Tag Archives: Laurie Raveis

FAI 2018: The Interviews

Twenty-Eighteen marks the 30th consecutive year that Folk Alliance International has been celebrating folk music, its musicians and those involved in furthering the cause of Folk Music around the world.  That makes this year’s conference theme, 30 Years of Community and Song all the more appropriate.

This year also marks KC Cafe Radio’s 10th year of Bringing You The World’s Finest Original Music, and 5 years of bringing conference coverage to our airwaves.  This year, we continue the tradition of on-air visits with with old friends, as well as new relationships we have made.

Kathy Forste

KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste

Here we present the interviews and performances that were recorded in our hotel room recording studio during the conference.  Our thanks to Laura SpinkGraydon James, Joy Zimmerman, Patterson Barrett, Chuck McDowell, Hilary and Stuart Adamson, Emily White, Wyatt Brewer, Sarah Lynn, Julie Bates, Andrew MorrisBetsey Beymer. Rachel Baimen, Christian Sedelmyer, Amy and Mike Aiken, Maggie and Abigail Vogts, Chuck Costa, Mira Stanley, David Hakan, Dan Weber, Laurie Raveis and Dennis Kole.

The Young Novelists

The Young Novelists

Download the interview here: The Young Novelists (Graydon James and Laura Spink)

Joy Zimmerman

Joy Zimmerman

Download the interview here: Interview: Joy Zimmerman

Patterson Barrett

Patterson Barrett

Download the interview here: Interview: Patterson Barrett

Chuck McDowell

Download the interview here: Interview: Chuck McDowell

The Flyin A's (Hilary and Stuart Adamson)

The Flyin A’s

Download the interview here: Interview: The Flyin A’s (Hilary and Stuart Adamson)

Emily White

Emily White

Download the interview here: Interview: Emily White

The Nite Owls (Sarah Lynn and Wyatt Brewer)

The Nite Owls

Download the interview here: Interview: The Nite Owls (Wyatt Brewer and Sarah Lynn)

The Matchsellers

The Matchsellers

Download the interview here: Interview: The Matchsellers (Julie Bates and Andrew Morris)

10 String Symphony

10 String Symphony

Download the interview here: Interview: 10 String Symphony (Rachel Baimen and Christian Sedelmyer)

Amy and Mike Aiken

Amy and Mike Aiken

Download the interview here: Interview: Mike and Amy Aiken

The Vogts Sisters

The Vogts Sisters

Download the interview here: Interview: The Vogts Sisters (Maggie and Abigal Vogts)

The Sea The Sea

The Sea The Sea

Download the interview here: Interview: The Sea The Sea (Chuck Costa and Mira Stanley)

David Hakan

David Hakan

Download the interview here: Interview: David Hakan

Dan Weber

Dan Weber

Download the interview here: Interview: Dan Weber

Raveis Kole

Download the interview here: Interview: Laurie Raveis and Dennis Kole

 

Raveis Kole: A unique musical duo born out of unique synergy

Perhaps it was luck. Perhaps it was some kind of divine intervention. Or maybe it simply was a case of being in the right place at the right time. What is absolutely certain, however, is at the moment when Laurie Raveis and Dennis Kole first met, a synergy was born that would blossom into one of the most talented singer/songwriter duos around today.

At the time, Dennis had been working in a law firm. There was something else nagging at him intellectually however, and music seemed a perfect fit. He was first introduced to music at age 8 when his teacher put a cardboard cutout keyboard in front of him. His mother had bought him a violin, but he was more partial to the guitar, and at 14 purchased his first guitar. He played mostly classical music, but occasionally made up his own tunes, mostly revolving around “primitive teenage” themes.

Laurie Raveis comes from a long line of teachers. She had been teaching marketing in Boston Massachusetts, but also felt the urge toward the performing arts. Her first introduction to music came about thanks to the piano lessons she took at a young age growing up in Connecticut. Later she would try her had at various performing arts, and found she liked music the most. Later in life she would perform in various bands, including an all-girl band.  Eventually she would be asked to sing in some of those bands.  Her singing would lead to songwriting, exposing her to a whole new world of expression.

The two met at a guitar festival in Montana.  They had both attended the same guitar jam, where Dennis found himself impressed with Laurie’s inventive and original style. It wasn’t  long before the two began playing together.  They would continue to collaborate their musical talents, which eventually lead to the dynamic musical duo we know today simply as Raveis Kole.

Their newest album, Electric Blue Dandelion is an excellent representation of the “chemical reaction that ignites the human spirit by melding Raveis’ caramel smooth, emotive vocals and percussive, groove driven acoustic guitar rhythms with Kole’s fingerstyle and harmonic explorations.” Indeed, it is the essence that is Raveis Kole.

Recently, KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste talked with the duo via Skype. They discussed their lives growing up discovering their unique musical talents, that moment when they first met, and how they have grown together musically since then. They also talk about their contrasting approaches to writing music, and how that contrast is the “magic” behind their synergy.

Listen to the interview here:

Listen to the interview here: Interview: Raveis Kole, 5/10/2017