[mplpost] Definitions

[James Gordon]

Re: Mitch's inquiry--
I think my experience ( a number of years ago now)  as a folk festival
artistic director really helped to broaden my personal definition of
'folk'..
The word to me identifies more than a  musical genre-- it's more of a
'community' thing...
I found that anything that could be described as "pop" music didn't quite
have the right feel for a gathering of people who considered themselves a
part of the "folk community"-- but just about every other kind of music--
rock, jazz, world, bluegrass etc.-- did...
"Popular" music to me could be generalized as music "for the people", while
"folk" is more music "of" or "by" the people.. 'Pop' music is
"manufactured" and cleverly marketed to have mass appeal, but that appeal
doesn't often give one much of a personal connection with the artist or
writer-- so it's hard to feel that these pop artists are part of a
'community'--- Folk music is not "designed" to be for "everybody" - so it
can be more personal, and those who find something in it to identify with
tend, I think, to be fairly open to a lot of different styles. The folk
audience is made up of people who appreciate that personal connection- and
that connection doesn't have to be made just by a 'folksinger'
with a guitar....

Working with a festival I found that "folk" tended to describe the audience
more than the acts... I tour the festivals a lot these days-- each has a
different spin on programming, but there is something 'folky' that the
audiences all have in common ... (  more than just the commonality of being
mostly aging white people!)


james gordon



James Gordon    Pipe Street Studios
Box 714, Guelph ON Canada NlH 6L3
phone :(519) 837-3757  fax: (519) 837-3776
gormorse@sentex.net   http://jamesgordon.cjb.net
Bookings Inquiries: Jude Vadala
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