Tag Archives: folk

FARM 2013: Thursday Night Showcase

John Sherman & Randy ClepperFriday, October 25, 2013 – Last night’s live Private Showcase broadcast from the Folk Alliance Region Midwest Conference in St. Louis, Missouri was a great success!  A special “Thank You” to Rob Lytle, Elaine McMillan, RPT, Gary Paul, Jeremiah Birnbaum and John Sherman and Randy Clepper for providing a wonderful evening of entertainment.

Listen to Thursday night’s Performances Here:

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Pictures from Thursday night’s showcase:

Folk Alliance Region Midwest Announces Fall Conference

Folk Alliance Region MidwestThe annual midwest gathering of folk and acoustic musicians, venue operators, radio DJs and music enthusiasts will be held in St. Louis, Missouri October 24-27.  The event, put on by Folk Alliance Region Midwest, or FARM, will take place at the Sheraton Westport Plaza Hotel.

The conference, with something for anyone that has a penchant for folk and acoustic music, features nearly 20 workshops on topics ranging from the history and tradition of the genre, to crowd sourcing, using a PA, and releasing a CD.  Highlighting the conference will be a Songwriting Master Class, featuring keynote speaker Melanie Safka.

Of course, a conference revolving around music will have plenty of it to offer.  The main evening showcase performances, followed by late-night “Performance Lane” events will offer music enthusiasts access to over 100 musicians and music performances across the three evenings.  In addition, full conference registrants will have access to afternoon Performance Lane showcases and early morning private showcase performances.

More information and registration for the conference is available here. Registration options range from a full-access conference package to a “taste of farm” package that is limited to the evening showcase events.  Early-bird registration discounts are available until September 1.

For the first time this year, KC Cafe radio will be providing live coverage from the conference.  In addition to talking with KC Cafe Radio Performing Artists and other attendees each day of the conference, we will be hosting a late-night private showcase all three nights of the conference, which we plan to broadcast live.  We will have more details here on the website as conference time draws near.

Recently, Operations Director John Dutton talked with FARM Vice President Dudley Smith about Folk Alliance International, FARM, and this fall’s conference.

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Susie Glaze: A Unique Musician With A Unique Sound

Susie Glaze

Photo by Patricia Van Over

Singer/Songwriter Susie Glaze  did not grow up in a “musical” family.  Her father and mother met and married just prior to World War II in St. Louis, and following the war, the family moved to the mid-south, and Susie’s interests gravitated toward the theater.  All the while, however, her world was serenaded by the likes of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Flatt & Scruggs, and other country and bluegrass  musicians that later would play a critical role in her creative life.

Glaze studied drama at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and obtained her union card while still a student.  It wasn’t long that she was appearing on Broadway, performing mostly musical roles.  Her most notable performance was in Roger Miller’s Big River, playing the part of Mary Jane Wilkes.  It was during this time she began immersing herself in the music she had heard growing up.  It didn’t take long for her to figure out that her creative path did not lie in acting.

Glaze moved to Los Angeles, and found a musical home playing along with The Eight Hand String Band, as well as solo performances and recordings, and eventually formed The Hilonesome Band in 2003.  She describes the group as “A Newgrass Americana Folk Fusion Quintet” that embodies the traditional sounds of the Appalachian, bluegrass, folk and country influences she grew up with, while at the same time introducing a contemporary take on the traditional sound.  The band’s most recent album, White Swan is a work that must be heard in its entirety in order to be appreciated.

KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste recently spoke with Glaze via Skype, from her southern California home.  They talked in detail about the band’s unique sound, defining the term “Newgrass” in the scope of the music.  She shares her journey from growing up as a “mid-westerner,” through her years on broadway, and her transition into music.  She also talked about the people who have, and continue to influence her musical creativity today.

Listen To The Interview Here:

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Music By Susie Glaze and the Hilonesome Band On KC Cafe Radio:

Video: “Harlan County Boys”

Robert Morgan Fisher: A Narrative Engineer

Robert Morgan Fisher When you visit Robert Morgan Fisher’s website, the first thing you see is a simple message: “Please don’t pigeonhole him.”  And once you click to enter his site, you understand.  A screenwriter, novelist, voiceover artist, and musician; many would consider him to be an artistic “jack of all trades.”  Yet Fisher sums it all up rather eloquently by calling himself a “Narrative Engineer.” Indeed, many of his interests and talents come together in the works he produces, especially between writing and music.

Fisher hails from Austin, Texas, however life as the son of a Naval Flight Officer meant a lot of moving from place-to-place, including California, Washington State, Ohio, Virginia and Florida.  Eventually he would return to Austin to attend the University of Texas, where he would earn a Broadcasting And Film degree, while performing at local bars and coffeehouses.  Following college, he moved to Los Angeles, where he would become involved in television and film production, scriptwriting, announcing, and education.  Through it all, however, Fisher had his “roots” firmly planted in music. “I have one foot firmly in fiction, the other in screenwriting and my heart in music.”

His latest album, Notes For A Novel, is not only a demonstration of how various aspects of Robert Morgan Fisher’s talents come together, it is also a window into the musician himself.  And he has no problem sharing with you his own view out that window, onto the world.

Recently, KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste spoke with Fisher via Skype about his career.  They talk at length about the people that have influenced his life and career, and that unique connection that exists between his writing and his music.  He shares the stories behind making albums like Notes For A Novel, and how being in the right place at the right time can really make a difference.  You will also hear him talk about attending the 2012 Hollywood Music In Media Awards ceremony.  A few days following the recording of our interview, Fischer’s album Notes For A Novel was awarded Best Folk/Acoustic Category at that event.

Along with the main interview are two “bonus” clips.  In the first clip recorded prior to the interview, Robert introduces Kathy to his 1985 Martin D28S3 Guitar.  The second clip, recorded after the interview, Robert talks about his work with LA’s Writer’s Boot Camp.

Listen To The Interview Here:

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Music By Robert Morgan Fisher On KC Cafe Radio:

Life Is Good For John Roy Zat

For singer/songwriter John Roy Zat, life couldn’t have him in a better place than he is right now.  “I have worked blue collar and white collar day jobs, with people in many different parts of the world,” Zat says on his website.  “With some mileage on my chassis now and a lot of this planet traveled, I can say that music is one of Nature’s laws. Everybody is moved by music. Everyone has a favorite song, or two, or twenty. One of my greatest joys is making music and sharing songs with people, and the more the better..”

Zat describes himself as “a singer, songwriter, fiddler, and guitar picker,”  He plays both classic American roots, folk, country and bluegrass standards, and also original songs.  It’s the original songs where Zat’s talent really shines brightly.  “I like songs that lift spirits, brighten hopes, make us laugh, and maybe cry a little,” he says.  “I want to celebrate love, mourn loss, ponder mystery, and especially have fun!”

Zat started playing guitar and singing in High School.  He took up fiddling shortly afterward, and began writing music in his early twenties.  His work has garnered the attention of the likes of music legends Caroline Herring and Kate Wolf, who recorded his words to “Midnight On The Water” in her second album.

Zat’s newest music endeavor are two albums.  The first is simply titled Solo, and features Zat playing and singing all his music. The second is an album that is 10 years in making, aptly titled Collaborations.  It features Zat playing his music with other musicians .

Recently KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste spoke with Zat.  They talked about his long career, how he got started playing guitar and fiddle, his musical influences and how he chooses the traditional songs he loves to play.

Listen To The Interview:

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Music By John Roy Zat On KC Cafe Radio: