folk-blog.com

Really, the Last Post

woodsmeister — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:32:00 +0000

Got the DNS issues resolved, in a way. I've decided not to resolve them. Resolving them caused other issues. Let the chips fall.

So, set your browser to http://www.onlinefolkfestival.com/blog/ because that's where it's going to be from now on.

The feed is at http://www.onlinefolkfestival.com/blog/feed/

OK, so that wasn't the last post

woodsmeister — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:28:00 +0000

Having DNS issues getting the new blog to show up at http://www.folk-blog.com.

Try http://www.onlinefolkfestival.com/blog/ instead. For the feed, try http://www.onlinefolkfestival.com/blog/feed/ to subscribe to the new feed.

OK, so what this means is that there will be at least one more post notifying everyone that the DNS issues are resolved.

C'est la vie.

The Last Post

woodsmeister — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:17:00 +0000

The FolkBlog is moving.

I've been using blogger.com for several years and have decided to switch to WordPress to better host it at my own site.

If you come here using the http://folkblog.onlinefolkfestival.com, you should be redirected to the new site automatically. The same if you use the http://www.folk-blog.com/ address.

You may also use http://www.onlinefolkfestival.com/blog/ to get to the new site.

If you subscribe via a feed, you will probably need to update your feed. These is a link at the new site.

New Adds, March 25, 2008

woodsmeister — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:37:00 +0000

New adds to Festival Radio since 3/5/08:

Artist - Album

Erik Balkey - Deadpan Alley
The Barefoot Boys - Sweetwater Passage
Janet Bates - For All His Wealth
The Bobs - Get Your Monkey Off My Dog
The Brombies - Live at the Spitting Llamas Bluegrass Bar
Stephanie Corby - More to Show You
Allison Downey with John Austin - Across the Sea
Flogging Molly - Float
Bruce Holmes - The Old King's Reel
Catherine MacLellan - Church Bell Blues
Kathy Mattea - Coal
Andrew McKnight - Something to Stand For
Brian Ashley Jones - Courier
Keith and Joan Pitzer - Gathering Stones
David Wilcox - Airstream

Project Re-Rip is finished. The back catalog is all there. Festival Radio is back in its full scope, with 29+ hours of higher fidelity 96K mp3PRO sound.

Festival Radio in Higher Fidelity

woodsmeister — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:22:00 +0000

St. Patrick's Day has come and gone, and so has Celtapalooza 2008. Thanks to all who listened - my listenership high for the day was 31 simultaneous listeners, which is much higher than I usually get.

After clearing out all the Celtic music, I've restarted the station in spiffy 96K mp3Pro, a step-up from 64K mp3Pro. The station will sound even better for those of you with high bandwidth. If you haven't listened for awhile, stop by and tune in - I'm sure you'll notice a difference in sound quailty.

Celtapalooza 2008 Is On the Air

woodsmeister — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:38:00 +0000

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, for the next week or so, Festival Radio will be celebrating Celtapalooza 2008, with an expanded mix of the Celtic artists you usually hear on the station.

Some of the artists you'll hear -

Afro Celt Sound System
Altan
Danu
Eddi Reader
Anuna
Black 47
Flogging Molly
John Whelan
Cathie Ryan
Cherish the Ladies
Great Big Sea
Saw Doctors
Van Morrison
Susan McKeown
Patrick Street
Planxty

And much, much more.

Festival Radio, New Adds, March 5, 2008

woodsmeister — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:12:00 +0000

The following list details additions since2/11/08:

Artist - Album
The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
Bellowhead - Burlesque
Patrick Bloom - Moses
Antoine Dufour - Existence
Stuart Ferguson - Shackles and Ties
Caroline Herring - Lantana
Robert Hill - My Corner
Malcolm Holcombe - Gamblin' House
The Hooters - Time Stand Still
Michael Johnathan - Walden
Andy McKee - The Gates of Gnomeria
Off to California - Hard Times in the Promised Land
Noel Paul Stookey - Facets
The Waybacks - Loaded
Various Artists - Paste Samplers 37 through 39

Operation Re-Rip Update - Just finished re-ripping The Schramms last night. The end is nearly in sight.

Festival Radio Update - Live 365 has changed the broadcasting packages. I now have a lot more disk storage space and will either be adding additional songs and staying at the same bit rate or broadcasting at a higher quality (96K instead of 64K). Any thoughts on which I should do? Let me know.

New Adds, Festival Radio, 2/11/08

woodsmeister — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:27:00 +0000

New Adds, Festival Radio, 2/11/08:

Artist - Album

Randall Williams - Praying for Land
Paul Kelly - A to Z masters (the letter B)
Lawrence Blatt - Fibonacci's Dream
James Moors - Hush
The Coal Porters - Turn the Water On, Boy
Cherryholmes - Cheryholmes II, Black and White
We're About 9 - Paperdust::Stardust
Tift Merritt - Another Country
Mustard's Retreat - There...And Back Again
Adam Levy - Washing Day
Various Artists - Paste Magazine Sampler #40

Operation re-rip continues. I'm now through Van Morrison. Next up - Moxy Fruvous!

Festival Radio Adds - January 28, 2008

woodsmeister — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:50:00 +0000

Adds to Festival Radio, since December 24, 2007

Artist - Album

The Callen Sisters - The Callen Sisters
Marc Cohn - Join the Parade
Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill - Welcome Home Again
Fort Pastor - Beautiful Imperfection
The Kennedys - Better Dreams
Mozaik - Changing Trains
Elizabeth Nicholson and Stringed Migration - Fly Not Yet
Bill & Eli Parras - Runnin' Outta Georgia
Tom Paxton - Comedians and Angels
Karine Polwart - Fairest Floo'er
Ragged But Right - Down Harmony Road
Danny Schmidt - Little Grey Sheep
Peggy Seeger - Bring Me Home
Sonia and Disappear Fear - Tango
Stonecraft - The Call
Chris Vallillo - Abraham Lincoln in Song
Various Artists - Acoustic Rainbow Sampler #29
Various Artists - King Easy Radio Sampler #2
Various Artists - Music to Life 2006 Award Finalists
Sydney Wayser - Silent Parade
Brooks Williams - The Time I Spend With You
Cris Williamson - Fringe

Back catalog ripping update - Longtime readers of this blog know that I had a catastrophic hard-drive crash several months ago and that I continue to rip back catalog CDs for reinsertion in the Festival Radio playlist. I store CDs in alphabetical order by artist (with a few exceptions), and am ripping them in that order. Last night, I ripped all of my Levellers CDs. Now that I have a much faster computer, a laptop, I can put the CDs in while I'm watching TV or reading a book in the evening. My focus, of course, is on listening to the latest CDs I receive in the mail, but the catalog ripping has progressed rapidly over the last month or so.

Top 24, Festival Radio, December 2007

woodsmeister — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:36:00 +0000

The Top 24 songs of December 2007, as rated by listeners to Festival Radio. Why 24? Listeners only rated 24 songs.

Rank- Artist -Song - Album

1. Eliza Carthy - Breathe - Angels & Cigarettes
2. Railroad Earth - Long Way to Go - Live From Studio A Volume 10 (disc 1)
3. J. J. Cale & Eric Clapton - Don't Cry Sister - The Road To Escondido
4. Lea - Brand New Life - Great Big World
5. Roy Zimmerman - Glory Bound Train (full song) - Faulty Intelligence
6. Pat Wicter - Heaven Is So High - Heaven Is So High
7. Dave Potts - $12.99 - $12.99
8. Donna Hughes - Sad Old Train - Gaining Wisdom
9. Richard Thompson - Wall of Death - Watching the Dark
10. Jake Armerding - Hole in the Sky (Mandolin Man) - Walking On The World
11. Carey Creed - Peace of Wild Things - Peace Of Wild Things
12. Smithfield Fair - Sheep in the Road - 20 for 20
13. Ellis Paul - The World Ain't Slowing Down - Essentials
14. Chuck E. Costa - Peace Is War - Where The Songs Come From
15. Rachel Bissex - No More Songs - In White Light
16. Laura Love - Can't Understand - NeGrass
17. Jed Marum - Lakes of Ponchartrain - The Soul of a Wanderer
18. Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer - Gun-Metal Eyes - Seven Is The Number
19. Susan Werner - I Will Have My Portion - The Gospel Truth
20. The Kennedys - Late Night Grande Hotel - Songs of the Open Road
21. Tracy Grammer - April Come She Will - Book Of Sparrows
22. Austin & Elliott - Truth That Hurts - 13 Songs Plus
23. Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem - Butter and Egg Man - Cocktail Swing
24. Donna Hughes - Not Any More - Gaining Wisdom

Paul Kelly - A to Z

woodsmeister — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:31:00 +0000

Australian singer/songwriter Paul Kelly, one of my faves, is starting a massive music giveaway.

Over the last few years, Kelly has done shows where, over the course of 4 nights, he has performed 100 of his songs in alphabetical order. He will be making some recordings from those shows available in mp3 format at http://www.paulkelly.com.au/A-Z/, at the rate of one letter per month. Registration is required.

Tracks will be up for one month, and some months will have more tunes than others. January 2008 features three "A" tracks.

If you're not familiar with Kelly, this is a great, free way to get introduced to a really fine singer/songwriter who is one of Australia's great treasures. If you are familiar with Kelly, you will want these tracks for your collection.

New Adds, Festival Radio, December 24, 2007

woodsmeister — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:32:00 +0000

I've been so busy working on re-ripping my collection that I've not focused on reporting new adds. The following list is new adds since September:

Artist - Album

"Sensible" Tom Bolton - When I Cross The River
A.J. Roach - Revelation
Alastair Moock - Fortune Street
All Jigged Out -Wish Hill
Blackthorn Band - Far From Home
Boldwood - Feet, don't fail me now
Brian Henke -The Nature of Light
Carey Creed - Peace Of Wild Things
Corinne West - Second Sight
Craig Sonnenfeld - Heart of a Man
Eilen Jewell - Letters From Sinners & Strangers
Eric Bibb -An Evening With Eric Bibb
Ernie Southern -Prozac Blues
Gypsy Soul - beneath the covers: a rediscovery
Jeff Talmadge - True
Jon T. Howard - Time For Something
Joni Mitchell - Shine
Karen Mal - the space between
Lauren Lapointe - Butterfly
Lenny Solomon Band - Maybe Today
Loreena McKennitt - Nights From The Alhambra
Martyn Joseph - Vegas
Michael Veitch - Painted Heart
Various Artists - Sowing the Seeds - The 10th Anniversary
Smithfield Fair - 20 for 20
Spook Handy - Whatcha Gonna Do?
Stan Graham - Along the Way
Stu Weaver - Spent
Suzy Bogguss - Sweet Danger
Terri Hendrix - The Spiritual Kind
The McDades - Bloom
The Steep Canyon Rangers - Lovin' Pretty Women
The Subdudes - Behind The Levee
Thingumajig - Ceilidh Party
Tom Ball - Music From Films
Tracy Grammer - Book Of Sparrows
Victrola and the Duhst Bunnies - Duhmocracy
Ylem - Anoushka

Festive Folk - More Than Just Jingle Bells

woodsmeister — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 03:20:00 +0000

Another great article from Sue Barrett, the Folk Blog Down Under Correspondent.

Enjoy - gwg

Festive Folk — More Than Just Jingle Bells!

By Sue Barrett

There are, one imagines, some rules of etiquette relating to the playing of festive music at this time of year.

And based on what one hears going about one’s everyday life, perhaps those rules dictate that festive music must be LOUD, CONTINUOUS, JOLLY and contribute to our HAPPY HOLIDAY MOOD!

At one time, it seemed that every popular artist released a live album, a “best of” album, a duets album and a Christmas/Holiday album.

There have been Christmas/Holiday recordings from Air Supply, Alabama, Joan Baez, Barenaked Ladies, The Beach Boys, Booker T and the MGs, Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Glen Campbell, The Carpenters, John Denver, Ella Fitzgerald, Art Garfunkel and Amy Grant, David Grisman, Merle Haggard, Tish Hinojosa, Billy Idol, The Jackson 5, Mahalia Jackson, Jethro Tull, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Aimee Mann, Sarah McLachlan, Joan Osborne, Elvis Presley, The Arrogant Worms, The Statler Brothers, Dwight Twilley, Twisted Sister, Jackie Wilson and more.

Some Christmas/Holiday records are joyous, some humorous, some profoundly religious. And some Christmas/Holiday recordings show that festive folk is more than just Jingle Bells…

DONALD SWANN — Sing Round the Year (1968)
Perhaps best known for his comedy work with Michael Flanders (‘The Gasman Cometh’, ‘Song of the Weather’, ‘All Gall’, ‘Misalliance’), Donald Swann also sang and wrote other music. This collection of “new” carols (sung with boys of the Westminster School, girls of Mayfield School, Putney and an accompaniment of organ, piano and percussion) includes Sydney Carter’s ‘Every Star Shall Sing a Carol’, ‘The Devil Wore a Crucifix’ and ‘Lord of the Dance’.

BIM (ROY FORBES) & CONNIE KALDOR — New Songs for an Old Celebration (1985)
Canadians Bim and Connie Kaldor present a collection of mainly new songs for Christmas (with liner notes that include recipes for egg nog and mincemeat tarts!).

CRIS WILLIAMSON — Snow Angel (1985)
Born in Deadwood, South Dakota, Cris Williamson grew up in Wyoming on the prairies at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Her album, The Changer and the Changed (1975), is one of the all-time highest selling independent records. Snow Angel includes songs by Cris and others for the holiday season. (And with her brand new CD, Fringe — just out this week — Cris returns to the West she loves the best — “the prairies, the ranch people, the mountains, horses and dogs and little kids in cowboy boots...all of it under the biggest sky ever!”.)

ODETTA — Christmas Spirituals (1988)
According to Odetta, who was born in Birmingham, Alabama in December 1930, “These songs celebrate Christmas as a time of birth, of hope, of survival. They are songs of celebration, of reaffirmation and of how my forebears managed to get through, under, over, and around oppression.” Primarily traditional songs, set to accompaniment of acoustic guitar, acoustic string bass, percussion, snare and brushes. Includes ‘Mary Had a Baby, ‘Somebody Talking ’Bout Jesus’, ‘Go Tell it on the Mountain’, ‘O Jerusalem’.

PETER, PAUL & MARY — A Holiday Celebration (1988)
Superior arrangements of new and old holiday songs, including ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’. Recorded live with The New York Choral Society.

SYDNEY PHILHARMONIA MOTET CHOIR — An Australian Christmas (1995)
A chamber choir, with a repertoire spanning eight centuries, the Sydney Philharmonia Motet Choir presents the first three sets (there’s a rumour of a lost set!) of the Australian Christmas Carols by William G James/John Wheeler, plus music from other Australian composers including Peter Sculthorpe, Ross Edwards and Andrew Ford.

VARIOUS — Winter Moon (1995)
A celebration of gay and lesbian singers and songwriters…and friends — including Lea DeLaria, Michael Callen, Arnold McCuller, The Flirtations, Holly Near and Tom McCormack.

MADDY PRIOR & THE CARNIVAL BAND — Carols at Christmas (1998)
Maddy Prior (of Steeleye Span fame) teams with The Carnival Band to play mainly very old carols and songs (with an instrumental accompaniment that includes recorder, medieval bagpipes, tin whistle, lute, taber, clarinet, fiddle, mandolin and acoustic guitar).

THE THERAPY SISTERS — Codependent Christmas (1998)
Lisa Rogers and Maurine McLean combine humor and insight, including ‘Abraham’s Lament’, ‘The Sweet Nutcracker’, ‘Listless Christmas’, ‘The Littlest Snowflake’, ‘Pachelbel’s Tantrum’ and ‘The War of the Lights’.

THEODORE BIKEL & HANKUS NETSKY — A Taste of Chanukah (1999)
Theodore Bikel is a folk singer, actor, radio host and co-founder of the Newport Folk Festival. Hankus Netsky is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, scholar and founder of the Klezmer Conservatory Band. Complementing the music, is a Latke cooking demonstration from Chasia Segal.

PRISCILLA HERDMAN, ANNE HILLS, CINDY MANGSEN — At the Turning of the Year (2000)
Three lovely voices; an accompaniment of guitar, fretless bass, banjo, violin, English concertina, accordion, clarinet, harmonica, oboe, piano, percussion and wooden spoons; and songs from Wendy Waldman, Beth Neilsen Chapman, Lou and Peter Berryman and others.

IVAN REBROFF — Christmas with Ivan Rebroff (2003)
Ivan Rebroff (with “the richest, darkest, lowest, highest, most remarkable voice in the world of music”) sings songs for Christmas in Russian, German and Latin. “A very special experience, which I will always remember, was the first Christmas after the end of World War II in 1945…Germany was in ruins, our combat was against hunger and it was bitterly cold. Even though, or perhaps because there was nothing left for us to buy as gifts for our beloved ones, this celebration had a special significance.”

DAVID HASSELHOFF — The Night Before Christmas (2004)
The star of the television series Knight Rider and Baywatch also sings! Since releasing his debut album in the mid 1980s, David Hasselhoff has had a string of platinum albums in Europe. And this pop/rock collection of “classic” Christmas songs includes ‘Joy to the World’, ‘Hark, the Herald Angels’, ‘Feliz Navidad’, ‘Stille Nacht’ (and cameo appearances from Hasselhoff’s children).

ADAM BRAND & FRIENDS — Christmas in Australia (2005)
Described as “Australia’s hottest young country artist”, Adam Brand presents Christmas fun down-under — with surfboards, utes, kangaroos, swaggies, dust, singlets, shorts and thongs, family snaps, togs, cracking of coldies, pig’s bum, pav, hedgehog, Christmas pudding, bits of chook, cricket, a new Hills Hoist, a brand new Esky and a codger with a big white beard. Plus eight bonus live tracks.

KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE — The McGarrigle Christmas Hour (2005)
According to The Rolling Stone Record Guide (the “red” edition), Kate and Anna McGarrigle “make music that’s crisp, nonelectric and utterly magical”. The Christmas album, with vocal assistance from Beth Orton, Martha Wainwright, Emmylou Harris and Rufus Wainwright, is a mixture of traditional and contemporary songs (including Kate/Anna songs, Jackson Browne’s ‘Rebel Jesus’ and Martha’s ‘Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’. And, as Anna said in an interview in December 2004, “it’s kinda a neat record”.

ROBIN & LINDA WILLIAMS — The First Christmas Gift (2005)
They met in 1971, released their first album in 1975 and featured in the film A Prairie Home Companion in 2006. In addition to songs written by Robin and Linda, there’s ‘Nothing But a Child’ (Steve Earle), ‘Old Toy Trains’ (Roger Miller) and ‘Silent Night All Day Long’ (John Prine/Bobby Whitlock).

As well as being part of dedicated albums, Christmas/Holiday songs are scattered across other recordings. The ultimate Christmas/Holiday mix tape (volume one!) might include ‘Christmas must be Tonight’ (Robbie Robertson); ‘How to Make Gravy’ (Paul Kelly); ‘The Crooked Christmas Star, ’73’ (Dory Previn); ‘The Christians and the Pagans’ (Dar Williams); ‘Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis’ (Tom Waits); ‘Cold December Day’ (Kathryn Warner); ‘No Christmas in Kentucky’ (Phil Ochs); If we make it through December’ (Merle Haggard); ‘Colorado Christmas’ (Steve Goodman); ‘Fairytale of New York’ (Shane MacGowan/Jem Finer); ‘Christmas in Prison’ (John Prine); ‘Oh Little Town in Michigan’ (Laura Love); ‘Christmas in my Soul’ (Laura Nyro); ‘25th of December’ (Bonnie Koloc); ‘Christmas Morning’ (Loudon Wainwright III); ‘Uncle Dave’s Grace’ (Lou & Peter Berryman); ‘The Christmas Song’ (The Arrogant Worms); ‘I Think it was December’ (Wendy Melvoin/Lisa Coleman); ‘Hey California’ (Catie Curtis); and ‘The Bethlehem Bell Ringer’ (Carl Cleves). A fitting conclusion to the mix tape could be the Sandy O/Pat Humphries song, ‘Peace, Salaam, Shalom’.

Sue Barrett is an Australian music writer, with a special interest in women in music. Her great uncle was the organist on the 1960s recording, Christmas at St Patrick’s (Choir of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, directed by the Rev Dr Percy Jones).

© Sue Barrett 2007

Hard Drive Recovery Continues

woodsmeister — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:59:00 +0000

I got a new laptop, which is significantly faster than the Pentium II machine I've been using (Seriously, I bought that desktop machine with George Bush $400 tax refund money in 2001, and it was not top of the line then. I'm stunned by how much faster it is).

So, I continue to rip, focusing on newer music, and the piles of CDs on the floor in my basement continue to shrink. Come the first week or so of the year, I'll be able to focus almost exclusively on ripping back catalog.

Thanks for your patience. The good news is that right now on Festival Radio, you are probably hearing the highest concentration of recent music I've ever played. So, you've got that going for you, which is nice.

Online Folk Christmas is Back on the Air

woodsmeister — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:57:00 +0000

The Onlinf Folk Christmas, a holiday gift to the worldfrom Festival Radio, is back on the air, featuring an eclectic holiday mix including folk, singer/songwriters, Celtic, bluegrass, polkas, steeldrums, rhumbas and more. You'll hear artists asdiverse as Sufjan Stevens, Sarah McLachlan, PattyLoveless, Emmylou Harris, Brave Combo, Aimee Mann, Blackmore's Night, Bruce Cockburn, Eileen Ivers, Jethro Tull, and Flaco Jimemez.

To listen, go to http://www.live365.com/stations/folkchristmas?play

Festival Radio Update

woodsmeister — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 16:27:00 +0000

The hard drive was unsaveable. I'm currently in the process of re-ripping my entire CD collection. It will take several months.

I've put a higher priority on re-ripping recent submissions, and am alternating recent submissions with back catalog. As I rip material, I am replacing tracks on the station, so the rate of song turnover will increase, but it will not be as rapid as it has been in the past for several months.

Thank you for your patience.

Glass Half Full — A Music Photographer’s Vision of Hope

woodsmeister — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 23:47:00 +0000

Another great article from our Australian correspondent, Sue Barrett

Glass Half Full — A Music Photographer’s Vision of Hope

By Sue Barrett

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

Irene Young is a music photographer, whose clients have included Laura Nyro, George Thorogood, Suzanne Vega, New Kids on the Block and XTC. Irene is also a breast cancer survivor and producer of the Glass Half Full breast cancer awareness CD, which contains songs of comfort and hope from 23 women musicians, including Jennifer Berezan, Barbara Higbie, Anne Hills, Laurie Lewis and Deidre McCalla.

IRENE YOUNG — HOW IT BEGAN…

“On 5 July 2005, I discovered that I had breast cancer. I had gone to my general doctor because my knee hurt. She is a great doctor and because it had been a year since my last physical, she did a complete check-up. She felt a lump in my left breast and sent me to a wonderful surgeon at NYC. I will never forget it. I went to the first appointment expecting her to say it was nothing, and that she would get back to me later. However, she had a pathologist there the minute I arrived. They did two biopsies, and while I was there alone in her office, she told me I had two choices — a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. I looked at her and said, “This is the real deal?” She said, “yes, ‘the real deal’.” I called my best friend who immediately met me for a glass of wine and one of our inspiring chats about the mysteries of life. Feeling emotionally nourished, I then called my sister. Everything in my life stopped so I could keep on living. I had stage 2A breast cancer and I have never been so focused in my life. I opted for a lumpectomy. I ended up having two surgeries to make certain of clear margins. Twenty-seven lymph nodes were removed with only one having cancer. By the way, my knee never hurt again.

“I learned that step by step, we can accomplish something even if it feels monumental. When I became conscious after my first surgery, the first thing that literally flew into my mind was “Irene, you can do anything!” Even when I felt awful, I would pick just one little thing I could do that would get me closer to a goal. But getting a potentially life threatening diagnosis is the real stuff of life. It affects families, I think, most of all. The feelings can become too immense to feel. Love and the fear of loss look everyone right in the face. It is all a huge opportunity for everyone to grow emotionally and spiritually. I also learned the power of community and friendship.

“Music has helped me through various tough times in my life. A great piece of music has the ability to make me feel better at the end of a song than I did at the beginning. Music has the power to transform and transport — so we can see and feel from a different angle. Before I photographed musicians, I was a amateur musician myself. It was a natural progression to photograph the artists I admired. Coming from a musical background has been an asset in many ways. For example, I feel the ability to compose a photograph is closely related to the talent of composing a song. Both have a lot to do with rhythm and with being receptive.

“After I was diagnosed with breast cancer, many of the musicians I have photographed over the years called and asked what they could do to help. We came up with the idea of a compilation CD, so that not only they could help me, but their music could help other people.

“I had done photo work for the Breast Cancer Fund [BCF] and I know their focus on the chemical and environmental causes of breast cancer is bold and important. I also chose to benefit SHARE because they help women with breast or ovarian cancer — and the legendary Laura Nyro, who was a beloved client on this CD, died from ovarian cancer. So, one organization wants answers before a diagnosis, and the other is there for someone after a diagnosis.”

NOW ON TO SOME GLASS HALF FULL CONTRIBUTORS…

Among the things that musicians Jennifer Berezan, Anne Hills, Barbara Higbie, Laurie Lewis and Deidre McCalla have in common are that they have been photographed by Irene Young. Now they share with us some thoughts about music, cancer and being photographed by Irene!
About the track contributed to Glass Half Full

JENNIFER BEREZAN — I was honored to contribute my song ‘Refuge’ to Glass Half Full. It’s a song about finding places of refuge in this increasingly technological and often alienated culture. It describes my own experience of the healing power of nature, silence, slowing down, music and connection with others.

BARBARA HIGBIE — ‘Line of Gold’, the song of mine that Irene chose for this compilation, is one that speaks to the truth that we are on this earth to love and only to love. All the achievements, worries, heartbreaks and battles are only to hopefully open us up to love. If we are getting less loving as we grow older, we're doing something wrong! Irene is all about love and healing and she has made this beautiful piece of art to support that.

ANNE HILLS — While Irene was thinking and choosing songs for this incredible project, we spoke a few times on the phone and discussed the possibilities. She said she wanted the music to inspire, encourage, and reassure, as the music had done for her. Above and beyond that, she had to make the songs fit together in a beautiful way, a challenge of which she was well aware. Different songs were considered for both their inspiration quality and how they fitted in the overall composition. My song was written by friend and colleague David Roth, rather than one of my original songs, because it worked best within the whole. Of all the songs I perform, written by others, ‘May the Light of Love’ and ‘Woman of a Calm Heart’ (recorded on the compilation by Ilene Weiss, the writer) are the two most requested.

LAURIE LEWIS — I learned ‘How Can I Keep From Singing?’ from a Pete Seeger LP sometime in my teenage years. He credited it as being Quaker in origin, but it was, in fact, written by Baptist minister Robert Lowry in about 1860. The last verse was written by Doris Plenn. No matter, really. The song always stuck with me, and when I started playing in the band, The Good Ol’ Persons, in my mid-twenties, I remembered the song and we worked it up as an acappella trio, with Kathy Kallick and Barbara Mendelsohn. Some twenty years later, Kathy and I recorded it, along with Tom Rozum filling out the baritone line. The song has a powerful message that never seems to get any less pertinent. I knew as soon as Irene approached me about including something on her beautiful CD, that this was the song I’d like to contribute. It is an honor to be included among such a powerful group of women, singing for such a good cause.

DEIDRE MCCALLA — When Irene asked me to suggest a track of mine for the Glass Half Full project, this was a difficult task for me. I know how my songs impact my life but I am always surprised by the ripple effect my music has out in the universe. I had recently performed in Boston and one of my fans at the show was undergoing chemotherapy. Her partner and I had exchanged a few emails so it occurred to me to tell this couple about the project and ask them which song of mine did they think would be most helpful to others undergoing a similar challenge. ‘Playing For Keeps’ was one of their suggestions. They voiced the same reservations about that choice that Irene and I discussed as we mulled things over. An important aspect of the song is that life is finite; there was a concern that this message might come be taken as somewhat harsh. However, the overarching message of the song is to live life with passion and intent no matter how much time we have left. The healthiest person in the world can get run over by a bus in the blink of an eye. None of us really know how much time we have left. Let us live and love to the fullest; now is all we’re really promised.

On the impact of cancer on their life

JENNIFER BEREZAN — I have had a number of friends and family who have died from cancer and many who are survivors. I am especially concerned about the environmental connections to illness and feel very strongly about addressing those on a personal and more political level. Like any life threatening illness, I have learned so much from my loved ones who have struggled with this disease...the importance of living each moment as though it is all we have, seeking out joy and gratitude for daily gifts that this wondrous life brings us, the importance of community, friendship and self love.

ANNE HILLS — As a part of a rich and encompassing community of artists and musicians, I have seen too many gifted artists slowed down or stopped by cancer. What is unique about our community is how most artists use the adversity of cancer to create new art, art that challenges ineffective social structures, and/or reaches out to bring beauty and comfort to others. This project is a perfect example of that.

DEIDRE MCCALLA — As I get older the tally just keeps getting larger. Irene and I lost a good friend to cancer in our twenties. Both my parents had stomach cancer. When Irene was diagnosed my first thought was, “O god — I am not going to lose another person in my life to this!” And so far, in Irene’s case, I haven’t.

About the power of music to comfort, heal and inspire

JENNIFER BEREZAN — Music is one of the most healing forces in the world. Whether in the form of the sounds of the rain, wind, ocean waves or beautiful human compositions. Vibration as sound and music can effect our brains, our cells, our whole beings. Many cultures in the world know that music is “medicine”. It can be a healer, a great friend to us in difficult times and a dear companion on our life journey.

BARBARA HIGBIE — We were all devastated and worried sick when we learned that Irene had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Cancer affects all of us these days. Everyone knows someone close to them who has battled it. Music has the power to quickly remind us of our higher selves and the miraculous possibilities of love and connection.

ANNE HILLS — When a project is tailored to a specific audience, such as Glass Half Full, the power of the music to effect the world, and the individual, is magnified. Irene succeeds in helping others on so many levels (through the music itself, through the sales income benefiting cancer organizations, through connecting, as well as, informing others of resources and exposing them to new music). Her work putting this together is an inspiration itself.

DEIDRE MCCALLA — When I talk about Glass Half Full in my shows, I remind people that sometimes we want to extend comfort but there is really very little that can be said. Music stretches out beyond words to soothe, to mend, to shine a knowing light on a path.

On the pleasure (or otherwise!) of being photographed by Irene Young

JENNIFER BEREZAN — Irene has been taking my picture for over 20 years! I have been so fortunate to have her as my photographer. Being photographed by her is magic. Her talent is huge and she is a compassionate, intuitive, and brilliant artist.

BARBARA HIGBIE — Irene and I have been good friends since 1981 (26 years ago!) when she first photographed me in her NYC apartment when I was 22 and she was twenty-something also. She was already a fabulous photographer and had worked with many famous people at that time. As the years progressed, her work has grown along with her spirit.

ANNE HILLS — Irene has the distinct gift of putting people not only at ease but in a place of pleasure, enjoying the dance between the photographer and the subject of the photograph. She lightly tugs on the thread that connects us all, finds the time and space to seek out the light in the person before her, and a photo session is never “just” a photo session, it’s also a laugh fest and a philosophical discussion of the finest kind!

DEIDRE MCCALLA — Irene and I have known each other for a very long time. She has been friend, photographer, and Muse to me. A number of lines in my songs were sparked by Irene; ‘Home In My Heart’ was written for her. As friend and client I’ve watched and worked with Irene from a number of angles. We shared a duplex on Bleecker Street in New York where Irene kept her upstairs living space/studio and I saw her calm the most nervous of clients as her gentle manner allowed the best in each person to bloom. I am actually not all that comfortable being photographed and Irene and I laugh that we are still working on relaxing my smile. But I love my sessions with Irene; she just makes you feel so incredibly special. You get the test prints back and you see yourself in ways you always hoped you looked but deeply feared you didn’t. Irene’s eye finds the you in you and captures the intimacy of that discovery for all the world to see. I don’t think I know anyone with a more generous heart and it’s a spirit that radiates through every frame.

AND BACK TO IRENE…
“I am working on my health with great determination. October through December 2007, as every year, we will double our donations to BCF and to SHARE. We are planning a 2nd Annual Glass Half Full concert in NYC in the spring of 2008. I am also developing a website to centralize art and products that make us feel better called comfortpie.com.

“I hope Glass Half Full helps people feel better when times seem at their worst. I hope it does a small part to raise awareness about breast cancer. And I hope the music lets people hear that independent music is alive and powerful.”

More Info:

Glass Half Full CD — http://www.glasshalffullcd.com/
Breast Cancer Fund — http://www.breastcancerfund.org/. The Breast Cancer Fund, which was founded in 1992, identifies — and advocates for elimination of — the environmental and other preventable causes of breast cancer.
SHARE — http://www.sharecancersupport.org/ . SHARE is a not for profit organization offering survivor-led support to those affected by breast or ovarian cancer to ensure that no one faces breast or ovarian cancer alone.
Irene Young — http://www.ireneyoungfoto.com/
Irene Young — Interview — www.femmusic.com/interviews%202001/ireneyoung.htm
Jennifer Berezan — http://www.edgeofwonder.com/
Barbara Higbie — http://www.barbarahigbie.com/
Anne Hills — http://www.annehills.com/
Laurie Lewis — http://www.laurielewis.com/
Deidre McCalla — http://www.deidremccalla.com/

Sue Barrett is an Australian music writer, with a special interest in women in music. Her record/CD collection includes many recordings with Irene Young photos and her library includes Irene’s book, For the Record.
© Sue Barrett 2007

Hard Drive Failure

woodsmeister — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:26:00 +0000

The hard drive on which I keep the music for Festival Radio has crashed. I will be trying to retrieve the data (like a chucklehead, I do not have the ripped music backed up - my system is quite ancient in computer terms).

So, as a result, updates to Festival Radio will be slowed down somewhat in the near future as I deal with this issue. I'll keep adding new music, and will be busy re-ripping old favorites.

Long-time Celtic Radio Host Doug Dickson Dies

woodsmeister — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:11:00 +0000

Doug Dickson, who hosted the Columbus local Celtic radio show Toss The Feathers on WCBE-FM, died Sunday, September 16 after a battle with cirrhosis and kidney problems. He was 54.

Doug was a mainstay in the Columbus music scene, and was a tireless promoter of Celtic music. You could always count on Doug to play Richard Thompson every week, and Oysterband and Steeeleye Span most weeks. I gained an appreciation for the broad spectrum of Celtic music from listening to Toss the Feathers on a regular basis, and the music I heard there has decidedly influenced the music heard on Festival Radio.

For some remembrances of Doug, visit http://www.wcbe.org/sublevelDougDickson_TTF.html. Doug leaves behind a wife, Anna, and a daugher, stepdaughter, and stepson.

Hoist a few in fiddler's green for the rest of us, Doug.

Charity E-Bay Auction for George Grantham of Poco

woodsmeister — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:05:00 +0000

I got the following news passed to me in an e-mail and am passing it along. My uncle is one of the biggest Poco fans on the planet.

PUTTING HEADS TOGETHER--eBay AUCTION FOR THE BENEFIT OF GEORGE GRANTHAM

George Grantham is known for his hits "Crazy Love," "Heart of the Night" and so many more. POCO's George Grantham, the great drummer of seminal country rock from the West Coast, set the rhythm for the group that influenced many. The band is still performing across the county in show after show, but a stroke took George off the road as the band plays on.

George's daughter, Gracie, has pitched in to come to her father's aid. To defray medical costs, she has begun a campaign [Putting Heads Together] to reach out to George's many cohorts, musical friends and admirers in an effort to secure donations of music items, swag and memorabilia to be included in an eBay auction for the benefit of George Grantham.

"In this day of higher and higher value for things of show biz history, this is a good chance to latch on to something cool, at a good price, for a great cause while helping someone who brought great music to so many," said John McEuen, one of the founding members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band who has stepped in to assist in this effort to raise funds for his friend in music.

"In their first L.A. gig, at the Troubadour, POCO opened for us (NGDB) and blew us away. A year later, we went looking for a singing drummer like George, the Ringo of country-rock."Friends who have donated items include:Timothy Schmit/Kentucky Headhunters/Scotty Moore/Steve Wariner/DJ Fontana/Don Henley/Richie Furay/Chris Hillman/Graham Nash/Orleans/John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
# # #
For more information on the Putting Heads Together eBay auction for the benefit of George Grantham visit puttingheadstogether.org.If you have an item you would like to donate, please contact Gracie at Paradddle@aol.com /or/ info@puttingheadstogether.org.For more information on George and his day-to-day progress, fans may visit the POCO website at poconut.com.

Festival Radio - New Adds September 15

woodsmeister — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:52:00 +0000

New Adds, Festival Radio, September 15, 2007

Artist - Album

Anuna - Celtic Origins
Birdie Busch - Penny Arcade
Christopher Smith - Gravedigger's Boy
Greg Brown - Yellow Dog
Joan Baez - Vanguard Visionaries
Joe Henry - Civilians
Kane Welch Kaplin - Kane Welch Kaplin
Martin Simpson - Prodigal Son
Peter Case - Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John
Steve Chizmadia - It Is What It Is
Susan Levine - Atlas
The Steep Canyon Rangers - Lovin' Pretty Women
Various Artists - Sowing the Seeds: Appleseed 10th Anniversary

Cyndi Boste — A Constant Revelation…

woodsmeister — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:31:00 +0000

Blogger's Note - Sue Barrett is a music journalist and writer in Australia covering folk and acoustic music, with particular emphasis in women in music. From time to time, she will be contributing artist profiles and reviews to the folkblog.

gwg

Cyndi Boste — A Constant Revelation…

By Sue Barrett

For Australian singer-songwriter Cyndi Boste (whose surname rhymes with “toast”), growing up in the foothills of Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges provided idyllic moments (“bush, cows, paddocks, bikes and Tarzan swings”) and challenging insights into human behaviour (“I learnt a lot about life in childhood”).

From that time, Boste has had a love of music.

“I was always buying records — every Friday, mum and I would go down the street and buy four or five singles. It was a real passion. And I always had a trannie [transistor radio] under my pillow, listening to [radio station] 3XY!”

It was during her primary schools days, that Cyndi Boste began playing an instrument — a piano accordion.

“An Irish sailor bought me a tiny little thing — three keys each side. But I moved on to the guitar when I was 12 or 13 — guitar was a lot cooler — you’re not going to pick up with an accordion!”

At around 15 years of age, Boste started working professionally as a musician and, for a couple of years in her teens, was a regular guest on the Channel 0 television program, The Early Bird Show.

“They’d place me on mushrooms and haystacks, bring Marty the Monster in and Tim the Tiger, and I’d do a couple of songs each week.”

During the early part of her career, Boste performed covers, including songs by Don McLean, Neil Young and John Denver, essentially being a “human jukebox”.

“For a long time I got caught up in making a living. I was getting paid really well to do covers in pubs [bars] — it was a booming scene. The music was paying more than my day job, so it didn’t take much to convince me to give up the day job and just do the music. I had too much fun playing in the pubs in my 20s and I didn’t think too much about making my own music.”

Gradually, however, Cyndi Boste (whose husky, soulful voice has been likened to that of Lucinda Williams, Bonnie Raitt and Gillian Welch) transformed into a singer-songwriter, with her roots-based music (folk, blues, Americana, soul, country) telling of travelling the highways and byways of life, complete with potholes, detours and dead ends.

“In about 1990, I did an acoustic tape of some songs that I’d written. I try to forget about the tape — it’s pretty bad! — although there are people out there who still really like it.

“When my brother Rory was in the band Steve Boyd and the Preachers, I’d go to see them perform all the time and so I started to understand that there was another way to do music. Then I joined the band — what a treat — I’d never played with other musicians before. I talked to Kerryn Tolhurst, who produced an album for Steve Boyd and the Preachers, about making my own record. And that’s been my life ever since.

“My songs come in different ways. Sometimes, although very rarely, a song comes in one big blurp and I can sit down and almost write it verbatim. Usually, however, they just come from living life and keeping moving — all of a sudden a line or an idea will come. From that first inspiration, the rest is the artistry or the work really. If I’m half-way through a song and it’s not doing anything for me, I won’t put it aside to come back to, I just dump it!

“I’m not a prolific song writer — although I think that I’d write a lot more if I didn’t have to run the business. One of my greatest frustrations is the hours that are lost to running a small business — it breaks my heart.

“If I seriously think about whether I should walk away from music, because it feels too hard or it’s costing too much money, then the pain in my gut is so strong that I can’t think about it any more and I have to keep going. If I were to retire from the road just to write songs, then that would be retirement bliss. The touring is a grind, it really is, and it’s getting harder and harder in this country to tour successfully.”

Boste laughs at quote from a recent novel that describes artists as “a mysterious combination of deep passion, volatile sensitivities, and uncommon vision…persons of rare fragility and unsurpassed emotional complexity”.

“I know that person — can you put those words on my tombstone!”

For Boste, writing and performing her own songs is very, very personal and extremely exposing.

“I don’t suffer very much from performing nerves, but always, no matter what I’m doing, when I wake up on the morning of a show, the anxiety is hideous. Then I’ll have a cup of tea and, from almost that moment onwards, the anxiety goes. Once a show is over, I like to have a few beers and sit down and relax. And, although I hardly sleep at all, I do sleep better after a show!”

Select Discography
Home Truths (1999)
Push Comes to Shove (2002)
Scrambled Eggs (2004)
Foothill Dandy (2006)

Website
http://www.cyndiboste.com.au/

Sue Barrett is an Australian music writer, with a special interest in women in music. She has interviewed Cris Williamson, Cindy Bullens, Catie Curtis, Cathy Fink and Cheryl Wheeler (as well as many performers whose first name didn’t start with the letter ‘C’!). Sue also listened to 3XY on a trannie when she was growing up.

A small part of this article appeared under the title “Cyndi City” in the November 2006 issue of the Australian music magazine, Rhythms.

© Sue Barrett 2006/2007

Festival Radio New Adds

woodsmeister — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:37:00 +0000

I've decided that simpler is better. I'm trying out a name change - the Online Folk Festival is now Festival Radio. We'll see how that works for awhile. If not, I'll change it back. The website will remain at http://www.onlinefolkfestival.com for now, since the domain is paid for and a radio production company has festivalradio.com.

I got back from a week in northern Michigan to find some great new releases from The Strangelings (Pete and Maura Kennedy's new band) and Christine Lavin in my mailbox. Of course, they have been added. Here is the complete list of new adds since I reported last:

Artist - Album

The Strangelings - Season of the Witch
Christine Lavin - Happydance of the Xenophobe
Mae Robertson - Dream
Peter Himmelman - The Pigeons Couldn't Sleep
chris and thomas - land of sea
The Rankins - Reunion

New Adds, August 3, 2007

woodsmeister — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:07:00 +0000

New Album Adds to the Online Folk Festival, August 3, 2007

Emily Kurn - Things Change
Brad Colerick - Lines in the Dirt
JD and the Longfellows - Confessions
Gwendolyn - Lower Mill Road
Dale Boyle - Small Town Van Gogh
Keith Greeninger - Glorious Peasant
Scott Orr - Miles From Today
Lisa Lawrence - Yours to Break
Hem - Home Again, Home Again

Top 28, Online Folk Festival, July 2007

woodsmeister — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:53:00 +0000

Listenership has hit a summer lull for the Online Folk Festival, so we have only a Top 28 for you for July:

Artist - "Song" - Album

1. Johnny Cash - "Ballad Of Barbara" - Live from Austin, TX
2. Stan Bozek - "Vaquero" - Solo
3. Knot Fibb'n - "The Catholic Boy/Fiddler's Green" - Knot Loitering
4. Carol Noonan - "Emma" - Somebody's Darling: Songs of War, Loss and Remembrance
5. Grey Eye Glances - "Halfway Back" - Eventide
6. Suzzy & Maggie Roche - "Who Cares" - These Times We're Living In
7. Mark Knopfler - "Done With Bonaparte" - Golden Heart
8. Hannah Blaylock & Edens Edge - "White Oak Trees" - Lights of Home
9. Claudia Russell - "Aurora" - Ready to Receive
10. Christine Kane - "(No Such Thing As) Girls Like That" - Rain And Mud And Wild And Green
11. The Stringbusters - "Holiday For Strings" - Rhapsody in Uke
12. Greg Greenway - "I Love Everybody" - Weightless
13. The Byrds - "Wild Mountain Thyme" - There Is A Season
14. The Burns Sisters band - "Democracy" - Wild Bouquet
15. Steve Robinson - "Please Emmalene" - Undercurrent
16. Bruce Cockburn - "The Whole Night Sky" - The Charity of Night
17. Anonymous 4 with Darol Anger and Mike Marshall - "I'm On My Journey Home" - Gloryland
18. Michael Kelsey - "Rain Whispers" - The Woodchopper's Ball
19. Richard Shindell - "The Next Best Western" - Reunion Hill
20. Kris Drever - "Harvest Gypsies" - Black Water
21. John Denver - "Follow Me / Leaving On A Jet Plane" - An Evening With John Denver
22. Gene Keller - "Big Boys" - Every Song the Mockingbird Knows
23. Mindy Smith - "Jolene" - One Moment More
24. Karen Mal - "Matt Hyland" - Dark Eyed Sailor
25. Ralston - "Everybody But You" - Carwreck Conversations
26. Tom Russell - "Stealing Electricity" - Love and Fear
27. Work of the Weavers - "Long Time Gone (Hudie Ledbetter Was a Hell of a Man)" - We're Still Here
28. Emmylou Harris - "The Pearl" - Red Dirt Girl