Folk Alliance, anyone? 2/20-24, Memphis, TN

[Chicago Sandy]

The North American Alliance of Folk Music and Dance, otherwise known as NAFA, FA or Folk Alliance, Conference is taking place Feb. 20-24 in Memphis (FA's permanent HQ) at the Marriott & Convention Center. I'll be there, representing FARM (FA Region Midwest) as well as Great Lakes Eclecti-Coustic Artists (The SASS! Trio; Andina & Rich; Cooper, Nelson & Early; The Bittersweet Christmas Band; February Sky; and Kate Early solo, with Phil Cooper backing her up on guitar). All but C, N & E and the Bittersweets will be doing private showcases (Great Lakes, Lilfest and GoGirls Music, plus A&R will be doing the First-Timers Showcase). We're hosting our Great Lakes Eclecti-Coustic Artists showcases Thurs. through Sat. nights, from 10:30-? (we'll play till one a.m., with some guest artists from Chicago, Austin, and Virginia afterwards, including perhaps one original British Invasion celebrity--that's currently being negotiated; till his manager confirms, I can't reveal his name). All in all, I will be performing in at least seven showcase slots not including our own showcase room! I will also be chairing the FARM breakfast meeting, as well as attending the Regional Leaders' breakfast and Board training session.

Of course, Great Lakes Eclecti-Coustic Artists will have a full booth (not just a groupstand table) in the Exhibit Hall. Come say hi and see us play--showcase schedules are being finalized. (We may have a slot or two available in our own room--keep checking back). In addition, rooms at the FA discount block rate are still available (but going fast) in the overflow hotel across the street, the Wyndham Garden.

Remember--unless you are a kid under 12 accompanying an adult registrant, you must be registered for the conference to attend any of the events!

[Chicago Sandy]

Okay, it's confirmed---our special guest artist in our Great Lakes Eclecti-Coustic Artists' showcase will be (drum roll, please)...........

CHAD & JEREMY! Originally, Chad Stuart was going to be coming to Folk Alliance alone, where he was to be honored along with Kathy Mattea; but he & Jeremy had such a great time in S. Florida that Jeremy is coming too!

Details:
Chad & Jeremy, GLECA showcase room 1909, Memphis Marriott, 11:10 pm Fri, night Feb. 22. (You MUST be a registered conference attendee to watch--badges will be checked at the stairwell and elevator doors). Up close & personal, entirely acoustic, FREE as long as you're a registered attendee. (Not even a tip jar). They have a brand new intimately re-recorded career retrospective CD out, and they haven't missed a beat since the Sixties. In fact, they have some tricks up their sleeves that'll make your jaw drop, and true stories that'll make you smile and more.

We members of the GLECA co-op will also be playing in the Local 1000 Concert For Peace, Main Ballroom, Thurs. Feb. 21, 10:30 pm. That's me, Susan Urban, Kate Early, Phil Cooper and Stephen Lee Rich--and we'll try to twist Ken Whitely's arm to back us up on mandolin like he did last year.
Will post the entire schedule soon--stay tuned (in more ways than one)

[Marshall]

Makes my head spin.

I'm not sure I'm ready for this. I've talked to Nancy about maybe showing up for a day or two and helping her behind the scenes with her showcase, just to get a flavor of the thing. Certainly sounds wild. And cool.

It's a little overwhelming. And I have a family trip the next week.

You, taping anything ?

[Chicago Sandy]

Makes my head spin.

I'm not sure I'm ready for this. I've talked to Nancy about maybe showing up for a day or two and helping her behind the scenes with her showcase, just to get a flavor of the thing. Certainly sounds wild. And cool.

It's a little overwhelming. And I have a family trip the next week.

You, taping anything ?

Only with the artists' permission. We will also be hosting Dean Milano, Greg Trafidlo (ex-Chicagoan now in VA), and Jan Seides of Austin, TX; and we may also make room for Jack Williams.

[Chicago Sandy]

Bump

Come visit me at GLECA's booth 16 in the Exhibit Hall Thurs-Sat 1-4 pm (except when showcasing).
Here's my showcase sched:
Wed. 2/20--9 pm, (SASS! Trio) GoGirls Music Rm 1829; 10:30 pm (Andina & Rich) FA First-Timers, Hootenanny Hall;Midnight, (SASS! Trio) Lilfest Rm. 1824; 2:30 a.m. (Andina & Rich) Lilfest Rm. 1822
Thurs. 2/21-10:30 pm (both bands) Local 1000 Concert for Peace--FA tent; 11:40 (Andina & Rich) GLECA Rm. 1909; Midnight (SASS! Trio) GLECA rm 1909; 12:30am(Andina & Rich) GoGirls Music Rm 1827; emceeing GLECA 1-2 am (Dean Milano, Greg Trafidlo)
Fri. 2/22--10:30 pm (SASS! Trio) GLECA Rm 1909; emcee GLECA (Chad & Jeremy!)11-11:30; 11:30 (Andina & Rich);
Sat. 2/23--2:30 pm (Andina & Rich) Lilfest Rm 1822l 3:30 pm(SASS! Trio) Lilfest Rm 1822; 11:15pm (SASS! Trio) GLECA Rm 1909; 12 midnight (Andina & Rich) GLECA Rm 1909; 12:40-1:30--emcee GLECA (Jan Seides)

[Bluepoet]

Sounds great, Sandy...I'd love to have come...Chad & Jeremy? Wow, been a long time since I heard them...always liked them, and Peter & Gordon, as well. I remember seeing them on the old Dick Van Dyke show!

This kind of thing is sorely missing in the scene out here, in PHX...all we have here is the occasional Jam Fest, later in the Spring, with the local bands, in Tempe (because of ASU).

Does the Folk Alliance ever come out West, for their conventions?

Anyway, let us know how it went...I'll want details!!:up:

[Chicago Sandy]

We used to come out West, but now we meet every year in Memphis, where FA is HQ'd--except every 5th year when the charter mandates we meet somewhere in Canada. There are regionals--SWRFA, in Texas/OK/NM/CO, and FARWest, which meets in CA, OR, WA, NV or AZ. Check www.folk.org for dates and locations.

Oh, and this year all spectators at the showcases must be registered for the conference. It's not too late to register on-site!

[Chicago Sandy]

It's official, Bluepoet--the FARWest conference will be in Phoenix this fall!

[Chicago Sandy]

Progress report--it's been amazing; and despite battling encroaching (encroaking?) laryngitis, today was the best day yet. FARM regional breakfast meeting was filled to overflowing; and except for one person who complained that we don't have private showcases like NERFA, SWRFA or this int'l conference, everyone was enthusiastic about FARM and is eager to attend it again this fall. Local 1000 (AF of M) meeting was warm and welcoming (and the free pizza & drinks didn't hurt, either--I left the beer to others and guzzled bottle after bottle of spring water). SASS! Trio showcase turned out well, once I was able to do my two originals without any other guitars behind me--picked two songs in the comfy part of my lower register. And it didn't hurt that among the spectators were Rodney Dillard, who'd come to see Chad & Jeremy, and (during my last song) C&J themselves (Jeremy was laughing during "Dead Animals & Leaves"). They were fantastic--we had them do two 15-min. sets (the others in the SASS! Trio didn't want to shave more than 5 min. off our set, which opened the evening;and C&J were due at another showcase at 11:30. The Andina & Rich set went very well--we picked songs in keys right in the part of my register that was still strong; and both of Chad & Jeremy's sets were extremely well-attended. They did not disappoint--the best of their hits plus their jaw-dropping slow and acoustic arrangement of "Purple Haze." Steve & I got our video back from our GoGirls set last night, and it also makes a fine live demo.

Hope my voice holds up one more day! (Worse comes to worst and I have too bad laryngitis for the "dead dog" pickin' party poolside on Sunday, there's always Beale St. or the Graceland tour).

[Bluepoet]

It's official, Bluepoet--the FARWest conference will be in Phoenix this fall!


Very cool!! I will look forward to it...!:up: