2014 FALL NEWSLETTER FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
IMPORTANT FAI 2015 CONFERENCE & WINTER MUSIC CAMP NEWS INSIDE
~ PLANET FOLK~
a universal perspective, global networks, national traditions, regional updates, community changes, individual stories
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FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL • WWW.FOLK.ORG
TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter From The Executive Director ………………… 5 Letter From Special Projects Coordinator ………… 6 Letter From Pres ……………………………………… 6 FAI Regional News …………………………………… 7 Regional Reports …………………………………… 8 Looking Back, 2014 Conference Photos …………… 10 Pete N' Al ……………………………………………… 12 FAI Music Fair ………………………………………… 14
Commander Chris Hadfield
Wisdom Of The Elders ……………………………… 15 Behind The Mic - A Folk Dj Profile ………………… 16 Folk Dj Radio Chart ………………………………… 16 Diversifying Our Audiences ………………………… 17 Cover Story - Commander Chris Hadfield ………… 18 Carry It On …………………………………………… 20 Andy Frank As Project Director ……………………… 21
Donna Walker-Kuhne
Rachel Sermanni
Reviews ……………………………………………… 22 Rachel Sermanni Reflects On Her First FAI Experience ………………………………… 23 Singout! Launches Blogs …………………………… 23 Brian Swift And The Great Transistorized Folk Processing Machine ………………………………… 24 Conference Dates And Information ………………… 26 Schedule At A Glance ………………………………… 28
Wisdom of Elders Tom Paxton, Peggy Seeger, Dave Siglin
FAI Board Of Directors Election Information ……… 29 Tax Deductable Donations To FAI ………………… 29 FAI Membership Benefits …………………………… 30 Group Exemption Program ………………………… 32 FAI Membership Application ………………………… 33 2015 Registration Form ……………………………… 34 WWW.FOLK.ORG • FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
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MISSION:
To nurture, engage and empower the international folk music community — traditional and contemporary, amateur and professional — through education, advocacy and performance. PUBLISHER FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL MANAGING EDITOR Aengus Finnan FOLK ALLIANCE STAFF Executive Director Aengus Finnan Special Projects Louis Jay Meyers Coordinator Membership Manager Jerod Rivers Operations Manager Jennifer Roe FOLK ALLIANCE TEAM Publicity Joelle May Social Media Coordinator Michelle Bacon Sales Coordinator Cindy Cogbill Sales Assistant Bryant Miller Volunteer Coordinator Beth Hatch Graphics Coordinator Christine Chastanet Conference Art Michael Wrycraft Winter Music Camp Mark Rubin Director
FAI BOARD OF DIRECTORS As of September 1, 2014 (expiration date) David Hirshland, President (exp 2015) Michelle Conceison, Vice-President (2016) Joan Kornblith, Secretary (2015) Donald Davidoff, Treasurer (2016)* Mary Sue Twohy, At Large (2017) Chris Frayer (2015) Renee Bodie (2017) Anya Siglin (2016)* Dan Navarro (2015) Tim McFadden (2015) Wendy Waldman (2016) Jean Spivey (2017) Ralph Jaccodine (2016) Lisa Schwartz (2016) Erika Wollam-Nichols (2015)* Matt Smith (2017) Michael Kornfeld (2017) Doug Cox (2016)* *appointment
FOLK ALLIANCE HEADQUARTERS 509 Delaware St. #101 Kansas City, MO 64105 816-221-FOLK (3655) Fax: 816-221-3658 fai@folk.org www.folk.org Folk Alliance International, founded by Clark and Elaine Weissman and the California Traditional Music Society, is a 501(C)(3). Opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Folk Alliance International, its Board of Directors, its membership, or its staff. Portions of this newsletter may be reprinted without permission, provided explicit citation of the source is made.
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LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hello, bonjour, hola, dia duit, aho! I am honoured to begin work as your new Executive Director, and I look forward to leading the next era of FAI as our community continues to grow and change. I care deeply about our bold and broad mission: to nurture, engage and empower the international folk music community — traditional and contemporary, amateur and professional — through education, advocacy and performance.
Photo by Jen Squires
A mission is a commitment and a quest, and ours, when read aloud (slowly), and considering the range of interests, needs, and people represented… is epic. We have an incredible scene teeming with revered legends, stalwart road-warriors, and fledgling artists. We have homes, halls, and fields with stages where folks gather to hear the “music of the people”. We have entrepreneurs and organizations that exist and persist to ensure that livings are made from the music we share. Of course many genres can be described the same way; however, words are potent, and the fact that our organization proudly and specifically calls itself a Folk Alliance rather than a Music Alliance is profound. Folk music is its own industry, and wonderfully so, but the term Folk is about much more than entertainment and careers, and in fact it is more than music. Folk is an ethos, a community, a way. It is reverence for tradition, celebration and expression of the human condition, and exploration of the new. It is quality over quantity. It is the brave and often isolated voice of social, political and environmental concern. It is inclusion, curiosity, and compassion. These elements form the heart of Folk as a community, and in turn they permeate the necessary industry that supports careers and businesses, distinguishing festivals, clubs, and conferences, less so by the style and sound, and more so by the manner in which we create, perform, and conduct business. I have my work cut out for me, but I am excited about the years, events, and music ahead of us, and I look forward to working with and for each of you. I hope you enjoy the refreshed approach to the newsletter and website, that you will take advantage of our new online forms (and our APP - to be launched this fall), and that you will share your ideas and constructive criticism freely, matched by a willingness to contribute in some way. As I see it my job stretches far beyond the primary event of running a conference… it is also to deepen and expand relationships, review and refine what FAI does (and how it does it), and to continue the success of the activities to date, while honoring our roots and daring to reach higher and farther. My personal thanks to Louis Meyers for his formidable role in expanding and strengthening FAI over the past decade, and my thanks to the many Board members (past and present) who have been mindful contributors and stewards as the organization evolved. I hope to see you all in Kansas City (the Paris of the Plains) this February. It promises to be “out of this world”.
Aengus Finnan Executive Director Folk Alliance International director@folk.org WWW.FOLK.ORG • FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
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LETTER FROM THE SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Hi Folks,
photo by Jim Mathis
This month I begin a new phase of my FAI life in the newly created position of Special Projects Coordinator while Aengus Finnan takes over as your new Executive Director. I hope you will show him the same respect and support that has been given to me over the past nine years. Thank you all very much. It was an honor to serve the membership and Board of Directors.
Going forward I will do my best to build and manage new and ongoing opportunities for fundraising, education, marketing and public outreach for our organization and our members. My main responsibilities will be our new Folk Store, Winter Music Camp, Kansas City Music Summit, FAI Music Fair, special compilation projects, program development and much more. This summer I will spend two months working from Fish Creek, Wisconsin (August 23 – October 19) while playing guitar and pedal steel each night for the play, Always Patsy Cline, at The Peninsula Players Theatre. Please stop and say hi if you are in the area. My FAI contact information stays the same and I look forward to staying in touch with all of you as we move into the next era of Folk Alliance. Best to all, Louis
Dear Folk Alliance International members, We on the Board are still buzzing from the conference in Kansas City this year. A marvelous time was had by all, except perhaps for all of you who received the harsh dose of reality administered by the Vice President, Mr. Gore. We feel it may very well have been the best conference ever and our thanks go out to everyone who made it so, from Graham Nash, whose heartfelt keynote set the proper tone, to all the performers on both official and guerilla showcases. We are counting the days until the next one. We are also buzzing about the arrival of our new Executive Director Aengus Finnan. Many of you already know Aengus, who we feel combines the best qualities of a creative musician and an organized businessman. He will be on the go during much of his first year so we encourage you to spend some quality time with him if you see him at regional conferences or other events. Of course much has been said about the outgoing ED Louis Meyers, who cannot be thanked enough for the healthy position in which he has left this organization, both spiritually and financially. As you probably know, Louis will not be leaving us but will be in charge of various initiatives, like the Folk Store downtown (which is becoming a thriving hub of the KC music community) and the Band Camp, which will enjoy its second iteration at the conference in February. Best Regards,
Louis Jay Meyers Special Projects Coordinator Folk Alliance International louis@folk.org
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David Hirshland President of the Board Folk Alliance International david.hirshland@bmgchrysalis.com
FAI REGIONAL NEWS
Expanded Representation Announced at 2014 Conference Over the past several years Folk Alliance International’s Board of Directors, regional leaders and staff have been examining how best to provide services to members beyond the US border. In particular it was noted that the primary value to the increased presence of non-US members at regional conferences has been access to US markets for touring, recording and other opportunities. FAI remains focused, bringing all levels of the folk community together to create new ongoing business and personal relationships. While fully respecting international borders and cultures, and the many fine organizations in each country devoted to supporting touring folk artists and respective music industry networks, FAI continues to support the formation of community around folk music, and the natural touring corridors of each regions. As a result, and in order to increase long-term value to Canadian members and improve future opportunities in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, it was decided to expand the inclusion of membership beyond the US to reflect the delegate representation at each regional conference. In part this is to solidify the international intent and jumpstart new international opportunities in North America and around the world by complementing activity and reflecting
Support Your Local Region CONFERENCE DATES:
SWRFA, September 25-28, 2014 • Austin, TX FAR-West, October 16-19, 2014 • Oakland, CA FARM, October 23-26, 2014 • St. Louis, MO NERFA, November 13-16, 2014 • Kerhonkson, NY SERFA, May 13-17, 2015 • Montreat, NC
existing interest, without directly competing with similar organizations in other territories. Effective as of February 2014 all Canadian, Mexican and non-US Caribbean FAI members are eligible full-fledged members of the region most closely associated with their home location. This extended membership provides the authority to vote and run for office in their regional Board of Directors elections, actively participate in all FAI regional events (including potential future one-day events beyond the US borders, similar to those presented in the US), and to take a more active role within their regions. Discussions continue regarding FAI participation and relationship to networks in Europe, the UK and Australia. These developments are still a work in progress and continued input is sought to help guide the future of each FAI region, and international service and activity. WWW.FOLK.ORG • FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
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FAI REGIONAL REPORTS NERFA has been buzzing with activity since the innovation of our triumvirate leadership. Our 19th annual conference last November was the best run, most organized yet, thanks to our executive committee of Dianne Tankle, Cheryl Prashker and Mary Granata. On April 5, 2014, we hosted a successful one-day mini-conference in Chatham, NJ. We wish to thank all the wonderful volunteers from the Folk Project and The Sanctuary Concerts, whose contributions helped make a most worthwhile experience. Another innovative one-day event is our mini-conference, SNERFA, in Charlottesville, VA. This gathering, the first of its kind, is jointly hosted by SERFA and NERFA. The full day will feature workshops, panel discussions, networking and juried showcases. The selected showcase artists are Beggar's Ride, Friction Farm, Grant Peeples, Jacob Johnson, Kipyn Martin, Lulu's Fate, Lynda Dawson and Pattie Hopkins, RJ Cowdery, Simple Gifts and Susan Greenbaum Duo (alternates: Hiroya Tsukamoto and Rob Lytle). Plans are well underway for the 20th NERFA conference on November 13-16 at Hudson Valley Resort & Spa in Kerhonkson, NY. The formal showcase artists have been selected: Bobtown, Burning Bridget Cleary, Cassie and Maggie MacDonald, Claudia Schmidt, Dave Gunning, David Jacob-Strain, Guy Mendilow Ensemble, Harpeth Rising, Jory Nash, Modern Man, No Fuss and Feathers Road Show, Shtreiml and Ismail Fencioglu, SONiA, The Don Juans and Tim Grimm Band (alternates: Brothers McCann, Driftwood, Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, and Sweet Alibi). Our programming committee has been creating a spectacular group of workshops, seminars, panel discussions and special events to commemorate our 20th anniversary. Our highly successful mentoring program, the Exhibit Hall and Wisdom of the Elders will return this year. Michael Wrycraft will create a special design for this extraordinary happening. Registration for both conferences is available at www.nerfa.org. For more information contact nerfa@comcast.net or call (215) 546-7766.
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SERFA 2014 was magical and musical. Days of sharing ideas, learning new licks and networking were followed by nights of official and guerrilla showcases in Montreat, NC, on May 14-18. Wednesday night’s Welcome Jam kicked off the festivities, giving the early birds a chance to settle in and play some tunes. Thursday featured several panels, an open mic and a youth outreach project for students to explore folk music and instruments. Friday included the first Wisdom of the Elders presentation, the first annual Kari Estrin Founding President’s Award to The Highlander Center, and a moving, unforgettable keynote by John McCutcheon. On Saturday, the annual meeting was held to a lobby full of attendees, who later attended workshops on pre-production tips, business models, touring, contests and guitar techniques. Group and individual mentor sessions were also offered. We were thrilled to extend our official showcases to three nights this year. We celebrated the music of our community with an impressive lineup of artists from all over the United States. Thanks to everyone who performed and filled our nights with exceptional tunes. A heartfelt thanks goes out to all of our volunteers, our Board, and our dear conference director, Betty Friedrichsen. SERFA happens because of you. For more information, visit www.serfa.org, www.facebook.com/southeastregionalfolkalliance or follow @SERFAfolk on Twitter. Our 2015 conference will be May 13-17. FAR-West is moving forward in planning our 11th annual conference on October 16-19 at Marriott City Center in Oakland, CA. We have held three successful fundraising concerts to increase scholarship support for attendees and expand our program offerings. A January show at the Thousand Oaks, CA library raised over $3000 for the Howard Larman Memorial Fund that provides scholarships for musicians to attend the confer-
ence. Organized by Suzie Glaze, the show featured Tracy Newman and the Reinforcements, John Zipperer & Friends, Ernest Troost, and The Koles. Two other concerts were held at Thousand Oaks Library and Mighty Fine Guitars in Lafayette, CA and organized by Mother Hen Promotions; they raised over $2000 for an opening reception at the 2014 conference. The March show featured Debra Dobkin and Mark "Pocket" Goldberg (The Plunk & Phunk Orchestra), Severin Browne, Art Podell, and The Enzymes with the Active Ingredients. The June show featured Chappell & Dave Holt, The Keller Sisters, In The Swing, John Roy Zat and Karl Smiley. In addition, FAR-West is pleased and proud to announce its selections for the Best of the West Awards. The Ambassador Award will go to Cassandra Flipper of Bread & Roses. The Performer Award will go to Barbara Dane. Here is a link to the official press release for the 2014 Best of the West Awards on our website: www.far-west.org/botw2014.html. We look forward to another great conference and hope to see you there.
Planning for the conference is well underway. Our keynote speaker is Tim Grimm, and he will also be presenting a songwriting workshop on Thursday afternoon. A multi-talented individual, Tim is an actor and a playwright as well as a talented songwriter and performer. Charlie Mosbrook is guiding our workshop selection and schedule. The schedule is not yet announced, but we are excited that Mark Dvorak is presenting Legacy: Pete Seeger and Tret Fure is presenting Carry It On - Continuing the Work of Pete Seeger through Unionism. One of this year’s highlights is the addition of a venue, festival and folk DJ showcase. As our way to honor them, we are inviting 16 venues, festivals and folk DJs to present one of their favorite performers. You may want to come FARM for our great showcases, performance opportunities and workshops to entertain and improve your knowledge and skills, but you will leave remembering the hospitality. We’re big enough to offer everything you expect from a conference but small enough that you can meet everyone in attendance. www.farmfolk.org
The 14th annual Southwest Regional Folk Alliance Conference (SWRFA) will be at the Holiday Inn Austin Midtown in Austin, TX on September 25-28. The conference will include open mics, official showcases and in-room showcases. Seminars and panels on Friday and Saturday will address many facets of the music business: booking, tour planning, agents and managers, music law, the internet, radio airplay, studio tips, song sharing and discussion, wellness while on the road and looking for alternate ways to get your music to the world (such as in schools and films). We eat meals together and form wonderful new relationships and renew old ones. And we are certain to have fun! Artists, managers, agents, venue operators and folks who come to listen enthusiastically are all encouraged to attend. www.swfolkalliance.org This year’s FARM conference will be at the Sheraton Westport Chalet in St Louis, MO on October 23-26. This will be our third and final year in St Louis, and it has been a wonderful location. Where will we be going in 2015? Stay tuned. WWW.FOLK.ORG • FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
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Looking Back the 2014 Conference in photos
visit folk.org to see more photos from our 2014 conference photographers
photo by Chrislyn Lawrence
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photo by Jim Dirden
photo by Jayne Toohey
photo by Janis Schwartz
photo by Dan Peck
photo by Jake Jacobson
photo by Kim Reed
photo by Jim Mathis
photo by Phil Clarkin
photo by Bob Yahn
photo by Andrea Brookhart
photo by John Lupton
photo by Dan Videtech
photo by Neale Eckstein
photo by Kelly Ludwig
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Pete Seeger
Pete n’ Al
A
by Bill Amatneek
l Gore gave a climate change talk at the Folk Alliance Conference on Saturday, February 22, that was by turns sobering and uplifting. The former Vice President, known as a crusader on this topic through his 2006 film, An Inconvenient Truth, presented new material. His slides and videos, a bleak parade of contracting icecaps, flooding, shrinking glaciers and diminishing farmland, underscored the impact global warming is having on the world’s food supply, water and human health. Gore concluded his presentation with a nod to Pete Seeger who had just passed away. He urged us folkies to write songs about what is right and what is wrong and spread them “all over this land,” a reference to a line from Pete’s song, “If I Had a Hammer.” He showed a photomontage of Pete as the crowd roared and Gore called out over the din, “Pete Seeger – God rest his soul.” I flew home from the conference on Sunday via Southwest. The aisle seats 12
had been taken by the time I boarded, so I grabbed the middle seat of the first row. I shook and howdied with the woman on my right. Then I turned to the guy on my left – big guy, mid-6os, blue sport coat, blue shirt, pressed jeans, black loafers.
Like me, Gore was flying coach. “Were you at the Folk Alliance Conference?” I asked him. “Yes, I was.” “And what were you doing there?” “I was giving a talk with slides and video.” I looked at him full face for the first time. “Oh, you’re ...” At twelve inches from me, he was larger than life, larger than I’d have imagined. I wasn’t 100% positive – maybe it was his big brother; did he
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have a brother? “... you’re ex-Vice President Al Gore.” “Yes, I am.” “Thank you for your work on behalf of the environment.” “You’re welcome.” Like me, Gore was flying coach – that’s all Southwest has. They had let him board first and given him first choice of seats, a flight attendant later told me, but other than that he wasn’t getting special treatment. No bodyguard shadowed him. Gore was busy during this flight. Before takeoff he opened his Apple laptop – Gore sits on Apple’s board of directors – and did some research. For liftoff he bagged the computer and read the Sunday New York Times book review section. When we were cleared, he opened the laptop and drilled down on it again. Then he pulled out some papers to read and marked them up. I try not to take the time of famous people, so I let him be. I took a nap, and then a stroll up and down the aisle. As we were descending into San Diego, things were loosening up, folks were chatting across the aisle, and a rumor had spread – not this storyteller’s doing – that Al Gore was in the house. I sat back down again when we were about to land, buckled up, and asked him what kind of music his dad, Al Gore, Sr., a fiddler, had played. “Bluegrass and country,” he replied. “Did you father tell stories?” “Some, but he was not really a storyteller. Are you a storyteller?” “I tell stories about playing bass with Peter, Paul & Mary, Jerry Garcia, Bill Monroe, and one about playing a cocktail party for President George W. Bush at George Shultz’s home. And most recently, I tell a story about old family friend, Pete Seeger.” “I’m sorry for your loss,” Gore said. “Thank you. It was a loss for the world. He was a great man.” Gore agreed. The plane touched down to a smooth landing. And then, as we were taxiing, I told him my Pete story.
“Central to Pete’s ideology was peace. And the path to peace, Pete preached, was getting adversaries to start talking with each other. So on April 30, 2008, my wife and I ferried to San Francisco’s embarcadero to witness the unveiling of a monument dedicated to the veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.” “This is the Spanish Civil War,” Gore said. “Yes, 1936 to ’39. The emcee introduced the 11 veterans who were there. Only 39 lived that day out of the 2,800 who had served, so it felt like the end of an era. He introduced San Francisco’s mayor; I would imagine you know Gavin Newsom.” “Yes, I know Gavin. Fine guy.” “He introduced Spain’s ambassador to the United States, the director of San Francisco’s Arts Council, … and then he introduced Charlotte Shultz. “Charlotte is San Francisco’s hostess.” “The City’s ‘Chief of Protocol,’ I believe.” “That’s it.” “Also there with Charlotte that day was her husband, George Shultz.” “George is a good man, and he’s on the right side with the environment.” “Well, the emcee introduced George to a long, loud chorus of boooOOOooos.” “He didn’t deserve that.” “No. But this was a progressive crowd, as far left as George is right. I played a party where George proudly proclaimed that he had backed Bush for the White House and Schwarzenegger for Sacramento. ‘And it’s always nice to back winners,’ George added.” “Shultz backed Bush for the White House? W. or H.W.? “W.” “I didn’t know that.” Was he unaware of Shultz’s role (whatever it was), in Bush’s defeat of Gore in the 2000 presidential election, or did he think that Shultz had made a self-aggrandizing statement about it? I couldn’t tell. So I continued. “As the boos were about to die down, we heard a man’s voice from the back of the
crowd shout out loudly, clearly: “MURDERER!” “Oh, that was wrong,” Gore said. “That was plain wrong.” “It was the only down beat in an otherwise up day. Fifteen minutes later, when Mayor Newsom was speechifying, he said, ‘Only in San Francisco can we disagree,’ and here he looked right at the guy who had called Shultz murderer, ‘without being disagreeable.’ Everyone in the crowd agreed with that, I sensed. We went home after the ceremony where later that evening I wrote up the unveiling as a three-page story, and sent it to a few family members and to Pete Seeger. “Three days later the phone rang. It was God calling. His age-wobbled voice rang out, ‘Hello, this is Pete Seeger.’ Pete
“Central to Pete’s ideology was peace. And the path to peace, Pete preached, was getting adversaries to start talking with each other…" had sung in my father’s house many times, and we were corresponding until three months before he died, but he had never phoned me. I sat down. “Pete was calling to say thank you for sending him the story, an event he wished he had witnessed, and for the photo of an old friend who had been there that day, Faith Petric. But then he turned the topic. “Pete said, ‘If I had been there when that guy called Shultz a murderer’ …” The plane had landed and docked at the jetway, interrupting my story. Gore stood up to help a woman offload her luggage from the bin above him. He sat down again and looked at me.
Al Gore
I continued, “ ‘If I had been there when that guy had called Shultz a murderer, I’d have walked right over to him,’ …” Gore stood up to help with another passenger’s luggage. She thanked him for his work on behalf of the environment. He said, “You’re welcome.” I was losing my audience. Gore sat down, looked at me and said: “… ‘I’d have walked right over to him’ …” “Pete said, ‘I’d have walked right over to him, looked him right in the eyes and said, “We’re all murderers. … What we’ve got to do is sit down and start talking about our differences.” ’ ” Gore stood up as he asked, “Pete said that?” “Yup. … Mr. Gore, my apologies for taking your time.” He brushed that off and stepped into the main cabin entryway. A flight attendant opened the front hatch for him, Al Gore exited, and she closed it after him. They let the rest of us deplane two minutes later. I did feel badly about bending Gore’s ear, but I had an opportunity to tell Pete’s story to someone who might pass it on to heads of state and captains of industry – all over this land. Pete would have liked that. Bill Amatneek’s book, Acoustic Stories: Pickin’ for the Prez and Other Unamplified Tales, has been short-listed for a Book of the Year Award by Foreword Reviews.
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FAI Music Fair At The Sheraton Hotel Thursday, February 19 – Sunday, February 22
2015 will be the second year in our quest to build FAI events in our adjoining Sheraton Hotel that will serve the Kansas City community while being of value to our conference registrants. In 2014 we launched the successful FAI Winter Music Camp, featuring over 50 top quality instructors on numerous folk-related instruments and songwriting. In 2015 we will expand our public offerings to create the first FAI MUSIC FAIR. *FAI Conference registration includes FULL access to ALL FAI events.
2015 MUSIC FAIR EVENTS
Music Camp Expanding on our 2014 successful launch, the 2015 camp will feature over 50 instructors focusing on folk and roots instruments and songwriting. Full registration and single-day entry available to non-conference registrants. Music Showcase In order to keep the conference activities at The Westin focused on serving our conference registrants, most of our public activities will now take place at The Sheraton Hotel. These special showcases will have multiple stages featuring both national and local artists representing all styles of Folk music. *Public tickets on sale October 2014 (all ages welcome). Special kickoff concert on Thursday, February 19 with Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn. Art Gallery Featuring artwork for display and for sale created by our members and performing artists. Special “meet the artist” sessions will be scheduled throughout the event. Music Fair (Public Exhibit Hall) In addition to our Registrants Only Exhibit Hall located at The Westin, FAI will launch a new public Exhibit Hall at The Sheraton to have room for expansion of our musicrelated services and vendors. Exhibitors will have the option to participate in the standard three-hour per day hall at The Westin or the expanded hours public hall at The Sheraton. Conference and Camp registrants will have access to both exhibit halls and all other conference, camp and music fair activities. The 2015 Public Exhibit Hall will feature new and vintage instruments, accessories, support services, non-profit organizations, artist representatives and much more. *Public tickets only $5 per day/Special VIP early entry available Thursday only for an additional fee. KC Music Summit A one-day (Saturday) series of intensive sessions focused 14
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on the Kansas City music scene, featuring local artists, industry and media representatives. All styles of music will be represented in these sessions. *Public entry only $5 (all ages welcome) Film Festival The Sheraton will serve as the home base of our new Film Festival featuring a full slate of new and classic music-related films with special guests. Films will take place at The Sheraton, The Westin, Crown Center and other locations near the main facility. *Public tickets on sale October 2014. Virtual Conference & Showcase In partnership with ConcertWindow.com, FAI will stream a special series of workshops and showcases from The Sheraton Hotel to the world. A special Virtual Conference registration will be available and will feature numerous rooms simultaneously and for future VOD. *Public tickets on sale October 2014. Vintage Poster Show & Art Gallery Preview in The Link The Link between the Sheraton and The Westin Hotels will be turned into a gallery, featuring prints of famous concert & film posters and of the art featured in our FAI Art Gallery. The Link is an enclosed climate controlled above ground walkway connecting Union Station, The Westin, Crown Center, Hallmark and The Sheraton. *Free. Late Night Jam Sessions The public is invited to participate in our nightly jam sessions at The Sheraton on Thursday through Saturday beginning at 10:00pm each evening. A visiting musician will host most sessions and all playing levels are welcome. * Free. For more information or to participate in any of these events, please contact MusicFair@folk.org or call 816-221-3655. All FAI Music Fair events benefit Folk Alliance International. *Door-to-door transportation is available for conference registrants unable to make the walk between the two hotels.
Wisdom Of The Elders With so many new voices on the scene, countless changes in technology and communication, and the passing of friends and folk legends each year, it is worth pausing every now and then to listen to our elders and reflect on their thoughts, lives and stories. Many of these community leaders and folk music pioneers have been interviewed individually over the years, but in 2010 Sonny Ochs entertained the idea of presenting legends and luminaries of the folk community in small group settings where they could interact and share stories and perspectives about their experiences over a lifetime in folk music. The first Wisdom of the Elders panel was held at NERFA (the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance) in 2010 and featured Oscar Brand, Theodore Bikel and David Amram. The co-hosts were John Platt and Sonny Ochs. This year's panel at FAI will be co-hosted by Sonny and Canadian Luthier and musician Grit Laskin. It will also feature three very special guests, Tom Paxton, Peggy Seeger and Dave Siglin.
Tom Paxton Tom Paxton's place in folk music is secured not just by hit songs including "The Last Thing on My Mind" and "Bottle of Wine," or awards including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, but by the admiration of three generations of fellow musicians. An internationally recognized and loved cultural figure, he has always chosen goodwill, humor and topical matters over commercial success.
Peggy Seeger With over 20 albums (many with her late partner Ewan MacColl), and iconic songs like "Gonna Be an Engineer" and "The Ballad of Springhill" (about the 1958 Nova Scotia mining disaster), she and her brothers (Pete and Mike) have given so much to the folk world. Her songs deal with ecology, unions, women’s liberation, employment, home, friendship, death, and so much more.
Dave Siglin In 1968, operating out of his house, Dave began his job of leading one of North America’s iconic music clubs, The Ark, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He served in that role for 40 years, doing everything from selling tickets to choosing the talent that was showcased there year after year. He is wellknown and loved in the folk community, and his daughter Anya now carries on the role and tradition.
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FOLK DJ
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Behind the Mic - A folk DJ profile
ich Warren grew up in Evanston, Illinois, with a fascination for radio. As a boy he was reprimanded by the FCC for operating a radio station (broadcasting folk music) from his bedroom with a toy transmitter connected to an illegal long antenna. Scanning the radio dial for folk music, Rich discovered WFMT's program “The Midnight Special.” After contacting one of the hosts, he started visiting WFMT frequently and began doing odd jobs there, simultaneously feeding his interests in electronics and high fidelity by working as a salesman in audio stores that sponsored his favorite radio show. In 1968, as a history major at the University of Illinois, he started his career at the commercial student radio station WPGU. He hosted “Changes,” an unabashed imitation of “The Midnight Special”; Rich also curated folk concerts on campus, discovering Dan Fogelberg in the process; and pro-
duced Steve Goodman’s first recordings, which he shared with WFMT. He joined the staff in June 1974. At WFMT, Rich has recorded hundreds of concerts and has co-hosted folk festivals, including the City of Chicago/WFMT Folk Music Festival from 1985 to 1989. He began co-hosting “The Midnight Special” in 1983 and became sole host in 1996 [www.themidnightspecial.com]. He also hosts “Sweet Folk Chicago” and “Folkstage,” a weekly live in-studio performance series. Rich is also a writer who contributed as a music reviewer for Sing Out! Magazine for 15 years. Rich has been a member of Folk Alliance since 1993 and a live member since 1996, serving on the board from 1999-2002. Rich is a Gemini who enjoys cycling and building computers. Visit www.folk.org to find Rich Warren's past favorites and current top rotations.
Summer Snapshot - Folk DJ Radio Chart - July 2014 TOP ALBUMS Current Affairs, Runa, runamusic.com, 14-Jun Turn This Heart Around, Missy Werner, missywerner.com, new Beyond the Blue, The Duhks, Compass, 14-May Remedy, Old Crow Medicine Show, ATO, new Georgia I'm Here, Joe Crookston, Milagrito, 14-Apr Never Let Me Cross Your Mind, Locust Honey String Band, Hearth, new The Red Album, Red Molly, redmolly.com, 14-Apr I Can't Remember My Dreams, Leslie Evers, Cumulus, new Ancient Dreams, Red June, Organic, 14-Apr Everything Changes, Peggy Seeger, Signet, new
TOP ARTISTS Runa Missy Werner The Duhks Old Crow Medicine Show Joe Crookston Pete Seeger Red Molly Bob Dylan Locust Honey String Band John McCutcheon
TOP SONGS Sweet Amarillo, Old Crow Medicine Show, Remedy Travelin' Light, Missy Werner, Turn This Heart Around Break A Little Heart, Leslie Evers, I Can't Remember My Dreams Destination, Nickel Creek, A Dotted Line I Always Do, Missy Werner, Turn This Heart Around Lazy John, The Duhks, Beyond the Blue No Life In This Town, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Cold Spell Riding The Train, Joe Crookston, Georgia I'm Here Land Of Sunshine Set, Runa, Current Affairs Old Glory, John Malcolm Penn, Driftin' River
TOP LABELS Rounder Red House Compass Sugar Hill Signature Smithsonian/Folkways Columbia Borealis Nonesuch Appleseed
Compiled by Richard Gillmann from FOLKDJ-L radio playlists. Based on 14179 airplays from 140 different DJs. View the complete top 25 results and all past months online at www.folk.org 16
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Diversifying Our Audiences Renowned leader Donna Walker-Kuhne to join Speakers Series at FAI conference
cknowledged by the Arts & Business Council as North America's foremost expert on audience diversification, Donna Walker-Kuhne, an accomplished arts administrator and adult educator, has devoted her professional career to increasing the accessibility and connection to the arts by a rapidly growing multicultural population. “I firmly believe that the arts are the only pure vehicle we have in today’s society that cross cultural and ethnic barriers and allow people to transcend their differences.” Ms. Walker-Kuhne conducts seminars and workshops while providing marketing consultation services to arts organizations, performing and visual artists, dance companies, Broadway and off Broadway productions, and non-profit groups. Among her clients are major performing arts organizations including The Apollo Theater, The Sphinx Organization, Sony/BMG Music, WNYC Radio, the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities and Dance USA. Ms. Walker-Kuhne is an adjunct professor instructing in Marketing the Arts at Brooklyn College, Columbia University and New York University; however, her career began as an Assistant Corporation Council for State of New York while she danced professionally on a part-time basis. She credits her law background (Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law, Washington DC) for her ability to carry innovative programs to successful outcomes. In 2009 and 2010, her company Walker International Communications Group, Inc., was awarded grants from the Theater Subdistrict Council to implement projects to diversify Broadway using socially and technology driven audience development initiatives.
She is a speaker for numerous national organizations including Coming Up Taller Leadership Conference, Grants Makers in the Arts, The Wallace Foundation, and the Arts and Business Council. She has presented her strategies at Harvard University, Yale University, University of Berlin, California Arts Presenters and the Canada Council for the Arts. Ms. Walker-Kuhne conducts staff development diversity workshops and was the first American invited by the National Arts Council of Singapore to teach a weeklong workshop, and the first American invited by the Australian Council on the Arts to do a three-city lecturing tour on Ethnic Diversity for Arts Organizations. In the summer of 2005, Ms. Walker-Kuhne’s first book, Invitation to the Party: Building Bridges to Arts, Culture and Community was published. It has become a topselling, invaluable resource for today’s non-profit arts’ marketer, producer and student. Donna Walker-Kuhne utilizes her passion to see the arts flourish within our modern society. With her combined work of institutional marketing and her company, WICG, she has raised over $13 million in earned income promoting the arts to multicultural communities. She ensures the artistic visions of arts organizations are experienced by the artists and multicultural community, thus, increasing the growth of a diverse audience for the 21st century. www.walkercommunicationsgroup.com The FAI Speakers Series will run throughout the conference, featuring guests and experts in the field of the presenting ecology, community development and folk music. WWW.FOLK.ORG • FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
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Astronaut and Folk singer Commander Chris Hadfield 18
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COVER STORY
Songs…the internal frontier Astronaut and Folk singer Commander Chris Hadfield returns to earth with Keynote address.
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ecently returned from Expedition 35, his five month mission as Commander of the International Space Station, Hadfield rose to unprecedented public profile for his embrace and use of social media while in orbit. The top graduate of the US Air Force Test Pilot School in 1988 and US Navy test pilot of the year in 1991, Hadfield was selected by the Canadian Space Agency to be an astronaut in 1992. He was CAPCOM for 25 shuttle launches and served as Director of NASA Operations in Star City, Russia, from 2001–2003, Chief of Robotics at the Johnson Space Center in Houston from 2003–2006, and Chief of International Space Station Operations from 2006–2008. Hadfield most recently served as Commander of the International Space Station where, while conducting a record-setting number of scientific experiments and overseeing an emergency spacewalk, he gained worldwide acclaim for his dynamic Twitter updates, breathtaking photographs and educational videos about life in space. His music video, a zero-gravity
version of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” received over 10 million views in its first three days online. Perhaps not as well known is the fact Hadfield is a passionate folk singer who has been playing guitar in space since his first mission on the MIR space station in 1995. He has collaborated for years with his brother Dave, also a pilot and accomplished folk singer (whose songs Chris has performed in space). In 2012, Hadfield recorded his brother's song “Jewel in the Night” aboard the ISS— a space first. He and Barenaked Ladies’ frontman Ed Robertson cowrote “Is Somebody Singing?”, recording their parts and performing live for CBC television from space and Earth respectively.
To top it off, Hadfield recorded an entire album of folk songs while in orbit with the assistance of Earth-based producer Paul Mills (Stan Rogers) using the ISS “house guitar”, a Larrivée Parlour. The album is as yet unreleased. Shortly after returning from his third and final space mission, Hadfield announced his retirement. Since then, he has published his best-selling memoir, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. He has performed at select folk festivals, and presented at the 2014 Juno Awards held in Winnipeg. Among his many accolades, Hadfield has been awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the Order of Canada, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Accompanied by his son, who manages his social media campaigns, Commander Hadfield will be present for a book signing and a performance during the conference weekend. Commander Hadfield’s Keynote Address is part of the FAI Speakers Series. The series, featuring guests and experts in the field of presenting, community development and folk music, will run throughout the conference.
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Carry It On…Live!
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By Marcia LeClear new documentary film featuring the Carry it on… project filmed during Wheatland Music Organization’s 40th anniversary 2013 festival in Remus, Michigan is now available! Wheatland Music Organization, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and presentation of traditional arts, commissioned the former directors of the Rhythm In Shoes dance and music company to create the multimedia Carry it on… project. The performances and workshops incorporated four generations and more than 70 dancers across Michigan as well as 20 professional percussive dancers and musicians from across the country. The dance on film involved an additional 10 artists.
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Carry it on… was directed by renowned artist and dancer Sharon Leahy with original music composed by Rick Good from the Rhythm In Shoes company of Spring Valley, Ohio. Both are well known and abundant creators as dancers, musicians, actors, writers, educators and advocates of America’s musical roots. Wheatland Music has enjoyed a long, fruitful and trusting relationship with the duo that dates back to 1977. Project development work began in 2012. During 2013 there were multiple residency trainings (19 visits at six different sites across Michigan), a mentorship and newly choreographed work, new compositions, a dance on film and workshops for the public at Wheatland’s Gladys Wernette Classroom Building and during the 25th annual Traditional Arts Weekend held in May. Both children and adults took part in the trainings that benefited 12 Ann Arbor area dancers, 8 Lansing area dancers, 32 Mt. Pleasant and Alma dancers, 9 northwest Michigan dancers, 10 Remus area dancers and hundreds of participants that attended workshops. Dances were choreographed by Sharon Leahy, Becky Hill, Abby Ladin, Heidi Whitfield and Emma Young and new music was composed by Rick Good and Sam Bartlett. The Carry it on… project was supported by Wheatland Music Organization, whose mission is to present and preserve traditional arts and music. Additional funding was received from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) and gifts by 40th anniversary family, business and organization supporters. The collector's edition DVD called Carry it on…Live! with an educational booklet will be available for purchase after August 15 for $20 (includes shipping/handling). You may order from the Wheatland online store or purchase it at the Performers Recordings booth at the 41st annual Wheatland Music Festival September 5-7, 2014. Festival tickets are also on sale from the online store: www.wheatlandmusic.org. Some of the performers that will be featured are: Rodney Crowell, Pokey LaFarge, Sarah Jarosz, Sharon Shannon, The Steel Wheels, Eden Brent, Bonsor Catin, The Asham Stompers and many others. In addition to concert performances, workshops and dances are offered throughout the weekend.
NORTH OF THE BORDER (NEWS AND VIEWS)
The Canadian Folk Music Awards hire ANDY FRANK as Project Director
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he Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA), now in its 10th year, recently announced the hiring of Andy Frank as Project Director. Andy is a longtime champion of the folk music scene in Canada. He has held roles as a radio producer and host at CIUT, a film producer for Folk Music Ontario’s annual Estelle Klein Awards, the co-founder of Roots Music Canada, and was previously a Board member of the CFMAs.
goal of increasing public exposure for all 100 nominated artists annually. The CFMAs are one of only three juried music awards in Canada (out of more than a dozen) and bases its peer assessment evaluation on quality rather than commercial sales. Nominees for the 2014 awards will be announced on September 25, with the awards presented in Ottawa at the Bronson Centre on November 29. Featured performances during the gala will include Laura Smith, Lennie Gallant, Lynn Miles, The Good Lovelies, Finest Kind and De Temps Antan. The Awards will be streamed online at www.folkawards.ca.
Andy with two-thirds of the Good Lovelies Prior to his contributions in folk music he held executive positions in the hospitality industry as well as small business ownership in Montreal, Calgary and Ottawa. Born and raised in Montreal, Mr. Frank now lives in Toronto with his wife Helen. For this year’s CFMA anniversary celebrations, Mr. Frank will also produce a 10th anniversary film, celebrating the depth and breadth of folk music across the country. “I am honoured to be involved with the awards and its deeply committed volunteer board in this new capacity. I look forward to a great 10th anniversary [and to evolving the awards],” says Frank. The goal of the Awards is to increase mainstream awareness of the thriving and creative Canadian music scene operating under the FOLK umbrella. Alongside that is the WWW.FOLK.ORG • FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
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REVIEWS By Steve Ramm “Anything Phonographic”
100 Books Every Folk Fan Should Own by Dick Weissman (Scarecrow)
This is one of two books published this year by Rowman & Littlefield (under their Scarecrow Press imprint) with similar titles. The other (by Ed Komara and Greg Johnson) replaces the word “folk” with “blues”. Since the word “folk” in folk music has many possibilities, these books are not that different. Dick Weissman, the author of this volume, is a writer and professor (at Univ. of Colorado, Denver) but also a musician. He, along with John Phillips and Scott McKenzie, was a founder of the 1960s folk group The Journeymen – before Phillips left to found the Mamas and Papas and McKenzie hit the charts with his solo hit “If You Go To San Francisco”. Weisman includes a bunch of blues books in his list (I Am The Blues: The Story of Willie Dixon, Black Pearls : Blues Queens of the 1920s and Blues Fell This Morning among others) though he doesn’t list Blues as one of the 14 chapters that he uses to divide his 100 recommended titles. (Oh yes, he adds a Baker’s Dozen to the list at the end.) The hardbound volume is 180 pages long with 165 pages devoted to the reviews of the books, so each book gets about 1 ½ pages of text. Some are a bit longer; some shorter. Weissman is opinionated as to what he likes and if, like me, you read the reviews in that context; you can understand where he is coming from. I did catch a few grammatical errors that apparently slipped through. On page 159 he refers to Clay Eals’ biography of Steve Goodman as an “autobiography”. Goodman died many years before the book was written and Eals used interviews with family and friends plus his own research. This is also one of the reviews where Weissman complains about the size of the book. It is lengthy though with lots of photos. Again, Weissman is entitled to his opinion. The book does have an index of names and authors. I looked up Weissman’s own name to see if he included any of his three books (including this 2006 book on the folk revival in America. There is one page reference for him and that page number refers to the first page of the Index! He doesn’t even include his own book (which I liked when I read it) in his “100 Books” list. So yes, this is a good buyers’ guide for folk fans as well as libraries wanting to fill their shelves with more reference books on folk music. And with its sturdy binding, it will hold up to much browsing. 22
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Grassroots to Bluegrass, Strictly Bluegrass and The Golden Years of Country Back in 2012 I discovered a set of DVDs, though they’d been sold by mail order for seven years before that. But my guess is that, like me, you’ve never heard of them. In 1996 former rock and roll (and now country music) DJ Larry Black had a brilliant idea. He rented a TV studio in Nashville for a few days and invited as many as 27 legendary country music artists (both performers and songwriters) to spend the time performing and telling the stories behind the songs, and then he captured it all on video. With nearly four hours of musical history documented, he released the first set of Country’s Family Reunion DVDs in 2005. With the success of the first package, Black made these reunions an annual event and was able to capture stories from these legends before they died. Eventually growing to three-day affairs that produced almost 20 hours of music and talk, the 2009 taping had 70 pioneers in attendance. One of the offshoots was the series Grassroots to Bluegrass and includes members of the Carter and Stoneman Families as well as Mac Wiseman, Mike Seeger and Jim & Jesse and John Hartford in one of his last recorded appearances. I loved the set and was thrilled to see that in the fall of 2013 he got Ricky Skaggs to gather old and new bluegrass folk young ( Sierra Hull, The Roys – who broke it up at FAI this year) and old (Wiseman, Bobby Osborne and Del McCoury) to tell some more great stories. This new four-volume set is titled Strictly Bluegrass. Every library should have a full set and we all owe a debt to Black for creating the series and getting these stories captured for perpetuity. Last year Black also bought the rights to the syndicated TV series Stars of the Grand Ole Opry which aired from 1955 to 1957 and has made these 30 shows available on 10 DVDs for the first time (under the title The Golden Years Of Country). You can see the whole series and order at www.cfrvideos.com. Additional reviews can be found online at www.folk.org
Scottish artist RACHEL SERMANNI reflects on her first FAI experience My first time setting foot in North America was the 2013 Folk Alliance. It was the first conference I'd ever attended where I felt music was genuinely at the forefront. Nobody was concerned with hype or hairstyle. There was a real sense of fun and community and liveliness. Music was the sun and around it we did orbit; 2000 or so of us under the same roof, one huge hotel (admiration to the staff). I loved the tiny showcase hotel rooms, and because there were so many of them, a lot of ground was covered, and a lot of new contacts made within a short space of time. With a little preparation before our arrival, and a busy weekend making friends with musicians and festival bookers, I was offered, effectively, 2 years of work stretching as far as Australia, and including 4 official North American tours as support or headline act. Because of the connections made at the conference I have been singing with new-found musical friends, released a live recording, and received an offer to play Iceland Airwaves Festival this November. www.rachelsermanni.net
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I feel lucky and very grateful for the FAI baptism.
SingOut! Launches Blogs
ingOut! has expanded their online content with “auxiliary blogs” bringing additional folk music editorial voices to the online world.
Folk DJ and freelancer Ron Olesko is a familiar writer to regular readers of Sing Out!. Ron has been a radio programmer for more than three decades and he created WFDU-FM’s “Traditions” in 1980, a show that he continues to host and produce along with co-host Bill Hahn. He’s also the president of and booker for the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club (in Fair Lawn, New Jersey), and regularly emcees concerts and festivals around the NYC/NJ area. Ron had been blogging with Blogspot since 2006, and now brings his Folk Music Notebook to Sing Out! where, along with general folk music musings, reviews, news and recommendations, he also shares his radio program playlists. You can access Folk Music Notebook directly at: ronolesko.singout.org. The second inaugural blogger is none other than Roger Deitz, whose humor column “RagTag” has graced the last page of
Sing Out! since 1995. Roger is a contributor to the Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World. His Folk Music Chronicles, gathered essays, articles, and short stories he wrote for the late, lamented Fast Folk Musical Magazine (and The Coop before that) prior to his joining the Sing Out! family. He was program director of New Jersey’s Closing Circle Coffeehouse, June Days Folk Festival, and the Folk Project’s special concert series. As a performer, Roger was a regular guest on Happy and Artie Traum’s “Bring it on Home” public radio program, and hosted and performed at musical venues of all sizes, including many main stage appearances at The Philadelphia Folk Festival and was the recipient of the 2012 New Jersey Folk Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Roger’s “RagTag” blog is accessible directly at: rogerdeitz. singout.org. Both blogs are available as a free email subscription or via the RSS reader of your choice for easy access on the go via tablets or smartphones! WWW.FOLK.ORG • FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
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IN OTHER WORDS
Brian Swift and the Great Transistorized Folk Processing Machine
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im, an old, blind, African American blues singer, sits on his front porch and plays a unique self-taught guitar lick as he wails about hard times, trouble and woe. Here is a man who knows of what he sings. Jim is rocking to the beat of his music, partly to keep time, partly because he likes to rock. For over 60 years, Jim has been rocking on that same Columbia, South Carolina veranda. Forward and back, forward and back he goes as if this were his lot in life, as if he were a pendulum attached to the mechanism of some grand human clock, as if he regulated the little world that progressed around him. Jim’s playing style is at first seemingly ragged or sloppy, but upon closer inspection, it is meticulously appropriate. No, not sloppy at all, it is randomly errant for just the right effect. Jim’s guitar licks are sometimes on target, sometimes not, but he is creating a wonderful “new” sound … at least a wonderful new sound to anyone other than Jim’s neighbors who, as a result of constant exposure, have built up a tolerance (along with admiration) to his great homespun music. Not only is Jim a human metronome, he is a songwriter. That is to say he has created a good deal of his own material. He bears no resemblance to the stereotypical songwriters seen in the MGM musicals. He knows nothing about the business of songwriting. He knows nothing about publishers, recording contracts, and mechanicals. Jim has 24
never bothered joining ASCAP or BMI. To Jim, the Library of Congress might just as well be a place in Washington, DC where senators go to return their overdue books. A copyright form might as well be the Sunday funnies to Jim. Jim just makes songs up, then plays and sings them. The creative process is a pleasure, not a business. It is difficult to believe that this man who makes such perfect music has never taken a music lesson. His only public performances have been in church and on the porch, and that has been just fine with Jim. Jim has been playing that same preWWII vintage Gibson ever since his son left the guitar for safe keeping, went off into the Army Air Corps, and never returned to reclaim the instrument. It appears the strings have not been changed since December 7, 1941. The day is warm – make that damned hot and humid in Columbia, South Carolina on this particular summer afternoon, yet it’s not too hot to discourage Jim’s accompanist, a mockingbird, the feisty Mimus polyglottos. Ms. Mimus stands defiantly on a post at the side of the road. Her post. Her road. Not to be outdone by Jim, she belts out a tune herself; a perfect, “Whip-poor-will.” She repeats her song again and again. She and Jim trade licks. Now, anyone who knows anything about mockingbirds can tell you the creatures are tenaciously territorial, they learn the calls of other birds they encounter on their migratory travels,
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Feature Writer: Roger Dietz
and once they pick up a bird’s song, they drive everyone within earshot bonkers by repeating the call incessantly, usually outside bedroom windows. Jim and his friend have an uninvited but welcomed visitor. His name is Brian. Brian is a young, sighted, white, blues singer-songwriter and historian who considers himself to folk music what Margaret Mead was to Samoan sex. He knows about the Library of Congress and the copyright laws. Although not an ornithologist, he is also learning about mockingbirds. Brian is on the porch listening to Jim’s music. He is doing so with less than his full attention. Most of Brian’s efforts are being directed to a small but sophisticated portable sound recording system which he carries on his collecting trips. On the porch he has erected an elaborate, makeshift studio consisting of microphones, wires, cassette decks, wires, headphones, and even more wires. What a tribute to Japanese technology, marketing and manufacturing this all is. Brian can tape now and listen later. He doesn’t even have to ask Jim to show him a guitar lick; it’s sucked up forever into the machine like moon rocks to a Lunar Lander. Jim is putting on a good show, but Brian’s attention is turned towards VU meters, fluorescent peak sound level displays, saturation indicators, bias adjustments, Dolby, bass, treble and balance. Brian loves folk music and blinking lights. There will be time to pan for
gold later upon replay. At this juncture, Brian seems to be in a hurry, as if trying to get the taping done before Jim passes away. There is one major problem irritating Brian; that damned mockingbird keeps whip-poor-willing, and it is being picked up on the recording. Brian removes his headphones and attempts to chase the bird away. No such luck – whose post is it anyway? Jim and Mimus seem destined to share electromagnetic posterity as a duet. Brian seems destined to suffer in silence, so to speak. In the span of a few hours, a 5’10” musician and a 9” bird are transformed into a magnetic imprint, on what only hours before was a blank cassette tape. And all not a moment too soon, as this is late afternoon in Columbia, and that means thunder boomers. Big ‘uns. Heavy rain begins to fall instantly. See, Columbia is situated on a large hill, and every day this time like clockwork, the full fury of the heavens becomes focused on the small city. Thunder and lightning strike from directly overhead. The gods are angry. The storm ends, but has only served to increase the humidity to one hundred percent. This session is over. Brian packs all of his equipment into his air-conditioned Toyota. Goodbye Jim. Goodbye Mimus. Goodbye Columbia. The collecting trip, which had taken Brian as far west as the Ozark Mountains and Stone County, Arkansas, has now been completed. It’s a long haul back to New York City, and Brian is going to make the trip with as few stops as possible. The nice thing about the long trip is that there is plenty of time to listen to music on the car’s tape deck. Brian has scores of tapes, including material he has picked up this trip in his electromagnetic butterfly net. There are other favorites also. Live recordings pirated at concerts and coffeehouses. A small tape recorder, which is no larger than a pack of cigarettes, fits undetected into a coat pocket and may record with fidelity unmatched by major recording studios of only a few years
ago. Brian also has tapes dubbed from current LP records. He along with a couple of friends, usually “borrow” recordings for this purpose. “Why pay for the stuff when you can get it for next to nothing?” is Brian’s motto. He of course justifies this practice by thinking of the record companies and other songwriters as “fat cats.” It seems odd that this is the attitude of a man who has spent thousands of dollars for his recording and playback equipment. A man who himself dreams of lucrative success as a songwriter. He has seen the MGM musicals. (This editorial note from 2014 Brian sure was ready for Napster – and other nifty Internet file sharing adventures to come!). The 15-hour drive ahead will be made more pleasant by 15-hours of truly commercial-free music. Billy Joel, Billie Holiday, Claudia Schmidt, Tom Paxton, The Rolling Stones, Reverend Gary Davis, John Gorka, Doc Watson, The Young Tradition, Dave Van Ronk, Joni Mitchell, Jim and Mimus. Brian listens to Jim, but after twenty whip-poor-wills he almost climbs up the back of a Mack Truck semi. Out pops Jim, and in goes Jack Hardy’s White Shoes album. Play that funky mandolin; Dolby on, bring up the bass. What was driving like in the days before transistors and dubbing decks? It’s daybreak and the road finally looks familiar, past the Joyce Kilmer rest area on the New Jersey Turnpike (where are the “Trees?”). A few more toll booths, the Lincoln Tunnel, and at long last; home, sweet, home. Brian’s wife’s parakeet – Mr. Keats – listens and watches intently as Brian works on his sheet music and copyright forms. Each time Brian plays Jim’s tape, Mr. Keats has a fit. Brian jots down a few final notes, and his new song is finished. Mr. Keats squawks when he hears the mockingbird. Brian hates Mr. Keats and imagines the bird swatted senseless as the guest shuttlecock on some daytime television game show called “Badminton for Dollars.” Brian awakens from
his evil daydream in a cold sweat. If he were ever to so much as to look at Mr. Keats the wrong way, a domestic argument of monumental proportions would ensue. Jim’s tape has been played about 50 times. Mr. Keats is dazed after trying to bite his way through the bars of his cage. “Thank god,” Brian says, as he signs and folds the copyright form, “That’s the last time I’ll have to listen to that damned mockingbird.” Oh Brian, there is a god, and may the lord have mercy on your soul. Brian, having “borrowed” a song or two from Jim, makes out his check for 10 dollars; licks, seals, and stamps the envelope addressed to The Library of Congress. Brian’s work, albeit, “inspired” by Jim (Brian transcribed everything but the whip-or-wills), is now protected by law. Brian shuts off his tape machine as Mr. Keats chatters in protest. In a protest of his own, Brian slams the door behind him as he leaves to mail the letter to the Copyright Office. “WHIP-poor-Will … WHIP-poor-Will …WHIP-poor-Will,” the sound grows stronger and more defiant. What is it? What’s that sound? Is the tape machine still on? No, it is the sound of cosmic karma coming to you from Mr. Keat’s new 24-hour a day poetic justice format. Brian has a little surprise waiting for him when he returns from the post office. Brian’s wife is delighted with the new song her clever bird has learned. It seems that Mr. Keats has done a little borrowing himself – picked up a little tune, and he just will not stop repeating it. At least this particular song is in the public domain! “What a smart and pretty bird you are Mr. Keats!” praises Brian’s wife. “Just wait until Daddy hears what a clever bird he has!” Oh, might this be the folk process in its most basic form, with a fateful twist? Maybe. Might it be that there is some small bit of justice in the world? “Hit it Mr. Keats!” … the stage is all yours. ©Copyright 1984, 1986, 2014 Roger Deitz
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IMPORTANT CONFERENCE DATES AND INFORMATION
27th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference & Winter Music Camp • February 18-22, 2015 Westin & Sheraton Crown Center Hotels Kansas City, Missouri NOVEMBER 4, 2014
2015 FAI TRAVEL
• Delta Airlines www.delta.com CODE: NMJPA
1-800-328-1111
DECEMBER 16, 2014
• Air Canada www.aircanada.com CODE: EFWUYXG1
1-888-247-2262
JANUARY 13, 2015
• Amtrak www.amtrak.com CODE: X55T-910
1-800-872-1477
• Hertz www.hertz.com CODE: CV# 022L4149
1-800-654-2240
• Enterprise www.enterprise.com CODE XZL0503 PIN#: GOB
1-800-736-8222
- Final Showcase Entry Deadline, Discount Early Bird Registration Deadline, Volunteer Request Deadline (*postmarked by November 4, 2014) - All Official Showcase Artists Notified - Final Discount Registration Deadline, (Earlybird price available to official showcase applicants until this date), Final Pre-Registration Deadline (to get in the Program Book), Showcase Information Deadline, Deadline for all marketing purchases, Final Deadline for all Private Showcase Information, Deadline for Film Festival entries or to reserve Art Gallery space. (*postmarked by January 13, 2015).
FEBRUARY 3, 2015
- Final Deadline for Digital Screen advertising submissions
FEBRUARY 18, 2015
• Airport Shuttle www.supershuttle.com 1-800-258-3826
OPPORTUNITIES
- Conference Begins
All sales opportunities are available be emailing sales@folk.org or online at www.folk.org/sales
2015 FAI HOTELS
PRIVATE SHOWCASES
Host hotels (and US rates) are: $125 - The Sheraton Crown Center - (camp, film, gallery and exhibit hall headquarters) $135 - The Westin Crown Center - (conference, quiet rooms & private showcase rooms)
If you plan to present a private showcase room at the Westin Hotel you must: - Complete a Private Showcase Agreement (www.folk.org/conference) and submit payment - Once we have your contract and you have registered we can provide you with the code to reserve your hotel room. You cannot book Conference/Camp delegates can stay at either hotel. The hotels a music floor room at the hotel without the FAI code are a 3 minute walk from each other connected by The Link (a heat- you can book a music floor hotel room. ed enclosed above ground walkover). Door to door transportation is - All presenters and every artist involved must be registered for the available between hotels. conference. There are a limited number of music floor suites available. Email The hotels will show SOLD OUT as each is filled * fai@folk.org for information. Book a room online or call: 1-800-937-8461 For private showcases in the Music Floor Rooms at the Westin you must fill in a Private Showcase Agreement at www.folk.org/conference. Once completed, you will receive information on reserving your room on a Music Floor. There is an overnight instrument check at The Westin for Sheraton guests who wish to leave instruments at the Westin. There is NO ACCESS to lock up after midnight 26
FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL • WWW.FOLK.ORG
TOTE BAG INSERTS
Each conference/camp registrant (approx. 2500) will receive an official FAI Tote Bag, and your materials can be in each and every one! Small inserts are $500 — fliers, matches, postcards, guitar picks, etc.; large inserts are $750 —CDs, magazines, etc. • DEADLINES: To place an item in the tote bags contact sales@folk. org. Your order and payment in full must be made by January 13, 2015 and tote bag materials must be received by Monday, February 16, 2015, so they can be placed in the totes before the events begin.
SPONSORSHIPS
Sponsorship (at the Conference, Camp, or Fair) makes everyone aware of your participation in this thriving community. Don’t miss this opportunity to have your name, logo, and business up front! We can customize a package to meet your needs. For complete information on conference sponsorships, please contact sales@folk.org or call (816) 221-3655.
ADVERTISING
• A Program and Pocket Guide are given to all conference delegates and camp attendees • The Music Fair will also have a newsprint program for attendees and the public Delivery of ads and payment in full must be received January 13, 2015. Please note: Folk Alliance does not invoice for ad payment.
DIGITAL ADS
There will be 10 video screens at the Westin, and 4 large screens at the Sheraton displaying JPEG versions of digital promotion material. Each JPEG will run approximately 200 times per day from Wednesday – Saturday. The charge is $50 per ad (limit 4 ads per client). Posters on the private showcase floors are very limited. Email a jpg labeled (name).WESTONscreen15.jpg or (name) SHERATONscreen15.jpg (depending on which hotel you wish your add to run in) to sales@folk.org by February 3, 2015 with full payment made online or by phone. Ads not labeled correctly and submitted by deadline cannot be ensured placement in the display.
EXHIBIT HALLS
Full and half booths are available at TWO EXHIBIT HALLS this year. The Westin will be home to a refined Industry Hall, while the Sheraton will feature a Public Hall with extended hours. Contact sales@folk.org to discuss each hall or book your space online at www.folk.org/sales
VOLUNTEERS
The Conference, Camp and Fair rely on a large team of volunteers to run smoothly. Selected volunteers have their registration fee waived in exchange for 16 hours (minimum 4-hour shift per day) of work during the events. There is no single-day volunteering or reduced-rate option. If you are interested in applying to volunteer visit www.folk.org/conference/volunteer to apply. You must be a paid member of Folk Alliance at the time of the conference in order to volunteer.
ence in Kansas City, MO. Conference credits cannot be used toward membership fees, nor do they guarantee future exhibit space. There are absolutely no refunds or credits for cancellations after January 5, 2015. Cancellations after January 5 due to weather or other events cannot be credited.
CONFERENCE / CAMP ADVERTISING OPTIONS Contact sales@folk.org or visit www.folk.org/sales EXHIBIT HALLS a) Industry Hall – at the Westin OR b) Music Fair* – at the Sheraton *Extended Public Hours
Booth: $500 Table: $300
PROGRAM BOOK ADS: full page - Outside Back Cover
$2,000
full page - Inside Cover, Color
$1,250
full page ad, black & white
$750
1/2 page ad, black & white
$400
1/4 page ad, black & white
$250
POCKET GUIDE ADS: Outside Back Cover, Color
$2000
Front or Back Inside Cover, Color
$1500
full page ad, black & white
$800
1/2 page ad, black & white
$550
DIGITAL ADS: Digital Ad screens
$50 (max 4)
TOTEBAG INSERTS: Tote bag Insert Large
$750
Tote bag Insert Small
$500
CANCELLATIONS
Registration and Exhibit Hall fees are refundable (minus a $50 handling fee) until December 1, 2014. Cancellations between December 1, 2014 and January 5, 2015, will receive dollar value credit (less a $50 handling fee) toward the February 2016 Confer-
* For unique and additional opportunities, or to discuss sponsorship please contact sales@folk.org * WWW.FOLK.ORG • FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
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Conference/Camp/Music Fair Schedule at a Glance
all events in the Westin (W) or Sheraton (S) Crown Center Hotel (unless noted) info as of Sept. 1, 2014/subject to change TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 5pm 6pm 9pm
Volunteer Registration W Tote Bag Stuffing Extravaganza W Volunteer Party, Open Mic, Jam Sessions tba
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18
11-midnight Registration, Information, Silent Auction W 12-1 Lunch KC 1-5 Kansas City Tours KC 4-5 Meeting for Private Showcase presenters - required W 4-5 First Timer Orientations W 5-6 Dinner KC 6-7 Opening Reception (Sponsored) W 7-8 Lifetime Achievement Awards Speakers Series W 8:30-11:30 Opening Night Feature Shows W 10.30 Private Showcases & Jam Sessions W
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19
8-10 Registration, Information, Silent Auction W 9-10 AGM - Annual General Meeting of all members W 10-10:45 Panel Session #1 W 11-11:45 Panel Session #2 W 12-1 Lunch KC 12-1 Meeting for Private Showcase presenters - required W 12-1:30 Workshops, Clinics S 12-2 Exhibit Hall Setup (exhibitors only) W/S 1-2 Speakers Series W 1-2 Camper Orientation S 2-11 Art Gallery S 2-4 Private Showcases & Open Mic W 2-5 Industry Exhibit Hall W 2-7 Public Exhibit Hall S 5-6 Dinner 6-7 Reception (Sponsored) W 7 Film Festival S 7 Camp Instructor Concert #1 S 7-8 Feature Concerts W 8-10:30 Official Showcases W 8 Public Concerts S 9 Hosted Jam Sessions S 10:30-3 Private Showcases W
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 9-10 9-10 9 10 10-10:45 11-11:45 11 12-1 1-2 2 2-4 2-5 2-7 5-6 7-8 7 7 7-8 8-10:30 8 9 10:30
Breakfast (sponsored) W FAI Regional Meetings W Registration, Information, Silent Auction W Music Camp Sessions S Panel Session #3 W Panel Session #4 W Workshops, Clinics, Films S Lunch Speakers Series W Art Gallery S Private Showcases & Open Mic W Industry Exhibit Hall W Public Exhibit Hall S Reception (Sponsored) W Dinner KC Camp Instructor Concert #2 tba FAI Film Festival S Feature Concerts W Official Showcases W Public Concerts S Hosted Jam Sessions S Private Showcases W
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 9-10 9-10pm 10 10 10-11 11-12 11-12 11 12-1 1-2 2 2-4 2-5 2-7 5-6 7-8 7 7 7-8 8-10:30 8 9 10:30
Breakfast (sponsored) W Registration, Information, Silent Auction W/S Workshops, Clinics, Films S Music Camp Sessions S Panel Session #7 W Panel Session #8 W Wisdom of the Elders W Kid’s Music Showcase S Lunch KC Keynote Speaker W Art Gallery S Private Showcases & Open Mic W Industry Exhibit Hall W Public Exhibit Hall S Reception (Sponsored) W Dinner KC Camper Concert tba Film Festival S Feature Concerts W Official Showcases W Public Concerts S Hosted Jam Sessions S Private Showcases W
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 9-10 10-12 10 11-3 11 12 7-11
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FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL • WWW.FOLK.ORG
Songwriters Breakfast (Sponsored) Rise Up Singing Gospel session Final Camp Sessions Kansas City Tours Art Gallery FAI Film Festival Closing Party (Sponsored)
W W S KC S S tba
FAI Board of Directors Election Information We are nearing the start of the FAI Board of Directors election season. Per our bylaws (found on folk.org), the nominating committee is now looking for candidates interested in filling upcoming vacancies on the Board. There will be five seats open and current Directors may be among those running to fill those seats. If you are interested in running for one of the open seats, please send a note outlining your interest and qualifications along with a short platform statement to fai@folk.org by August 15. Please keep in mind that all Directors are elected “at large” and do not represent any specific constituency. Additional deadlines: 1. October 15 The Nominating Committee will announce a slate of candidates by October 15 and this slate will be distributed by email or other common carrier to members and posted on the Folk Alliance International website. The Nominating Committee is tasked with putting together a slate that corresponds to a needed mix of skills, experiences and diversity. Therefore, not every person who expresses interest in running for a seat on the Board may be placed on the slate. There is a self-nomination procedure for members still interested in running or who missed earlier deadlines. To be placed on the “final” slate, they must receive the support of 10 members in good standing. This support can come in the form of an email or letter sent to the FAI offices. These nominations must be received by November 15 to qualify. These candidates must also submit the same biographical info and platform statement to the Nominating Committee.
Tax Deductible Donations to FAI Folk Alliance International exists as a registered 501(c)3 charity with a fiscal year end of June 30. FAI relies on multiple revenue streams to operate, maintain resources and staff, provide member services, conduct outreach and provide programming and projects. While membership and conference fees underwrite some of the costs of the event, your tax-deductible donations toward the yearround charitable purposes of FAI are appreciated and contribute towards such items as the two scholarship programs that bring traditional artists to the conference and provide financial assistance to first-time attendees in need. Please consider making a one-time or recurring gift by donating online at www.folk.org/donate. If you would prefer to mail in a donation, identify funding a particular initiative, or would like to discuss bequeathing funds please contact director@folk.org / 816-221-3655.
2. November 1 Members requesting a paper ballot (as opposed to electronic) must request this BY NOVEMBER 1, 2014. Please place your requests with the FAI office. 3. November 15 All petitions (email or other) for write-in candidates must be received at the FAI offices by this date. 4. December 1 The final slate will be announced by December 1. Literature describing the merged slate and official ballot will be distributed to all voting members of the Folk Alliance International on December 1 by electronic means except for those members who have given notice BY NOVEMBER 1 that these materials should be delivered by a postal or delivery service. Notice of any proposal to alter, amend, or repeal these Bylaws must also be provided by this time and by the same means. 5. January 10 Only votes cast by 11:59 PM Central Time on January 10 will be counted. Write-ins are permitted. Each voting member may vote for no more than the number of (“n”) Directorships open, normally five times the number of votes that voter receives. All votes are checked for eligibility. The top “n” vote-getters are elected Directors.
WWW.FOLK.ORG • FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
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FAI MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Members of Folk Alliance International benefit from the following:
FEATURED MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
AMERICANA RHYTHM MUSIC MAGAZINE A resource for hometown, homegrown music. Distribution: 6,000+ copies of every issue. Extended read rate: 12,500. Deadline: the 15th of every month. 10% discount on regular advertising rates to any FAI member in good standing. Discount must be requested at time of order. No retroactive discounts. Contact: (540) 433-0360 or visit www. americanarhythm.com.
EVENTBRITE TICKET SERVICES HELP SUPPORT FOLK ALLIANCE Eventbrite provides ticketing services for events, festivals and concerts of all sizes. EventBrite Ticket Service now provides a rebate directly to FAI for all tickets sold when you sign up. For more information on Eventbrite, please visit www.eventbrite.com/r/folkalliance
BANDZOOGLE A free 6-month trial of website building services and 15% off annual plans. Contact: David DuFresne or visit www.bandzoogle.com.
For further information on our programs or if you would like to offer an incentive, contact our Membership Coordinator at membership@ folk.org or (816) 221-3655.
CELEBRITY ACCESS Access to profiles and contact information for over 40,000 touring artists, theatrical productions, live events, venues and complete agency and manager rosters. Database of North American talent buyers, including local, regional and national promoters. Online offer forms, avail requests and a mass email system. Comprehensive industry news and events calendar. Annual single-user license for an FAI member is $399, a $500 savings. Contact (877) 660-6310 for a free trial. CLARION ASSOCIATES The largest insurance firm dedicated solely to the needs of musicians worldwide for over 25 years. Endorsed by over 30 musician associations and trusted by over 12,000 musicians, symphonies, instrument dealers and recording studios. Lowcost, all-risk insurance coverage for musical instruments. Worldwide coverage (for US residents only). 30 days free rented/borrowed instrument coverage. Special discount available for FAI members. Contact: arichards@clarionins.com, (800) 848-2534 or visit www.clarionins.com. COLORADO CASE COMPANY Soft cases, hard cases and case covers for all types of instruments, specializing in banjos, mandolins, guitars, ukuleles and harps. Products designed to protect from the elements. All products made in the US and come standard with a lifetime warranty. 15% discount on all stock and custom products for FAI members. Contact: Chuck or Bill, sales@coloradocase.com, (970) 226-1048 or visit coloradocase.com.
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CONFERENCE DISCOUNTS & OPPORTUNITIES Discounts to conferences including IBMA, New Music Seminar and IMFCON. FAI also produces special showcases featuring members at numerous events including SXSW, AMA and NMS. DEERING BANJO COMPANY The largest manufacturer of American-made banjos in the world. High-quality open-back and resonator banjos with varying scale lengths, custom options and custom designed inlays available. 10% discount for FAI members who order a factory direct custom banjo with 3 or more custom options. Contact: Carolina Bridges at (800) 845-7791 or visit www.deeringbanjos.com. DELTA AIRLINES DISCOUNT A 2% to 10% discount (based on fare rate) for FAI members. DESTINY AUDIO RECORDING SERVICES Provides artists with high-quality recording in a relaxed atmosphere and offers tools to help artists after the recording process. Radio-ready music production, recording, mixing and mastering services to new and established regional recording artists. 20% off the standard rate of $40/hour and a 10hour block rate for $300 ($50 off) for FAI members. Contact: Dave Storm at (816) 665-9066 or visit www.destinyaudiorecording.com. ELMORE MAGAZINE A national print and digital publication that covers
FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL • WWW.FOLK.ORG
folk, rock, blues, Americana, country and jazz. Renowned producers, musicians and industry insiders provide in-depth articles about the music industry and artist, album, concert and festival reviews. 50% off print and digital subscriptions and discounted advertising rates for FAI members. Sign up: email subscribe@elmoremagazine.com with “Folk Alliance” in the subject line. Contact howard@ elmoremagazine.com for discounted advertising rates. FAI NEWSLETTERS Folk Alliance produces 2 to 3 newsletters each year, distributed to all current members, organizations, stores, venues and music conferences. FLASHHARP: A USB HARMONICA A handmade piece of folk art: a 2, 4 or 8 GB flash drive inside the body of a playful, playable 3-inch harmonica. Includes a video harmonica lesson by The Backyard Harmonica Teacher. 10% discount for FAI members. Visit www.backyardbrand. etsy.com and enter code folkalliancedeal. FOLK DJ FAI members have access to an updated director of all Folk DJ reporters including contact names, addresses and submission information for over 100 DJs and over 100 reporters from across North America. To receive this list contact membership@folk.org. FRACTURED ATLAS A nonprofit organization that serves a national community of artists and arts organizations, offering support to artists that includes access to funding, healthcare, education and insurance. Free associate membership for FAI members. Visit www.fracturedatlas.org/folkalliance. GROOVE HOUSE RECORDS CD manufacturing for independent recording artists since 1996. Every CD project includes realtime direct-to-glass mastering. CDs and DVDs are manufactured with vegetable-based inks and recycled paper. 100 free full-color 11x17 posters (artwork provided by customer) offered with any new order of 1,000 or more packaged CDs or DVDs for FAI members. Valid for new orders only, must be redeemed at the time of order placement and cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Contact: cdrep@groovehouse.com, (888) 476-6838 or visit www. groovehouse.com.
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS CONT'D LIMELIGHT Provides artists, record labels and ensembles with an easy way to clear cover songs. Secures a mechanical license and pays mechanical royalties to songwriters and publishers on behalf of the artist for digital, physical and ringtone releases. $15 per song for FAI members, and $5 off the first licensing fee. Visit www.songclearance.com.
OASIS DISC MANUFACTURING The official CD/DVD manufacturer for the Folk Alliance conference specializes in replication for acoustic and world music and offers broadcast samplers to distribute to radio on behalf of their clients for no additional charge. $50 discount available to FAI members. Contact: Micah at micah@ oasisCD.com or (888) 296-2747.
LISTSERV A moderated, wide mailing list that broadcasts to all FAI members. Hosts discussions over Folk Alliance issues, music industry questions/ideas, current affairs, etc. Visit www.folk.org/membership/ listserve to join or change status.
PRO / HOUSE CONCERT AGREEMENT FAI has reached an agreement with ASCAP and BMI to ensure that FAI member house concert presenters are not subject to any PRO fees. For forms and details, visit www.folk.org/membership/proagreement.
MERCHSPACE A t-shirt screen printing and merchandising website focused on versatility and cost-effective small-batch projects. A range of customizable garment styles, professionally printed options and graphic design services. International artists touring the US have the option to receive orders along their tour route. 10% discount off custom-quoted printing packages and packaged specials listed on the website for FAI members. Visit www.merchspace.com.
SINGER & MUSICIAN MAGAZINE Provides practical tools needed to successfully navigate the music business. Editorial coverage includes songwriting to stage banter, choosing studios and labels and product reviews for aspiring and well-seasoned performers. A 30% discount—12 issues for $19.95 (regularly $29.95)—is available for FAI members. Visit www.iLivetoplay.net and enter code FA2007.
MUSICIAN’S ATLAS A comprehensive networking database for booking shows, planning tours, receiving airplay and developing media, marketing and promotional campaigns. Register for a free trial subscription to the interactive AtlasOnline and receive a discount when full membership is activated, or order print edition and receive 35% off the cover price (regular $49.95). Contact: Martin Folkman, or visit www.musiciansatlas.com. MUZLINK Provides music makers with free online marketing and promotional services. Free access to artist promotion and marketing services for FAI members. Visit www.muzlink.com/music. NECHVILLE BANJOS AND ACCESSORIES With 70 fewer moving parts than a regular hookstyle banjo, Nechville’s banjos remove excess weight and make for solid dependability and beautiful music. Takes custom requests and provides the best banjos and accessories for needs and budget. Depending on options, a 10% discount or higher is available on all standard and custom products for FAI members. Contact: Tom at (952) 888-9710 or visit www.nechville.com.
SOUND HEALTHCARE Comprehensive health insurance at an affordable price for musicians and music professionals. Offers a medical supplement plan, hospitalization coverage and worldwide coverage for US residents. Visit soundhealthcare.org. SOUNDEXCHANGE The first organization formed in the US to collect performance royalties for audio recording copyright owners and artists. An independent nonprofit performance rights organization that currently represents more than 1,000 record companies, their 3000+ labels and thousands of artists. FAI will provide email and mailing addresses for artists that have uncollected royalties. Visit www.soundexchange.com.
cluding hired and non-owned auto coverage, affordable premiums, flexible coverage options, annual policies to cover multiple events or nonprofit organizations and risk management services. Contact: fai@steelbridgeins.com, (888) 647-4777 or visit www.steelbridgeins.com/folk-alliance. STORYAMP Create press releases and one-line listings for albums and concerts to send to journalists. 1 month free for FAI members. Visit www.storyamp.com. UMBRELLA GROUP EXEMPTION Provides benefits for organizations to receive nonprofit status without becoming a 501(c)(3) corporation. Benefits include no federal tax on income by or contributed to the group for furthering exempt purposes, possible exemption from state income and sales tax, eligibility to receive donations and grants, reduced postal rates and eligibility for services of arts councils and other service organizations. Organizational missions must be related to the mission of FAI. VE ASSOCIATES Quick turnaround and unsurpassed quality on short-run video duplication to large-run CD and DVD replication. Offers graphic design and full-service CD and DVD authoring, mastering, replication and duplication worldwide. 10% discount for FAI members. Contact (877) 474-7277 or (949) 4746085, or visit www.veassociates.com.
SPRINT SERVICES DISCOUNT 10% discount on select services for family and individual phone plans for FAI members. Contact: (866) 639-8354 or visit a local Sprint store and mention code NNAFM_ZZM.
VISA WRITING SERVICES Available for international artists performing in the United States and US artists touring outside the country. Offered at a special rate to FAI members as part of constituent services. Provided by Wooden Ship Productions, an agency and management company representing traditional and contemporary artists from Canada, Ireland and Scotland to petition for O and P3 visas. Through twenty years of writing visas for Wooden Ship artists, she has become the go to person on US artists visa and tax questions for the International Folk Alliance and OCFF. Petitioner for O and P3 visas has become an ever-expanding part of the services offered by WSP. Contact: Robyn Boyd at robyn@woodenshipproductions.com.
STEELBRIDGE EVENT INSURANCE DISCOUNT An exclusive event liability insurance program offered to FAI members, developed to meet the unique insurance needs of festival, concert and event producers. Offers expanded coverage, in-
WE TRANSFER - FREE LARGE FILE TRANSFER A free platform for transferring files up to 2 GB for free, including presentations, photos, videos, music and documents. Free to FAI members. Visit folkalliance.wetransfer.com.
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Group Exemption Program
Interested in starting a non-profit organization? Incorporated in your state? Curious about federal tax exemption? The Folk Alliance group exemption program may be for you! The following guidelines have been established for U.S. Group Affiliates of Folk Alliance International who are interested in being covered by FAI's Federal group tax exemption ruling. Groups that are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code enjoy the following benefits, among others: • No federal tax on income earned by or contributed to the group in furtherance of its exempt purposes; • In some states, exemption from state income and sales taxes is automatically granted to groups that have been recognized as exempt by the IRS (however, in most states this requires organizations to apply for this exemption); • Eligibility to receive donations that are tax deductible by their donors as charitable contributions; • Special reduced postal rates for bulk mailings (requires an application to the US Postal Service); • Eligibile for grant and foundation support; • Eligibility to rent space at below-market rates; and • Eligibile for arts council and service organization support. A Group Affiliate seeking recognition of exemption may apply to the IRS for its own ruling independently of the Folk Alliance by filing IRS Form 1023. The organizational requirements are essentially the same, but joining the Folk Alliance group exemption is easier, quicker and cheaper. It is, however, a serious undertaking. In this process you will warrant that your organization qualifies as a charitable organization, and you undertake to complete annual reporting requirements to maintain this status. Being part of the Folk Alliance’s Group Exemption Program does not exempt your organization from the requirements of any applicable agencies, including the IRS, INS, Department of Labor, or other federal or state entities with jurisdiction over non-profit organizations and operations. You will have requirements to your state offices and the federal government (such as Income Tax filings) because you are considered to be your own, freestanding organization for all of these purposes.
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FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL • WWW.FOLK.ORG
Group Exemption Members as of July 1, 2014 Alamosa Live Music Association American River Folk Society-KFOK American River Music, Inc. Art Works For Us, Inc. Big Stone Celtic Branford Folk Music Society Broward Folk Club, Inc. Central Missouri Celtic Arts Association Concerts at the Crossing Cornell Folk Song Society Crestone Performances, Inc. CT Folk/New Haven Folk, Inc. Delaware Friends of Folk, Inc. Ensemble Ibérica FAR - West FARM First Acoustics Clarita Filgueiras Flamenco Puro Flint Folk Music Society Focus Folk Club of South Florida, Inc. Freyda's Hands Friends of the Moab Folk Festival Gopherwood Concerts Greater Good, Inc. Green Willow, Inc. Guitart International Concerts, Inc. Harmonikids Hear in Rhode Island Image Studio In Concert Music Association Joyful Noise Gospel Singers Lansdowne Folk Club Listen Live Music
Live Oak Music and Arts Foundation Magic Hill Center for Musical Arts Memphis Acoustic Music Association Modern Roots Foundation Moonlight Music Alliance NERFA North Florida Folk Network, Inc. Odaiko Sonora Old Settler's Music Festival Organic Arts LTD Plank Road Project Route 66.com Ripton Community Coffee House Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp SERFA The Shimmering Sounds Foundation Small Stages, Inc. South Fork Music Association St. Clair Productions Summer Songs Sundilla Acoustic Concerts Series Svitanya Eastern Women’s Vocal Ensemble SWERFA The Connecticut Folklife Project, Inc. Tribes Hill Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association Upper East Tennessee Celtic Society Uptown Concerts West Side Folk, Inc. Woodshed Music & Arts Xtreme Folk Scene
If you are interested in learning more about the Group Exemption program, required paperwork, fees and eligibility, please contact FAI headquarters at 816-221-3655 or fai@folk.org.
Folk Alliance International 509 Delaware St. #101 Kansas City, MO 64105
TEL: 816-221-FOLK (3655) FAX: 816-221-3658 fai@folk.org • www.folk.org
FOLK ALLIANCE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Please fill in form with your most current information (please note if you are changing your type of membership) and return it to Folk Alliance International with a check, money order, or credit card information. You may fax credit card payments.
5 WAYS TO SIGN-UP
ONLINE: www.folk.org MAIL: Return this form with your check, money order, or credit card information to: Folk Alliance International, 509 Delaware St. #101, Kansas City, MO 64105 FAX: 816-221-3658 EMAIL: fai@folk.org using MC, Visa, Discover, or American Express or PAYPAL: fai@folk.org
____ New Membership or ____ Renewal Name:
Company/Band:
Organization (Organizational Memberships Only): Address: Street: City:
Apt/Office # State/Province:
Telephone: Home:
Cell:
Zip/Postal Code:
Country:
Work:
Fax:
Email address:
Web page:
VOTING MEMBERSHIP TYPE: Special Membership Offers for Individual Memberships ___ 1 year $70 ___ 2 years - $120 (regular $140/save $20) ___ 3 years - $175 (regular $210/save $35) ___ Lifetime membership - $1000 (payments available) Special Membership Offers for Partner Memberships ___ 1 year - $100 ___ 2 years - $180 (regular $200/save $20) ___ 3 years - $265 (regular $300/save $35) Special Membership Offers for Small Organizational Memberships
My role in Folk music is best described as: (please check up to three)
Annual revenue less than $50K Three (3) votes in Folk Alliance elections.
(Please list names and emails of members on back of form) ___ 1 year - $150 ___ 2 years - $280 (regular $300/save $20) ___ 3 years - $415 (regular $450/save $35) Special Membership Offers for Medium Organizational Memberships Annual revenue $50K-$300K Five (5) votes in Folk Alliance elections.
(Please list names and emails of members on back of form) ___ 1 year - $250 ___ 2 years - $480 (regular $500/save $20) ___ 3 years - $715 (regular $750/save $35) Special Membership Offers for Large Organizational Memberships
__ Online Music Service __ Organization/Arts Society __ Performing Artist __ Photographer/Graphics __ Presenter/Promoter __ Producer __ Publicist __ Record Label __ Student
__ Agent/Manager __ Attorney __ Camps __ Educator/Folklorist __ Film/TV/Video __ Folk Music Supporter __ Manufacturer __ Media __ Music Publisher/PRO Gender __ Male __ Female
Age Group __ 11-20 __ 21-30 __ 31-40 __ 41-50 __ 51-60 __ 60+
Member Benefits All member benefits are listed on our website under MEMBERSHIP
Annual revenue over $300K Ten (10) votes in Folk Alliance elections.
(Please list names and emails of members on back of form) ___ 1 year - $500 ___ 2 years - $980 (regular $1000/save $20) ___ 3 years - $1465 (regular $1500/save $35)
Non-Voting Membership Type: ___ Affiliate Member $50 ___ Student Member $35 School/University: _________________________ In addition to my dues, I would like to make a contribution: Contribution: $_______ All donations are tax exempt to the fullest extent of the United States law
Mail or Fax to: Folk Alliance International 509 Delaware St. #101 Kansas City, MO 64105 Phone: 816-221-FOLK (3655) • Fax: 816-221-3658 www.folk.org • fai@folk.org FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL MISSION To connect and empower the global folk and traditional music community through social interaction, advocacy, and education.
PAYMENT:
PAYPAL:
___ Check ___ AMEX ___ Mastercard ___ VISA
___ DISC ___ PAYPAL (please fill out info on right ------->)
$__________TOTAL paid
$__________ TOTAL enclosed or charged All credit card transactions are handled in US Currency.
Card #:
Cardholder name:
Expiration date:
Billing Zip:
Cardholder Signature: I agree to pay above total amount according to card issuer agreement.
Name on account: ____________________________________ Date paid: ___________________________
WWW.FOLK.ORG • FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
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Folk Alliance International 509 Delaware St. #101 Kansas City, MO 64105
2015 CONFERENCE & CAMP REGISTRATION FORM FEBRUARY 18-22, 2015 • KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
By registering for the conference you agree to abide by the parameters of Conference Management and that, absent any negligence of your part, you waive any claim for damages by your participation in any unsanctioned vent. Deadlines: Early registration must be postmarked by November 4, 2014. Final discount registration deadline is January 13, 2015. To be listed in the program directory, you must be registered by January 13, 2015. You must make your own hotel reservations and travel arrangements. Name, Company, and Hometown will be printed in the program guide and your badge. All cancellations will be charged a 50.00 handling fee. *You can also apply online at EventBrite.com
Registrant #1 (First, Last):
ADDITIONAL REGISTRANT INFO
By adding additional registrants, I agree that I am one of the following: a 2015 Exhibitor, an official showcase applicant/band, have a current Folk Alliance organizational membership, have a current Folk Alliance partner membership. Only these registrant types may register additional registrants. Anyone who registers an additional registrant without complying to these requirements will have an invalid registration. Folk Alliance will be checking membership status regularly; however feel free to purchase the registration process or contact the office to make arangements. If you need more space, please attach additional paper which includes all of the following information for each (up to 5) additional registrants. Registrant #2 (First, Last):
Hometown / State / Provence / Country:
Hometown / State / Country:
Company, Organization, or Band Name:
Company,Organization, or Band Name:
Address: City:
TEL: 816-221-FOLK (3655) FAX: 816-221-3658 fai@folk.org • www.folk.org
State / Provence:
Zip/Postal Code:
Country:
Address: City: State / Provence:
Main Contact Phone: (for program book)
Country:
Additional Contact Phone: (for FA staff use only)
Main Contact Phone: (for program book)
Email:
Additional Contact Phone: (for FA staff use only)
Website:
ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS: (PLEASE FILL OUT A FORM FOR EACH LOCATED TO THE RIGHT)
Email:
FAI Membership #: _____________________________
Registrant #3 (First, Last):
Individual US$70 • Partner US$100 • Small Org. US$150 • Med Org. US$250 • Large Org. US$500 Non-Voting Individual US$50 • Student US$35
Hometown / State / Country:
REGISTRATION FEES:
Address:
ALL REGISTRATIONS FEES ARE PER PERSON *Includes all processing fees *All fees are in US$
FAI MEMBERS:
EXHIBITORS: Exhibit Table (all exhibitors must register) US$500.00 TOTALS
City: Zip/Postal Code:
Country: Main Contact Phone: (for program book)
NON-MEMBERS:
US$350 per person by 11/4/14 US$425 per person by 1/13/2015 US$500 per person by (1/14/2015-until event)
Website:
Company,Organization, or Band Name:
State / Provence:
US$250 per person by 11/4/14 US$325 per person by 1/13/2015 US$400 per person by (1/14/2015-until event)
Additional Contact Phone: (for FA staff use only)
For advertising and sponsorship information, please visit www.folk.org/conference
Email:
Website:
Registrant #4 (First, Last): Hometown / State / Country: Company,Organization, or Band Name:
Folk Alliance Membership Fees Conference Registration Fee Donation to the Folk Alliance
$___________ $___________ $___________ Total $___________ Only one form of payment accepted per group (one check or one card)
*You can also apply online at EventBrite.com
PAYMENT: ____ Check ____ American Express ____ Mastercard ____ VISA____ DISC ____ Paypal Address ___________________________________________ Card #:
Exp date:
Name on Card: Billing Street Address:
Billing Zip:
Signature: Payment in full must accompany your registration form. Payment method: All checks are processed when received. Make check or money order payable to Folk Alliance International is US funds. No post-dated checks. An additional charge of $35 will be made for check returned for insufficient funds. Credit card payments processed in US dollars only. FAI does not invoice for payments other than sponsorship packages.
Age as of February 18, 2015: _________ My role at this conference is best described as: (please check one only) __ Agent/Manager __ Attorney __ Camps __ Educator/Folklorist __ Film/TV/Video __ Folk Music Supporter 34
Zip/Postal Code:
__ Manufacturer __ Media __ Music Publisher/PRO __ Online Music Service __ Organization/Arts Society __ Performing Artist
FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL • WWW.FOLK.ORG
__ Photographer/Graphics __ Presenter/Promoter __ Producer __ Publicist __ Record Label __ Student
Address: City: State / Provence:
Zip/Postal Code:
Country: Main Contact Phone: (for program book) Additional Contact Phone: (for FA staff use only) Email:
Website:
Registrant #5 (First, Last): Hometown / State / Country: Company,Organization, or Band Name: Address: City: State / Provence:
Zip/Postal Code:
Country: Main Contact Phone: (for program book) Additional Contact Phone: (for FA staff use only) Email:
Website:
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WWW.FOLK.ORG • FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL
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Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid Kansas City, MO Permit No. 73 509 Delaware St. #101 Kansas City, MO 64105 USA www.folk.org Address Service Requested