South Florida Folk Festival

[stratokatsu]

The folk festival is at Markham Park in a couple weeks, the weekend of January 19-20. The music goes on from noon to about 10 PM and includes some name acts. Mason Williams, Chad & Jeremy... others who I am sure are great, but I've never heard of. I say that based on experience. I met Jim Hurst a few years ago, had never heard of him and got a private lesson for free.

Anyone want to get together at this for the Saturday and Sunday? I'm going to be there both days.

[Chicago Sandy]

Hmmm....no gigs that weekend, Susan off in the U.P., and I have to go try and dump the condo anyway. Maybe! (Dang--should have entered the song contest last fall too, and could've gotten a side stage slot). Hurst used to play here in Chicago (in fact, he once played a Garden Walk my old band headlined).

[rposner]

Dennis - thanks for the heads up. Avi's (my wife's) birthday that weekend, I think I'll need to pass.

But I am thinking about our next get together ~ end of Jan. Have to wait a few days for calendar to shape up and then I'll start a thread (I'm Jonesin' for another acoustic jam).

Sandy - if you are seriously thinking of coming all the way down here for this, I may need to reconsider if only to meet you :)

[stratokatsu]

Here is a list of performers. I am familiar with some of them... The Buckstels, Grant Livingston, Laurie Jennings and Dana Keller and I've heard of some others, but to a large extent, these performers are unknown to me. That's cool though because a few years ago when I went to this thing, the unknowns were more amazing to me than the people I had heard of. It was one of those things where you listen to someone play and just wonder why they don't have a recording contract.

Anyway, here's the list - I'd love to hear from the AGF if you are familiar with these performers.

Saturday, on the main stage, between 2:30 PM and 9:15 PM will be...

Valerie Wisecracker
Roadside Review
Tom Neilson
Ben Scales
Brooks Williams
Cosy Sheridan
Doug Spears
Vicki Russell
Mindy Simmons
Ellen Buckstel & Gary Buckstel
Amy Carol Webb
Zoe Lewis
Chad & Jeremy - yes - the British invasion guys

On the smaller stage, between noon and 2:30 PM on Saturday will be...

Bob MacDonald
Andrew McKnight
Anne Wenz
Dave Potts
Jennings & Keller - friends of mine - a GREAT show!

Sunday's main stage performers, between noon and 8:00 PM will be...

Andy DuBois
The Peters Road Swamp Blues Band
Steve Greenberg
Grant Livingston - imagine a song about the job description of a barnacle...
The Singer/Songwriter competition winners
4 Shillings Short
Danny Schmidt
Freebo
Hungrytown
Nick Annis
John William Davis
Marie Nofsinger
Rod MacDonald
The Kennedys
Mason Williams - the Classical Gas guy

On the small stage Sunday... this being the competition and ending in time for the winners to perform at 3 PM on the main stage...

Ellen Buckstel
David Carter
Derek Aramburu
Arion Bennett
Jud Caswell
Friction Farm
Larry Mangum
Michael McGarrah
David Feder
Deny & Josh Rowand
Matthew Sabatella
Dave Potts
Lori Rosolowski
Storyhill
Allison Adams
Larry Magnum - apparently different than Larry Mangum above... I wonder???

Besides all this music, there are workshops each day on subjects including...

Singer/Songwriter 101
The Songwriter's Craft
60's Music
Singing in Irish
Children's Workshop
Adventuresome Guitar - (this title scares me!)
Using Music to Tell Stories

Bring a lawn chair, grab a poncho, also some cash for good food, cd's and cool stuff to buy.

Here's a link to the festival site... www.southfloridafolkfest.com (http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/www.southfloridafolkfest.com)

[stratokatsu]

But I am thinking about our next get together ~ end of Jan.
Rob - With my ankle and knee still bothering me, I'd be glad to host. It would be easier to host than travel.

I went to the ortho this morning about the MRI reading. I have a torn medial meniscus in the right knee and he wants me to do 6 weeks of therapy before deciding about surgery. The left ankle is healing well enough for my age, no surgery needed for that, but therapy on it too.

So, laid up as I am, I might as well have pickers over to the house... :)

[beach bob]

For some reason I am thinking I'm doing something that weekend, but I can't recall what right now. I'd sure like to go Sunday... the Kennedys are fantastic, but somehow I've never caught them.

Amy Carol Webb, Annie Wenz, Marie Nofsinger and Rod MacDonald are all Florida folkies... I've seen Rod and Annie bunches of times. Rod is an alumnus of the Greenwich Village scene during the Folk Scare of the 1960s, he is a great songwriter and performer. Annie is tons of fun and has a great sense of humor... I wouldn't be suprised to see her doing something at the kid's tent. She likes to involve her audience. I sense this is one of those events where you could just wander around and discover all sorts of new music.

Be sure to bring your hat & sunscreen... there's like two trees in the whole stage area. Gotta talk to the wife & kid and gauge their interest...

[tbondo]

I'll have to check with the boss.....maybe something that I need to attend.....OBTW don't miss Brooks Williams....he was an instructor at guitar camp...great stage presence, good player and regular guy

[sharkydude50]

Strat- appreciate the heads-up. I'll be there, maybe both days :)
I, too, am jonezin' for another jam folks! Will definately bring the Mc this time

[Chicago Sandy]

[QUOTE=stratokatsu;1347193]

Cosy Sheridan
Probably the best-known woman performer, or performer, period, on the bill. Has gotten tons of airplay on folk & satellite radio, and has written for "Performing Songwriter" magazine. Wry but subtle humor, nice alto voice. Big on the women's music scene.

Vicki Russell
Alt-folk--I've hosted her at an Indiegrrl showcase

Zoe Lewis
NOT to be missed--a female Flanders & Swann (yup, she's a Brit) rolled into one demure lady with a beautiful voice. Funny & poignant, great instrumentalist too.
Chad & Jeremy - yes - the British invasion guys
After Zoe, probably anticlimactic, but nice nostalgia.
On the smaller stage, between noon and 2:30 PM on Saturday will be...

Dave Potts
Good singer-songwriter, gets airplay on XM 15 The Village

The Singer/Songwriter competition winners
4 Shillings Short
Midwest Celtic folk legends--practically leprechauns<g>. Very good and engaging
Danny Schmidt
Took folk radio & festivals by storm, as well as Nashville
Freebo
Formerly Bonnie Raitt's bassist, a fixture at Folk Alliance (one of the few who are good enough and have enough of a media draw to be perennial official showcasers). Active Local 1000 member (a union that will shatter all negative illusions about unions, especially the A F of M). Frequent singing and writing partner of veteran pop-folkie Jim Photoglo

The Kennedys
High energy duo--saw them play the Woody Guthrie tribute concert at the Ryman during Folk Alliance 2003. Maura and Peter are definitely not your mellow introspective folkie types--expect social action songs as well as playing chops.
Mason Williams - the Classical Gas guy

David Carter
It's a miracle! He's back from the dead.........oh, not THAT David Carter? Carry on, then.

[jawbone]

Great to see the festival is back. Haven't been to this venue but I'm planning on going at least one day.I like to go during the day. The act's on the small stages are always good and it's small and intimate.

I've seen Marie Nofsinger many times over the years and Rod Mcdonald is good too. I always think the locals should get treated well at things like this.
Cheers,
Jim

[stratokatsu]

OK, who is coming and where are we going to meet?

I'll be there Saturday with a buddy and Sunday with my wife.

[Chicago Sandy]

Looks like I'll be coming--arriving Wed, night or Thurs. morning, probably staying near either Delray Beach (not *in* the condo, since we stripped the bed linens last we were there) or Hollywood with my cousins on Thurs. & Fri. night (where the estate lawyer's located). Probably going home Mon. night or Tues. morning.

Where shall we all meet? Will there be an open mic, and if so, do I need to bring a guitar (or dulcimer)?

[stratokatsu]

I'm going to make a presumption here that the setup will be the same as it was a couple years ago, in other words, the main stage where it was previously.

Unless the crowd is overwhelming around that area, which I doubt it would be because they will be watching performers, why not try to watch for each other in the area to the left of the stage as you face it. The last time I went, it was sparsely forested, so it would be comfortable if it's hot and easy to see each other around the place.

Let me know who else is coming, or email me at dmiller@bellsouth.net. I can probably wear some loud color shirt - something like a road worker orange, so if you miss my 6' 7" frame, you'll see the color and give you a hint.

[Chicago Sandy]

Woo-hoo! Got my tickets!

[stratokatsu]

I wrote one of the people who is a contact point for "general information" at the festival, asking if the setup would be about the same as it was in the past. If he tells me it is different and that where I'm talking about meeting wouldn't work, I can post here, but I would feel a lot better knowing who is planning to come so I can communicate with you personally.

[beach bob]

Dennis,

We have another function on Saturday, but I'm planning on dragging the family to the folk fest on Sunday. Probably get there early afternoon... very cool that Chicago Sandy will be coming !!

[tbondo]

My wife has reminded me that our timeshare week in Daytona begins Saturday (we'll get a three day weekend with the holiday).....so, I'll be moving in the wrong direction....you'all have fun now, ya'hear?

[stratokatsu]

I always knew buying time share was a mistake. We'll miss you pal...

[Chicago Sandy]

I have some appointments here in Chicago to which I must attend on Wed. and Thurs. afts. (dang, when the mercury should dip below zero) so will be arriving sometime Fri. instead--will T.C.B. re Mom's condo next Mon. or Tues. instead and probably fly home Tues. night. But I have my ticket receipt printed out and am definitely pumped for the weekend!

If I arrive early enough, I may catch Shabbat services Fri. night if you'll be there, Dennis.

[Kanned]

Hey all, where exactly is this event to be held if you don't mind me asking. I've been lurking around here for some time without making many posts at all, but I've been meaning to make events such as this. Possibly meeting some of you would be nice as well :)

Thanks,
Sean

[stratokatsu]

Hey all, where exactly is this event to be held if you don't mind me asking. I've been lurking around here for some time without making many posts at all, but I've been meaning to make events such as this. Possibly meeting some of you would be nice as well :)

Thanks,
Sean
Sean - You've got mail...

[stratokatsu]

OK - slight change... I've been told the layout is going to be different than how I remembered it, so the recommendation is to meet up by the pavillion where the cd's are being sold.

[Kanned]

Thanks for the email, strat.
I plan on arriving to the event early Saturday and heading back home that same day. I'm sure I'll be a misfit of some sort being half the age or so of most of you, but I'm still looking forward to it :p. Besides, what better reason to regular this forum than to meet some of you? I've soaked up a vast amount of knowledge just reading here, I wonder how much further I could get by participating :).

[stratokatsu]

Thanks I'm sure I'll be a misfit of some sort being half the age or so of most of you, but I'm still looking forward to it .
Us old guys will protect you from the dark side...

When you said in your email that you were looking for inspiration, my first thought was, "this kid is more mature than his years." It got me thinking about that same idea and to some extent, other than the social aspects of the weekend, I think I'm looking for some inspiration too.

I want to see a style of performance that is solo, without something like a tape of a band playing behind the performer. I want to learn to be totally self contained, just me, a guitar and maybe some percussion devices around my feet like a stomp box or rattles. I really admire performers who can make you hear an orchestra when they perform alone. I want to learn to do that and I have a feeling this weekend might feature some people who I could observe and learn from.

I plan on bringing a digital camera and long lens to take pictures. I hope they let us bring cameras into the festival... never thought about that before.

[beach bob]

I'm sure cameras are okay... recording devices / digital camcorders are usually not though. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday! :)

[Kanned]

"this kid is more mature than his years."

I wouldn't go that far :p.

I plan on bringing a camera myself, but it's a hassle bringing a camcorder.
A. There is just way too much to footage worth capturing.
B. I'm short and it's hard to get a good view lol.

IMO, the main reason would be A... I enjoy walking around and basking in the atmosphere rather than trying to capture it.

So I take it you can't purchase them online anymore, you have to get them at the gate? That's what I'm getting from the site, please correct me if I'm mistaken. It's $35.00 for one day, correct?

[beach bob]

Sean, that's what it looks like to me too, $35 at the gate. The website is pretty bare bones & lacking in good info. Sorry I'll miss meeting you, but you'll meet several great AGF folks on Saturday.

[stratokatsu]

Hey gang - I got an email from one of the local folkies that tells everyone what is going on in the local scene... not part of the fabric that is the festival website. There are some questions I asked him and I hope he responds, but for the moment, here's the skinny...

They sent out a list of things suggested we bring, things to be sure we can be comfortable around the place if we intend to spend a whole day from morning to night...

Camping of beach chairs

Hat

Blanket to lay on if you prefer

Shorts and t-shirt for day time heat

Long pants or sweater for evening - 20% rain chance, so temps might get just cool enough to need it

We can bring coolers with water, soda and presumably food, but there is no glass allowed in the park

Poncho, or other rain protection - if you have it, it won't rain!

Flashlight for night time

Be sure you cell phone is charged

Spare shoes and socks in case you get wet or just want to change

Cash, lots of cash... They say you need it for food, cd's, arts and crafts items, t-shirts, seat cushions, tickets if you didn't already buy them...

I wrote back to ask whether there was any ban on cameras at the festival, whether there was seating other than having to bring our own chairs, whether any vendors actually took plastic, and whether the mention of coolers with drinks meant we could or could not bring food... I've known festivals or trade shows where the food vendor agreement didn't allow it.

Sandy gets in tonight, so we'll see everyone over the weekend!

Dennis

[rposner]

Hey guys. I'm hoping to join you Sun with my daughter. I have to be home by 5pm, so I hope I'll see you there early.

[Chicago Sandy]

I was just going to take my cane (makes it easier to get up off the ground, as well as guilt-trips people into giving me a seat), but should I try to bring a seat-cane instead? It's kind of clumsy and doesn't work all that well as a cane (and being in my unheated garage right now, is COLD!!)

Leaving for the airport in under an hour, will have my 'puter in the gate area, and my cell will be on till noon central/1 pm eastern.