BellaOnline Forums Books and Music Folk Music When you think of Folk Music.....

I think of Peter, Paul and Mary. Puff the Magic Dragon, flowers in your hair, long cotton dresses flowing, bring peaceful and relaxed.

I think of the Kingston Trio

I never liked folk music.

I love folk music and Bluegrass! I used to be in a folk group and played dulcimer, autoharp, banjo, mandolin and guitar. We had so much fun. There were 10 of us and we played at Churches, Rest Homes and parties. We belonged to a much larger group of people who met once a year at a campground that had an amphitheatre and planned programs and sing alongs. We would sit around the group fire pit in the evenings and have sing alongs. Those were good ole' days! We would also all meet at the annual Bluegrass Festival in Grass Valley - that was a blast!

I think of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez Woodie Guthrie and Donovan.

Would Appalachian music be considered folk music?

Yes, Appalachian music is considered folk. My dulcimer was an Appalachian dulcimer and I played it often. Nothing is more charming and captivating than the sounds of a fiddle. Add a banjo for melodic accompaniment and a guitar for rhythm, a dulcimer or autoharp and you've got yourself an authentic folk group.

Folk music goes so far beyond Peter, Paul and Mary, Dylan, Kingston Trio and those commercially promoted artists who found a way to main stream in the 60s.

Folk artists are alive and thriving at festivals and coffee houses, and house parties. In the northeast, there a tons of venues that promote folk and acoustic root music. Singer / Songwriters also fall into this genre. You'll hear these artists on folk channels such as Folk Alley and WUMB in Boston but not on your commercial stations.

If you think you don't like Folk Music, take a listen to Kristin Andreassen atBellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

PBS had a documentary aired about a year ago in my area. It was all about folk music and bluegrass. They visited families in out of the way places all over the country - Appalachians, Kentucky, Catskills, people living back in the hills and mountains like their families have lived for generations, and documented their music and history. I wish I could remember the name of the show - it was fantastic! Most of the songs the families sang were made up and sang by their great grandfathers and grandmothers and passed down thru the generations - but all the music style and instruments were similar. When watching that show I wanted so much to be a part of their lives, visit with them, sing with them, play their music. It was awesome!!!

Folk music reminds me of pure, natural music. Joni Mitchell is one of my favorites.

Phyllis,
There are several PBS documentaries focused on Root music. The one you are thinking about could be the one done by Alan Lomax. I too don't remember the name of it. If you enjoy this kind of documentary, there is also one out on Rambling Jack Elliot and one on the Carter Family that you might enjoy. Many of these documentaries can by checked out of your local libraries.

I just saw that Rambling Jack Elliot on the line up for the New Bedford Summerfest. Hope my calendar allows me to get there this year again. I would love an interview with him.

That's a great idea, Chris, to check out the video from the library. I'll do that this weekend. Thanks!