Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer

Subject: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: thespionage
Date: 18 Jan 05 - 12:50 PM

What would you suggest for putting together a folk group on a college (university) campus? I happen to go to a school in the Hudson River Valley, an excellent place for folk music, but I am having difficulty finding singers and players my age.

Russ
Practitioner of Thespionage and Folk Music

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jan 05 - 01:19 PM

What have you tried, to hook up with people? And is there a local music shop catering to folkies where you can spread the word? Student announcement channel on cmapus or local TV? Campus radio show with folk?

~S~

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 18 Jan 05 - 01:33 PM

Many if not most colleges and newspapers have a student newspaper. That's an obvious place to start.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: thespionage
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 01:02 PM

Sounds like a good start. I'm sure there are more folkies out there.

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: GUEST,janitor
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 01:54 PM

Don't call it a folk group or club is my advice mate.
You'll get all sorts of queer looking characters turning up. Imagine the worst and then Imagine the type that come from Hull.
Are you shuddering?
Call it a Acoustic Blues and traditional music Club and jolly good luck.
Janitor

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 01:58 PM

GROWING A FOLK COMMUNITY FROM SEED, PART ONE

~S~

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: thespionage
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 03:10 PM

Janitor, I'm guessing from what you said that "Folk Group" has a negative connotation in the UK. Please explain?

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: thespionage
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 03:13 PM

Janitor, what I had meant was a three- or four-member ensemble to sing and play songs like Woody Guthrie, The Weavers, etc. If you could explain what that term means there, I would greatly appreciate it.

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: beetle cat
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 03:54 PM

I'm having the same problem, or a similar one anyway. I'm looking more for just people to sing and play with informally at my University, rather than a performing group. Janitor, I think, thought you meant a gathering of 'folkies', like what I'm trying to do, so for me his advice is good, because some connotations with folk are sort of negative, and some people associated with it are rather cracked (no offence) and among youth the term is looked at skeptically, cause they are thinking.. thats what my parents did. But traditional music, and acoustic music, and blues are still cool and respectable for some reason, even though they are just the definition of folk. His is a good idea that I will use.

So my suggestion to you is to find a local folk club, or a local group that already plays and has a following, or a joint that has a folk open mic sort of thing, and talk to people there.

good luck. have fun.
mary.

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 03:55 PM

A time machine would be helpful. Lacking that you could lounge around the student union somewhere and play whatever you think might attract like-minded people. I don't know if you play an instrument at this point. However, portable CD player with some of your favorite music might be useful if you don't.

You could always work up a WANTED poster, and staple them to bulletin boards with your phone number.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: thespionage
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 04:05 PM

Charley, I have been thinking about the bulletin boards as being the right way to go. I do play guitar and now 5-string banjo and a few chords on mandolin (although I don't own a mandolin). I do have an iPod with some of the greatest folk music I have ever heard (in addition to many other excellent genres). I hadn't thought of just walking around *playing* the stuff for people, but it sounds kind of cool. Thanks for your advice!

Mary (beetle cat): It is quite comforting to know that another university (college)-age folk enthusiast exists! Here in the states most people think of folk music as really sappy, not necessarily "cracked." A friend of mine who is, in fact, into Arlo Guthrie and the '60s folk music hadn't realized that Woody Guthrie's songs had such a political edge. He thought that "This Land Is Your Land" was just some stupid patriotic song until I played him the verse about the sign that said private property.

Thank you for your responses thus far!

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 04:34 PM

Are all you young folkies aware of The New Roots Competition. A chance to meet and play with people your own age, and to win great prizes like playing at Cambridge and Towersey Folk Festivals plus more. For more details go to www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk or PM me.

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: thespionage
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 04:52 PM

WOW. I really wish they had one in the states.

Russ
Practitioner of Thespionage and Folk Music

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 05:50 PM

Put a flyer at your local contra dance. There's a high lilihood of finding like-minded folks there, though I don't know what the age distribution is like in your area...

You might not want to exclude the idea of playing with folks not of your generation; might provide some learning opportunities. ;-)

Come summertime, go to the Old Songs Festival, outside Albany. There seemed to be a good assortment of folks of various ages there.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: thespionage
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 06:45 PM

Oh yes! I have no problem playing with people who are older, I just thought it would be easier and also fun to form something at my school so we could rehearse and play on campus. Being a first-year student, I am not allowed to have a car, so I cannot really do much off-campus. Thanks for the feedback!

Russ
Practitioner of Thespionage

Subject: RE: Forming a Folk Group at College (Univer
From: GUEST,janitor
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 11:26 AM

Hi Thespionage
A folk Group for me means a small group of musicians who primarily play/sing to entertain others and of course themselves adn are likely to have enough material to do two forty minute spots combining original and 'traditional' material in some recognised genre.
A Folk club, again, in my opinion, allows anyone to sing or play usually 2/3 numbers maximum. I can't speak for the US, but in UK such clubs generally have a number of informal and formalised codes of practice which may/may not appeal to everyone.

A session is generally considerd to be a group of people who play music predominantly generally with a thematic approach, Irish, Northumbrian, Appalachian or whatever.

A further alternative is just have an open meeting and go round the room asking for a contribution from everyone.

If you are starting off something to attract people Beetle cat has the right idea. Advertise it, find a decent venue, which has a good atmosphere (good ale etc) and act as the MC. It will soon find its own level.
Good luck mate - I hope its a success.