I met Eric Lowen while both of us were serving on the board of the newly formed Folk Alliance Region West, better known as FAR-West. ( www.far-west.org ) The FAR-West is the Regional arm of the Folk Alliance International. ( www.folk.org ) We serve the Western part of the US from… Read full post »

I thought I would share this with all those on Open Salon for the Holidays. As we celebrate our holidays and prepare to enter the next year we will have many things to look back on for this last decade. Some are sad things such as the passing of a loved… Read full post »

Several years ago Maria Dunn caught my attention with her wonderful voice and songwriting. We were fortunate to see her as well at a showcase at one of the Canadian hosted Folk Alliance Conferences.

A couple of months later we were hosting April Verch, a fantastic Canadian… Read full post »

The first time Cindy and I saw Harry Manx was at the Folk Alliance Conference in 2001. That year the conference was held in Vancouver BC. 

 The Folk Alliance always introduced us to new artists from around the Globe and this one was no different. This conference it was… Read full post »

 I read about that wonderful Scottish Fling gathering in San Francisco of fellow OS’ers. Unfortunately there was no way we could make that as our weekends have been so full. 

But I would hope those OS'ers who enjoyed the Scottish fling would love to gather in a place that… Read full post »

 Screaming Mama wrote of the “younger” oldsters who are still playing Rock in their 50’s with a mention of Cher at 60 who still going strong. They each owe something to Alice Stuart.

Like many of those who became Rock and Roll legends in the 60’s Alice began as… Read full post »

Over the years The Grammys have rarely given the award for what truly is the best release of the year in each of the categories it has. This year was no exception.

For Folk Pete Seeger won with what was not the best release of his career nor of those… Read full post »

I have been seeing a few of posts regarding great guitar players. The most recent was Gregs. As promised here is another of those overlooked  artist who many much better known players couldn't carry his pick.

Richard Thompson was named in the top 20 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of The… Read full post »

There have been questions from several people regarding the “Trespass Verse” Pete Seeger sung during the Inaugural Concert. Many had not heard it before which was surprising to me.  This began an email exchange with several on the history of the song.

 … Read full post »

  One can’t say that Tom Russell’s songs lack substance.  His songs are of real people, some are gritty, and others romantic, a few political all are filled with images etched in your mind, very real, landscapes of our world.

Russell is a story teller in song, one who… Read full post »

As a board member of the FAR-West Region of the International Folk Alliance we have a taken a special interest in the PRO's (Performing Rights Organizations) fees which have shut the doors of many music venues. For the vast majority of songwriters rarely will they receive a check from these PRO's.&nb… Read full post »

OK, I was not going to do this, but I guess I felt compelled as I have been neglecting OS during much of the Holidays and guilt now is hanging like a cloud for neglecting my duties. I do need to get to chapter 2 of Common Music for Uncommon People.… Read full post »

I have a few friends I exchange emails with about many different subjects. Some blog as I do most do not. Recently one of the email exchanges about blogging on religion ended with this last line. I liked it and decided I need to comment on this.

“I… Read full post »

I suppose the interest in acquainting others with this community which Cindy and I have come to love so much began to the surface with this post I wrote of Odetta’s passing:

http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=56134  

Since then I had given some thought as to writing a single posting o… Read full post »

I wouldn’t say it was the worst job as it was just one day in my long career.

Ric Tresa’s  post has brought back the memory of the day we worked next to a whaling processing plant at Point Richmond North of Berkeley.  This was… Read full post »

The other morning I opened my email and received from a friend the notice of Odetta had died. I intended to post this that morning but we had problems with our internet.

I had  sent an email a week or so ago to some friends informing them that Odetta… Read full post »

 A friend sent the lyrics to me from Loudons 1993 release "Career Moves". Some where in our vast CD collection of over 5,000 CD we have this. If you are a fan of Loudio as I am you know we need say no more.

Loudon Wainwright III… Read full post »

This is the mysterious Cindy who I occasionally mention in my posts.  We are back stage at a music festival where she directs the Artists Liaison Crew.  I work as a consultant for the festival.

No that is not some weird drug… Read full post »

OK, I admit to a little vanity, this was 1983 as I recall. Hmm, yes I was young once.

 It was a Musical Productions titled “Canterbury Tales”. I was 41 at this time and in this scene a 21 year old college student. Amazing what make up can do… Read full post »

Thanksgiving, November 25^th, 1976. I will never forget this Thanksgiving not for what we did but for what we didn’t do.

We had been asked if we were interested in a pair of tickets for a concert, actually it became more than a mere  concert.

My wife of… Read full post »

I have read so much regarding some who have reached for the brass ring of power feeling they destined for it without having to earn it. Number 43 George Bush is recent tragic example and we all have suffered for it, but I feel he will even more so in the… Read full post »

Perhaps I read too much.  I do so because I am curious.  I am curious for answers as well as because I need validation for some thoughts and questions I have. I read and ask questions, and do searches and look for input from many sides. More often than not I… Read full post »

As I read the commentary written by David Sirota,  , Obama, be progressive! Voters want you to go big and go liberal -- and not channel Clinton-style incrementalism.

I fell that David Sirota missed the whole point of what the election of Obama really is about.  His commentary was pretty… Read full post »

My mother’s parents had  the luxury of being a part of the middle class for only a very short time. It appeared for a very short time to be in their grasp, comfort in their declining years. My grandfather had a stroke and shortly after was diagnosed with emphysema,… Read full post »

From some of the responses to a couple of my posts I am reminded of the only young man to have died in Vietnam from my home town. It is not so much that I have  forgotten  him, but over the years he has faded into the background of so many… Read full post »