(Folk) Music to my ears

Dar Williams is a folk singer-song writer and book author. We've been picking our way through one of her books, What I Found in a Thousand Towns — A Traveling Musician’s Guide to Rebuilding America’s Communities—One Coffee Shop, Dog Run, and Open-Mike Night at a Time. Her observations therein are much the same as what we emphasized as "best practice" back when we were doing economic and community development.

Taylors Falls Memorial Community Center

Photo by J. Harrington

Reading "What I Found" had also triggered some serious waxing nostalgic for the days of our youth, when we hung out in the coffee shops of Cambridge MA during the early years of the folk revival. While enjoying Ms. Williams' writings, and wondering why there weren't more folk singers performing in the St. Croix Valley, which has wonderful coffee shops and several suitable venues, what should appear in our email inbox but the following we think worth sharing:

Hi all —

I hope you will join Rich and me for Sunday afternoon folk music concerts at the historic Taylors Falls Memorial Community Center, 312 Government Street. All of the concerts are from 2-4 p.m., admission $10 at the door (checks or cash only, please), children under 12 free. Snacks and beverages will be for sale. The Community Center is handicapped accessible and there is free parking.

Come enjoy great regional acts in a family-friendly setting! We have four great bands lined up to help warm up our Sunday afternoons. Proceeds will benefit TF Parks, and your support will help bring this winter music series back again next year. Feel free to forward this information to your friends, we need to get the word out!

February 18 The Hampden Rounders featuring Adam Granger, Pop Wagner and Anni Spring — Swing, bluegrass and folk The Rounders guarantee a fun, easygoing show chock-full of old-timey fiddle tunes and swing, bluegrass and folk songs, with a few originals thrown in for good measure. WARNING: The Hampden Rounders cannot guarantee that silliness and frivolity will not ensue.

March 11 The Dead Pigeons — Americana The Dead Pigeons have come to be known for their infectious, foot stomping sound -- an original mix of upbeat bluegrass and lyrically driven ballads.

March 25 King Wilkie’s Dream — Bluegrass and country Bluegrass, blues, swing, Americana, country, tin pan alley, old time, and just a little pop are all represented in the music that you may hear from KWD. King Wilkie's Dream is a talented bluegrass band that has a wonderful energy and unique ability to engage the crowd.

April 22 Amanda Oliver and the New Pedestrians — Contemporary blues, bluegrass and country rock

Sponsored by Friends of the Taylors Falls Parks & Recreation Commission and The Houdeks. For more information visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TFSundayMusic, or call (651) 240-0125.

You're all invited. We hope to see at least some of you there. Local is as local does.℠

                     Summer in a Small Town

By Tony Hoagland

Yes, the young mothers are beautiful,

with all the self-acceptance of exhaustion,

still dazed from their great outpouring,

pushing their strollers along the public river walk.

And the day is also beautiful—the replica 19th-century paddle-wheeler

perpetually moored at the city wharf

                with its glassed-in bar and grill

for the lunch-and-cocktail-seekers

who come for the Mark Twain Happy Hour

which lasts as long as the Mississippi.

This is the kind of town where the rush hour traffic halts

                to let three wild turkeys cross the road,

and when the high school music teacher retires

after thirty years

the movie marquee says, “Thanks Mr. Biddleman!”

and the whole town comes to hear

                the tuba solos of old students.

Summer, when the living is easy

and we store up pleasure in our bodies

like fat, like Eskimos,

for the coming season of privation.

All August the Ferris wheel will turn

                           in the little amusement park,

and screaming teenage girls will jump into the river

with their clothes on,

right next to the No Swimming sign.

Trying to cool the heat inside the small towns

                                               of their bodies,

for which they have no words;

obedient to the voice inside which tells them,

“Now. Steal Pleasure.” 

********************************************
Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.