 | | Reviews | | |  NORTH AMERICAN FOLK ALLIANCE
San Diego 26-29th February 2004
GALLERY >>
Sixteen years ago, roughly 100 people involved in the presentation of folk music and dance in the US gathered together to discuss their shared experiences and set up a regular meeting; each year since then, their numbers have increased at a dramatic rate. San Diego is the setting for 2004 and despite the cold temperatures and unheard-of rainfall, the buzz about the place is tangible, with impromptu sessions around the pool during the day and tower blocks full of showcases at night.
The daytime programme includes everything from 'Being Your Own Booking Agent', 'Record Production' and 'Folk In Schools', to oral history sessions with major names such as The New Lost City Ramblers. There's a large trade fair in the basement of the Convention Center with companies like Fender and Martin Guitars touting their wares alongside artists and agencies, music publishers and folk societies.
Speaking to people here, the common feeling is that coming together from all corners of the country strengthens the community as a whole and makes the folk music scene in the US feel very integrated and active - a welcome state of affairs in a country this size. Everybody is meeting old friends and making new ones and networking is definitely the name of the game. It's a very friendly and well-organised event and you soon feel at home no matter where you've travelled from.
The daytime events are interesting and informative but it's at night that the spirit of the Convention comes to life. In the main hall the 'offical' showcases feature old friends such as Karan Casey and Jim Malcolm, performing to a captive audience of people who can significantly further their careers over here, but the unique and most enjoyable aspect of this event is the privately-organised showcases occurring in the centre's hotel rooms throughout the night. It's like having 100 folk clubs in one space, with continuous entertainment until the wee small hours. You can wander at will from one to another, usually finding free wine or beer and food, as performers and agencies take advantage of the huge gathering of interested promoters. There's a real buzz about the place from day one, and the performer who seems to create the biggest stir is Scottish ex-pat David Francey, a one-time construction worker who lives in Canada. When I stumble across his showcase on the second night I immediately understand all the fuss - he's a natural songwriter and performer with some of the simplest and most affecting songs I've heard in a long while. Even big guns Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon are singing his praises and the 16th Folk Alliance has definitely been a success for him.
To have a gathering such as this once a year is an important and rejuvenating experience for anyone involved in the business of folk music. The only expectation that seems to have been dashed involves the weather ... didn't the song promise us that it never rains in Southern California? You could probably sue someone in the US for that this week.
Kit Bailey - February 2004
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 It was an incredible display of talent. Some of which was tucked away in rooms where many may never have ventured. One such room was hosted by Neale and Laurie at the Fox Run Room - an impromtu benefit showcase which featured ( and there may have been others these are the ones I remembered) the gifted Tracy Grammer, Lowen and Navarro, Freebo, Rachael Davis, We're About 9, Laurie McClain, Amy Speace, Kathrin Shorr and the recipient of the benefit Ralston, who earlier in the week had lost an instrument to a fire at the hotel. Rallyed together through the efforts of a number of people the evening was a delightful display of compassion and concern for a fellow musician, who having witnessed this outpouring of love and sympathy managed to sing a touching song of appreciation with the accompaniment of Freebo on bass and Jagoda (Amy Speace's percussionist)to the capacity filled room. Truly an inspirational event which for most people in attending the conference it will be only a st! ory to be shared by those of is who were there. But a fine moment indeed which showed the folk community as such. It was rumored that Tom Paxton even offered some his wardrobe to assist any needs from losses in the fire. Such is the legacy of folk musicians...
Linda, Virginia
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Folk & Acoustic
