Country music purists ban line dancers

Ananova ^ | 01/23/02 | ananova

[Arkle]

Line dancers are being banned from some country music events in East Anglia.

Purists say the dances are not traditional enough. One local country music DJ says they make people look stupid and as if they were on army parade.

The bans are reported to be the latest in a growing divide between line dancers and fans of 'pure' country music in the area.

A promotional poster for an event being held at Needham Market Football Club carries a warning to potential visitors: "Sorry, No Line Dancing Allowed."

Vic Stemp, who DJs at the regular events, says a number of venues had banned line dancing in favour of traditionalist jigs featuring 'pure' country and western.

The 78-year-old told the East Anglia Daily Times: "There's nothing more irritating to me when events are advertised as country and western dances and line dancers turn up and take over. It's a completely separate thing from ordinary dancing and I think every advert should say that."

"I take the mickey out of some line dancers, because when they drag their backsides on the ground, they look like a dog with worms trying to get rid of them. I think it looks stupid."

[Arkle]

Country music is very popular in East Anglia, perhaps because of the large number of USAF bases there, or perhaps because of the high level of inbreeding among the population.

[krb]

Where is East Anglia? Somewhere in the UK? What are we doing with USAF bases over there...I thought we cut you guys loose a long time ago :-)

[ipfreely]

How about just banning country music all together.

Definition of country music: music to sleep with your sister by.

[Dudoight]

East Anglia is in England, it's that geographic bulge on the southeast side of the main island, contains Norfolk and Suffolk.

[Wm Bach]

Someone should open up a Conga Club in East Anglia. Isn't Bentwatwaters the place where folks see UFOs?

[Phantom Lord]

Prevent Inbreeding: Ban Country Music

[newgeezer]

ipfreely

(In your beer, apparently. ;-)

[martin gibson]

Let me recommend the Mary Warner topless clogging troupe from Morgantown, West Virginia.

I saw them not too long ago at a Smithsonian sponsored old-time festival down near Portsmouth.

I know not what course others may take, but as for myself, ‘give me Ralph Stanley or give me death’!

[WhiskeyPapa]

Where is East Anglia? Somewhere in the UK? What are we doing with USAF bases over there...I thought we cut you guys loose a long time ago :-)

There were dozens and dozens of US Army Air Force bases in East Anglia during WWII. They might put 3-4,000 aircraft in a day by war's end.

Walt

[Landru]

"The bans are reported to be the latest in a growing divide between line dancers and fans of 'pure' country music in the area."

Well let's face it.
These people could never be accused of, "over-reacting" any more than being, trend-setters.

...I mean; just how long has Line Dancing been around, now? ~yea.

[Phantom Lord]

I love Country Music

[billbears]

You know there is some good country music out there. Brooks & Dunn, Shania, and Trick Pony. Add a little bluegrass and you've got some good music. I always found line dancing to be lame

[JustAnAmerican]

"Prevent Inbreeding: Ban Country Music"

Since country music is the number one listened to music, guess we know who you will be headed home to tonight. If you had said Rap was abhorent then I would have agreed with you, or should I say Rap-Cr*P.

God Bless America

[Phantom Lord]

Rap is crap. There are very few good rap groups. Cyprus Hill is one of the good ones.

I prefer Metallica, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, God Smack, Pantera, old Motley Crew, Anthrax, Primus, COC, etc...

The louder and heavier the better.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"How about just banning country music all together. "

I agree. Well, don't ban it, but for pity sake, change the station.
What passes for 'country' music today is nothing but pop crap with steel guitars tossed in.
Get back to the roots and listen to the good stuff.
Bluegrass Country.org 24 hr. Streaming Audio

[Quilla]

I always found line dancing to be lame

I'm with you. My take on line dancing is that those folks apparently couldn't get anyone to ask them to dance. But, I'm kinda wicked. : )

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

I know not what course others may take, but as for myself, ‘give me Ralph Stanley or give me death’!

I'm with you brother! Dr. Ralph for president!

[GB]

Amen ... I wonder if anyone here has ever heard any REAL country music. They certainly have heard very little on the radio or on TV in the last 10 years or so.

Give me Hank Sr., Faron Young, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Buck Owens (pre-Hee Haw) or give me death!

Of course I like rock and jazz (especially) and classical too. I like most music. Some of it I don't like, but I don't feel compelled to say "your music sux and mine doesn't." To each his own, with mutual respect.

[ravingnutter]

I always found line dancing to be lame

No true country girl would EVER line dance. Another thing that irritates me is the "Urban Cowboy/girl" crap. One of my favorite sayings is "If you see a country girl without animal hair on her, kick her butt back to the city for me".

[GB]

FYI, country music in its most basic and primal setting ... honky tonks ... is about as loud and raucous and out there subject-wise and full of blood/booze/bimbos as any Sabbath song. Much of what was labeled country music, even back in the good old days, was cleaned up and sanitized for public consumption. You didn't get stuff like Johnny Cash's "Delia's Gone." Of course Johnny Cash's "Delia's Gone" doesn't get played on the radio these days either.

And I'm talking about country music, not bluegrass as others have mentioned. Bluegrass can also be powerful music, but isn't quite as heavy as good ol' gutbucket country.