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14 Nov 06 - 04:59 PM (#1885762) Subject: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Okay, I'm not trying to start a discussion on "what if folk". I realize that many people who read these boards have a set idea of what "folk" music should be - and I'm not saying that they are wrong. I hope you will save those opinions for a more appropriate thread. What is important to recognize is that there is a unique body of music being created today by YOUNG artists who deserve to be heard. This past weekend, I attended the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance along with Bill Hahn. We had the pleasure of witnessing some amazing music. I wrote about the weekend, and shared photos, on my website - www.ronolesko.blogspot.com . There are a number of photos of Tom Chapin & Crew in our "Bound For Glory" production that will be aired on WFDU on November 26. A few notable artists that I think everyone should be listening to: Little Toby Walker - a virtuoso on the guitar. He plays country blues and original compositions in the style. He received some of the strongest audience reaction that I have ever witnessed at NERFA. Danny Schmidt - Rich Warren of "Midnight Special" called Danny one of the best songwriters he has heard in the last 15 years. I have to agree. Danny writes some powerful lyrics and expresses a lyric poetry that if filled with mysticism and honest truth. His music may be a bit deep for some tastes, but I found his music to be on a level of some of the greats. Antje Duvekot - be still my heart. Antje has been around for a few years, but she has developed into an outstanding performer. Be sure to check out her latest CD. Samite - a amazing performer to watch and listen to! He is from Uganda and he plays some traditional instruments and a few amplified that he mixes with a echo player. It gave the appearance of a full band doing call and response singing. Just brilliant!! Dave Potts - a clever singer-songwriter from Alabama. He has a song about minor league baseball that I rate with some of the best baseball songs I've ever heard. Guy Mendilow - if world music is your thing, Guy is your, umm ... guy! He has lived in a number of different countries and learned the music first hand from the origianl source. He creates a jazzy sound that remains respectful of the culture. Inspiring to watch. Rick Nestler - okay, he is not "new" - but it was great to see him on stage and sharing some honest to goodness folk songs. Rick is a great friend and he deserve much more recognition. Danny Bakan - a clever songwriter with a charming stage presence. I loved his song about a coffeeshop. I also loved the Maple syrup liquer that they were serving in the "Red Hot Canadians" showcase!!! So many others. I am sure I will add to the list. |
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14 Nov 06 - 05:24 PM (#1885783) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: GUEST,Russ How does NERFA define "folk"? |
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14 Nov 06 - 05:39 PM (#1885803) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: Bill Hahn//\\ I just want to add to Ron's comments---first as to artists of note: Greg Greenway---his newest work is just a marvel of writing and his stage presence is not to be beat. We were honored that he performed in our WFDU TRADITIONS SHOWCASE. John Flynn--I can repeat exactly what I said in the above paragraph there. The Rowan Bros.---Having seen them for the first time on the main showcase stage I was truly impressed. And then later in a smaller showcase the fiddler from the Mendilow Band joined in an impromptu "jam" that was not to be believed. The Alexandria Kleztet---Appearing in the TRICENTRIC SHOWCASE had the overlow people in the hall actually dancing in the hall---so nuff said there. One last thing---Ron Olesko is to be complimented on producing a truly amazing program--Bound For Glory featuring Tom Chapin as the narrator of this 50th anniv. of the Woody Guthrie Tribute.The warmth, enthusiasm, and sheer talent of the participants was not to be believed----it will sound even better on radio when your mind can picture it as you imagine it. As to the question of how NERFA defines "folk"=--who knows--why define things. As one person there said to me---even Nat King Cole or Sinatra can be considered "folk" if we keep singing the songs. We just define that as the American Songbook. A place or cubbyhole to place things in when we want to categorize. Bill Hahn |
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14 Nov 06 - 05:47 PM (#1885809) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: WFDU - Ron Olesko "How does NERFA define "folk"? " The good thing is, they do not try to. I echo Bill's comment (and thank him for the kind words). Music does not need to fit into anyones definition to be good or bad. When I was a kid, I hated vegetables. Not that I tried them - I just hated them because they were neither meat, pasta or desert. As I grew older I realized that I was missing out on a tasty and healthy treat because I let a word and a perception cloud my judgement. I won't do that with music. |
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16 Nov 06 - 10:30 AM (#1886297) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: WFDU - Ron Olesko By the way, Bill and I recorded a number of these artists in performance and we will be broadcasting a showcase special sometime early in January. We will be sure to let everyone know so you can listen in online - you can judge for yourself if the music is good or not! Also, the Woody Guthrie "Bound For Glory" re-creation that Bill mentioned will be aired on Sunday November 26th at 3pm. You can listen in at www.wfdu.fm |
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16 Nov 06 - 10:54 AM (#1886314) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: Scrump I don't know any of the artists named, but I would like to hear them sometime. I'm in the UK and like to see young artists and bands myself, some include traditional folk (whatever that is - don't let's get into an argument over that!) as well as their own new material. For some of the new material, it might be stretching a point to call it "folk", but I don't think that matters. What's important is that they are writing good songs instead of just churning out pap like their 'pop' counterparts. |
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16 Nov 06 - 08:30 PM (#1886561) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: Bill Hahn//\\ Scrump---exactly the point. They can cover the old material and have great stage presence and write non-navel gazing songs that are singable and have something to say. Check their websites--the ones we mentioned---and listen to samples. Bill Hahn |
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16 Nov 06 - 10:35 PM (#1886683) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: Seamus Kennedy Guys, I'm with you on Little Toby walker - the man is amazing. What a guitarist; great stage personality helluva singer and writes some good stuff too. Hope to hear some more from him. Seamus |
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17 Nov 06 - 09:42 AM (#1886879) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: GUEST,Russ I've checked the NERFA site carefully and there is no definition of "folk" that I can find. Since I was checking because of idle curiousity, that is not a big deal. But suppose my motivation was differnt. Suppose I were thinking about auditioning/applying for the juried Showcases. It is not free. It requires an investment of time, energy, and money. My time, energy, and money are limited. So I have some obvious, purely practical, not the least bit theoretical questions. Am I the kind of performer that has a real chance of being accepted? What are the members of the jury looking for? What, if anything, would immediately disqualify me? What, if anything, would give me an edge? Am I folk? Am I folk enough? If I am going to play the game, I'd really like to know the rules. Perhaps, if I have to ask, I shouldn't be applying. Russ (Permanent and curious GUEST) |
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17 Nov 06 - 10:17 AM (#1886920) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Russ - there are NO rules. That is the point I have been trying to make. Why would you need an edge? There is no game here. Do you feel your music would attract an audience? Do you feel you are folk? |
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18 Nov 06 - 01:22 PM (#1887742) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: GUEST,Russ Ron, Does everybody who applies for the juried showcases get accepted? If so, what is the point of the jury? If not, how do the jurors decided whom to accept? If you don't like the word "rules" how about the term "criteria"? What criteria do jurors use? |
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18 Nov 06 - 10:30 PM (#1888062) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Speaking for the formal showcase committee, there are 5 judges. For the most part, the judges are presenters and/or media. I host two radio programs and book a local coffeehouse. There is another coffehouse booker, a former book for a major Canadian folk festival, a member of the Philadelphia Folk Song Society with both festival and small venue booking experience, and a booker for the New Bedford Summerfest. One of the judges is also a musican. We listen to the music submitted (over 260 submissions this year) and use "criteria" similar to what we would use to book our venues, festivals and radio show. If the talent appeals to us, if we feel that this person or group is worth sharing with others, we give them consideration. We end up choosing 14 artists for the formal showcase. There are also "tricentric" showcases - three different showcases that take place simultaneously and present about 30 additional artists. Again, there are no rules. We play with the cards that are dealt us. If I have a singer-songwriter and someone that people would label a traditional folksinger, we try to judge them on their own merits. |
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19 Nov 06 - 12:29 AM (#1888087) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: Bill Hahn//\\ Just to add to the comments about "criteria"===a better term than rules--it has to be admitted that all judging ---be it here, be it ice-skating, be it gymnastics, etc; is subjective. That being the case when any organization---be it USFSA (skating), NERFA, or others has judges of a certain bent---say, nationalism in Olympic figure skating,styles in gymnastics, or tastes in music at NERFA you entertain certain preferences---I don't say prejudices---that influence a decision. In sports such as tennis, basketball, baseball,etc; the score is determined objectively. You got the point---you didn't score a goal. All the above being said it seems to me that you can not really ever have a fair judging in an area where things are open to taste and subjectivity unless you constantly change panels to allow differing opinions to enter into the decisions. Even then you deal with subjectivity but you allow for varying winners at different times given the different points of view. Bill Hahn |
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19 Nov 06 - 09:13 AM (#1888227) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: GUEST,Russ Ron, You're one of the judges! Cool. Anyway... For the record, I am a musician, but I am not now, nor have I ever been, nor have I ever wished to be a performer. My questions are not a sneaky way to figure out how to get an edge in the NERFA selection process. I personally think it is perfectly reasonable for someone who is considering making a submission to your (or any) committee to try to get as much information as possible about the committee's selection criteria. I am and have been involved in booking, in a small way, for several organizations so this is not simply a "theoretical" belief. I have put it into practice. Granted, you say that "If the talent appeals to us, if we feel that this person or group is worth sharing with others, we give them consideration," but that's exactly what I would expect any judge of any activity to say. What judge would say "if we think they suck, we give them consideration." When I am asked what sort of acts we book, I don't simply say, "Stuff we like" because the rational immediate response would be "Well, what do you like?" By the way, I have friends who are actively and enthusiastically involved with NERFA, and who just as enthusiastically avoid discussing the "F" word. You make a distinction between "singer-songwriter" and "traditional folksinger". Apparently there are some categories at work here. But categorizing a submission (not to say evaluating it) surely must involve using some criteria. Russ (Permanent Persistent GUEST) |
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19 Nov 06 - 07:28 PM (#1888589) Subject: RE: NERFA & Contemporary Folk Music From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Hi Russ, Sorry if I sounded suspicious about your questions. Maybe I am still sleep deprived! Actually, while I do make a distinction between "singer-songwriter" and "traditional folksinger", the same criteria is used for each - how does the performer present the material and reach the audience. Are the musical skills evident? Would you consider them to be highly skilled on their instrument of choice (voice, guitar, etc.)? Do they have a rapport with the audience (not always easy to tell from a submission)? Do they represent something "special"? Often, we will rely on personal experience as well - perhaps we saw them in concert. Those items come into play. NERFA is trying to serve a diverse range of presenters. At this years event I spoke to people who run house concerts - one person offered contemporary singer-songwriters. Another chose ballad singers from a more "traditional" perspective. There were presenters from a variety of coffeehouses, commercial venues, and festivals. There were a number of radio people in attendance, each with different tastes in music. The idea of the formal and tricentric showcases at NERFA is to offer artists who can fit in different settings. You might see an artist who isn't ready for the mainstage at Philly Folk Fest, but they would offer a great night of music in someones living room. Likewise, you might find a 6 piece band that would be too expensive for most coffehouses, but they might have a home at a festival or being presented by one of the arts agencies that were there. The venue that I book and my radio show presents diverse lineups. I may have someone that I would consider a good representitive of a "tradition" - sea chantey, southern banjo, etc. The next month (or show) I might have a contemporary singer-songwriter who speaks about personal issues. Each has their own draw, and I hope that each will attract their own audience. It builds a community. There is no need for two separate armies at war with each other in "folk music". No, there are no "secrets" to being selected. Being good in your chosen field usually works. Frankly, any judge will also admit to an ounce or two of "because we like it" in their final choices, but the process is deeper than that. |