Alaska Folk Festival 2015

Subject: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 02:02 PM

It's that time again! The Alaska Folk Festival held in Alaska's capital city, Juneau will run from April 6 through the 12th.

This year's Guest Artist(s) is Byron Berline and his band. According to AFF's website: "Playing their own brand of traditional bluegrass and Western swing music, Berline is a three time national fiddle champion and country/bluegrass legend backed by an all-star band including Billy Perry, Jim Fish, Richard Sharp, Greg Burgress, and Steve Short."

This is the 41st Folk Festival. In that time we have had a wild variety of Guest Artists. Among them that you may recognize: Merle Travis (the first GA, presented in 1977. The first three Festivals didn't have a guest artist); 1987 Peggy Seeger and Ewan McColl; 1991 Cephas & Wiggins; 1996 Brave New World (Klezmer. Wonderful!); 2004 Hot Club of Cowtown; 2007 Carolina Chocolate Drops. Last year's Guest Artists were a Cajun group. Which I missed entirely due to PEWmonia, my first miss in 27 years.

My little dog is being shipped to a friend's home for the duration, leaving me free to enjoy the festival to the fullest degree.

It really is a magic time. It starts Monday and is weeklong, every evening running from 7 o'clock to 11:00 or so. On Saturday and Sunday daytime concerts and workshops are added. Jamming is ubiquitous and takes place at dozens of corners and in stores and shops and bars and in people's homes; if the weather is clear people gather in parking lots and on grassy lawns.

People come from all over Alaska and from the 'lower 48', as we say. This year we have entries from at least 8 other states, and of course, from Canada. All performers, except for Guest Artists, are unpaid; each gets 15 minutes on stage. We always have a standby list but eventually, due to attrition and cancellations, almost all of them
get on. In actuality, jamming and socializing is the draw.

Oh. I forgot the dancing. Beginning on Thursday night, there are 4 hours of 45 minute dance bands, with a wide variety of styles.

We don't have an actual Performing Arts Center. Our auditorium is used for a lot of different things from lectures to - one year they covered the floor with sheathing and straw and presented Lippazaner Stallions. Marvelous.

Our auditorium holds about 1200 seats, and the sound is good. I wish it were tiered but it isn't so there is a scramble for good seats. Every year little kids dance in the aisles and to the sides of the stadium.

OK. That's enough. Just keep next year in mind. :)

http://www.akfolkfest.org/41/41GA.php

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: maeve
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 02:45 PM

Ebbie, that sounds lovely. I hope you enjoy every minute to its fullest possible fulliosity.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Apr 15 - 02:50 PM

I like "fulliosity", Maeve. :)

Incidentally, a lot of Mudcatters know these performers: Jawbone - Bruce Molsky, Tony Trishka and Paula Bradley.

They were our guest artists a few years back.

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: artbrooks
Date: 05 Apr 15 - 11:25 AM

Get it out of the way before the cruise ships start to show up?

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Apr 15 - 02:48 PM

Right, Art! I can't imagine the Folk Festival Folks having to share sidewalks, restaurants, shops, taxis and buses with the hordes of sight-seers. The cruise season starts earlier than it used to. The first ships come in early May. The season lasts longer too. The last ones come in late September.

I understand that some places - like the Virgin Islands - have cruise visitors year 'round. Would have to do a 180 mindset.

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Apr 15 - 01:10 PM

If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot them????

LOL Enjoy, Ebbie!
Maybe next year...SINS

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Apr 15 - 01:40 PM

Sins, do it- we'd love it if you, Kendall and Jacqui showed up at our doors!

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 03:55 AM

I'm blown away- I can't imagine being more moved- stunned, really - at a set this year than I was tonight.

Six young women did five songs, without accompaniment of any kind... It was powerful, tender, rich and fullblown, tremendous harmonies. They only met as a group this February- and they are absolutely ready to go on the road.

The youngest, I believe, is 17 and it looked like the oldest was perhaps mid-20s. Two of them are the daughters of some friends of mine, three I had never seen and one we had used at our local wintertime concert. The latter is the leader of the group- I have no idea how they found each other or how she put it all together.

You could have heard the proverbial pin drop in the entire stadium during the entire set. They got a standing ovation. Of course.

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: frogprince
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 10:46 AM

Sounds real cool, so to speak... : )

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: maeve
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 01:42 PM

Ebbie, would that group have been "The Ladies • Juneau, Alaska
Taylor Vidic, Phoebe Rohrbacher, Asia Ver, Elizabeth Ekins, Lydia Rail, Gin Anderson, Acacia Edwards
There's too much vocal talent around here to not join forces, so that's what we've done; here to show you something you didn't even know you were missing." ?

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 08:40 PM

That's the group, Maeve. I went looking for them on YouTube today but they're not on there. Yet. Someone is sure to do it.

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: maeve
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 09:47 PM

Here is a photo at least!

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Apr 15 - 03:19 AM

Tonight they are on Facebook- just one song so far but it's good. The group traded off on leads. The 17 year old's voice is the second lead and her voice is fabulous.

Subject: RE: Alaska Folk Festival 2015
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Apr 15 - 01:45 PM

This year's Guest Artist is Byron Berline and his band. They played for the first time last night and they are great. Their sound is dense and tight, their song list is great and each band member is awesome.

They will do another 45-minute set on Sunday night. In the meantime they will do a dance set in the hall across the parking lot and on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons they will be doing workshops.

Last night after their set they wandered around amongst the crowd chatting with people. Most Guest Artist bands do that but we've had a few that disappeared into the night after doing their stint. :)

I love bands that enjoy what they're doing and are obviously aware and appreciative of where they are!