Since its inception, the festival has ben a combination of a music fest, family reunion, community gathering, and weekend musical retreat, according to its organizers. Among this year’s performing artists – in addition to a number of Florida-based ones — are Vermont-based singer-songwriter Jason Butler, Hawaii’s Jason Colannino, Massachusetts-based husband & wife duo Crowes Pasture, Pennsylvania-based folksinger-songwriter Anne Hills, California—based duo Jack & the Vox (featuring Jack Maher and Victoria Vox), Illinois-based singer-songwriter Joe Jencks, South Carolina-based guitarist and singer-songwriter Jacob Johnson, Connecticut-based genre-bending trio Mad Agnes, Tennessee-based husband & wife duo Mare Wakefield & Nomad, Kentucky-based singer-songwriter Daniel Neihoff, Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter David Roth, prolific New York-based alt-pop artist Rachael Sage, Colorado-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Carla Sciaky, New Jersey-based comedic singer-songwriter Carla Ulbrich, and West Texas-based Americana singer-songwriter Hank Woji.

Singer-Songwriter Competition to Feature 12 Artists

The twelve finalists in the South Florida Folk & Acoustic Music Festival’s singer-songwriter competition — selected from among more than 40 entrants — will each perform two songs on Saturday. They are Rebecca Berlin, Janet Buehler, Jesse James DeConto (The Pinkerton Raid), Kala Farnham, Jacob George, Sue Horowitz, Lynn Holyfield, Roger Mason, Charlie Pace, Arielle Silver, Sara Trunzo, and Ezra Vancil.

Three winners selected by a panel of three judges (Bob Lind, Susan Mos and Michael Stock) will each receive a cash prize and an invitation to perform at next year’s festival. Last year’s winners were Lynn Biddick (LaCrosse, Wisconsin), Jane Fallon (Dunedin, Florida) and Sarah McCulloch (Davie, Florida).

A Wide Array of Jam Sessions and Workshops are Slated

A variety of jam sessions are slated. Among others, New Hampshire-based husband & wife duo Dan & Faith present “Telling Stories That Matter: Songs For Our Times;” Florida-based folk roots band Killbillies host “a “Traditional Irish Jam;” Rachael Sage invites people to “Share Your Original Songs;” Carla Ulbrich leads a “Funny Song Jam;’ Victoria Vox hosts a “Ukelele Hootenanny;” and Hank Woji leads a “Social and Political Consciousness and Activism Jam.” Ten workshops are also slated over the weekend to be led by such noted singer-songwriters as Joe Jencks, Rod MacDonald, David Roth, and Jack Williams, among others.

A festival schedule including bios of all of the artists slated to perform — along with performance times and links to their websites and to listen to them online – may be found at https://sffolk.org/festival-2025-schedule/. Tickets may be purchased online at https://sffolk.org/general-information/festival-tickets/.

The South Florida Folk & Acoustic Music Club (formerly the Broward Folk Club), which presents the festival, is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote folk & acoustic music and to provide a community for people who share a love for it.

The popular festival, which will feature four stages of music, officially kicks off on Friday, July 28 at noon. That’s when 15 artists/acts have been invited to perform in the 2023 Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase on the festival’s Mainstage. Appearing in this year’s showcase are (listed alphabetically by last name or name of group, not in order of appearance) are Sandy Cash, Katie Dahl, Leslie Evers, The Honey Badgers, Eric Kilburn, Latin Americana, Chris LaVancher, Juliet Lloyd, Carol Ann Montag, Halley Neal, Kevin Neidig, Noble Dust, Andy Sydow, and Tiffany Williams. Kemp Harris is the first alternate. Although there is no compensation for showcasing artists, each will receive full admission, on-site camping and meals for the festival, plus one guest pass per act.

The Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase is not a contest, and artists won’t be judged per se during the festival, although the audience is surveyed as to which showcase artists they’d like to see return the following year to participate in a Most Wanted Song Swap. In evaluating submissions, a panel of three judges looked for high-quality performances of interesting, well-crafted, acoustic-based material. This year’s judges were Susan Forbes Hansen (a folk DJ on WWUH and WHUS in Connecticut), Bruce Martin (from Blues Café in Southbury, CT) and Barbara Shiller (former president of CT Folk). “This year’s judges all said [that] it was extremely difficult to choose the final slate,” said Anne Saunders, the festival’s artistic director. “The level of talent and quality of the submissions was all pretty high — and much of it from newbies they did not know previously. We do so love when that happens.”

Phil Henry, Grace Morrison, Sam Robbins, and Erin Ash Sullivan will showcase their talents during this year’s Most Wanted Song Swap. In addition,the four are participating in a Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Presents The “Most Wanted” Tour leading up to the festival. They will showcase their talents at SolarFest in Brandon, VT (July 15), Club Passim in Cambridge, MA (July 16), The Listening Booth in Lewes, DE (July 21), Moore Music in Rockville, MD (July 22), and Earp’s Ordinary in Fairfax, VA (July 23).

During the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, an Activities 4 Kids program, Circle of Song acoustic stage, Family Stage and Workshop Stage also will begin on Friday afternoon, July 28, while evening Mainstage performances and nightly dancing are slated to follow the daytime programming. Mainstage performances extend until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights (followed by late-night musical revelry at the campgrounds featuring informal jams, artist showcases and song circles). Sunday’s musical festivities wrap up at 6 p.m. For those camping on the fairgrounds, there will be some late-night musical revelry featuring an array of informal jams, artist showcases and song circles that help foster a sense of “folk” community and a different kind of festival experience.

“We are very happy to be bringing back both DANCE and our Thursday Tastings and Farmers Market program,” said Saunders. While acknowledging that both will be smaller than in the pre-pandemic years when the festival took place on a farm in upstate New York, she noted “but that’s as expected; the important thing is that they are back.” So too will be a full array of craft and food vendors.

Prior to the start of the actual festival, the aforementioned Pre-Fest Tastings & Farmers Market will take place on Thursday afternoon, while a Thursday Night Music Stage will be hosted by Scotten Jones (a co-founder of the Lounge Stage that hosted live music on Thursdays for many years) and Kathy Sands-Boehmer of Harbortown Music beginning at 4 p.m. Artists slated to appear include Lisa Bastoni, Marc Douglas Berardo, Joe Crookston, Kirsten Maxwell, No Fuss and Feathers, Rod Picott, RaSkull Flagg, Robinson & Rohe, Rachael Sage, Tom Smith, and Rachel Sumner.

[Here’s a link to a Spotify playlist that Kathy Sand-Boehmer compiled featuring songs by artists who are part of the Thursday Night Music Stage lineup.

Three-day festival tickets are $240 with camping or $165 without camping. Single -day tickets also are available for $60. All three-day tickets include Pre-Fest Thursday admission, while tickets for Pre-Fest Thursday also can be purchased for $20 at the gate. Children 12 and under will be admitted free, while tickets are heavily discounted for teens. The campgrounds will open by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26. More information on the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival can be found at falconridgefolk.com.

Chosen to present 30-minute sets on full-production stages with lighting and sound before presenters, agents, managers, media, artists, and other music professionals during the music business conference were Adrian + Meredith, Afrikana Soul Sister, Alice Hasen & The Blaze, Alicia Toner, Alysha Brilla, Amy Lavere, Amy Speace, Andrea Von Kampen, Angelique Francis, Anna Ekborg, Anya Hinkle featuring Billy Cardine, Aysanabee, Bailey Bigger, Barnaby Bright, Ben Sures, Berk Jodoin, Bobby Alu, Brad Reid Quartet, Brek, Bruce Molsky, Bruno Capinan, Buffalo Rose, Canyoon City, Cary Morin Duo, Casii Stephan, Celeigh Cardinal, Charly Lowry, Charm of Finches, Chatham Rabbits, Damoizeaux, Dan Navarro, Delbert Anderson Trio, Digawolf, Dom Flemons, Elexa Dawson, Eljuri, Emily Nenni, Emma Langford, Ernest Aines, Falls, Fanny Lumsden, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian Flagship Romance, Fortunate Ones, Fourwinds, Gangar, Genevieve Racette, Gina Chavez, Gordie McKeeman and His Rhythm Boys, Hanne Kah, Harry Manx, Heather Pierson Duo, Holly Arrowsmith, Humbird, Ian Sherwood, Iona Fyfe, Jack Klatt, Jaimee Harris, Jake Blount, Jancie Jo Lee, Jason Lang: Homage to Penny Lang, Jennifer Knapp, Jenny Mitchell, JigJam, Jim and Sam, Jim Stevens, Jobi Riccio, Joe Jencks, Joy Clark, Karan Casey, Kelley Hunt, Kellie Loder, Kitty MacFarlane, Kris Drever, Lady Nade, Larry & Joe, Le Diable a Cinq, Le Winston Band, Les Arrivants, Les Hay Babies, Les Rats D’Swompe, Les Tireux D’Roches, Little Misty,Lon, Los Arcos Hermanos Pena, Matthew Fowler, Melisande [Electrotrad], Memphissippi Sounds, Mike Biggar, Missy Raines & Allegheny, Monique Clare, My Son the Hurricane, Nadia Larcher with Ensemble Iberica, Nani (Noam Vazana), Nat Myers, Nefesh Mountain, Nigel Wearne, Northern Resonance, Okcello, Ordinary Elephant, Oshima Brothers, Phoebe Hunt, Pipo Romero, Queen Esther, Quote the Raven, Rainbow Girls, Raine Hamilton String Trio, Rakish, Ray Bonneville, Rev. Robert B. Jones, Ron Artis II, Royal Wood, Rum Ragged, Sawyer Fredericks, Seth Walker, Shane Hennessy, Shane Pendergast, Silver Wolf Band, Siomha, So Long Seven, Sophie Lukacs, Spence LaJoye, Steve Poltz, Sussex, Suzie Ungerleider, Talibah Safiya, Talisk, Taylor Rae, , Terra Spencer, The Arcadian Wild, The Armagh Rhymers, The Black Feathers, The Brother Brothers, The Burney Sisters, The Contenders The Faux Paws, The Fretless, The Heart Collectors, The Henry Girls, The Magpies, The McDades, The Rough & Tumble, The Small Glories, Tish Hinojosa, Twin Flames, Veronica Valerio, Waahli, and Wallis Bird.

Besides the juried official showcases and lots of private showcases, there will be a wide array of workshops and panel discussions, mentoring and peer sessions, keynoters, the International Folk Music Awards, a large exhibit hall, receptions and networking opportunities galore.

The theme of the 2023 conference, the world’s largest gathering of the folk music industry and community, is Facing the Future: Sustainability in Folk Music. “As we emerge from the survival mindset of the early 2020s, our attention turns to the horizon and the challenges – and opportunities – that lie ahead for our industry and community,” according to the Kansas city-based nonprofit organization that aims to serve, strengthen and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion. “Together, we’ll explore the intersection of individual excellence and collective strength and work to understand what must be dismantled and what must be built.”

For more information on Folk Alliance International and its annual conference, for which the advanced registration deadline is October 31, visit folk.org.

Editor’s Note: I am a member of the the Folk Alliance International board of directors but was not involved in the selection of official showcase artists.

The event takes place via Zoom and will be viewable on your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. You must register at festival.oldsongs.org to receive a Zoom link via email. Select daytime events and the evening Main Stage concerts will be simulcast on Folk Music Notebook, the 24/7 internet folk radio channel created and curated by veteran folk DJ Ron Olesko, while the evening concerts will also be livestreamed on Old Songs’ YouTube channel.

Among the more than 70 artists slated to perform are Scott Ainslie, The Amidons, Bourque Emissaires, Matthew Byrne & the Byrne Family, Andy Cohen, Guy Davis, Jeff Davis, Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen, Sam Gleaves & Deborah Payne, The Great Groove Band, Reggie Harris, Joe Jencks, Hubby Jenkins, JigJam, John Kirk & Trish Miller, Chris Koldewey, Evie Ladin, Magpie, Mist Covered Mountains, John Roberts, Roger the Jester, Sally Rogers & Howie Bursen, Claudia Schmidt, Dennis Stroughmatt & L’Esprit Creole, The Vox Hunters, Windborne, and Bethany Yarrow.

During the daytime hours, there will be five different Zoom breakout rooms – each named after buildings from the in-person festival. Open mics will take place at 5 p.m. ET on both Friday and Saturday. April Grant hosts a Saturday morning ballad sing, while Amanda Witman hosts a Saturday After-Concert Ballad Sing and The Amidons lead a Sunday morning Sacred Harp Sing. Singer-songwriter Steve Gillette presents a songwriting workshop on Friday afternoon for which pre-registration is necessary. A complete schedule and additional information may be found on the festival’s website.

Old Songs (https://festival.oldsongs.org) is a family-friendly festival of folk, traditional, Celtic and regional music and dance, known for its relaxed atmosphere, interactive sessions and workshops, hands-on experiences and participatory nature. In addition to three evening concerts, it usually features more than 100 daytime workshops, dances and performances, as well as a juried craft show, food and instrument vendors, and a children’s activity area.

Launched on May 3, 2019 — the 100th anniversary of the birth of late folk music icon Pete Seeger — Folk Music Notebook is a 24/7 online folk music channel that also can be accessed via free apps and listened to through your smartphones, car speakers, and other Bluetooth streaming devices. In addition to Olesko, Folk Music Notebook features programs hosted by other folk DJs. Olesko views the channel as “a place to ‘discover’ new artists and songs, as well as honor the established names who created this living tradition.”

“The Broward Folk Club is dedicated to keeping folk and acoustic music alive and vibrant into the future, and we’re confident that this virtual festival can do just that,” say festival organizers. Since its inception, the festival has been a combination of a music fest, family reunion, community gathering, and weekend musical retreat. Although it generally features nearly 50 Florida-based and national touring artists/acts performing and leading workshops on two stages, this year’s online festivities have been scaled back a bit. However, unlike past festivals, this virtual one is free to enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Donations are welcome and appreciated.

Featured performers include (in alphabetical order, not order of appearance) The Currys (Port St. Joe, FL), Friction Farm (Greenville, SC), Dave Gunning (Pictou, Nova Scotia), Lara Herscovich (Durham, CT), Joe Jencks (Dekalb, IL), Zoe Lewis (Provincetown, MA), Cara Luft (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Rod MacDonald (Lake Worth, FL), Crys Matthews (Washington, DC), Deirdre McCalla (Atlanta, GA), Mean Mary (Nashville, TN), Sofia Talvik (Sweden and Spain), and Twin Flames (Ottawa, Ontario and Nunavik, Quebec).

“Some art forms can’t pivot to online the way music is able to,” Herscovitch continued. “A big silver lining is that being online makes it all more accessible; it has been fun and amazing to connect at my own and others’ concerts with people from around the globe, and those who aren’t able to attend in person for other reasons. So, I’m just going with it, learning my own corner of the studio technology as fast as I can, and witnessing the ways that the heart and soul of music can still be delivered though a wi-fi connection. I figure it’s all just perfectly imperfect.”

Christine Stay and Aidan Quinn of Friction Farm shared similar sentiments.“ The South Florida Folk Festival was the first festival that Friction Farm played as a duo. We were recovering from the dread of being in a rock band, and the South Florida folk community was, and continues to be, unbelievably supportive and nurturing,” Stay told AcousticMusicScene.com. “We will certainly miss the late night song circles, hugs, musical spontaneity and that inexplicable energy that surrounds live music. But we can’t wait to hear our friends perform online, to celebrate the songwriter competition winners, and to see the faces of our beloved Florida friends and fans. Plus, we won’t get rained out and there won’t be a line for the bathroom.”

The Festival’s 2020 Singer-Songwriter Competition Winners Will Also Perform

Also slated during the virtual festival is a winners’ round featuring the three winners of last year’s South Florida Folk Festival Singer-Songwriter Compet ition: Pamela Machala (Boulder, CO), Aaron Nathans (Chester Heights, PA) and Karyn Oliver (Fort Worth, TX). They were selected by a panel of judges from among the 12 finalists who kicked-off last February’s musical festivities during the 2020 South Florida Folk Festival in Davie. Each received the Vic Heyman Songwriting Award, $200 cash prize and the opportunity to perform during this year’s event.

The songwriting competition is co-presented by Reba Heyman. Along with her late husband, Vic, Reba has been an integral part of the folk community in South Florida and nationally for many years. The couple, known for decades for their generous financial backing of folk festivals and artists, formerly ran a concert series in Rockville, Maryland known as Vic’s Music Corner. They also served on the boards of several music festivals and established a scholarship fund for performing artists.

The full schedule for the virtual 2021 South Florida Folk Festival appears on the Broward Folk Club’s Facebook page.

American, Canadian, Irish and Scottish artists will be featured in what Cheryl Prashker, the festival’s artistic director and general manager; hopes will be “a magical online experience.” Nearly eight hours of pre-recorded music made especially for the festival will be viewable via the festival’s website (CelticFestival.ca), as well as its Facebook page (https://facebook.com/goderichceltic) and YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/channel/UCHRa3SZ8Y1wn88xYtNvR4Lg/featured?view_as=subscriber). FolkMusicNotebook.com, a 24/7 online music channel, will also stream the festival on its website.

From its humble beginnings as one-time memorial concert in 1993, the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival is now the oldest pan-Celtic festival in North America. In addition to a three-day outdoor festival showcasing some of the world’s best Celtic musicians, dancers and artists, it has grown/evolved to include a weeklong Celtic College and a Celtic Kids Camp, as well as a series of rural outreach mini-concerts,

The festival –- whose physical location is surrounded by the Irish and Scottish heritage reflected in the nearby communities of Belfast, Dublin, Kincardine, Lucknow and Seaforth — was founded on the spirit of community and connecting people with Celtic roots and exploring new Celtic expressions. It generally features more than 60 hours of live musical performances by dozens of artists and acts on five stages, ranging from small intimate ones to a high-powered main stage.

Postponing the 28th edition of the Goodrich Celtic Roots Festival to August 2-8, 2021
“was a really emotionally hard decision to make,” Prashker acknowledged, ”but we’re going all out with this virtual one.” Prashker -– who is also part of the Celtic roots group RUNA and a ‘percussionist to the folkies’ — noted that when she assumed her position with the festival two years ago it was her “secret hope to put the beautiful small town of Goderich on the world map … and now it will be on the world stage virtually.”

Here’s a link to view a short commercial for the festival:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_fcUWQrzE0

The virtual Goderich Celtic Roots Festival 27.5 will feature pre-recorded performances by Ariko (Canada), Bourque Emissaires (Canada), Cherish The Ladies (U.S.), Shane Cook (Canada)), Joe Crookston (U.S.), The deBarra Brothers (U.S. & Ireland), Flack (Canada), Eve Goldberg (Canada), Joe Jencks (U.S.), Kruger Brothers (U.S. & Ireland), Emory Lester (Canada), Malinky (Scotland), North Atlantic Drift (Canada), Brian O’Headhra & Fiona MacKenzie (Scotland), One for the Foxes (Ireland & U.S.), Reynolds, Robinson & Lodge (Canada), and RUNA (U.S. & Canada).

“We returned to the festival the following year and, by that time, I had absolutely fallen in love with the town and the people, not to mention the beach at Lake Huron,” said Prashker. Noting that “There is an energy here that many say is what keeps them coming back time and time again,” she continued, “Each year after that, even if RUNA was not booked at the festival, I would come back anyway and teach at the Celtic College.” That led to her spending more and more time in Goderich — visiting and eventually moving there and assuming her current dream job. “It reads like a fairy tale (at least to me it does.), and I am so honored to be here,” she added, expressing hope that online festival viewers will get a small glimpse of the spirit and beauty of Goderich that drew her there.

The annual Celtic Roots Festival is run under the auspices of the Goodrich Celtic Folk Society — a charitable nonprofit organization that produces events designed to foster awareness, participation, and education in the world of traditional Celtic culture. Although admission to the virtual festival is free, there will be a virtual tip jar (celticfestival.ca/donate) and all contributions will go to the participating artists.

Streaming online from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., the virtual festival will feature storytelling, activism, education and celebration, in addition to lots of musiic. Among the featured performers are Scott Ainslie, David Amram, Andes Manta, David & Jacob Bernz, David Celia, The Chapin Sisters, Tom Chapin, Judy Collins, Guy Davis, Emma’s Revolution, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Gangstagrass. Abbie Gardner, Fred Gillen, Jr., Lisa Gutkin, Bill Harley, Reggie Harris, Jaeger & Reid, Joe Jencks, Geoff Kaufman, Amythyst Kiah, James Maddock, Magpie, The Mammals/Mike & Ruthy, John McEuen, John McCutcheon, Tom Paxton, The Rix, Tommy Sands, The Scooches, Noel Paul Stookey, Matt Turk, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Peter Yarrow, and Dan and Claudia Zanes.

A number of folk radio DJs will serve as emcees. These include Jimmy Buff (Host of Jimmy Buff Loves You airing weekdays on WKNY Radio Kingston in upstate New York), Wanda Fischer (host of the long-running Hudson River Sampler on WAMC in New York’s Capitol Region), Sonny Ochs (host of Folk Music & Other Stuff on WIOX in New York’s Catskills Region and on Folk Music Notebook), Ron Olesko (creator of Folk Music Notebook, a 24-7 online music channel and longtime host of Traditions on WFDU in Teaneck, NJ), Rik Palieri (host of Folk Talk with Rik Palieri on WBTV in Burlington, VT and also on Folk Music Notebook), John Platt (host of Sunday Supper on WFUV in New York City) and Bob Sherman (longtime host of Woody’s Children that now precedes Platt’s Sunday Supper on WFUV).

The live stream may be viewed on either https://clearwaterfestival.org (where more information also can be found about it), https://youtube.com/user/HRSloopClearwater or https://facebook.com/sloopclearwater/. Although the virtual festival is free, donations will be gratefully accepted. Funds raised will help keep the sloop Clearwater afloat and support the ongoing work of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc., a nonprofit, member-supported organization launched by Pete Seeger and others to preserve and protect the Hudson River and its tributaries.

Clearwater’s 2020 Virtual Revival will be available for viewing for about six months so you can watch the parts you missed or re-watch those that you loved.

“Folk Music Notebook plans to be a gathering spot for the folk community and all the fans of this music,” said Olesko. “The channel will be a place to ‘discover’ new artists and songs as well as honor the established names who created this living tradition.”

“Offering a curated playlist interspersed with brief but informative DJ announcements, recorded stories behind the songs from the artists themselves, as well as commentary, news and other special features, Folk Music Notebook will engage listeners by showing the connections between songs and styles — keeping them engrossed throughout the day without constant badgering from hosts, endless strings of commercials or repetitive automated playlists,” said Olesko, who will direct the operation – curating the playlists as well as serving as host for some of the programming.

“The music to be shared on Folk Music Notebook will focus on the diverse contemporary folk music community, while also incorporating the folk revival artists who drew many people to this genre,” said Olesko. “For many people, the seed for folk music was plated during the Folk Revival – and hose songs and artists still remain important. I will be sharing music from that era, but my intent is to present it to show the connection with the contemporary folk scene. They exist together.”

Folk Music Notebook’s May 3 launch date was chosen to both honor Pete Seeger and the folk community that he built, and to plant a new seed for sharing the powerful songs and artists he inspired, according to Olesko. “Our opening weekend will feature a number of songs from Pete as well as from artists who sing his songs and carry on his traditions.” A live broadcast of a Pete Seeger Centennial open mic from the legendary Towne Crier Cafe in Beacon, New York (the town where Pete and Toshi Seeger resided) will be part of the channel’s launch-day celebration. Performers will include Christine Lavin, Jim Dawson, David Buskin, Robin Batteau, Don White, John Forster, Judy Kass, David S. Goldman, Marshal Aaron Rosenberg, and David Massengill, among others. This special show is set for 7 p.m. ET.

While acknowledging that if you ask 100 different people to define folk music you will get 100 different answers, Olesko said that he views folk music as “a living tradition that reflects the lives of a community – the passions, the struggles and the joys.” The music he plans to offer on Folk Music Notebook will reflect the music that he experiences at various festivals [he’s been an emcee at many f them] and at Folk Alliance International and Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) conferences [for which he’s been a showcase host, judge and organizer] – “talented artists with important songs that are ignored by other commercial entities. Through Folk Music Notebook, he wants to show that “the contemporary folk music community has created a body of work that is part of the soundtrack of many people’s lives, or should be!”

Helping to program the channel will be a team of ‘correspondents’ – artists and individuals who have worked in the community, creating music and supporting the genre. Among those who will host ongoing shows are singer-songwriters Joe Jencks, Christine Lavin and David Rovics, as well as songwriters and folksingers Dave Fry and Rik Palieri. The Sing Out Magazine Radio Show with Tom Druckenmiller will also air each week, as will the nationally syndicated Midnight Special, originating from WFMT-FM in Chicago and hosted by veteran DJ Rich Warren. Another longtime broadcaster and music producer, Angela Page, host of Folk Plus on WJFF in New York’s Catskills Region, will host a weekly show. Michael Johnathon’s WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, a live audience celebration of grassroots music and the artists who make it that emanates weekly from Lexington, Kentucky, will be part of the programming mix as well.

Besides streaming online at www.FolkMusicNotebook.com, folk music fans can download a free app from the Apple and Google Play stores that will enable them to listen and experience the channel’s programming through their phones, cars, and other Bluetooth streaming devices. Folk Music Notebook will also be available via the TuneIn app.

Click here for a free iOS app – https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1459396299?ls=1&mt=8
Click here for a free Android app – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.m6b0679d59

Olesko felt more was needed after taking a look at the offerings for what is being labeled as ‘folk music’ online. He noted that existing streaming services that offer folk music are limited – some are pay services, while computer algorithms without human interaction run others. “Pandora and Spotify are run by algorithms with seemingly little connection, and most of the music I heard was well-known commercial artists with few chances for discovering new music and more in the Americana genre than the folk music I know.” While acknowledging “there are some brilliant podcasts available,” Olesko notes that those tend to be shorter features and that he could not find a true 24/7 service that reflected his musical preferences. “Also, many of these services fail, in my opinion, to create a connection with their audience,” he continued. “Many come across as elevator music with an acoustic bent with very little, if any, informative and entertaining features that would make the audience feel part of the service.”

Olesko — who also is the president and booker for the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club in Fair Lawn, New Jersey and a contributing writer for Sing Out! Magazine’s website — told AcousticMusicScene.com that his original plan was to pursue this online channel when he retired in a few years – but circumstances sped up the process. “My ‘day job’ in television production came to an end when our parent company decided to close the facility [at which he worked]. “It seemed that fate was pushing me toward my goal sooner than expected. After siting down with my wife and accountant, we decided that our financial situation would allow me to do this. As anyone will tell you, the way to make a million dollars in folk music is to start with two-million and work until the money runs out.” Olesko ran a Kickstarter campaign recently to help raise additional funds to help make his dream a reality.

“I’m not doing this for financial gain; my only hope is to make it sustaining,” he said. “The costs involved for rights fees for the music and all the technical services required for the operation are relatively modest – and with some hard work I hope to find enough commercial backers to keep Folk Music Notebook operating for years to come.”

Olesko will also continue to host WFDU-FM’s Traditions on Sundays from 3-5 p.m. ET (www.wfdu.fm).

Back by popular demand, after a much lamented one-year absence, two open mics are again on the schedule; Rob Hinkal of IlyAIMY hosts the Friday and Saturday afternoon sessions.

Booking gigs may be the primary objective of some performers who attend the conference; and many presenters and folk DJs do scout out new artists and those whom 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, building community, and attending workshops and seminars to learn about options to further careers, promote the music, attract audiences and listeners, ad enrich our lives.

Among some 40 scheduled workshops and panel discussions are several focusing on social media and websites. Sonny Ochs, a longtime folk DJ and sister of the late troubadour and activist Phil Ochs, will moderate “Singing The Truth: Activism and 35 Years of Phil Ochs Song Nights,” featuring performing panelists Greg Greenway, Reggie Harris, Joe Jencks, Colleen Kattau, and Pat Wictor. Among the artist-centric offerings are the popular “On the Griddle” instant critique session and ones on crowd-funding, DIY video, financial planning for artists, “Making the Most of Your Release,” “Mental Health Survival Kit for Musicians,” “Navigating Social Issues with Music and Story,” “Step-By-Step Streaming Success,” and “Womenfolk: Fostering Equity, Safety and Success.” Sally Rogers and Claudia Schmidt will conduct a vocal harmony how-to session. For presenters, there will be sessions on finding the funds for your venue and sound reinforcement, as well as one entitled “Keep the Fire Bright: Preventing Burnout in Presenting Organizations. “

Morning yoga sessions will again be led by singer-songwriter Caroline Cotter, while MusiCares will be on site again to fit folks for custom earplugs.

Juried Showcases Slated for Friday and Saturday Nights

Following the formal showcases, attendees will shuffle between three rooms in close proximity to one another to catch short sets by 30 additional artists/acts who were selected by a different set of judges. Performing in these semi-formal showcases on Friday night are (in alphabetical order) Asaran Earth Trio, Quentin Callewaert, Noah Derksen, Josh Harty, House of Hamill, Rachael Kilgour, Low Lily, Kipyn Martin, Nathans & Ronstadt, Next Generation Leahy, Kerri Powers, Monica Rizzio, Annie Sumi, and UPSTATE. Saturday’s semi-formal showcase artists include Rod Abernethy, Big Little Lions, C. Daniel Boling, Ellen Bukstel, Susan Cattaneo Band, Emerald Rae, Roger Street Friedman, Cassandra House, Joe Jencks, Kolonien, Moonfruits, Diane Perry, The Promise is Hope, Quarter Horse, and Suzie Vinnick. Like the formal showcases that immediately precede them, nothing else is allowed to compete with the semi-formal showcases during the conference.

On Thursday evening, the conference’s opening night, the Suzi Wollenberg Folk DJ Showcase will feature short performances by 15 artists/acts chosen by DJs. Listed in order of appearance, they are Sweet Corn & Sunflower (Annie Sumi & Tannis Slimmon), Bruce Foley & Mary Coogan, Bill Baker, Letitita VanSant, All Types of Kinds, Katie Dahl, Grace Morrison, Eric Lee, Sam Steffen, Susan Shann, Marian Halliday, Sue Horowitz, Belle of the Fall, and Plywood Cowboy.

Following the juried and folk DJ showcases each evening, AcousticMusicScene.com will join dozens of presenters, performers and others in hosting guerilla showcases in their hotel rooms that extend through the early morning hours. Some guerilla showcases also are slated for Friday and Saturday afternoons. Musicians may well stake out other areas of the hotel and jam until 4 or 5 a.m.


AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot Features Artists, Singing Folk DJs


An overflow crowd will likely descend on the AcousticMusicScene.com suite (2031) on Thursday overnight for its popular Midnight Hoot. Extending from 11 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., this hoot is a pre-arranged, round robin song swap featuring several singing folk DJs (Jim Colbert, Barbara and Graham Dean, and Jon Stein) and some three-dozen artists/acts – each performing one song.

Now in its 12th year, the Midnight Hoot is intended to shine a spotlight on several folk DJs who also enjoy singing, while providing them, presenters and others with an opportunity to get a small sampling of the music of a lot of artists in a short period of time. A house band comprised of Mark Dann (bass), Jagoda (percussion), and Eric Lee (fiddle/violin) will be there for anyone who desires accompaniment.

While Michael Kornfeld, AcousticMusicScene.com’s editor & publisher, hosts the Thursday-Saturday overnight showcases, his friends Mira Shapiro and Hank Stone will serve as guest hosts on Friday afternoon. Closing out the afternoon will be performance of Si Kahn’s Mother Jones in Heaven, a musical play about the legendary labor organizer (starring Viv Nesbitt, with John Dillon on guitar).More information and a short video about the musical play may be found online at www.motherjonesinheaven.com.

As in recent years, the musical festivities in the AcousticMusicScene.com room will wrap up on Saturday overnight with an extended “O Canada” song swap. Carrying their instruments and the maple leaf, a number of talented Canadian artists and acts will march into the room at 2 a.m. singing their national anthem.

Schedules for the AcousticMusicScene.com showcases appear below.

AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot (Room 2031)

Thursday Night 11 p.m. – 2:30 a.m.

(One song per artist/act and folk DJ, not listed in order of appearance.)

Host: Michael Kornfeld

Folk DJs: Jim Colbert, Graham & Barbara Dean, Jon Stein

Artists:

Rod Abernethy, Mike Agranoff, Antonio Andrade, Lisa Bastoni, Belle of the Fall, Shawna Caspi, Crowes Pasture, Alyssa Dann, Diamonds in the Rust, Neale Eckstein, Kala Farnham, Roger Street Friedman, Gathering Time, Gina Holsopple, Joe Iadanza, ilyAIMY, Joe Jencks, Stuart Kabak, Brian Kalinec, Rachael Kilgour, Eric Lee, Mara Levine, Pete Mancini , Kirsten Maxwell, Hugh O’Doherty, Andrea Randa, Monica Rizzio, Mike P. Ryan, Susan Shann, Carolann Solebello, Hank Stone, Linda Sussman, Jesse Terry, The Royal Yard, and Letitita VanSant

House Band: Mark Dann, Jagoda, Eric Lee

Friday Afternoon Hosts: Mira Shapiro, Hank Stone, John Dillon and Viv Nesbitt

2:00 Mass. Appeal: Amy Kucharik, Eric Lee, Rob Lytle
2:30 Marylanders: Heather Aubrey Lloyd, Kipyn Martin, Letitita Van Sant
3:00 Fab Folk: Sophie Buskin, Rachael Kilgour, Nathans & Ronstadt
3:30 More Fab Folk: Gina Holsopple, Mike Laureanno, Hank Stone
4:00 Si Kahn’s Mother Jones in Heaven, a musical play about the legendary labor organizer (starring Viv Nesbitt, with John Dillon on guitar): 55 minutes.

Friday Night Host: Michael Kornfeld

Saturday Night Host: Michael Kornfeld

11:45 Long Island Sounds: Gathering Time, Joe Iadanza, Rorie Kelly & Nico Padden,
and Hank Stone
12:30 Blues & Roots: Jon Shain & FJ Ventre and Pat Wictor
1:00 Two Duos & A Trio: Gathering Sparks, Deeper Than The Skin: Reggie Harris & Greg Greenway, and The Malvinas
1:30 Celtic Set: Emerald Rae and House of Hamill
2:00 O Canada: Big Little Lions, Melanie Brulee, Shawna Caspi, Scott Cook, Ken Dunn, Gathering Sparks, Piper Hayes, Moonfruits, Gillian Nicola, Cheryl Prashker (percussion), Corin Raymond, Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Tannis Slimmon, Annie Sumi, and Lucie Blue Tremblay

“I hope that attendees will share a meal and/or a song with new friends they don’t yet know, embrace the spirit of community that NERFA represents, and have a great conference experience,” said Michael Kornfeld, president of NERFA’s board of directors and editor and publisher of AcousticMusicScene.com. He expressed thanks to Dianne Tankle, NERFA’s founder and conference director since its inception, and her team of volunteers for all of their efforts in arranging the event. Tankle will be stepping down from her leadership role following this year’s conference.

Here’s a link to a video montage that Neale Eckstein created following the 2016 NERFA Conference: https://www.facebook.com/neale.eckstein/videos/10154271098733893/

NERFA is a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International (www.folk.org), a nonprofit organization that aims to nurture, engage and empower the international folk music community — traditional and contemporary, amateur and professional — through education, advocacy and performance. NERFA’s geographic boundaries extend from the eastern provinces of Canada south to the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. More extensive information on the organization and its annual conference may be found online at www.nerfa.org.

Editor’s Note: My thanks to Hank Stone for his assistance in setting up the AcousticMusicScene.com showcase room and for guest-hosting Friday afternoon song swaps– along with Mira Shapiro, Viv Nesbitt and John Dillon — to Amy Blake, Arpie Maros and Sybil Moser for the loan of folding chairs, and to Stuart Kabak for the loan of stage and decorative lights that help to create a listening room ambiance in the suite.

In addition to hosting the AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot and other showcases and leading a community meeting with the NERFA board of directors as its president, I will moderate a panel discussion on artists ‘website and social media and offer mentoring sessions on strategic communications and public relations topics during the conference.

With only 14 artists/acts chosen for 15-minute slots on Friday and Saturday nights, the Formal Showcase is the premiere and most coveted performance opportunity at the conference. Featured in these showcases will be (listed in alphabetical order by last name or group name) The Black Feathers, Jonathan Byrd, Scott Cook, Ronny Cox, Reggie Harris and Greg Greenway: Deeper Than The Skin, Alice Howe, Louise Mosrie, Zoe Mulford, Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio, Sally Rogers and Claudia Schmidt, Screaming Orphans, Robinson Treacher, Kenny White, and Windborne. Named as alternates were Quentin Callewaert, Low Lily, and Kolonien.

Note: Alternates are automatically given a Semi-Formal Showcase performance slot unless selected to take the place of any Formal Showcase artists who are unable to perform.

Immediately following the Formal Showcases on Friday and Saturday nights, conference attendees will shuffle between three rooms in close proximity to one another to enjoy juried 15-minute Semi-Formal Showcases (formerly known as tricentrics and quadcentrics). Artists selected by a separate jury for these showcases include Rod Abernethy, Asaran Earth Trio, Big Little Lions, C. Daniel Boling, Ellen Bukstel, Susan Cattaneo Band, Noah Derksen, Emerald Rae, Josh Harty, Cassandra House, House of Hamill, Joe Jencks, Rachael Kilgour, Erika Kulnys, Kipyn Martin, The Next Generation Leahy, Moonfruits, Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt, Diane Perry, Kerri Powers, The Promise Is Hope, Quarter Horse, Monica Rizzio, Annie Sumi, Jesse Terry, UPSTATE (formerly Upstate Rubdown), and Suzie Vinnick. Named as alternates were Roger Street Friedman, Mike P. Ryan, and All Types of Kinds. Like the Formal Showcases that precede them, nothing else is allowed to compete with the Semi-Formal Showcases during the conference.

After the juried showcases each evening, AcousticMusicScene.com will join dozens of presenters, performers and others in hosting guerilla showcases in their hotel rooms that extend through the early morning hours. The Suzi Wollenberg Folk DJ Showcase, informal jam sessions, thematic song circles, round-robin song swaps, and community sings round out the musical mix.

[Here’s a link to a short song video by Neale Eckstein featuring images and scenes from the 2017 NERFA Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt-A_DnX1OY.]

As in years past, besides several jam-packed days and nights of music showcases, the NERFA conference, also will feature informative panel discussions and workshops, one-on-one mentoring and peer group sessions, communal meals, a large trade show-like exhibit hall, a welcoming party, and lots of opportunities for schmoozing and networking. Singer-songwriter Dar Williams will be the conference’s keynote speaker.

NERFA is a regional affiliate of Folk Alliance International (www.folk.org), a nonprofit organization that aims to nurture, engage and empower the international folk music community — traditional and contemporary, amateur and professional — through education, advocacy and performance.

NERFA’s geographic boundaries extend from the eastern provinces of Canada south to the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. Last year, its annual conference drew nearly 750 performing artists, presenters, promoters, folk DJs, agents and managers, and others engaged more than peripherally in the world of folk and acoustic music. The conference is designed to help them forge connections, build community, and learn things that can help enhance and enrich their professional and personal lives. For more information and to register to attend the conference, visit www.nerfa.org.

Editor’s Note: I am president of the NERFA board of directors and also serve on the Folk Alliance International board. In addition to hosting late-night showcases under the banner of AcousticMusicScene.com, I will moderate a panel discussion on social media and your online presence and offer mentoring sessions on strategic communications, PR and other topics during the conference.