Folk Music in the Los Angeles

Subject: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: Alex.S
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 10:31 PM

As some of oyu may know, the city of Los Angeles is a Cultural Wasteland. Folk music especially is not particularly popular. Yet, with so many millions of people, there must be *some* folk clubs or festivals that put on shows? If you someone would share a good place for a Los Angelino to go for folk music I would greatly appreciate.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: GUEST,Mary Katherine
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 11:09 PM

Los Angeles isn't really a cultural wasteland; things here just move a bit under radar. Feel free to check out the calendar of upcoming events at

www.aliveandpicking.com

Subject: RE: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: Alex.S
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 11:11 PM

Please do forgive my heinous grammar, I was a bit hurried.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 12:16 AM

I'll be in San Diego for two weeks in at the end of February. Amos lives there. Let's get together.

Also, remember that folk music is one of those cultural unknowns. It has a bad name with those who are hip to the popular culture. If you ever se it on TV it is usually represented by someone strumming a guitar poorly and singing Kumbaya or Michael Row The Boat. Maybe it's your destiny to try and raise it up into the popular consciousness.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: Alex.S
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 01:19 AM

Naemanson, you couldn't be more correct. I think if people actually knew what folk music was, they might find it more appealing. When I tell people I like folk music, the think folk = country, or folk = those awful campfire songs they sang in summer camp as children. It's a real pity but unless you know someone with an interest, there's really no way to be exposed to genuine folk music.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: Mark Clark
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 01:22 AM

I think my old friend Stan Shapin can help put you in touch with much of the LA folk community. Stan is a wonderful clawhammer style banjo player as well as a guitar player and I think is active in the folk dancing groups in the LA area.

Stan was leading some workshops at the Claremont Spring Folk Festival last May.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: Alex.S
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 08:39 PM

Thanks for all your help everyone.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 10:23 PM

Hi, Alex - I'm sure there are house concerts in Los Angeles. I went to a wonderful one in Long Beach a few years back, and I got the impression the hosts had concerts there regularly. I also got to hear Mike Seeger at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, http://www.mccabesguitar.com/. They have Utah Phillips November 23.
You have to look around, but you can find lots of good music if you look. Here's another place to check regularly: L.A. Area Calendar of ROOTS AND TRADITIONAL MUSIC EVENTS .
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: GUEST,JOHN OF ELSIE`S BAND
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 11:24 AM

Subject: RE: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: GUEST,JOHN OF ELSIE`S BAND
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 11:41 AM

Dear Naemanson,
               If possible acquaint some of the people of whom you speak and who only think in terms of "Cum Baya" etc., with albums by Tony Rose and Nick Jones. They could not help but be converted.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: GUEST,Claire
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 11:42 AM

The California Traditional Music Society (CTMS) puts on a great festival every summer. Check out http://www.ctmsfolkmusic.org/ for other events too.

Also, there is a great Folk magazine out of LA called Folk Works. Here is a web address for them.
http://www.folkworks.org/

I am not sure if these links will show up as hotlinks, but you can always cut and paste them into your browser or do a google search.

Good luck,
Claire

Subject: RE: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: Steve-o
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 12:18 PM

Joe Offer's site is real good. Also try a thing called halsguide.com, which is an up-to-date list (with descriptions, addresses, etc.) of ALL the joints in the LA area that have Open Mike nights, singer/songwriter showcases, and clubs. And, of course, don't miss the best little club of the bunch- Coffee Gallery in Altadena. As has been said, all of the LA "fokie stuff" is sort of hidden, but there really is a good deal of live music and also playing opportunities once you get plugged in to the underground.

Subject: RE: Folk Music in the Los Angeles
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 11:40 PM

It's funny, John Of Elsie's Band, but I have tried to introduce people to folk music all my life. Most of them just don't want to hear it. I think it has to be popular before they will believe that it's any good. They need to follow the masses like sheep to the predigested pap that is usually found on the radio. When they learn that a favorite performer was once a folkie or dabbles in folk music they just cannot assimilate it. One of my favorite pictures was taken in a folk festival and shows Jerry Garcia on guitar and Steve Martin on banjo jamming in a circle of friends. I think I saw that picture in Sing Out! magazine.

Consider Dolly Parton's album Little Sparrow. That is pure folk music but is that what they called it? No! It is "roots" music. The term "folk" is the kiss of death.

Sorry about the rant...