I'm sitting at the airport, waiting for a plane to take be back from the bustling metropolis of Toronto to the snow-covered prairies. It's been an amazing weekend that began with the AGM of Folk Music Canada--when I joined the board! The AGM marked the beginning of many conversations that took place that weekend: during the meeting, at the late night jam, the next day throughout the Canadian Folk Music Awards, continuing through two days of strategic planning sessions for Folk Music Canada, over dinner, at the bar between songs... The conversations were about music. About the folk music community in Canada. The opportunities that are coming its way and what we can do to make it stronger. As I sit in the airport, I'm exhausted and excited, and only beginning to let those conversations settle into my consciousness. But I have a renewed enthusiasm stirring me up.
I know alot of musicians that don't consider themselves folk. And certainly some of those conversations over the course of the weekend asked, "what is folk?" I know so many great people that belong to this community, but may not think themselves "folk". At the Canadian Folk Music Awards, I came across a piece by David Newland, Roots Music Canada's Editor-in-chief that responds to that question in a really beautiful way. If you're thinking about Folk Music Canada and wondering if you're folk....(or if you've ever enjoyed a folk festival, love music, or are simply curious!) READ THIS!
