Harry Smith Festival-Central Pennsylvania Nov 2010

Subject: RE: Harry Smith Festival-Central Pennsylvania Nov 2010
From: bobad
Date: 03 Nov 10 - 08:38 PM

If anyone is interested in the films of Harry Smith some are available for viewing at this site: http://www.ubu.com/film/smith_harry.html.

Harry Everett Smith (29 May 1923, Portland, Oregon – 27 November 1991, New York City) was an American archivist, ethnomusicologist, student of anthropology, record collector, experimental filmmaker, artist, bohemian and mystic. Smith is a well-known figure in several fields. People who know him as a filmmaker often do not know of his 1952 Anthology of American Folk Music, while folk music enthusiasts often do not know he was "the greatest living magician" according to Kenneth Anger.

Smith died of cardiac arrest while singing in Paola Igliori's arms, in Room 328 at the Hotel Chelsea in New York City, and his ashes are in the care of his wife, Rosebud Feliu-Pettet.

Subject: RE: Harry Smith Festival-Central Pennsylvania Nov 2010
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 24 Oct 10 - 02:28 AM

Here is a wild e-mail interview with Kai Schafft, instigator of the festival, before last year's.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Harry Smith Festival-Central Pennsylvania Nov 2010
From: GUEST,folkie (Dave Eyre)
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 02:17 PM

The stories of Harry and his eccentricities are legion.

He once threw him self to the floor in front of a complete stranger faking illness (or epilepsy, versions vary). When asked why he said he needed a drink and he hoped they might offer him a brandy.

Bob Dylan and lots of other artists owe an awful lot to the anthology.

The story of his collection is fascinating and well worth googling for. And of course it was published without regard for copyright or anything legal like that.

Glad he is having a festival devoted to him and in such a lovely place.

Subject: RE: Harry Smith Festival-Central Pennsylvania Nov 2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 01:25 PM

Sounds like a really neat fest and location!

Subject: RE: Harry Smith Festival
From: Sandrolin
Date: 17 Oct 10 - 01:06 PM

Desert Dancer..

danke..
I guess it would be good to get his attention... with a PM...

OBTW ...The place is on the smallish size and I've heard that /advance/ tickets sell out so ....

Subject: RE: Harry Smith Festival
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 17 Oct 10 - 12:47 PM

It's just down the road from Max, does he know about this??

Subject: RE: Harry Smith Festival
From: Sandrolin
Date: 17 Oct 10 - 12:26 PM

Becky thanks so much for adding information!

Here's a little more under the radar about the Festival location for road tripping adventure seekers interested in attending.

It's a stunning little town in Pennsylvania... near a river with excellent fishing.
The cafe itself is a brewery. The brewery and the attached music venue cafe is a co op endeavor amongst friends with (IMHO) great music taste!



Sandrolin

Subject: RE: Harry Smith Festival
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 16 Oct 10 - 06:53 PM

Here's the 3rd Annual Harry Smith Festival @ Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks Facebook page.

For non-Facebookers, here they are on MySpace, and at the Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks site.

But, winning the award for the page with the most information is Brown Paper Tickets.

(Note to others tempted to Google: the first hits are for prior years.)

Elk Creek Cafe looks like a cool place, and this seems like a fun theme for a mini-fest.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Harry Smith Festival
From: open mike
Date: 16 Oct 10 - 01:39 PM

sounds like an interesting fellow! "Ukrainian Easter eggs to Seminole Indian blankets, to string figures, to 78 rpm records..."

thanks for the info....and thanks for asking, some people on this side of the pond were not aware of him, either!

Subject: RE: Harry Smith Festival
From: GUEST,grumpy
Date: 16 Oct 10 - 01:22 PM

'little known now'? The complete set of recordings has been available for some years on CD.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anthology-American-Music-Edited-Harry/dp/B000001DJU/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1287249618&sr=1-1

Subject: RE: Harry Smith Festival
From: Sandrolin
Date: 16 Oct 10 - 01:08 PM

Emma thanks for background info..

For more info the site....http:oldwierdamerica.wordpress.com/ is fascinating

( though probably alot more information than a person can handle on one visit :-)

Subject: RE: Harry Smith Festival
From: Emma B
Date: 16 Oct 10 - 12:53 PM

For the benefit of Brits like myself the question

Who was Harry Smith?

is answered on the festival website

'Among other things, Harry Smith was an archivist, ethnomusicologist, experimental film maker, artist, mystic, and inveterate collector of everything from Ukrainian Easter eggs to Seminole Indian blankets, to string figures, to 78 rpm records.

Working with Smithsonian Records in 1952 Harry Smith released the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music, a multi-volume work that is little known now, but brought back to the light of day blues, hillbilly and cajun recordings made between 1927 and 1933, and, some argue, singlehandedly jump-started the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s.

As such, the Anthology has had a tremendous, though little-recognized, influence on American roots and rural music.'

Besy wishes for the event

Subject: Harry Smith Festival
From: Sandrolin
Date: 16 Oct 10 - 12:49 PM

This is a shout out to bring to your attention ..
the upcoming Harry Smith Festival
Milheim Pennsylvania
Elk Creek Cafe (Brewery)
a beautiful location & there's a great line-up (more info on facebook _Harry Smith festival

Nov. 14 with a pre event Nov 13