This story warms my heart. The power of music is something that sounds cliche, and often folkies are accused of having an “Andy Hardy” approach to putting on a show (Hey kids, lets use the barn and put on a show!!)

Well, sometimes it works. If you’ve picked up a newspaper in the last few weeks, you have heard about the horrible fires in northern Florida. Because of concenrs, the annual Florida Folk Festival which was scheduled for this coming weekend had to be canceled. A 55 year tradition had to take a back seat to public safety.

Not to be defeated, a group of musicians got together and have put together an event they are calling the “Florida Faux Festival” to be held in Orlando this weekend. With less than 48 hours, these folks have organized a festival!

If you are in the area, I urge you to check this out. Give it some support – and perhaps the rest of the country will take notice as to the power of folk music and the dedication of its supporters.

Here is the press release:

For immediate release:

The Florida Folk Festival was cancelled three days ago due to safetyconcerns as a result of the fires in northern Florida. Safety first, always. As a result, the festival that has been a mainstay of Florida folk music for 55 years isn’t going to be happening in White Springs on Memorial Day this year.

Luckily, we’re just crazy enough to bring a bunch of the artists who were to perform at the festival this year to Orlando this weekend, organize a festival in 48 hours, and have our own version of it. We call it: The Florida Faux Festival

On Saturday, 5/26/07, from 11AM to 11PM, Central Florida Folk, United Artsof Central Florida, and the Plaza Theatre proudly present more than 25incredible folk music acts in one beautiful venue on one single day. The price of this full day’s entertainment is $10.00 general admission.Cash & credit cards will be accepted at the door.

The Plaza Theatre’s three stages will be operating nonstop and that meansthat you will have your choice of artist to listen to at any given time. The music will be folk and acoustic-based with songs that range from traditional to original, Gospel to jazzy, touching to hilarious, you know -Americana!!!

The Florida Faux Festival will be held in the Plaza Theatre, located at 425 North Bumby Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32803(http://www.theplazatheatre.com/). It features 2 beautiful listening rooms with state of the art sound systems and every seat is a great one. We are also going to have live music in the lobby in the lounge area if you want to kick back and chill for a bit. There will be soft drinks, beer, and wineserved here. Light snacks, too. We are currently working on getting severallocal restaurants to make food available for festival-goers, too.

The Florida Faux Festival is being presented by Central Florida Folk, United Arts of Central Florida, and the Plaza Theatre.

Headlining Artists: Amy Carol Webb (http://www.amycarolwebb.com/) Amy Carol Webb’s music makes brave new territory feel like your own back yard, a transforming celebration of the never-quit pioneering spirit of her Native American great-grandmothers and the soul searching ministrations of her father andgrandfather before her. From Boston to Bayfront, the venerated KennedyCenter to Florida’s festival stages, Amy’s liquid vocals sing of a better world and makes it a joyful proposition (Performing Songwriter). Amy was scheduled to headline the Florida Folk Festival this year and has graciously accepted our invitation to come to Orlando and join us this Saturday. She is a POWERFUL performer who will make you laugh, cry, and think. You CANNOT this experience.

Mindy Simmons (http://mindysimmons.com/) A dose of singer/songwriter MindySimmons is just what the laugh doctor ordered. She combines quick wit and charm with a voice that moves from silky smooth to gutsy blues creating a memorable performance that feels like an evening with your best friend.

Jeannie Fitchen (http://www.jfitchen.com/) Winner of the 2001 Florida FolkHeritage Award, Jeannie was nominated for a Contemporary Folk Album Grammyaward for her album, “Roads.” Jeanie’s concert performances take you through the entire gamut of emotions as she spins yarns and tugs at the heartstrings, incorporating traditional as well as contemporary topical elements in her programs. She is a highly-acclaimed songwriter with the ability to evoke through melancholy and euphoria the wondrous resilience andvitality of life.

Amy Carol Webb, Mindy Simmons, and Jeannie Fitchen will also be performinga set of music together as the Daughters of Florida Folk, singing theharmonies that they have each become famous for. These three wonderfulperformers sang a song together at last year’s Florida Folk Festival andwere scheduled to do so this year and we are pleased to present them singing an entire set of all Florida songs together, classic to contemporary.

Bob Rafkin (http://www.bobrafkin.com/) Bob’s first CD, “Down This Road”, released in 1994, was lauded by DIRTYLINEN: “He’s an exceptional guitarist, has a smooth, pleasing voice, and hisyears spent in the studio show in the simple, yet effective, arrangements.”Since then, Bob has released six other CDs, “Out Of Jericho”, “The Circus IsIn Town”, “One Man Band”, two guitar instrumental CD’s, “Velvet Hand” and “Six String Christmas” and his latest “Songs Of Bob Rafkin”. A Bob Rafkin c omposition, “Lazy Waters”, was included on The Byrds’ recently released boxset.

Grant Livingston (http://www.grantlivingston.com/) Named the Best Acoustic Performer by the Miami New Times in 2003, Miamian Grant Livingston has an offbeat sense of humor comes through the stories told in his songs. His lyrics are relentlessly positive, whether he’s teaching “a sailing lesson inthree easy verses,” (Pointy Side Up) or planning his own funeral! (A LittleInvitation) As a guitarist, Livingston employs a style which is a unique mix of ragtime, country blues, and early swing. Comfortably at home with themusical style of the 1920s he sometimes adds his interpretation of classicsongs from the period to his own originals.

Doug Spears (http://www.dougspearsmusic.com/) Jim Abbott of The OrlandoSentinel says that “Doug Spears [is] an accomplished songwriter, and his newdisc,”Truths & Lies”, is burnished like an old hardwood floor. With a voicereminiscent of John Denver and a full acoustic backup band, Spears has putout a folk/Americana disc that’s as enjoyable for the local storytelling asit is for the musicianship.” ‘Nuff said.

Other featured performers:

Susie Cool & The Coolottes

Gary Doles

Lisa Firestone

Stephen Currence

Dan Gribbin

Blues Got Us

Stuart Hall & The MicroTones

James Hawkins

Doug Halper

Norm McDonald

Details: The Florida Faux Festival Saturday, May 26, 2007 11AM to 11PM 12 hours/3 stages/25 acts The Plaza Theatre 425 North Bumby Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803 407-228-1220 General admissionprice: $10.00 for everyone. Cash & credit cards will be accepted. For more information contact: Stuart Hall Coordinator/Producer/Bottle Washer 407-898-8298 Halsey at aol.com

Florida Faux Festival website: http://www.cffolk.com/