Am I “folk enough?”—Towards a Genre-expansive Movement In Fall 2022, my partner Jessica Gerhardt and I were signing up to attend our first Folk Alliance International conference. She asked me, “Do you really think my music is ‘folk enough’ for Folk Alliance?” The thing about folk music is: it’s made by folks, for folks. Blues […]
Read moreMore TagFAR-West Conference is Open for Registration!
com·mu·ni·ty [kəˈmyo͞onədē] NOUN 1. a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common: “the FAR-West community” 2. a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals: “the sense of community that FAR-West provides in the communal conference & year-round activities that can be shared […]
Read moreMore TagThe Lemonade Stand #7 by Laura Zucker
Note to the reader: The editors typically request a shorter piece from our bloggers, but because Laura has been away from FAR-West for a time, we have published her longer blog in its entirety. We hope you enjoy it. Hello my fellow FAR-Westians!!! It’s been a while- for so many things. But you’ve never been […]
Read moreMore TagAnnouncing our 2023 Election candidates!
Dear FAR-West Community, On behalf of the FAR-West Board of Directors, thank you for your nominations for the Board of Directors. As Secretary and Chair of the Nominations Committee, I am pleased to announce our candidates in this upcoming election: Stephen Bond Garvan (incumbent) Gaby Castro (incumbent) Tim Bruegger Aimée Campbell Michelle Demers Shaevitz Rob […]
Read moreMore TagFAR-West’s 2023 Conference Director Announced
Hello FAR-West Community! I write today on behalf of the entire Board of Directors of FAR-West to announce some very exciting news! It gives me great pleasure to announce that Nancy Berk will be our Conference Director for FAR-West’s 2023 Conference at Woodland Hills, California, October 12-15! Let me introduce Nancy. Nancy Berk recently joined […]
Read moreMore TagThe Lemonade Stand #6 by Kerry Patrick Clark
What’s New? What’s Old? What’s Confusing and Mysterious? I smiled as I read these words from the August, FAR West email. Feeling like it was just yesterday when we were singing in hallways and gathering to connect and be everything that I (we) have come to love about FAR West! Pandemic Paralysis! That’s where I’ve […]
Read moreMore TagLemonade Stand # 5 by Susie Glaze
Winterize Your Voice: Voice Health in Winter Months By FAR-West President, Susie Glaze Happy New Year! I hope this month’s Lemonade Stand finds you all in good health, and that you’re getting out there to make music and engage in your community! I want to thank you all for your continued support of FAR-West, and […]
Read moreMore TagLemonade Stand # 4 by Diane Hubka
The Lemonade Stand for December 15, 2022 From “Lockdown” to “Stand” By Diane Hubka & The Sun Canyon Band After playing during the lockdown with friends on live-stream Facebook and YouTube “shows” every week, by 2021 we were ready to play in front of a live audience! But Covid was still a presence in LA, […]
Read moreMore TagMessage from the President of FAR-West
Greetings from the Board of Directors of FAR-West! As we approach the end of the year, FAR-West needs you! The new year of 2023 will offer so many great opportunities for giving: your talents, skills, creativity, artistry and presence. And now as 2022 comes to a close, your charitable giving can become a significant and important support for […]
Read moreMore TagLemonade Stand # 3 by Gary Stockdale
LOCK DOWN LEMONADE – TWO YEARS LATER By Gary Stockdale The fabulously talented Susie Glaze asked me (and, I’m guessing, many of you as well) to write another Lockdown Lemonade column, about how we’re “transitioning (our) music and life out of pandemic world and being creative.” When the pandemic hit it was obvious that […]
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