FAR-West Hosts a Virtual Gathering on Oct. 8
Like its counterparts at the other regional affiliates of Folk Alliance International, the board of directors of Folk Alliance Region-West (FAR-West) felt compelled to cancel its annual conference this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. FAR-West will, however, host a virtual gathering on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. Entitled “We Belong Together,” the free, one-day event will be in two parts and will take place via Zoom and YouTube.
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SWRFA Hosts Virtual Conference, Sept. 25-27
Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA) hosts a 2020 Virtual Conference online from Friday, September 25 - Sunday, September 27. It will feature a dozen official showcases, several workshops, breakout sessions and one-on-ones, open mics, and song assignments.
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FAI Folk Radio Charts – August 2020
Ghost Tattoo by Americana quartet Kristen Grainger and True North was the top album on folk radio during August 2020, while “Keep the River on Your Right,” one of its tracks, tied with Canadian prairie roots balladeer Scott Cook’s “Say Can You See" for the month’s top song. John McCutcheon, a revered folksinger-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, was August’s most-played artist -- closely followed by Cook and Granger. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.
[Click on the headline to view the monthly charts that are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com with permission.]
TradMad Virtual Camp 2020 Airs on Folk Music Notebook, Aug. 31-Sept. 3
Each summer, folks flock to Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, Massachusetts for an annual six-day gathering of live music and dance for adults interested in Anglo-American traditional music and dance known as TradMad. Although the current COVID-19 pandemic prompted the Folk Music Society of New York (aka Pinewoods Folk Music Club) to postpone this year’s event, TradMad Virtual Camp 2020 will be presented Aug. 31 - Sept. 3 via FolkMusicNotebook.com.
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FAI Folk Radio Airplay Charts – July 2020
Cabin Fever: Songs From the Quarantine by John McCutcheon was the top album on folk radio for a second consecutive month in July 2020, while the revered folksinger-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist also was the month’s top artist and folk-rock harmony trio Gathering Time’s rendition of “Get Together” was the month’s #1 song. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.
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Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Goes Virtual
Over the span of more than 30 years, the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival has drawn thousands of music lovers to Hillsdale, New York in the foothills of the Berkshires near the tri-state corner of NY, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Although the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic prompted the cancellation of this year’s festival, a virtual one will take place online in its place over the same extended weekend – Thursday, July 30 - Sunday, August 2, 2020.
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Virtual WoodyFest Streams Online, July 14-19
Thousands of people won’t be descending on Okemah, Oklahoma, Woody Guthrie’s hometown, this month due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, the nonprofit Woody Guthrie Coalition hosts a virtual festival the week of the iconic songwriter, singer, poet and activist’s birthday, July 14-19, 2020 – in place of the annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. The free virtual WoodyFest may be streamed via Facebook, YouTube and Twitch, as well as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Play, Roku, and Folk Music Notebook's website and Facebook page.
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FAI Folk Radio Airplay Charts – June 2020
Cabin Fever: Songs From the Quarantine by John McCutcheon was the top album on folk radio during June 2020, while the revered folksinger-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist also was the month’s top artist and “$20 Bill (For George Floyd)" by Tom Prasada-Rao was the month’s #1 song. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.
[Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to view the monthly charts that are posted with permission.]
Old Songs and Folk Music Notebook Partner to Present a Virtual Festival, June 26-28
Old Songs, a three-day festival celebrating traditional music and dance, usually held at the Altamont Fairgrounds in upstate New York on the last weekend in June, is partnering with Folk Music Notebook, the 24/7 internet folk radio channel created and curated by veteran folk DJ Ron Olesko, to present a virtual festival, June 26-28, 2020. The audio-only event will feature new performances by artists who would have been at this year’s festival, along with archival recordings from past festivals.
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FAI Folk Radio Airplay Charts – May 2020
The Night You Wrote That Song: The Songs of Mickey Newbury, as interpreted and performed by Gretchen Peters, was the top album on folk radio during May 2020, closely followed by 2020 by Eliza Gilkyson. “2020 Vision” by Danny Schmidt was the month’s #1 song, while Bob Dylan was the most-played artist. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.
[The monthly top albums,songs and artists charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com, with permission. To view them, along with some additional narrative, click on the headline.]
Winners Named in Canadian Folk Music Awards
Recipients of 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards were announced during a 30-minute live stream, April 4, on the CFMAs’ website and Facebook page. Manitoba-based duo The Small Glories (Cara Luft and JD Edwards) was named both Vocal Group and Ensemble of the Year, while Assiniboine & the Red (its sophomore release) was named Contemporary Album of the Year. To continue reading this article and to see the complete lis of winners, click on the headline.
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