deepening”.

Releases

Produced by Simon ‘Palmskin’ Richmond and Simon Emmerson with band input. Apart from BTD, produced by Sheema Mukherjee.

He is survived by his partner Karen Murphy and their children, Ted and Josie, and by his mother and his brother, Paul. Other artists from the region will include another great duo, Norwich-based Christina Alden and Alex Patterson, the Norfolk Broads, Essex-based King Driscolls and Suffolk’s John Ward Trio and Bushing Sharks band. Bending the Dark, as a title doesn’t refer to trendy new Physics, deviant sexual practices or even Lord of the Ring wizardry, it’s really very simple: It doesn’t matter how bad things are if you pull together you can turn the situation around and come out of the darkness stronger and more confident.” There will be plans of a tribute memorial concert later in the year and the details will be released on all platforms.Charlie Moores and Magnus Robb– Red Deer Rutting (podcast extract – music Polar Drift, Simon Emmerson and Simon ‘Palmskin Richmond) Englishness is the final frontier of world music.’– Simon Emmerson, head man of The Imagined Village The Youth Moot, open to 11-17-year-olds, will include workshops and more in a new space at FolkEast.