Hedgehogs Meet Folk Music Celebrities at NERFA

Dateline: Monticello, NY

The Hedgehog Correspondent Corps made a concerted effort to interview as many folk musicians as had time to speak with us during the course of the 2007 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference in Monticello, NY.  We wondered: what is folk music?  What qualifies a song to come under that heading?  What isn't folk music?  Big Bill Broonzy's famous quote aside, has the definition of folk music changed over the course of time?  We asked, we listened, and we joined in the jams when we could.  Here are a few of the people we met at the conference:

We have to begin with our friends from Long Island (who, contrary to stereotype, did not pronounce it luongeyes land!) because we spent most of our weekend singing songs with them down in the lobby.

Amazing harmonies, great songs -- both originals they'd written and traditional songs from sea and shore of every era, all folk music -- but, best of all, delightful people: Stuart Markus, Joe Iadanza, Hillary Foxsong, and Glen Roethel.

Jon T. Hall was a featured artist in the Thursday night Folk DJ Showcase: a singer-songwriter we heard for the first time this year.  Original songs, combining universal truths and individual perspective.  Folk music.

One of our long-time favorite musicians, Zoe Mulford (here with her mom, Chris) was featured in a TriCentric Showcase this year.  Among the songs she chose for her set were The Street That Wasn't There -- which could have been a Twilight Zone episode -- and Life Is Too Short to Fold Underwear, which Erma Bombeck would have loved.

Joe Crookston is a dear friend from back home, and we loved catching up with him here! Joe's just putting the finishing touches on his latest CD, featuring songs he wrote based upon interviews with people around New York State.  Joe tells their stories of wisdom, woe, and wisecracks in song: folk music!  (Joe's link here brings up recordings of these songs!)

Sue Jeffers had a message to share:  Folk the war!  Yes, there were protest songs of a political nature -- folk music includes that, but it's important to remember it is so much more!  It's really that when folk music gets its teeth into a cause, it is an unforgettable experience.  Don't pigeonhole Sue -- she has a lot to say!

Guy Mendilow and his band, including  feature what merchandisers categorize as "World Music" -- which is what U.S. retailers christen any music reflecting a culture other than North American or British culture.  Guy, posing here with his berimbau, has hosted NERFA workshops meant to shatter those false walls: it's all folk music, when it is what people are singing, no matter where they live.

You want topical, biting humor that will shock and amuse?  Check out Eric Schwartz, composer of such fine selections as Get Your Jesus Off My Penis and Clinton Got a Blow Job.  Folk music, remember?

Canadian Ken Whiteley: a roots musician with a vast repertoire of blues, folk, and gospel together with his original music, Ken's bio describees him as a "playing encyclopedia."  He isn't as stern as he looks here, either, by the way.  At the jam session in the Red Hot Canadians Showcase room, there were times Ken had me laughing too hard to sing.

John Flynn.  He writes of history (Hope Sleeps -- about Anne Frank), of community (There's No Them There), and the death penalty (Full Circle).  He can make you laugh (Minnie Lou) and then cry (Kadire) -- and he has CDs for children as well.

Here's Freebo, Bonnie Raitt's longtime bassist, and Sonny Ochs, sister of Phil.  A powerhouse duo, representing an awesome musical heritage.  I love that Sonny keeps Phil's songs alive in her Phil Ochs Song Circles, just as I love the new songs Freebo writes today, such as The Freedom Wall on his Before the Separation CD.  Old or new, young or old, it's all folk music.

So... after all that, what is folk music?  The best that's out there -- we only scratched the surface here!