I just heard, among others, Bill Mayhew at the Glen Echo festival. I have to say that I think that story telling is about as folky and accoustic as it gets--the same tradition of telling (or singing) to a small gathering withing audio range, and passing along essential wisdom, important history, or just plain entertainment.

BTW, Bill Mayhew is great. I can't say he is the greatest, because I don't know them all. But he is sure one of them. Has a vast repertoire, and does great voices and personifications.


I know that some of the musical performers weave stories into their shows, and I salute this. I wish telling had a higher place in the folklore world. It certainly is easy enough to carry around your instrument! Look out for telling events, especially for the younguns, but for us oldsters, too.