AcousticMusicScene.com

Falcon Ridge Preview Tour Plays 23 Northeast Venues in May

Michael Kornfeld — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:18:20 +0000

Performing songwriters Joe Crookston, Anthony da Costa, Lindsay Mac and Randall Williams – emerging artists who were voted “most wanted to return” by 2007 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival attendees – help the festival inaugurate its 20th anniversary year during a 23-show preview tour in May. The tour, which kicks off May 1 at the venerable Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, makes stops at notable coffee houses, theaters, clubs and house concert series across the East Coast. [To read the entire article and see the tour schedule, click on the headline.]

Music and More for Mothers and Others, May 9-11

Michael Kornfeld — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:57:24 +0000

As in years past, this Mother's Day weekend will be filled with lots of good music. The Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival (SMAF) in Maryland, the Folk Project's Backstage Festival in New Jersey, and the Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) in North Carolina all take place May 9-11. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Folk Alliance Awards Presented in Memphis

Michael Kornfeld — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:00:47 +0000

Winners of the Third Annual Folk Alliance Awards were recognized during an awards ceremony on the opening night of the 20th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference that drew nearly 2,000 people to Memphis, Tennessee, February 20-24. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song Airs on PBS, Feb. 27

Michael Kornfeld — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:54:13 +0000

The first authorized biography of Pete Seeger will air on PBS television stations, February 27. Entitled Pete Seeger: The Power of Song, the documentary by three-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Jim Brown is part of the American Masters series of primetime specials delving into the lives, works and creative processes of some of our cultural icons. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

Grammy Award Winners Named

Michael Kornfeld — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:44:07 +0000

Winners in the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy, were announced both prior to and during ceremonies in Los Angeles on February 10. [To see a list of winners in categories of interest to acoustic music fans, click on the headline.]

John Stewart, 1939-2008

Michael Kornfeld — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:32:49 +0000

Singer-Songwriter John Stewart, best known for his seven-year stint with the Kingston Trio and for penning the hit song “Daydream Believer," has died at the age of 68. With his family by his side, Stewart passed away on Jan 19 at the same San Diego, California hospital at which he was born.

[To read the entire article, click on the headline].

A Real Sense of ‘Community’ Permeates NERFA Conference

Michael Kornfeld — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:56:44 +0000

by Michael Kornfeld

More than 600 folk music aficionados – including performers, presenters and promoters – converged on Kutsher’s in Monticello, New York over the Veterans’ Day weekend for the annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference. The once venerable Catskills resort that was part of the borscht-belt circuit during its heyday was transformed into a veritable folk Mecca during what many considered to be the best NERFA conference they ever attended.

.... AcousticMusicScene.com hosted late-night showcases and a Midnight Hoot. [To read the entire article, click on the headline. A related article, "Long Islanders' Presence Felt at NERFA Conference, appears in the News - Long Island, NY section, while dozens of photos appear in the Photo Gallery].

SONiA & disappear fear do the Tango

Michael Kornfeld — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:17:14 +0000

The tango is a dance that originated in Argentina. It is also the name of the latest album by SONiA & disappear fear and represents their “dance with the world.”

Featuring 13 songs sung in Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic and English, Tango has a very different aural feel from smoky-voiced, Baltimore-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Sonia Rutstein’s previous recordings, both solo and with disappear fear. Its Latin and Middle Eastern rhythms and instrumentation -- featuring the indigenous sounds of djembes, tin whistles, violins and acoustic guitars -- punctuate and lend new textures to her impassioned music. Included are several songs whose folk-rock melodies will be familiar to those who have come to know and love SONiA’s music over the past 20 years.

“Fans that I have around the world have learned my songs in English,” said SONiA, during a wide-ranging phone interview this week. “I thought it would be nice to do them in their languages.” [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

Folk Alliance International & Regional Conferences Slated

Michael Kornfeld — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 21:05:56 +0000

The 20th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference is slated for next February 20-24 in Memphis, Tennessee, while regional conferences of the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance (Folk Alliance) are shaping up for this fall. Designed for performing artists, presenters, agents and managers, folk DJs, folk societies and clubs, media, and others engaged in the folk music field, these conferences provide useful and enjoyable opportunities to learn, network and share music. Booking gigs is the primary objective of some performers who attend these annual conferences, while many presenters and folk DJs come primarily to scout out new artists and those who they have not previously heard and seen in live performance. However, the conference experience is much more than that; it’s really about forging connections and building an acoustic community. Although artist showcases and educational workshops and panel discussions are common to all of them, the regional conferences hosted by Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM), Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA), Folk Alliance Canada, Folk Alliance Region West (FAR-West) and Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) all have their own tenor and style. [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

Online Discussion Group Focuses on Living on the Folk Scene

Michael Kornfeld — Thu, 17 May 2007 20:14:51 +0000

Sensing a void and eager to help foster a spirit of community, “a place to discuss issues related to living on the contemporary folk scene,” singer-songwriter Erik Balkey launched a new listserv through Yahoo Groups earlier this spring. To date, more than 160 people have signed up for free memberships in LivingFolk, which Balkey describes as “a community of kindred folk who share a commitment to, and are personally and spiritually invested in, the shaping of an evolving folk scene for today.” [To read the entire article, click on the headline].

The Future of Internet Radio May Hinge on Royalty Rates Issue

Michael Kornfeld — Wed, 09 May 2007 13:46:57 +0000

Some 70 million Americans currently listen to online radio each month, according to Nielsen Media Research and a Bridge Ratings study. And many independent artists have come to rely on it as a key way of gaining exposure for their music that they would not otherwise get through commercial broadcast radio. But just how many webcasters (particularly nonprofits and small organizations) will be playing music in the near future -- and the diversity of styles that will be heard -- may well depend on the outcome of a currently raging battle royale over Internet royalty rates. {To read the entire article, click on the headline].

Music & More for Mothers & Others This May

Michael Kornfeld — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 03:49:42 +0000

Rather than merely sending mom a musical greeting card for Mother’s Day, consider treating her (or yourself) to a weekend filled with music. Both the Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival and the Folk Project’s Spring Festival are slated for May 11-13. So, too, is the Lake Eden Arts Festival.
[To read the entire article, including comments from SONiA, one of the performing artists at SMAF, click on the title in red above.]

Americana, Bluegrass & Roots Festivals Springing Up

Michael Kornfeld — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 01:44:06 +0000

Many fans of bluegrass, roots and Americana music will be heading to Driftwood, Texas and Wilkesboro, North Carolina in April for major festivals.

The 20^th Annual Old Settler’s Music Festival, slated for April 19-22 at the Salt Lick BBQ Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood, Texas is not as well-known outside the state as some other festivals in the Austin area – and that’s part of its allure. Old Settler’s Music Festival also takes place during what’s usually the height of Texas Hill Country’s wildflower season, although few bluebonnets were in bloom last year due to earlier drought conditions. [Click on title in red to see the entire article]

The Grascals: Expanding Bluegrass’ Horizons While Remaining True to Its Roots

Michael Kornfeld — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 00:43:20 +0000

By Michael Kornfeld

During their short time together as a band, Rounder recording artists The Grascals have accomplished quite a bit. The Grascals are the reining International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainers of the Year, having been named the IBMA Emerging Artists of the Year in 2005. The group made its Grand Ole Opry debut in ... [Click the title in red to see the entire article]

Makin’ Music & Connections in Monticello

Michael Kornfeld — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:00:03 +0000

Photo by Gary Schoenberger
The halls are alive with the sound of
music as Jonathan Byrd and Abbie
Gardner jam on at 4 a.m.

Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference (NERFA) Helps Foster Community Feeling

The once venerable Kutsher’s Resort and Country Club in New York’s Catskill Mountains may have seen better days during the Borscht Belt era when top comedians did their schtick there. But, despite some wear and tear, over the Veterans’ Day weekend, this Monticello mainstay was an acoustic nirvana for nearly 700 folk performers, presenters, promoters and folk DJs who converged there for the 12th annual Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference.... [ click title above for full article ]

Makin’ Music & Connections in Monticello

Michael Kornfeld — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:00:03 +0000

Photo by Gary Schoenberger The halls are alive with the sound of music as Jonathan Byrd and Abbie Gardner jam on at 4 a.m. Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference (NERFA) Helps Foster Community Feeling by Michael Kornfeld The once venerable Kutsher’s Resort and Country Club in New York’s Catskill Mountains may have seen better days during the Borscht Belt era [...]