Showing posts with label Todd Rundgren. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Todd Rundgren. Show all posts

Saturday, July 27, 2013

When is a folk festival not a folk festival?

Note: Whenever the word "folk" appears in this article it is used in context with the definition set by the National Endowment for the Arts, "Traditional arts are those art forms that are learned as part of the cultural life of a group of people whose members share a common ethnic heritage, language, religion, occupation, or culturally united geographic region. Folk and traditional arts are shaped by the aesthetics and values of a shared culture and are passed from generation to generation, most often within family and community through observation, conversation and practice."

Writing this generated images of Pete Seeger wielding a fire axe, but it is something that has been bothering me for quite some time and I had to let it out. The see was planted by something the late Jack Hardy several years ago said to me walking the grounds of the Falcon Ridge "Folk" Festival - "(this festival is) a bunch of pop singer-songwriters trying to be rock starts, and doing a piss-poor job of it."
Is it appropriate to incorporate the word "folk" into a festival's title when the music presented is not folk? I understand festivals book certain artists outside the core genre for their popular appeal in order to draw day patrons, the revenue from which is gravy, but if over time the music presented shifts from folk to pop, is it appropriate to retain the word "folk", or better to re-brand?

Let's put this into another context. The MG brand has been purchased by a Chinese company who are manufacturing and marketing a sedans as "MG". See

A Chinese MG? Not cricket, say Britons, who stay away in droves

Here is a photo of the classic MG, designed and manufactured at the 

1954 MG TF
2013 Chinese MG6 sedan
Concept MG SUV
Just as the Chinese usurped the MG brand name, turning a small sports car into sedans and SUV's, certain so-called "folk" festival promoters have usurped the word "folk" and are booking mass-appeal pop artists, their motivation being the bottom line, to draw day patrons. It may be clever marketing, but as long as there are folk artists not booked and displaced by popsters, it certainly is not cricket.
 
The precedent for renaming festivals that have dropped or reduced folk presence certainly exists. Before it was terminated, the "Boston Folk Festival" was re-branded as the "Boston Music Festival." When its focus moved away from bluegrass to "Americana", the Ossipee Valley Bluegrass Festival became the "Ossipee Valley Music Festival."

Should one expect a sedan or SUV from the MG company? No!
Should one expect bluegrass at a blues festival? Nae!
Should one expect rock music at a classical concert? Never!
Should one expect pop at a folk concert? Certainly not.

At any festival containing a music genre in its title inevitability there will be some cross-over and some edge-pushing, but pop concerts should be so labeled and marketed. "Folk" is not pop festival marketeers' word to usurp.

1. Non-folk artists appearing at the NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL: "Amanda MacKinnon Gaiman Palmer, sometimes known as Amanda Fucking Palmer, is an American performer who first rose to prominence as the lead singer, pianist, and lyricist/composer of the duo The Dresden Dolls" -Wikipediato is a featured artist. Is she a folk artist? Apparently the producers of the Newport Folk Festival think she is, as she and several others popsters, including Feist, Jim James, the Lumineers, Milk Carton Kids, Shovels and Rope...you know, Boston's NPR music stations' playlist are on the bill.

Amanda MacKinnon Gaiman Palmer, sometimes known as Amanda Fucking Palmer
See the complete Newport Folk Festival Lineup


The Newport "Folk" Festival claims this is folk music.



Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra: "Want It Back" Official 

Published on Jul 10, 2012
Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra's official music video for "Want It Back" from the new album 'Theatre Is Evil' coming September 7 (OZ) / 10 (EU) / 11 (US)! Video filmed on and around Brunswick Street in Melbourne, Australia in March 2012. Pre-order the album (on vinyl/CD/digital) at http://bit.ly/AFPshop, and get concert tickets at http://bit.ly/AFPshows.
-VIDEO-
Producer / Editor / Director: Jim Batt
Artist: Curran James
Stylist / Hair & Make-Up: Anthony Cleave
1st AD / Lighting: Joel Loxton
Production Assistant: Lauren Beck
Special Thanks To: Ghita Loebenstein, Claire St Claire, Kim Boekbinder, Rick Mereki and Andrew Suttar
For more on AFP...
Official Site: http://bit.ly/AFPweb
Twitter: http://twitter.com/amandapalmer
Facebook: http://facebook.com/amandapalmer
For More On Jim Batt:
Website: http://jimbatt.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/battsignal
© 2012 8ft. records

The Newport "Folk" Festival claims this is folk music.


The Milk Carton Kids: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert


Published on Jul 17, 2012

Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale get a lot done with subtle gestures, but there's real sophistication to the three gorgeous, harmony-rich folk-pop songs they recently performed in the NPR Music offices.

 Set List:

 "Michigan"
"Stealing Romance"
"I Still Want A Little More"

 For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concerts video podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts.

The Newport "Folk" Festival claims this is folk music.

Shovels & Rope - Birmingham

Published on Feb 22, 2013
"Birmingham" is the first single from O' Be Joyful, the debut album from Shovels & Rope. Produced by The Moving Picture Boys, this video was shot in the band's home city of Charleston, SC.

2. PHILADELPHIA "FOLK" FESTIVAL: "Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop star, supported by the certified gold solo double LP" -Wikipedia

Is Todd Rundgren a folk artist? Apparently the producers of the Philadelphia Folk Festival think so, as he is billed, in capital letters no less, as their Saturday headliner.
http://www.pfs.org/event/saturday-main-stage-concert-mavericks-todd-rundgren-pocket-black-prairie-more-08-17-2013-1600

Todd Rundgren
See also "BIG news everybody! Joining us at the 2013 Philadelphia Folk Festival: Todd Rundgren..." What the Folk? from 6/6/13.

The Philadelphia "Folk" Festival claims this is folk music.

Todd Rundgren - Hello Its Me

Live in 1973, with a pre-recorded backing track

Marketeers and branders are clever people, they will do apparently do anything (except consult with and respect ethno-musicologists) to usurp a word and fill the corporate coffers, but don't hold your breath expecting these popsters to be booked into Clifftop or Harry Smith Frolic or Lowell or other folk festivals.

A believer in truth in advertising, I would have more respect for the Philadelphia and Newport festivals to re-brand themselves as "Philadelphia Pop Festival" and "Newport Pop Festival."

Or here's a novel idea, Philadelphia and Newport could return to their roots and let Amanda Plamer and her fellow travelers find bookings at Bonnaroo and similar pop festivals.

Thanks for allowing me to vent, I feel much better now and am heading to the Lowell Folk Festival.

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Thursday, June 6, 2013

"BIG news everybody! Joining us at the 2013 Philadelphia Folk Festival: Todd Rundgren..." What the Folk?


Todd Rundgren
Multi-instrumentalist
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop star, supported by the certified gold solo double LP ... Wikipedia



The following news posting and subsequent discussion can be found on the Facebook "official" page of the Philadelphia Folksong Society

Saturday Main Stage Concert-The Mavericks, TODD RUNDGREN, In the Pocket, Black Prairie, more

Aug 17, 2013 - 4:00pm
Main stage
Featuring:
The Mavericks
TODD RUNDGREN (featuring Jesse Gress, Kasim Sulton, Prairie Prince, and John Ferenzik)
David Uosikkinen's In the Pocket: The Essential Songs of PhiladelphiaBlack Prairie
Sierra Leone's Refugee All StarsSleepy Man Banjo BoysBen Vaughn QuintetDavid FranceyTimes to be announced~bios to be added





Philadelphia Folksong Society · 4,775 like this
about an hour ago · 

So the Philadelphia Folksong Society, producers of the Philadelphia Folk Festival deems this 

to be "folk" music.

I see.

How does the National Endowment for the Arts define "folk"?
Traditional arts are those art forms that are learned as part of the cultural life of a group of people whose members share a common ethnic heritage, language, religion, occupation, or culturally united geographic region. Folk and traditional arts are shaped by the aesthetics and values of a shared culture and are passed from generation to generation, most often within family and community through observation, conversation and practice. 
I see. How does the Philadelphia Folksong Society define "folk"?
It does not, but it does provide the following on its "about" page

About

PFS Mission

The Philadelphia Folksong Society (PFS) is dedicated to preserving the past, promoting the present and securing the future of folk music and related forms of expression through education, presentation and participation.

PFS Vision

Preserving the Past - PFS will preserve artistic expression by offering programs that encourage participation in traditional folk music and educate the public of its history.
Promoting the Present - PFS will be recognized among the vanguard of emerging trendsetters and innovators within folk music. Diverse programs will encourage artistic development and experimentation.
Securing the Future - PFS will acquire a home to ensure the continuation and vitality of roots music and related forms of expression. This facility will be the physical embodiment of the PFS mission, housing rehearsals and classes for students; workspace for staff and volunteers; and concerts, workshops, and archival exhibitions for the public.

About PFS

The Philadelphia Folksong Society was founded in 1957 by a small group of folk artists and enthusiasts. The organization has offered programs of presentation, engagement, and education throughout Greater Philadelphia and the nation. These programs present a cultural history of society and provide enjoyment to thousands of people of all ages. The Philadelphia Folksong Society has contributed to the preservation of a vast variety of musical styles and historical perspectives. PFS has acquired international recognition and local acclaim through popular programs such as The Philadelphia Folk Festival, Fall Fling, Spring Thing, and Cabin Fever Festival. Seasonal programming of workshops, community service programs, concerts, PFS Presents..., Sings, and the Odyssey of American Music programs serve a diverse range of participants-members in the community, volunteers, artists, students, partner organizations, and PFS members. PFS programs range in scope from a small group of friends singing together, to tens of thousands of patrons gathered for concert presentations. A network of thousands of dedicated volunteers has allowed PFS to execute these programs in an unprecedented way since the organization's inception over 50 years ago.


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