The Folk Acoustic Revolution,has been on my mind for sometime.One of my dreams was too open up a Folk Club,which I hope very soon this will happen.I was ment to be moving into a farm in Austria last August,but in the end there were too many complications,so I have been sitting and waiting for another oppurtunity to arise.Well this has hapened several times,finding a place suitable for the Folk club,but still haven"t moved in,and started work.
At the "Rural Roots Folk Club" there will be many events.Concerts where people will come not too just to drink as much as they can,but to sit down and really listen to the musicians/bands that will play here.This is the most important thing to me,that there isn"t many places that this kind of concert atmosphere happens like this.There will be Singer/Songwriter nights,Jam session,where everyone or anybody can bring an instrument down and join in.There will be stand up "MIC nights too.Come down and put your name on a list to sing/play 3-4 songs!!
This is how I started my carreer in Singer/songwriter clubs,and I enjoyed it very much.It gives everyone a chance to play on a stage.
In the summer,there will also be at least one Folk Festival,with a whole bunch of bands and Solo artists playing from all over the world.
Last year I put out a competition on myspace,to find a name for the folk club.We had many entrys,and found it difficult to find a name.It took us quite some time to decide.The name we chose in the end was "Rural Roots Folk Club",chosen by Dolores from Canada,who is invited to come and stay at "Rural Roots Folk Club",and enjoy a night of music.Also Dolores is a folk singer,so I"m sure in the fucture she will come over from Canada and actually play here.
One of my very close friends Brid who lives in Graz has made a wonderful website concerning the "Folk Acoustic Revolution" and "Rural Roots Folk Club".
Its all about becoming a friend with Folk Acoustic Revolution,and how you can do this.Also as important passing on this information to your friends and family,who you may think might be interested in becoming a friend.Its all explained in the web-page that Brid has made.So go and have a look at the NEW web-page and become a friend of the "Folk Acoustic Revolution" and "Rural Roots Folk Club".
We ask for a small donation of 10€uros more or less to become a friend of "Rural Roots Folk Club",and there are benefits for you,including cheaper rates if you come to a concert.You can have you web details and a comment on our website for starters.
www.savethefolkclub.com
Just some little history about Brid.
Brid is an Irish Singer,who sings Traditional songs in Contemporary and Sean-Nos style.She also plays Bouzouki,and Bodran.Also she speaks the Irish language.She has toured all over Europe,and made her first cd in 2004 with the famous Alan Burke,also a Singer/Songwriter,guitarist from Ireland.Also Alan produced the cd album.Alan now is in the Irish band "At First Light". www.atfirstlight.net
Brid was ment to play at the 1st Folk Fest in Graz,but had other commitments in Switzerland,touring with her band and cd.Brid is married to another well known face in Graz,and other parts of the world Manfred Url,who is a painter.Now they have just had a little boy called Oisin.So she has just become a mother.I met Brid about 5 years ago,and have been meeting and talking ever since with her.Thanks Brid for following my dreams.You can look at Brids website www.brid.at
www.savethefolkclub.com
Anyway also I thought while I am waiting for things to happen I would start some Folk Acoustic events,and get Austria folking!!!
I have already made 3 other Folk Festivals in Graz,where I used to live,so really it started back in October 2004 when the 1st Folk Fest took off at the Stockwerk Jazz Cafe.We had 4 folk bands which was-
Speichel Fluss - Didge + percussion
Josef Seewald - Scottish bag-piper
Freespirit - Folk Rock
New Delhi Swinger Club - Folk Rock
It was a great night,so I made another in January 2006,which was more successful.Bands that played this time were-
E.M.T - Dance couple
Kathrin Gobiet - Acoustic Singer/Songwriter.
Freespirit - Folk Rock
Ambassadors - Acoustic Folk Blues.
Rhythmen - Didge and Rock
After this time I had moved to Niederöstereich,about 4 hours from Graz and thought that I would end the Folk Festivals.In the end I did one more as the last one was also more successful.It was getting better and better.So this year in November 2006 we had the next one.Bands that played were-
Mike Marriott - One Man Folk Band
Freespirit - Folk Rock
Once Tasted Life - Acoustic unplugged set
Smooga - Full band Acoustic Folk Band.
This year although there were a few problems,like one magazine said that they didn"t get my advertising,it was about the same success as the last one,but living 4 hours from Graz,I really thought that this was going to be the last one.Also Freespirit my band has really taken off,and we are touring in Germany and Holland,as it seemed I wouldn"t have much time to make more Folk Festivals.
What is more important than having hundreds of people turning up to a festival,and having loads of money is the music that we have had at all the Folk Festivals.High quality of good music.Bands and solo artists,and really this is what changed my mind and make the next one.This is what counts and what I care about.Yes I work very hard to have an enjoyable Folk Festival,with getting good bands,and advertising the night,with posters,and local newspapers.Making sure there are drinks and food for the bands,which comes out of my pocket.I do this to get next to nothing back.
Well it being a great night,and the fact that everyone really enjoyed themselves.Also because of meeting many bands on "myspace",I thought well lets not give up,and carry it on,and also lets make it a 2-night event,and have International bands playing.
So This next year on May 4th and 5th 2007,we will have the 4th Folk Fest held in Graz.
The bands that are playing are listed in the BLOGS
Also there will be another Folk Fest in St.Leonard Im Forst hopefully in May and another Folk Fest in Kendl which both are in Niederöstereich nearer to my home.There isn"t any fixed dates,but will be hear soon.
Also there are plans for other folk festivals in Austria,so keep coming back to look at this site.If any acoustic folk bands are out there and wish to play,please send me message.I"m always looking for other bands.
THE Folk Acoustic Revolution has Begun!!!
Please send all demos and band infos to-
Graham Robinson
Hinterleiten 30
3263 Randegg
Austria.
Thanks
