2007 FOLK ALLIANCE AWARDS
The 19th Annual Folk Alliance Conference took place in Memphis last week. Last year the Folk Alliance began an awards program to honor achievement within the folk field. The awards recognize musicians, festivals, large and small venues, agents and folk DJ’s.
The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday February 21st at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tenn. The ceremony was hosted by Christine Lavin and featured performances by Mamadou Diabate, Chris Smither and Madrigaia.
In addition to handing out awards, the Folk Alliance presented the Elaine Weissman Lifetime Achievement Awards during the ceremony. Named after one of the founders of the Folk Alliance, the Lifetime Achievement Awards have been presented for a number of years at the conference to recognize the pioneers who shaped the folk music community and brought awareness to the public. In previous years the Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented at an annual luncheon during the conference, but the Awards are now incorporated into the Folk Alliance Awards show.
This years recipients of the Elaine Weissman Lifetime Achievement Awards were banjo legend Earl Scruggs, blues revivalist the late Dave Van Ronk and manager/producer the late Manny Greenhill. Earl Scruggs, Andrea Van Ronk (Dave’s widow) and Mitch and Matt Greenhill (Manny’s son and grandson) accepted the awards at the conference.
I am of the opinion that the Lifetime Achievement Awards are the most important feature of the conference and the awards ceremony. The Folk Alliance has been criticized for not paying enough attention to the traditions that created this genre, and I feel that they have done a wonderful job by bringing attention to these individuals and organizations who shaped the community. Previous recipients include Pete Seeger, Odetta, the late Stan Rogers, Sing Out! Magazine, Rev. Gary Davis and others.
The idea of presenting annual awards in the various categories is an attempt to create interest and recognition of “folk music” to the general public. Sadly, the mainstream media has been slow to pick up on these awards and the “folk press” has mixed feelings about it. My personal feeling is that folk music is timeless. It doesn’t matter if a song is recognized in one year or another – a good song, a good musician or a good festival should last. Still, I understand the potential for artists and organizations to use these awards to promote. I hope it can serve in a positive way.
SONG OF THE YEAR – “Seems So Real“, Chris Smither
TRADITIONAL RELEASE OF THE YEAR – Bruce Springsteen, “We Shall Overcome-The Seeger Sessions”
CONTEMPORARY RELEASE OF THE YEAR – Wailin‘ Jennys, “Firecracker”
TRADITIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR –
OdettaCONTEMPORARY ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Chris Smither
EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Crooked Still
WORLD MUSIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Mamadou Diabate
FOLK BOOKING AGENCY – Fleming Artists
SMALL FOLK VENUE (under 250 capacity) – Club Passim, Cambridge, Mass.
LARGE FOLK VENUE (over 250 capacity) – Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, Ill.
FOLK FESTIVAL – Kerrville Folk Festival, Kerrville, Tex.
FOLK DJ – Gene Shay, WXPN, Philadelphia, Penn.