{"id":2567,"date":"2016-01-27T16:09:55","date_gmt":"2016-01-27T16:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/?p=2567"},"modified":"2016-01-27T16:09:55","modified_gmt":"2016-01-27T16:09:55","slug":"around-the-edge-southwest-regional-folk-alliance-conference-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2016\/01\/27\/around-the-edge-southwest-regional-folk-alliance-conference-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Around the Edge: Southwest Regional Folk Alliance Conference 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"swrfa1\"<\/a> Every year, it is always nice when the Fall finally arrives in Texas. Although it is still hot thru Halloween, football comes back, festivals crank up and one of favorite events takes place: The Southwest Regional Folk Alliance, also knowns as known as SWRFA.<\/p>\n

SWRFA brings\u00a0 together musicians from all over the country to converge on what we like to refer to as a \u201cFamily Reunion\u201d! This year HMR had the fearsome foursome return of Ellen and James Klassen, Rose and myself to soak in the vibes and report what we thought was the cream of the proverbial crop for 2015\u2019s version.<\/p>\n

There is a saying that goes: \u201cIf it ain\u2019t broke, don\u2019t fix it!\u201d This applies wonderfully to the format that we\u2019ve seen for 4 years running. Thursday around 5pm by the pool Berkalin Records lays out a nice spread of picnic like grub with beverages including beer and wine! Pam and Brian Kalinec are such fine hosts-and great people period.\u00a0 That\u00a0 leads up to the cool format of one song only monitored by the irreplaceable Butch Morgan.\u00a0 The dude can bust balls with the best of them and he keeps it rolling until 10pm.\u00a0 This event is excellent to jot down a performer who catches your ear and you can follow them thru the weekend.\u00a0 BM does another one on Saturday from 3:30-5:30pm, too giving the musicians a fair shot to express their talents.<\/p>\n

At 10:30pm on Thursday, you get the Showcase Alternates performing 3 songs each which concludes around Midnight. Friday, after a killer lunch from 1:30pm until 3pm, they present First Timers Showcases in 2 different rooms leading up to Afternoon Showcases from 3:30-5:30pm!\u00a0 Ya got all that folks?!\u00a0 SWRFA?!\u00a0 A welcoming party at 5pm followed by delicious din-din at 6pm is followed by Official Showcases from 7:30-10pm emceed by Rich Warren.\u00a0 After that from 10:30pm-??? It is on in rooms on 7-8-9th floors for the sponsored showcases!!! It repeats on Saturday with the same format. The following is what we gathered up to let y\u2019all know what grabbed us…<\/p>\n

JUSTIN FARREN
\nThere was just something special about this cat that made us want to see more.\u00a0 Quality of his voice was wonderful.\u00a0\u00a0 Loved every song we heard and can\u2019t wait to see more of him down the road.\u00a0 His true to life lyrics paint a very modern view of day to day life full of funny observations.\u00a0\u00a0 Tunes that stood out were \u201cHit It Home\u201dand \u201cDo the Best You Can\u201d.<\/p>\n

STRANGEBYRDS
\nThey call themselves \u201cBlue Collar Folk\u201d.\u00a0 Whatever you want to call it it is an infectious sound with good vocals and guitar work.\u00a0 \u201cWhat Makes Us Do The Things We Do\u201d a rocker of a tune that stuck with us.\u00a0 \u201cMissing You\u201d about losing her dad and \u201cThe Dream I Made\u201d hit home about small family farms being eaten up by large corporate farms.\u00a0 Husband and wife duo very entertaining and her harp work was good.<\/p>\n

REBECCA FOLSOM
\nCaught up with this pepper pot of a talented woman in 2014 and she\u2019s only gotten better.\u00a0 Had a major showcase and stole the night!\u00a0 \u201cLet the Heat In\u201d and \u201cWonder\u201d both\u00a0 killer tunes.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLove As Is\u201d beyond tender gem.\u00a0 Lyric of \u201cWe don\u2019t realize the real moments until they pass\u201d was so nail on the head cool.\u00a0 Lady is a songwriting machine.\u00a0 Her major showcase tore the joint down with tunes like \u201cRunning with the Gypsies\u201d, \u201cThis Won\u2019t Last Forever\u201d and appropriate \u201cBurn It Down\u201d !\u00a0 The voice quality, energy and pure harmonies fit to fill any venue this lass would want to play in our view.\u00a0 She\u2019s so new and inventive that\u00a0 it is beyond refreshing to catch her gigs.
\nPAPER MOON SHINERS<\/p>\n

\"swrfa2\"<\/a>Can\u2019t get enough of this talented duo.\u00a0 They\u2019ve been stuck on our shoe for 4 years running and they keep getting better!\u00a0 \u201cMike the Headless Chicken\u201d the latest classic tune added to their arsenal.\u00a0 \u201cSame Thang\u201d is a bonafide rib tickler!\u00a0 This pair are performers and not just talented musicians!\u00a0 They truly have fun doing what they do so well.\u00a0\u00a0 Never get tired of the passionate growl on \u201cCome On In My Kitchen\u201d or the bust a gut \u201cDevil\u201d !<\/p>\n

ORDINARY ELEPHANT
\nBeen following this lovable cool duo for a few years now.\u00a0 Crystal\u2019s airy vocals combined with Pete\u2019s mandolin and \u201cbanjotar\u201d work is very pleasant to the ear.\u00a0 Highlights included \u201cBed of Gold\u201d and \u201cLeaving Kerrville\u201d about getting a new lease on life and appreciation of time and friends in our life.<\/p>\n

EMILIE CLEPPER
\nA Canadian who now resides in Austin music scene. She also plays in a band called the Coyotes.\u00a0 Her voice is a fine mix of gravel and wine that draws you in and holds ya!\u00a0 What impressed HMR was when she took her acoustic guitar, flipped it over and played it superbly like a lap steel.\u00a0 This gal has some musical skills.\u00a0 EC sang a song in French that was so nice plus \u201cStop This Train\u201d killed.<\/p>\n

RACHEL LAVEN
\nSweet lady whom we\u2019ve known for a few years now.\u00a0 Caught her a couple times at the Cove in San Antonio and she has a very nice voice with range ta boot.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t Put Me in a Town With More Churches and Bars\u201d about living in a world with lots of diversity along with \u201cTake Off These Dress Boots\u201d stood out.<\/p>\n

HARDIN BURNS
\nCool duo who sport a bluesy touch that is infectious.\u00a0 \u201cThe Call\u201d about Philip Seymour Hoffman and \u201cDown the Deep Well\u201d blues jammed very well.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Andrew Hardin and Jeanie Burns are not a couple, but a couple of cool true Americana artists.\u00a0\u00a0 Hardin can let it rip and Burns has some good songwriting chops for sure.<\/p>\n

F\"swrfa3\"<\/a>REDDY & FRANCINE
\nGood strong two-part harmonies soared to wonderful lengths at their showcase.\u00a0 The old fashioned face-off style using one mike was kind of cool and different.\u00a0 \u201cI Wanna Go Home With You\u201d, \u201cMama I Told You\u201d and \u201cRunning Out of Time\u201d featured an antimated 50\u2019s prom rock cheesey in a good way presentation that gets your attention.\u00a0\u00a0 La Americana soul goin\u2019 on!<\/p>\n

THE FLYIN\u2019 A\u2019S
\nThis down to earth passionate duo has been a friend of HMR for years. Love their upbeat sound and pure passionate stage presence.\u00a0 Stewart and Hillary are such a bonded couple that work off one another effortlessly.\u00a0 No nonsense punch ya in the gut rock style sticks with HMR big time and Stewart can let it rip on guitar when need be.\u00a0 Excellent tunes included \u201cBlood & Bones\u201d, \u201cOn Front Porch\u201d, new one \u201cHeaven Help Me Survive\u201d and \u201cThis World Won\u2019t Shake Me\u201d.\u00a0 Like my Rose has said: \u201cThey are like a gumbo. If it fits in the pot it works!\u201d<\/p>\n

MT. THELONIUS
\nThis band caught our attention last year, plus at FAI this year. They have a way of taking other band\u2019s music and making it sound\u00a0 like their own.\u00a0 The difference this year is they are doing more of their own tunes as they grow as a unit.\u00a0 All three can rage on their own instruments that form a killer Indie sound in unison.\u00a0 Alyssa Avery is a beast on fiddle backed by Mark Wallace\u2019s reliable stand -up bass which flows behind the arresting vocals of Ian Lubar.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll Go On With You\u201d and \u201cWe All Sing a Song From the Heart\u201d were inspiring songs for sure.\u00a0 The major showcase smoked the room with \u201cbombastic \u201cGood Day Sir\u201d, \u201cAll I Ever Needed\u201d and \u201cNo Disrespect\u201d.\u00a0 To say they have good chemistry and bring energy to the stage is putting it mildly.<\/p>\n

ANDREW DELANEY
\nThe dynamic voice of this weird egg combined with a band was very enjoyable. His music continues to evolve where he can back off having to play Pickles the Clown.\u00a0 \u201cRats and Sinking Ships\u201d showcased his unique voice. This Dallas based artist can shift gears from thoughtful country ballads to rowdy foot stompers at the drop of a hat.\u00a0 The 4 piece showcase tore it up on \u201cNot\u00a0 In My House\u201d.\u00a0 His latest album, \u201cStricken, Smitten and Afflicted\u201d is a keeper no doubt.<\/p>\n

MYSTERY LOVES COMPANY
\nHouston based Carlos Machado on guitar and Madeline Herdeman on cello combine to bring an effortless and intricate sound that is full of good harmonies.\u00a0\u00a0 They have a diverse and edgy sound which gets better the more we see them. \u201cSister One\u201dand \u201cTake It All in Stride\u201d were all nice songs.\u00a0\u00a0 The duo met at the venerable McGonigels Mucky Duck and the groundwork looks laid for a nice experience in the future.<\/p>\n

BRIAN ASHLEY JONES
\nThis Nashville based guitarist was head and shoulders the best axe player at SWRFA.\u00a0 We\u2019ve known him for\u00a0 years now and he\u2019s a stud good person, too.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCarolina Dream\u201d is a beautiful tune that is full of killer licks.\u00a0 He\u2019s a s smooth as silk and jumps in with many performers to back up and fortify their shows, too.<\/p>\n

\"swrfa4\"<\/a>Wow. To say I did not cover everything would be putting it mildly, but it is true. Unless you show up and go thru the whole weekend you\u2019ll never know how wonderful the experience really is. Heart felt love permeates throughout the event led by the \u201cQueen of the Ball” Dalis Allen! I really cannot say enough about this woman. It was a very good sign for me when thee FIRST person I ran in to at the check in counter was Dalis herself!<\/p>\n

Never have I seen a person personify passion and dedication to making people feel welcome and happy. Supportive does not quite cover it to this reviewer, but it will have to do. Her whole staff feeds off her undying will and emotion and HMR\u2019s hat is beyond off to them.\u00a0 Music is of course the major component of SWRFA, but\u00a0 all the bases are covered at the conference from education on touring, networking, advocacy, field and professional development, and consumer development. The mission statement says it all:\u00a0 To nuture, engage and empower the international folk music community-traditional and contemporary, amateur and professional-through education, advocacy and performance.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s hoping HMR has done a small bit to enhance the hard working musicians who bring warmth and meaning to our lives. We\u2019ve got late September circled if Dalis will have us back…God Bless all caring music loving people in the world!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Every year, it is always nice when the Fall finally arrives in Texas. Although it is still hot thru Halloween, football comes back, festivals crank up and one of favorite events takes place: The Southwest Regional Folk Alliance, also knowns as known as SWRFA. SWRFA brings\u00a0 together musicians from all over the country to converge… <\/p>\n

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