What is Filk Music?

Filk a subset of folk music that is practiced in, by, and for the Science Fiction and Fantasy community. The term `filk' was originally a typographic error and the term stuck. People who write or sing filk are `filkers'.
Filk its earliest form was the setting of new, usually humorous, words to old tunes. Filkers still write new words to existing tunes, but they also write songs that are original both in music and lyrics. These songs can be funny or heart-wrenching, silly or deadly serious, or someplace in the middle.
Filk most commonly performed a cappella or by singers accompanied a guitar. However, filkers use a wide range of instruments traditional and modern, acoustic and electric.
Filk songs about every Science Fiction or Fantasy subject you could imagine: outer space (both real and fictional), books, movies, TV shows, dragons, magic, unicorns, vampires, and aliens of every sort.
Filk includes songs about things of interest to the Science Fiction and Fantasy community (usually referred to as `fandom') and strongly resembles contemporary folk music. A small sampling of topics includes: cats, computers, social commentary, and politics.
Filk includes songs about fandom itself: attending science fiction conventions, running science fiction conventions, and singing filksongs.