Plant your festivals early!

[Staxsun]

Just a heads up to remind everybody of some great events early in the year in Memphis. The International Blues Challenge is one of the great blues events of the year, and it happens when not much else is going on. The dates for 2008 are January 31 and February 1 and 2nd. More details at www.blues.org .

The Folk Alliance is also a great event. It will be held in Memphis on February 20-24th. More details at www.folk.org or www.folkalliance.org.

Both of these involve huge amounts of musicians. Some you have heard of;many you have not. If you like discovering music, both of these are for you.

[sophisticated sissy]

YYR, staxsun. I just got an email from the Foundation and they indicate that all the rooms in the 3 hotles that were set aside for the I.B.C. are sold out! (20 blocks per hotle)

They have 20 more rooms at one more hotle.

[Staxsun]

YYR, staxsun. I just got an email from the Foundation and they indicate that all the rooms in the 3 hotles that were set aside for the I.B.C. are sold out! (20 blocks per hotle)

They have 20 more rooms at one more hotle.

There will be plenty of places to stay if you have a car, but that's one of the reasons I mentioned it this early. Walking distance really does fill up fast once the bands know who's going. I'm hoping to see some threadheads come for this great event. It gets bigger every year, but you still get to see lots of great music for almost nothing and hang out with all the musicians. It's more like a convention than a festival.

[sophisticated sissy]

There will be plenty of places to stay if you have a car, but that's one of the reasons I mentioned it this early. Walking distance really does fill up fast once the bands know who's going. I'm hoping to see some threadheads come for this great event. It gets bigger every year, but you still get to see lots of great music for almost nothing and hang out with all the musicians. It's more like a convention than a festival.

Yes, there will be plenty of rooms, but the Foundation had some sort of special rate. Like $129/per. I've always wanted to stay at the Peabody, but I'm sure they would cost deep in the purse!

I've been trying to get to this for the past 3 years, but something always comes up. Hope I can make it in '08! Your mentioning the I.B.C. now is a good thing!

[Staxsun]

Yes, there will be plenty of rooms, but the Foundation had some sort of special rate. Like $129/per. I've always wanted to stay at the Peabody, but I'm sure they would cost deep in the purse!

I've been trying to get to this for the past 3 years, but something always comes up. Hope I can make it in '08! Your mentioning the I.B.C. now is a good thing!

I'm betting you could do well on Priceline. I'm sure you can beat the $129. Not at the Peabody, but surely nearby. I'd try the HI Select or Sleep Inn. The Doubletree will book up quickly as it's the host hotel. The Hampton is owned by the Peabody folks and is always the most expensive anywhere (great location, though). If I were going to spend money, I'd stay at the Westin. It's new and in the perfect location.

[sophisticated sissy]

Thank you, stax. I'm sure the rooms at the Peabody can't beat the lobby, anyway! That is such a stunning place.

[Staxsun]

If you were thinking about coming to the Folk Alliance, here's one more good reason. During that weekend, there will also be the annual Zydeco Festival on Beale Street on Friday and Saturday night. No announcements yet, but they usually have about 10 good zydeco (and sometimes cajun) bands. These days you typically get the newer bands, but as we know, this can be a good thing. Over the years almost all the well-known bands have played here (except Buckwheat). That includes Beau Jocque, Chris Ardoin, Sean Ardoin, Laurence Ardoin, Morris Ardoin, John Delafose, Geno Delafose, Tony Delafose, Rockin' Sidney, Terrence Simien, Wayne Toups, Zachary Richard, Thomas Fields, Lil Malcolm, Chubby Carrier, Roy Carrier, Dikki Du, Rosie Ledet, Ann Goodly, Donna Angelle, Curly Taylor, Brian Jack, Roddy Romero, Classie Ballou, the Bad Boyz, Creole Zydeco Farmers, Lil Brian, Dennis Stroughmatt, and a whole bunch of others. So you could come and hear lots of good music and not have to move around too much.

[Staxsun]

I'm bumping this up, because it's time to start planning. I'd love to see some t-head folks here.

[Staxsun]

Bumping again hoping some people will make plans. Both are great times and well worth it.

[sophisticated sissy]

Stax, I probably won't make it to the I.B.C. '08. However, thought I'd mention that John Alex Mason will be there. Have you seen him?

He played the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival in October. He was on the acoustic stage right before Roy Book Binder. He also played a set with Moreland & Arbuckle.

Impressive young bluesman from Colorado, he was getting all kinds of rave reviews from audience members who saw his set. If you haven't seen him, check 'im out!:)

[AtPontchartrain]

If you were thinking about coming to the Folk Alliance, here's one more good reason. During that weekend, there will also be the annual Zydeco Festival on Beale Street on Friday and Saturday night. No announcements yet, but they usually have about 10 good zydeco (and sometimes cajun) bands. These days you typically get the newer bands, but as we know, this can be a good thing. Over the years almost all the well-known bands have played here (except Buckwheat). That includes Beau Jocque, Chris Ardoin, Sean Ardoin, Laurence Ardoin, Morris Ardoin, John Delafose, Geno Delafose, Tony Delafose, Rockin' Sidney, Terrence Simien, Wayne Toups, Zachary Richard, Thomas Fields, Lil Malcolm, Chubby Carrier, Roy Carrier, Dikki Du, Rosie Ledet, Ann Goodly, Donna Angelle, Curly Taylor, Brian Jack, Roddy Romero, Classie Ballou, the Bad Boyz, Creole Zydeco Farmers, Lil Brian, Dennis Stroughmatt, and a whole bunch of others. So you could come and hear lots of good music and not have to move around too much.

Folk Alliance Announces Final Nominees & Presenters for Third Annual Folk Alliance Awards Show Held in Memphis, Tenn. at International Conference February 2007. Listen Live on XM Satellite Radio.

(Memphis, Tenn.) Now in its third year, the Folk Alliance Awards Show (FA Awards Show) features performances and awards to honor merit and achievement within the Folk field. Mavis Staples, Tommy Jarrell, and Rounder Records will receive The Elaine Weissman Lifetime Achievement Awards during the show. The FA Awards Show will be broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio.

Held at the Cook Convention Center, Wed. February 20 at 6:59 p.m., as part of the 20th International Folk Alliance Conference, the Awards Show will be hosted by Folk Alliance Board President, Dan Navarro with appearances by Janet Reno, Kathy Mattea, Tom Russell, Eilen Jewell, Twilight Hotel, and Anthony DaCosta.

The final nominees and presenters for the Third Annual Folk Alliance Awards are:

Welcome To The Show: Dan Navarro,

Performance: Eilen Jewell (Emerging Artist Nominee)

Legacy Recording (presented by Si Kahn)
Woody Guthrie, "The Live Wire - Woody Guthrie in Performance 1949" (Woody Guthrie Archives)
Various Artists, "People Take Warning! Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs” (Tompkins Square Records)
Various Artists “Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, And Chanteys" (Anti Records)
Various Artists "Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook, Vols. 2 & 3" (Bloodshot Records)

Legacy Lifetime Achievement Award: Tommy Jarrell

Booking Agency (presented by Greg Johnson)
Concerted Efforts
Folklore Productions
Mongrel Music
The Roots Agency
Skyline Booking

Broadcaster (presented by Wendy Waldman)
Susan Forbes Hansen – WHUS
Ron Olesko - WFDU
John Platt – WFUV
Mike Regenstreif - CKUT
Rich Warren – WFMT

Contemporary Artist (presented by Sara Hickman)
Peter Case
Lucy Kaplansky
Anais Mitchell
Tom Russell
Susan Werner

Album of the Year (presented by William Biff Kennedy)
(based on Folk-DJ Chart airplay)
Uncle Earl – Waterloo, Tennessee (Rounder)

Song of the Year (presented by Eliza Gilkyson)
(based on Folk-DJ Chart airplay)
Tom Russell - Who's Gonna Build Your Wall (Hightone Records)

Performance: Tom Russell (Winner: Song of the Year 2008)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Mavis Staples

World Music Recording (presented by Hershel Freeman)
Cheick Hamala Diabate and Bob Carlin
Kobo Town
Loreena McKennitt
Mighty Popo
Sones de Mexico Ensemble

Small Folk Venue (presented by Anya Siglin)
Café Lena - Saratoga Springs, NY
Freight & Salvage – Berkeley, CA
Hugh's Room - Toronto, ON
Iron Horse-Northampton, MA
Tin Angel - Philadelphia, PA

Traditional Artist (presented by Kathy Mattea)
David Bromberg
John Wort Hannam
Levon Helm
Joel Mabus
Uncle Earl

Performance: Twilight Hotel (Emerging Artist Nominee)

Large Folk Venue (presented by Val Denn)
The Ark-Ann Arbor, MI
The Birchmere-Arlington, VA
Cedar Cultural Center-Minneapolis, MN
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage – Washington, DC

Folk Festival (presented by Tom Neff)
Boston Folk Festival – MA
Edmonton Folk Festival – AL
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival - NY
Philadelphia Folk Festival - PA
Ottawa Folk Festival - ON

Performance: Anthony DaCosta (Emerging Artist Nominee)

Emerging Artist (presented by Janet Reno)
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Anthony daCosta
Eilen Jewell
Devon Sproule
Twilight Hotel

Lifetime Achievement Awards for Business: Rounder Records

After the FA Awards Show the amazing film, PBS Master Series', Pete Seeger: The Power Of Song will be screened.

For more information please go to www.Folk.org

[mariena]

Does anyone have any information about a Bluegrass Festival held in Nashville during the month of June? We would love to take my father for his 70th birthday? Any information is appreciated.
Mariena

[Staxsun]

Does anyone have any information about a Bluegrass Festival held in Nashville during the month of June? We would love to take my father for his 70th birthday? Any information is appreciated.
Mariena

Don't know of any specific bluegrass festivals, but there are some events that might be good for him. Of course the country music Fan Fair is June 5-8. Maybe too much to do and not bluegrass-specific, although I'm sure there will be lots there. Also, I believe the Martha White Bluegrass at the Ryman is around June 28. It's more of a concert, but it would be a good one for him. Sorry I can't be more help.

[BigDag]

There's a bluegrass festival in Murfreesboro, not yoo far from Nashville, in July:

http://www.uncledavemacondays.com/index.htm

[mariena]

Thanks a bunch, Staxsun and BigDag! I will look into all of these events. I really want to make it a special birthday. And I know that he is a big fan of Bluegrass, but the country music event kind of sounds like fun too.
Mariena