On November 13, Folk DJs Graham & Barbara Dean and Wanda Fischer will lift their own voices in song during an AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) conference at the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa in Kerhonkson, New York.

The Deans host the two-hour “Common Sense Songs” program that airs weekly on WBCR-FM in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.  They recorded and released a collection of protest and topical songs entitled Tom Paine’s Blues in 2004.  Featuring special guests Kim and Reggie Harris, the CD contains 10 original songs by Graham, as well as a poem by Barbara and two songs by other writers. 

Fischer hosts the long-running “Hudson River Sampler” on WAMC in Albany, New York and other outlets in Northeast Public Radio’s network of regional public radio stations serving parts of seven states.  She released Singing Along with the Radio in 2003.  Recorded with a few artists with whom she had always wanted to sing, the CD features a dozen of Fischer’s favorite contemporary and traditional songs, along with one original number.

Now in its second year, the AcousticMusicScene.com Midnight Hoot is a three-hour invitational song swap designed to be like a late-night song circle around a campfire, only without the fire and in the cozier confines of a hotel room.  It follows the Folk DJs’ Choice showcase on Thursday night, preceding Friday’s official opening of the NERFA conference – an annual event that attracts more than 600 folk music aficionados – including performers, presenters and promoters. 

More than 40 independent recording artists from throughout the U.S. and Canada also will perform during the Midnight Hoot. In the spirit of community that AcousticMusicScene.com seeks to foster, performers are being encouraged to make connections and spontaneously back each other up when appropriate and the spirit moves them.  Performing artists will include Beaucoup Blue, Meg Braun, Beth Desombre, Lara Ewen, Hillary Foxsong, Freebo, Friction Farm, Rachel Garlin, Barbara Garriel, Gathering Time, Eve Goldberg, Raymond Gonzalez, Jenny Goodspeed, Paul Helou, Lara Herscovitch, Joe Iadanza, Jacob Johnson, Stuart Kabak, Lindsay Mac, Lucky 13, Angelo M, Jay Mankita, Stuart Markus, Kelleigh McKenzie, Jaime Michaels, Danielle Miraglia, My Dad’s Truck, Penny Nichols, Claudia Nygaard, Karyn Oliver, Glen Roethel, Raina Rose, Danny Schmidt, Patricia Shih, Roger Silverberg, Betty Soo, Sally Spring, Hank Stone, Abi Tapia, Lisa Taylor, Randall Williams, Brad Yoder and Larry Zarella.

AcousticMusicScene.com also will host late-night music showcases on Friday and Saturday, as well as a special Saturday afternoon multi-CD release party featuring Gathering Time, Joe Iadanza, Guy Mendilow Band and Glen Roethel. More information will be posted soon.