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!