NERFA Recap

NERFA RECAP

Every November for 15 years or so I’ve made a pilgrimage to the Northeastern Regional Folk Alliance (a.k.a. NERFA). The objective is to hear as many artists as humanly possible over three days and nights in brief showcases onstage and in hotel rooms – and just as important, catch up with friends in the folk community.

The 2019 NERFA didn’t have as many “name” artists as some years, but the quality of the performers was as high as it’s ever been.  It started on Thursday afternoon with a panel called “On the Griddle,” which listens to 60 seconds of an artist’s song and offers feedback to the room. As a perennial panelist, I’ve often found that the 60-second introductions have whet my appetite to hear more of the artists in performance. That was definitely the case with Orly Bendavid, a Brooklyn singer-songwriter I knew only by reputation but who emerged as one of my main discoveries of the conference.

Other Griddle submissions that caught my ear were Paul Nelson, from New Hampshire, and Matt Burke, from Nashville. Sawyer Fredericks, from upstate New York, already has a reputation as a winner on The Voice and a headliner at Falcon Ridge, and the song we heard on the Griddle just confirmed that. New York-area artists Fred Arcoleo, Steve Robinson, and, especially, Rachael Sage acquitted themselves well on the Griddle.

Another NERFA tradition is the Thursday evening Folk DJ Showcase, which allows us radio types to present our favorite new artists in 10-minute sets to the conference. I was excited to present Willa Mamet, whose voice had captivated me at the Lounge Stage at Falcon Ridge. Based in Oakland, CA, but a Vermont native, she comes from a family of performers of all kinds – acting, directing, playwriting, and music – and she’s got the talent and the stage presence to emerge from the crowd. Another standout from the Folk DJ showcase was Jenner Fox, a songwriter from Portland, OR, who moonlights as a rover guide in Patagonia. Closer to home, I heard Eli Smith, a mainstay of the Jalopy old-time music scene, for the first time, and appreciated Dan  Whitener, of Gangstergrass fame, with fresh ears. And Robinson & Rohe from Brooklyn, though hardly newbies, remain something special.

As often is the case, the standouts among the Formal and Semi-Formal showcases skewed female. The two most worthy of special mention were Annie Sumi, from Ontario, who has an ethereal, yet joyful voice, and Alisa Amador, from Cambridge, MA, who brings her Hispanic heritage to her songs. Showing geographical range, there were Alyna Rakel, from Toronto, Corey Laitman, from Massachusetts, Katie Dahl, from Wisconsin, and Kora Feder, from California. But don’t forget New York: Lily Henley, Mosa (the stage name of Melissa Frabotta), and Sophie Buskin are all strong performers. Diana Jones, the songwriter’s songwriter, was a welcome addition to NERFA after a hiatus.

It was also a pleasure to hear one of folk’s most distinctive songwriters, Peter Mulvey, once again. Also on the male side, Roger Street Friedman made Long Island proud, while Benjamin Dakota Rogers, from Ontario, showed why I booked him for On Your Radar immediately following the conference.  Two men who made an impression in the late-night guerilla showcases were Kemp Harris, a keyboard player from Cambridge, MA, and Jordi Baizan, a troubadour from Houston.

A couple of progressive bluegrass groups from the New York area, Blue Plate Special and Damn Tall Buildings, injected energy into the proceedings. And we can count on married musical couples for harmony: Tragedy Ann and The Bombadils, from Canada, The Early Risers, from Vermont, and Ordinary Elephant, from Texas. Also from Canada, the compassionate duo of Eve Goldberg and Jane Lewis, a.k.a. Gathering Sparks. And perhaps the most original and irresistible group: Les Royals Pickles, from Montreal, who create swinging arrangements with a folky core, stunning vocals, and a horn section.

Just a couple other highlights from the guerilla showcases: Matt Nakoa, Kipyn Martin, Megan Burke, and Dan Navarro did an in-the-round session which was breathtaking in its consummate musicality. And as I was winding down at the end of Saturday night (much earlier than may people with more stamina), I chose to listen to the lovely voice of Alice Howe in Ron Olesko’s room. Then, as The Levins took over the room, knowing I only had one more song in me, I asked what they could play for me. They obliged with an unreleased song they knew I liked, “America Could Be,” and I went to bed content.

All of this was just the tip of the iceberg. Apologies to all those I didn’t have room to name. I should include mention of several honors, though. Ron Olesko won the inaugural NERFA Creator Award for his tireless work on his 24/7 streaming channel, the Folk Music Notebook, and Ellis Paul won the inaugural NERFA Album of the Year for his excellent The Storyteller’s Suitcase. Noel Paul Stookey eloquently made the case for bridging generations in his keynote speech, and in the final workshop on Sunday morning, “The Wisdom of the Elders,” Sonny Ochs and Ron Olesko invited Rich Warren from WFMT in Chicago, Wanda Fischer from WAMC in Albany, and me to share insights into our nearly 150 years combined in radio. I know we were deeply honored by the recognition, especially to share it with our close friends. NERFA is one more way the community is made manifest.

photo by Jake Jacobson