Tag Archives: Bill Abernathy

Bill Abernathy still Finds a Way

Just 10 minutes. That’s all the time singer/songwriter Bill Abernathy needed to complete the task he was working on at the office. He had just received the call from the hospital informing him that his dad had taken a turn for the worse, and is not expected to live much longer. He figured it would take another 10 minutes to compete what he was working on, then he would be off to be by his dad’s side. When he arrived at the hospital, he found that he missed his dad’s passing by just 5 minutes.

“I think that everybody has this vision of how they would like to spend their last moments with people they love,” Bill said. “Mine was clearly being able to sit with my dad, hold his hand and tell him I loved him one more time and just watch as the lights of this world go away and the lights of the next come on. I didn’t get that chance, and it was because I had prioritized my time poorly. I had lost that balance.”

Bill Abernathy: Find A WayThat defining moment in Bill’s life would become the theme for his latest album, Find A Way. “The real theme of the album is based on something that my dad taught me,” he said. “His comment was always that if you want something bad enough in life and you’re willing to put in the blood, sweat, tears and toil, you could always find a way to make that happen.” The album cover artwork he commissioned with artist Damijan Fric, depicts the great chasm that exists for many of us in life, between the demands of work life and the things we cherish in life. Yet the message of hope inspired by his dad resounds clearly in the title song – that it is indeed possible to find a way.

Bill grew up in a musical family, so putting thoughts and feelings into song isn’t too difficult for him. He grew up hanging out with his older brother and associated musician friends, listening to the likes of Peter, Paul and Mary and others. It would be Dan Fogelberg‘s 1972 album Home Free that would inspire him to pick up the guitar and learn how to play. “I learned how to play that album from start to finish,” Bill recently told KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste in an interview.

Bill also loves guitars, and has amassed quite the collection over the years, including a rather unique 9 string guitar. Recently, Bill talked with Forste via Skype. They discussed his unique guitar collection, as well as Find A Way and the story behind it’s songs. They talked at length about the struggle most musicians deal with between their musical passion and work life demands, and how he has managed to find his own way.

Listen to the interview here:

Download the interview here: Interview: Bill Abernathy 11/18/2016

FAI 2014: Friday Afternoon Showcase

Kelly McRaeFebruary 21, 2014 – Live broadcast coverage from the 26th annual Folk Alliance International conference continued Friday afternoon on KC Cafe Radio.  Our thanks to Kim Richey, Bill Abernathy, Chad Abernathy, Kelly McRae, Hilary Scott and Johnathan Fleig for providing a most entertaining afternoon of music.

Listen to the performances here:

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Pictures from Friday afternoon’s show:

FAI Conference 2014: Thursday Night Showcase

Chad AbernathyFebruary 20, 2014 – Our Thursday night showcase stage at the 26th Annual Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City, Missouri was brimming with wonderful talent.  Thanks to Mick Byrd, Bill Abernathy, Chad Abernathy, Bohemian Highway and Aaron Fowler and Laura Dungan for making the evening so musically pleasurable.

Listen to the performances here:

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Pictures from the show:

2014 Folk Alliance International Conference Live Broadcast Schedule

Westin Crown Center Hotel, Kansas City, MissouriJoin KC Cafe Radio at the beautiful Westin Crown Center Hotel in downtown Kansas City Thursday, February 20, as we begin our live coverage of the 26th annual Folk Alliance International Conference and Music Camp.

Tune in to KC Cafe Radio Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with live performances from our private showcase room at the conference beginning at 2PM and 10:30PM Central Time each day. 

If you miss any of our live coverage, check back here at the website, as we will offer archived recordings of each performance.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

KC Cafe Radio Stage at the Roanoke Room

(This event will not broadcast live over KC Cafe Radio, however we will offer archived recordings of the performances on the website following the show)

  • 8PM: Kasey Rausch
  • 8:20: Jonathan Fleig
  • 8:40: Jefferson Fox
  • 9PM: Mick Byrd
  • 9:20: Conner Leimer
  • 9:40: Dylan Russel
  • 10 PM: Brendan MacNaughton
  • 10:20: Sky Smeed
  • 10:40: Andrew Foshee
  • 11 PM: The Buttermilk Boys
  • 11:20: Brody Buster Trio
  • 11:40: Molly Gene

All times are Central Time

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Live from our private showcase room

  • 2 PM:Bohemian Highway
  • 2:20: Mick Byrd
  • 2:40: Richard Paul Thomas
  • 3 PM: Jefferson Fox
  • 3:20: Josh Harty
  • 3:40: Shane Lamb
  • 10:30 PM: Mick Byrd
  • 11:00 PM: Bill Abernathy
  • 11:30 PM: Chad Abernathy
  • Midnight:  Bohemian Highway
  • 12:30 AM: Aaron Fowler and Laura Dungan

All times are Central Time

Friday, February 21, 2014

Live from our private showcase room

  • 2 PM: Kim Richey
  • 2:20: Bill Abernathy
  • 2:40: Chad Abernathy
  • 3 PM: Kelley McRae
  • 3:20: Hilary Scott
  • 3:40: Jonathan Fleig
  • 10:30 PM: Sky Smeed
  • 11:00 PM: Kelley McRae
  • 11:30 PM: Street Corner Choir
  • Midnight :  Andrew McKnight
  • 12:30 AM: Spook Handy
  •   1:00 AM: Shane Lamb
  •   1:30 AM: Lisa Bell

All times are Central Time

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Live from our private showcase room

  • 2 PM: Josh Harty
  • 2:20: John Batdorf
  • 2:40: Lucy Billings
  • 3 PM: Andrew McKnight
  • 3:20: Spook Handy
  • 3:40: Lost Hollow
  • 10:30 PM:John Batdorf
  • 11:00 PM: Andrew Foshee
  • 11:30 PM: Hilary Scott
  • Midnight : Lucy Billings
  • 12:30 AM: Beth Wood
  •   1:00 AM: Lost Hollow
  •   1:30 AM: Aaron Fowler and Laura Dungan

All times are Central Time

Click Here for more information on the 2014 Folk Alliance International Conference