The British Forum for Ethnomusicology (BFE) is a U.K. society devoted to the study of music and dance from all parts of the world. Membership is open to all interested parties, anywhere in the world. BFE conferences and publications include studies of traditions as diverse as Manchurian shamanic drumming and Brazilian death metal, Ugandan church music, Indian and Western art musics, Scots pipe music and street busking in continental Europe.

In addition to producing the journal, the society is active in the following ways: We hold an annual conference of 3-4 days' duration, usually during the Easter vacation period, at a different venue in the U.K. each year. Each conference focuses on a chosen theme or themes, but there is also the opportunity to present 'research in progress' on any subject, to discuss informally and to hear and make music. Students are encouraged to attend this conference and to present papers, and a number of bursaries are usually offered to assist them. A one-day conference on a different theme is also held in November or December each year.

A Newsletter is circulated to members twice yearly. This includes notices of BFE events, reports of the annual and one-day conferences (including abstracts of papers), occasional short papers and book reviews, and also notices of concerts and other events of interest in the U.K. and beyond.