Wow...What A Send-Off!

Photo by J. Whitfield

Last Wednesday night, the monthly edition of our 60s FOLK REVIVAL singalong show ‘Where Have All the Folk Songs Gone?’ came to an end, after a wonderful seven year run at the Free Times Cafe. 

It was a fitting finale featuring a full house, a boisterous singing audience, and The Weavers classic 'Goodnight Irene' to end the evening. We were humbled (yes, there were tears) and so appreciative of the standing ovation we received from the audience.

Photo by E. Carter

Another highlight of the evening for us, was Klaas VanGraaft taking the stage, as the second set got underway, to say some wonderful things about the show and how the songs and their meanings took him back to the days when he himself was a popular musician on the folk scene, as a solo artist and part of The Chanteclairs. 

The official FOLK REVIVAL period ran from 1955 to 1965 and in presenting our Where Have All The Folk Songs Gone? show, it was important to us to stay within those years to retain authenticity of the show premise. However, in recent months, in response to audience feedback, we began including some songs that pushed a few years beyond 1965. The FOLK REVIVAL ended somewhat abruptly in 1965 with the British Invasion and young folk artists like Bob Dylan expanding their styles beyond acoustic folk to create new musical categories like Folk Pop and Folk Rock. The response to the newer songs was very positive so we decided it was time to create a new show that encompasses the full decade of the 1960's. 

Although we will miss revisiting the FOLK REVIVAL every month, we are very excited about the expanded repertoire we can draw from in our new show 'Get Together - Sixties Singalong', which debuts at the Free Times Cafe on Wed. Feb. 19th. Fortunately some favourite songs rooted in the 60's will carryover from the other show...I mean, it's hard to imagine a show without 'Puff The Magic Dragon'.😉  Hope you'll join us!

 

Happy New Year!

Posted by Sue

Wow, we got so busy in December I didn't have a chance to post about the show that month. It was less than a month ago, but so much has been happening since then, it feels like a million years ago.

It was our last as a trio, as we've now welcomed Henry Lees to this group. Some of you have already seen Henry perform with us in our 'Greatest Hits of Peter, Paul and Mary' show. He made his debut with the 'Where Have All The Folk Songs Gone?' gang on New Years Eve. And what a fun time that was!

Photo by Phyllis Chan

Stepping back a few weeks before the show, we were thrilled to be interviewedon ZoomerRadio's Afternoon Express with Norm Edwards and Eva D.  If you missed it, you can listen here: Zoomer Radio Interview
They are so much fun!

I went into New Years Eve last night feeling like I could cry at the drop of a hat. Not exactly sure why but I'm thinking it's an end of the decade thing where we're not just looking back on one year but on ten, and the many life changes that have occurred during that time. All the ups and downs, from exciting career changes and the amazing experiences and friendships that has brought, to the incredible sadness of losing family and friends.

On a night when songs like ‘Thirsty Boots’, ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Turn Turn Turn’, ‘Puff The Magic Dragon’, and of course the dreaded waterworks inducing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ are on the setlist, having those emotions so close to the surface could have resulted in what Oprah calls “the ugly cry”. Luckily that didn’t happen, and I sailed through the show on a cloud of joyus contentment looking out over an audience who made it so easy to enjoy every minute of it.

The evening started off with delicious buffet dinner. I don’t usually like to eat too close to performing but luckily just before we took the stage, Judy led us all in some “Oy’s to push the food down”. LOL!

Right out the gate, the audience were fabulous singalongers, and that enthusiasm continued throughout the whole night. As we usually do on NYE, we included a few original songs, Henry’s ‘Without A Doubt’ and our ‘One Song’ in the final set, which were wonderfully received. At the end of the night we got a standing ovation and one gentleman came to the stage and said he wanted to thank us on behalf of the audience. I gave him my mic and after his generous accolades, there was another resounding round of applause. I can’t think of many occupations where that happens at the end of a work day, but it's definitely what helps keep us in this crazy business with it’s highs and lows.

It was a beautiful way to end off a year…a decade…and such a positive start to the new one!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE from the 'Where Have All The Folk Songs Gone?' gang! See you on Wed. January 22nd for the next show.