Tag Archives: Birmingham Folk Festival

After the show, it’s the after party…

The White Oaks, courtesy of their MySpace profile YAY! All Jay-Z/R. Kelly lyric references aside, I’ve been all about this show since I found out two weeks ago. You see, I was stoked enough to find out Birmingham was putting on a Folk Festival (at Avondale Park, no less) and then, dun dun DUH, the afterparty!

I met with The White Oaks this past Wednesday. They were in the process of shooting a short film based around their song How Do You Sleep?. They were in full rehearsal mode at The Playhouse, complete with directors (Chad Crowley), storyboards and guest star Lonnie Holley (world renowned folk artist). This was an event. Lonnie’s work has been acquired by the American Folk Art Museum in New York and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. His work has also been displayed at the White House. This was an amazing opportunity for the band, and for Birmingham.

After settling in for a break, the guys were eager to talk about their set at the after-party, but I was interested in hearing about their music.
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Folk Festival preview: Duquette Johnston

Photo by Morgan Jones, courtesy of Duquette Johnston's MySpace profile

Duquette Johnson. Photo by Morgan Jones.

Duquette is a seemingly soft-spoken guy with a hectic schedule and even more crazy background. But that’s what bios & MySpace pages are for.

What Duquette and I talked about yesterday was Birmingham and the endless possibilities that come from finally utilizing an (up until now) recently under-used venue: Avondale Park and specifically, it’s amphitheater.

“I hear guys all the time talk about the amphitheater but I can’t think of any of us that have played there,” he says. “I remember seeing pictures from the ’30s when people would be all decked out and bands playing…” Duquette played the first incarnation of an Alabama roots music type festival last year, at a farm in Hoover. This year, when time came for booking, he was one of the first on board. “I see myself in more of a rock and roll type deal, but this festival runs the spectrum from bluegrass to indie and even indie bluegrass.” He waits a minute, and reminiscent of a proud parent he says, “This is a good way to handle a festival”.

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Got plans this weekend? 8.1 – 8.3

To be honest, I don’t have much for you this weekend. Rightly so, the smart folk have left August alone to let us all stay in the pool or house, wearing as little clothing as allowed. And there is still a little time to head to the beach before school starts. If you are headed to school yourself, or have young’uns who are, then you may enjoy this weekend’s tax-free event to stock up on the needed supplies. Bookbags, clothes, computers all qualify – here are the offical rules. I suggest if you hate shopping, then stay the heck away from any big-box store near you.

More after the jump…

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Friday is pretty folkin’ busy

This week has been somewhat spotty and the Birmingham scene has taken some days off local music-wise, but Friday makes up for it.

#1: Speakeasy is hosting a Birmingham Folk Festival benefit with some great acts, including a Grey Watson (Sorry Saints) solo set so you can check him out before his band plays The Terminal’s benefit on the 26th. Drop by 1920 3rd Ave N. and enjoy your Friday night.

More after the jump

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