Monday, February 22, 2010

Folk Alliance

Since last Wednesday Alan, Sandra & Neil have been at Folk Alliance in Memphis. We first went in 2008, but this time were ready and knew what to expect......

Wall to wall music from both big names and upcoming artists all in one huge hotel (the Marriott in Memphis); there were panels, sessions and chances to meet artists, agents, folk arts professionals and fellow festival organisers from all over the world.

It was good to meet some old friends of the festival including Leonard from the Duhks, as well as seeing people for the first time - I confess that I had to travel to the US for my first chance to see Martyn Joseph (he played about a half a dozen showcases and was excellent)

We saw lots more showcases including Michelle Shocked, Po Girl and John Gorka, but the overall highlight was the Sweetback Sisters who put in an amazing concert. We talked to countless artists, and spent time in a city that is very quiet during the day but comes alive at night.

We spent some time on Beale St and met a genuine blues legend in Clyde Hopkins, had a memorable beer in a Beale St bar quite unlike anything you've ever seen, took the l-o-n-g walk to Sun Studios, where the tour was much better than you could expect (they take tours during the day, and then bands record there in the evening), took in a basketball game at the FedEx Arena on Saturday night, and even had time to see the Peabody Ducks

Great restaurants, including a fantastic meal at Rendevous Ribs where we were memorably served by Robert Snr who's been there 46 years!

I came home today (Monday), but Alan & Sandra are touring for an extra week including a trip to Graceland and then to spend some time in Nashville.

Hopefully, by the time they get back we'll be able to announce the headline act!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

So is Elvis the last headliner TBA then?

SFF Neil said...

HA! - not quite. Hopefully we'll be able to announce in the next week or so.

Anonymous said...

Am I the only person who received the official flyer for the festival which says who the headline act is.

SFF Neil said...

Hi - no you're not. We're in a position of still not being able to say officially even though the flyers are out there! Everybody knows but we can't list it on websites etc. yet until the US agent announces the whole tour......we know its daft, you know its daft but that's just how it is!

Anonymous said...

It's still very cool though and I for one am very excited.

festivalfairy said...

What is going on. I logged into the SFF website a few days ago and saw thet Afro Celt SS had been announced on the line up. My friend called today to say she couldn't find them and was I dreaming? I actually thought I was going barmy until I looked at the SFF entry in the Spiral Earth website and there they were Afro Celt SS to appear at SFF on the Sunday. Why publish and then withdraw them? Are they playing or not? Please don't mess with my head like this again, fairy brains are not equipped for confuaion!!!

SFF Neil said...

HI festival fairy - we HAVE confirmed Afro Celts, but we're not allowed to have it on the main website until 25th March (which is when the whole tour is announced).

It's hasn't been announced on the main website yet, but we did have clearance to send it out in an email which may be where the confusion has come from..it's all a little strange, but we can comfirm that it IS happening

Apologies for any stress caused!