The Other Press March 6, 198] _ Folk music alive and thriving For more information on concerts, activities, or what- ever else, the society might be doing, phone 879-2931. Have you been discoed to death? Has punk been pogoing your nerves lately? Do you feel kind of plastic after being poured into the suburban cowboy mold? Well, why not try folk music? It’s not loud enough to cause migraines, you can talk without screaming, yet you can still feel the music and actually make out what the singer is saying--some- thing that-doesn’t seem to matter in rock and that definitely doesn’t matter in disco. by Ian Hunter You have probably heard of Valdy and everybody knows about Lightfoot, but you’re not likely to have heard too much about the great underground folk mu- sic scene in Vancouver. Folk music has not been held in very high stature by our society where better equals better profits. Or, as Gary Cristall, organizer of the Vancouver Folk festival puts it, ‘‘the music busi- ness in general is not inter- ested in music that cannot generate a large return on investment. This approach has meant that much great music and many extremely talented musicians have been prevented from reach- ing an audience that we are convinced exists.”’ There are forces present in Vancouver determined to’ change this. The large and quickly growing population of Folk music fans and musicians have brought into being a number of organi- ‘zations with this intent in mind. vancouver folk Music Festi- val ociety This organization was for- med out of the Heritage Festival Society, which star- ted the first Vancouver folk — Music Festival three sum- mers ago at Stanley Park and has, in the two sum- mers since, been held at Jerico. Last summer, the folk Festival went on its own and formed a society with its aim being ‘‘the further- ance of an appreciation of traditional and comtempo- rary folk music. “‘Since then, they have been very successful in do- ing just that as well as organizing one of the big- gest folk festivals in North America. The society has also continued, year round, to bring in internationally famous folk musicians to the local..venues and has also given our local folk musici- ans a chance to be heard. _ The festival society has also started a record com- pany with its first release - being a record of last sum- mer’s folk festival (to be reviewed later). By the way, the fourth annual Vancouver Folk Mu- sic Festival will be held at Jerico on July 17, 18, and 19th, 1981. Be there or be square! It may take you awhile to get used to the nasal har- monies and manic — banjo picking, but once you’re into it, you’re hooked for life. For more information, phone Peter Thompson at 733-0268. soft Rock Cafe Cm Open Door Society The Open Door has been around for about three years now and is on an even more a roots level than the ancouver Folk Music Fes- tival society. The Open door MusicSociety is a non- profit society that encou- rages and promotes local folk artists and folk music in B.C. The society provides a variety of services for the aspiring folk musician (con- tact service, Gig list, music © library) and also organises Open Stages at the soft rock Cafe (1925 w. 4th in Kits) and elsewhere in the Lower Mainland. The Open stages at the soft rock are on Tuesday nights from 8:30 on and Saturday afternoons from around 3:00 to 5:00. These Open Stages usually consist of three to five unknowns or semi-unknowns coming up on stage and doing a short set of unusually origional songs and a feature finish- ing up. Tuesday night is usually the best, and with a cover charge of only a_ buck, you’re not going to find any cheaper better entertain- ment. Saturday is usually more mellow with less of a crowd and more of a casual . atmosphere--it’s also free. If you’re an aspiring folk musician, or just like the stuff, the Open door is something to consider. For more _ information phone 734-0433 between 2 and 6, Mon., Wed,. and Thurs. Ask for Scott. Pacific Bluegrass .and Heri- tage society This highly dedicated organized group of indivi- duals, ‘‘has as its main goal the encouragement of the growth and development of local bluegrass and old-time country talent.’’ ' Every Monday_ night at the Soft Rock, the P.B. & H.S. meet for what has -to be the best bluegrass in - Western Canada. As has been made ob- vious by my numerous refe- rences thus far to this establishment, the — Soft rock Cafe is a king pin of the folk music scene in Vancouver. Capitalist enterprise | it may well be, but it also gives us some of the best music around ir a _ very comfortable warm atmos- -phere. Every night of the week, there is always some- body on stage from a mime troop to Paul Horn, from Valdy to Oboe music from Nepal. No booze, sorry, just cap- pucino coffee, carrot cake and a variety of other natu- ral and homemade goodies. For more information, phone 734-2822 or better yet, shuffle down there with your book bag on arm and wearing your best late six- ties hippy smile and have a game of back gammon with one of the locals over tea. the Classical Joint This coffee house, located at 231 Carrol St. in Gastown is the last remaining insti- tution in Vancouver of the late sixties ‘‘hippie’’ move- ment. Like the Soft Rock Cafe, this coffee house is not licensed and provides the same .warm, laid back at- mosphere folk music is best in, For information phone 683-9580 Co-op radio 102.7FM Co-op radio has several shows on, or dealing with, folk music in Vancouver. of the organizations above have at least one show on co-op consisting usually of 5:30. music recorded live for co- op. Here’sa list: What the folk 4:30-6:00 on Sundays. Folk music from around the world on a variety of issues Vancouver Extract 5:30-7:00 Mondays. This show to put you in the know about where to go to hear all kinds of good sounds around town. Back in the Saddle 9:30-whenever, fea- tures bluegrass and Olt- Timey, Open Door Air 4:00- Draws heavily on material recorded at Open stages as well as featuring artists live in the studio, and selections from Co-ops extensive library of local music. For more phone 684-849 As you can see, folk is alive and growing. If you found this article interest- ing, or would like to here more about folk music in the Other Press then let us know. We need feedback to know what you, the reader, wants. Also, if there is interest out there in starting a folk music club at Douglas or perhaps arranging a cou- ple of coffee house nights, you can get in touch with the Other Press.lan Hunter information Numero uno in Mexico and in Canada. REG SS A 4737 8 700 mi AUTENTICAS TEQUILA ELABORADO Y ENVASADO POR TEQUILA BAUZA, 8. A. HECHO EN MEXICO ARUARDPIENTE DE AGAVE AUTENTICAS MARCA REGISTRADA REG FED. CAUSANTES TSA 671208 ae THE BOTTLED ROMANCE OF MEKICO