The Future of Acoustic Music Festivals?
Here are some excerpts from the monthly newsletter of my local Folklife Society:
In late November, the Yakima Folklife Association made the following statement:
After nearly 40 years, it is with sincere sadness that Yakima Folklife Association (YFA) / Yakima Folklife Festival has made the difficult decision to dissolve the organization, effective December 31, 2022.”
Yakima Folklife Association board President Nicol Sloon said the difficulty in finding volunteers to run the festival was one of the main reasons behind the decision. “Most of the board and some committee members have been doing it since almost the inception 40, 30 years ago,” Sloon said. “They just want to enjoy retirement and their time. Continuing on, it’s hard without new people to step up and carry the torch."
The Vancouver (BC) Folk Music Festival will not be returning to the city in 2023, as the changing event landscape and rising production costs leaves the long-term future of the event hanging in the balance.
A statement from the festival's society on Tuesday said it would take an extra $500,000 to produce a festival this summer, which would be "unfortunately not realistic or sustainable" with its current cash flow.
Also stated was that members of the society would be voting on whether to dissolve the society completely on 1 February 2023.
Our own local Bluegrass and Folk festivals are facing a similar crossroads. Aging volunteers and attendees and rising costs are threatening our future.
Other areas in the Pacific Northwest continue to draw crowds and support, and - most importantly IMO - new young participants. Communities situated near urban areas or college towns (Bellevue, Portland, Seattle, Bellingham) host popular festivals that were already bouncing back from pandemic lockdown last spring and summer.
Are any of my fellow mandocafe-ers involved in successful, growing festivals? Have you found a way as aging boomers to connect with and attract younger folks who are getting inspired by acts like The Brothers Comatose, Billy Strings, Sierra Farrel, etc.?
I don't want to let our festivals or organizations expire on my watch.
Re: The Future of Acoustic Music Festivals?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mandobart
Here are some excerpts from the monthly newsletter of my local Folklife Society:
In late November, the Yakima Folklife Association made the following statement:
After nearly 40 years, it is with sincere sadness that Yakima Folklife Association (YFA) / Yakima Folklife Festival has made the difficult decision to dissolve the organization, effective December 31, 2022.”
Yakima Folklife Association board President Nicol Sloon said the difficulty in finding volunteers to run the festival was one of the main reasons behind the decision. “Most of the board and some committee members have been doing it since almost the inception 40, 30 years ago,” Sloon said. “They just want to enjoy retirement and their time. Continuing on, it’s hard without new people to step up and carry the torch."
The Vancouver (BC) Folk Music Festival will not be returning to the city in 2023, as the changing event landscape and rising production costs leaves the long-term future of the event hanging in the balance.
A statement from the festival's society on Tuesday said it would take an extra $500,000 to produce a festival this summer, which would be "unfortunately not realistic or sustainable" with its current cash flow.
Also stated was that members of the society would be voting on whether to dissolve the society completely on 1 February 2023.
Our own local Bluegrass and Folk festivals are facing a similar crossroads. Aging volunteers and attendees and rising costs are threatening our future.
Other areas in the Pacific Northwest continue to draw crowds and support, and - most importantly IMO - new young participants. Communities situated near urban areas or college towns (Bellevue, Portland, Seattle, Bellingham) host popular festivals that were already bouncing back from pandemic lockdown last spring and summer.
Are any of my fellow mandocafe-ers involved in successful, growing festivals? Have you found a way as aging boomers to connect with and attract younger folks who are getting inspired by acts like The Brothers Comatose, Billy Strings, Sierra Farrel, etc.?
I don't want to let our festivals or organizations expire on my watch.
On the other coast, here in Vermont, Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots is heading into its 4th year in August and is growing each year.
Watchhouse and a host of the side projects related to the b and have been a staple. Past "younger generation acts" include Sierra Hull, Bella White, Hawktail, Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves, Molly Tuttle and on and on...Legend acts including Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Darrel Scott.
Its an intimate affair, but a beautiful and special weekend where artist and audience seem to blend together, the jams go late and fiery and the community is wonderful.
Re: The Future of Acoustic Music Festivals?
Lark Camp is returning to real, live events this year, July 28 - Aug 5:
https://www.larkcamp.org/
Irish Mandolin, Begin/Intermed
Marla Fibish
Irish Mandolin, Intermediate & Advanced
Marla Fibish
European Tunes for Octave Mandolin & Mandolin
Danny Carnahan
Mandolin, Beginning
Booi Volk
Mandolin, Intermediate
Booi Volk
https://www.larkcamp.org/workshops/
