FAI RECAP 2024

FAI RECAP

I’m back from Kansas City for my annual (10th? 12th?) Folk Alliance pilgrimage – both an exhausting and refreshing experience. The main objective, of course, is to hear as much music as I possibly can, but the ancillary benefits (learning from sessions, reconnecting with friends) are equally rewarding. Just to have some quality time with Tom Paxton, Noel Stookey, and David Amram alone is worth the price of admission.

The Wednesday night International Folk Music awards honored some of my favorites: Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings, Tracy Chapman, and Folk DJ Hall of Famers Bob Sherman and Brian O’Donovan (both posthumously). Alynda Segarra (Hurray for the Riff Riff) won the Spirit of Folk Award, and the next day engaged in an insightful onstage interview with Ann Powers of NPR. Deana McCloud of the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame moderated a keynote address by Noel Stookey. A particularly fascinating session paired Tom Paxton and Beth Nielsen Chapman, who had never co-written before, creating one a song from scratch in front of the audience. Two interesting documentaries were screened: Finding Lucinda (describing the personal musical journey of Avery Hellman, a.k.a. ISMAY) and Lead Belly: The Man Who Invented Rock & Roll (with interviews by Pete Seeger, Harry Belafonte, Odetta, Mary Gauthier, et al).

Dinner on Saturday with Susan Werner was a special treat, especially after she levitated the room during her official showcase, proving once again there’s no better the performer in the universe. Another artist who performed magnificently was Connie Kaldor, the veteran Canadian, who made her showcase a family affair with her husband and sons in her band. (Connie also shared highlights of her career in the Wisdom of the Elders session, along with Tret Fure, and Dan Navarro.) Among the many strong female performances, just a few to mention are Karyn Oliver, Grainne Hunt, Muriel Anderson, Ynana Rose, Jean Rohe, Natalie Price, Paula Boggs, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Annie Moscow, Barbra Lica, Joy Clark, and Abby Posner. 

Among the men, standouts included Willi Carlisle, Harry Manx, John Gallagher, Jr., and Buggy Jive. Joachim Cooder (Ry’s son) captivated us with his playing on the mbira (a kalimba-like keyboard). Other cross-cultural partnerships included Sam Reider (a former member of The Amigos) and the Venezuelan cuatrista Jorge Glem presenting what they call “Brooklyn-Cumana,” and Dario Acosta Teich, the Argentine-born New York resident, sharing his Latin American-jazz influences with his wife, singer-cellist Eleanor Dubinsky.

As always, there were other talented musical couples, including On Your Radar alums Alice Howe & Freebo, Barnaby Bright, and South for Winter, along with Viv and Riley, Mouths of Babes, and Alice Hasen & Josh Threlkeld. And groups? How about the Accidentals (buzz-worthy as youngsters at Folk Alliance 10 years ago now with one member, Sav Maddigan, performing solo on the side), Steel Wheels (also the house band for the awards), the Henhouse Prowlers, Trials of Cato, Sturtz, Bandits on the Run, Acoustic Nomads, the Heart Collectors, and the Pairs.

So much talent from around the world! (You’ll find some photos on my Facebook page.) There were many more I didn’t have room to list. Now the challenge is to squeeze as many as possible on the air and, if I’m lucky, On Your Radar. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it!