by Billy Jones
Folk Music Can Grow on You!

By now, many Medicine Hatters have heard of the Folk Music Club. With the assistance of several dedicated sponsors, the Folk Music Club has been hosting some of the finest entertainment you could find anywhere. It comes as no surprise to me that the ticket sales have increased since these concerts began.

Their first concert was small, fun, and informal. The entertainers played to just over 200 at the Grandstand Banquet Room and they were very good—a local surprise. As a matter of fact, when the next concert was announced, the attendance soared.

Back then it occurred to me that the word ‘Folk” was getting a bad rap and possibly associated with some of the duller music and poetry presented in Toronto’s Yorkville tea houses years ago.

Not now, my friendly. Folk music is a combination of voice, rhythms and musical sound that is borrowed and applied to music you hear today. It has great variety that includes gospel, swing, jazz and country. Nuthin’ dull here, pardner. From small beginnings to an almost full Esplanade in such a short time has to tell you something about these concerts.

The Folk Music Club has done its job well. If the entertainers they have presented so far are any indication of what is to come, we will never be disappointed. I purchased season concert tickets for my 13 year old granddaughter, Lindsay, and was delighted with her reaction.

The most recent concert, featuring Eric Bibb, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir, was truly entertaining. Lindsay’s reaction and participation with the dancing and cheering crowd was a bonus. When I asked her what she thought of these concerts, she replied, “Really cool, Papa.”

It would difficult to pick a favorite group among the many that have performed so far because there are differences in their approach. You just have to like them all. Lindsay has her favorite though. She has become a die hard fan of local, Phyllis Sinclair, who opened for Ray Bonneville last September.

So, what’s in a name? Folk music can take you back to your roots because it can. It has also polished this music to make it exciting and entertaining. Although you may not know acts by reputation or name, due to the fact they don’t get the air play they deserve, they do have CDs that can be purchased at the concerts.

It’s no news the Folk Music Club has had the privilege of working with sound technician, David Thome. Every entertainer, bar none, has openly praised David for his ability and professionalism.

New news? Coming up will be the Maria Dunn concert on Friday, March 31st. How about that!

And here’s some other news! At a recent North American Music Merchants convention, it was noted that Levinsons Music in our fair city is the second oldest music store on the North American continent. The oldest store is in the USA. Congrats to Ken and Sheila Chisholm.