I just completed a long weekend at the Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City, MO. You can catch an overabundance of great acts, clinics, industry panels and inspiring performances that run from 9am – 4am everyday. It’s overwhelming, exhausting and inspiring. I made the most I could out of my time there, basically orphaning my family and spending the additional 2 hours of road time each day (and early morning) to and fro’ our home in St. Joe. I saw acts from all over the world and some great ones from the US. I got to hang, play and learn from some real stars in different styles and spend some time with the more influential home town players.
The FAI is a highly organized conference. Just one that is happening annually but that includes many other regional affiliates. It’s a pretty open society too. I did not see anything really avant guarde this year but know that it’s potentially welcome. Neither did I see too much world or other ethnic music but a little for sure. As a guitarist, I tended to gravitate that way and almost all the clinics and concerts I saw were guitar centric or at the very least had a great player there. I wouldn’t say the festival was all about the guitar though for sure, the guitar is a popular instrument in almost any style. I carried mine proudly through the halls and got it out when appropriate.
I had played at last years conference for several showcases as part of Maria the Mexican. This year, I went the route of playing under my own name, that’s me, Jason Riley, for one private showcase in the “First-timer’s Room” at 12 am on friday morning. Then a few minutes later as guest with my friends, Under The Big Oak Tree at 1am. That’s a pretty low number of performances with most acts doing an official showcase with anywhere from 5-10 or more private showcases deep, deep into the night.
The Hilton Crown Center in KC is a wash with music in every ballroom, the rooftop restaurant, Benton’s and the 5-7 floors of late night private showcases. The restaurants, hallways, bars, every nook and cranny is filled with musicians sharing, talking, jamming and whatever. I don’t have the numbers but it’s got to be in the 1000’s of players milling about with cases, plain and funky clothes, positive and negative attitudes. Most everyone I met was overly friendly, happy to talk, share and make a connection. Besides hearing the music, that’s the best part. I suppose that’s what a real conference is to be about. While there are industry types around… dj’s, bookers, record labels, stewards of the music, etc., I haven’t really been able to grasp how much actual work or gigs comes out of it for someone participating. There are a lot of top acts with some buzz that tend to get the official showcases. And, they do a good job of shuffling that around and making sure everyone gets a chance who deserves one. But I’m curious about what those translate too on a level of activity, attention, work and income for those artists. For me, it was all about the experience. To see old friends, make a deeper connection and make new friends. To see new acts, to garner some energy and inspiration from people creating music and art. To learn. Sure it would be nice to be offered tons of work from our showcases and fill that calendar with paying gigs. My private showcase made me so nervous about what could potentially happen. I really worked for a couple of weeks (or 30 years depending on how you look at it) to prep for that little performance. I showed up to an empty room to hear another fine act. They left me all alone in the hotel room (the beds were still in it, a lot of the time they move the beds out to accommodate maybe 20 persons to sit, stand and listen). Two of my favorite players, artists and friends did come by to support me which meant a lot. I’d like to say that we burned that room down with unheard-of musicality and technique. I can’t really say that. I can say that I played a couple of songs for a couple of friends while I sat on the edge of the bed in a hotel room. Why be nervous about that? I’ve done a ton of practicing over the years from the edge of a hotel bed. Even motel. I should be able to hang with that. I’m awaiting the critique from my friends that were there. You know who you are.
And now for the chronological FAI JPR experience. Hold on. We are going to pulling some late nights here. Fight that lack of sleep and over indulgence on all things artistic, musical, friendly and otherwise.
Wednesday, February 17 –
Made it into the city and got checked in for the conference, picked up my bag of swag, booklet, wristbands and lanyards. I’m in. It’s officially go time. Only stayed a couple of hours but managed to catch a handful of great acts including blues clinician, Corey Harris, british transplant to nashville and phonetic twin, James Riley and legend, David Amram. I would take part in a couple of Corey’s classes. I saw James in the hallway later that weekend and we had a brief chat about his excellence and he knew me too, in name only. I would get in on one of David’s masterclasses and eventually chase him down the hall to help him carry his bags. He’s 85 but was really having no trouble with them I just wanted do anything I could for him. The guy knew everyone from Woody Guthrie to Charlie Parker, he was Jack Kerouac’s accompanist and he was in Cuba with Dizzy and Paquito d’Rivera! And on and on!
Thursday, February 18 –
Redd Volkaert’s Country Rhythm and fills – Redd’s classes were great. A real guitar hero and legend, he is a fountain of hot tele lines, imagination, humor, perfect licks and great advice on how to be a part of the band. He’s worked with a lot of top players in the country world. Maybe you’ve heard of Merle Haggard or Brad Paisley? Redd’s the real deal and a real personality.
Kansas City Music Scene – The only panel featuring our local taste-makers, press and radio media and the ubiquitous and incomparable, Betse Ellis. Not a packed house and kind of lacking in hometown folks except for a notable few. I found a seat next to Lance Canales. He gave one of the more memorable official showcases this year, both terrifying and terrific. We had shared a show 2 years ago so it was easy to drop a few names on him. Super nice cat and a genuine artist who sings and plays with a message the folk alliance can embrace.
Fingerstyle blues with Corey Harris – Corey plays with all the intensity and feel of the 1st or 2nd generation blues man. He’s a real expert on the subject, he performs the music purely and clearly he’s done a lot of studying. Great to hear him teach about his craft or at least one aspect of all he can do. I hated to miss out on his “Africa and the Blues” connection class as he’s the real expert in that arena too. Really loved his official showcase, his sound especially. Truly authentic to my ears.
David Amram’s World Music as a Reality, not a category – This was a trip. David’s advice for surviving and thriving in the music industry was a sage and thorough use of “please and thank” as well as studying the science of “hang-out-ology”. That there were some things you could learn about music like style, where to start, where to stop, hit this button, push this key but that one little thing that is so important that could not be taught. “I can feel that”. I loved hearing him talk about the “clave” as the underlying part of all true music, the all important, foundational “key rhythm” that I force upon my own students. He talked about rhythm players that would “sacrifice” they’re own chops and egos to the music. He told a great story about being in Cuba with Dizzy Gilespsie performing with the Paquito d’Rivera Orchestra and how the cuban musicians lost Dizzy in the rhythm. “Where’s the one?!?” Dizzy was no rhythm slouch either. He made a great point that our human heart beat was the key to all native rhythm. That’s where it starts. Please and thank you, David. Here’s a photo of him and some friends studying some hang-out-ology…
Showcases with Lance Canales, Jessica Paige, Happy Traum, Steve Poltz and Hot Buttered Rum.
Lance and trio were really on fire. Intense, intense. Really great to hear him in this setting and the folk alliance loves this guy. 
Jessica Paige is a hometown hero with just a really amazing voice and excellent writing skills. Great songs and great performances for her. I caught her in the hall on the way out on the last night. We were locked in actually and she led a small band of us to virtual freedom in the parking garage. Thanks, Jessica.
Happy Traum is a real mogul in the folk and blues guitar education world. I’ve seen his name on guitar videos and with his company “Homespun Videos” for years. It was great to see him in person. I expected a world class player and was not disappointed. Happy is one of those original folk revivalist and was there in Greenwich village when it was important to be there. Really cool.
Steve Poltz! This room was packed wall to wall. I had to sneak in and sit on the floor at the side of the stage. It was totally worth it. These guys make me sick. A great songwriter with perfectly poignant, funny and uniquely simple pieces. Mostly, he told a story. A long yarn about his having a stroke. Apparently, a true story, so funny and had the whole crowd along for the ride. One of the great examples of stagemanship I’ve ever seen. Very inspiring and a great time too.
So the next night, I was playing a show with Maria the Mexican that included a very large band with friends of the show, Chris Robley on keys and Adam Galblum on violin. I was chatting it up with Adam before the set and hitting him with some highlights of what I’d been able to catch so far. I’d been hearing about Hot Buttered Rum for a long time and made it a point to catch there set. We were discussing the pros and cons of different styles of progressive bluegrass vs. more song oriented stuff and I dropped their name as an example. Of course, Adam was friends with those guys. It’s a small world full of big coincidences. Great set from the HBR.
Later, I headed on up to my own private showcase in the first-timers room. These are on the 5-7th floors of the Hilton and the 40 or so rooms on each floor is rotating acts for showcases all day and all night until 4 am. My solo spot was at midnight and I was nervous about what it might like all by my lonesome there. Fortunately, I was not quite all alone. I sat on the edge of a hotel bed and played a couple of finger style tunes for the couple of friends who came to support me. Simon of Under the Big Oak and Chris Robley (again!) Thanks guys.
I was also able to hear and meet a nice couple singing with the baby in a papoose ahead of me, the Pretend Sweethearts are not pretending and that really was their baby. After that, I was super happy to have the invitation to sit in with Under the Big Oak Tree at 1 am! These guys really worked it this year with a number of private showcases and they were included in the big finale, KC Folk Fest on sunday. Hometown proud of these fine and talented friends.
Friday, February 19 –
Started the morning with Swing guitar chords and rhythm with Whit Smith of Hot Club of Cowtown. Cool guy and a cool class. One of the biggest disappointments of the whole weekend was missing the Hot Club’s showcase later that night. Got busy talking in the hall and missed it entirely. Apparently, I also missed a later night jam with them AND Redd. I can only imagine. I did get to say hello to Whit but wished I could have caught more of him and the band.
Next, I headed down to the Touring Australia and New Zealand panel. There were artists there from all over the world who had had some success doing it and told tales of wildly supportive locals there and endless dates for talented players willing to step up to the outback.
A little later is was more Chicken Pickin’ with Redd. He said he could explain it in about 2 seconds. He did and then he proceeded to unfurl endlessly creative lines and runs for another hour or so. I’ve got an idea for his next class, “Bottom-less Licks w/Redd”.
Got in on what was to be Trance blues with Corey Harris again. The class was small this time so it kind of turned into more of a discussion about several subjects. It was cool with a lot of historical examples. The guy makes guitar straps too. Really funky ones and I was able to buy one off of him. Thanks, Corey!
Key note with Judy Collins – Judy’s albums were some of the few that we had in the house growing up so she really was one of the first singers I remember hearing and knowing who it was. It was really neat to see her in person. Seems like a big part of what the folk alliance artists like to do it to get the whole crowd singing and Judy was no exception. “Amazing Grace”. Seemed right to me.
I got a little dinner break and talked some friends into coming to meet me. Ty and Sylvia grabbed me up and took me down to Grinders for pizza and libation. Great to see them in the big city and they even paid! First time to Grinders which was pretty hip. Need to check out a show there sometime. Thanks for the hang guys (and for the food and drinks)!
I got back in time for a couple of more showcases. I walked in on the Fortunate Ones from Canada, a male/female duo in the style of KC’s Blackbird Review. They were great. What I really was looking forward to was the performance from Leyla McCalla. I had watched a documentary on Leyla and her music earlier in the week and it really got me into what she was doing. Brilliant artist with a french-hatian background from New Orleans. Her music is a perfect mixture of all that. Got a front row seat on that one and dug every minute.
After that, I was off to a show with Maria the Mexican in Lawrence at Fatso’s with Patrice Pike!
Guys from the CD baby booth were our rhythm section. Tim plays bass with MtM a lot but great to have Chris Robley as a special guest there. Thanks Chris (again and again) for the friendly hang.
Saturday, February 20th –
So at this point, I’m really starting to feel the burn..
Blues guitar with Mary Flower – Tardy and showing wear and tear. My good friend, Dan Bliss was there and happy to bring to my and the whole classes attention that Jason was kind of looking like $#%&. Thanks, Dan!
Mary is another preeminent finger style blues authority and educator. My friend and homey, Roddy Barnes saw that she was there and allowed me to drop his name to make a personal connection with her. Thanks, Roddy!
Master Class with Albert Lee – Albert Lee is a guitar legend. This was not so much a master class as it was a telling of his story with some playing thrown in. What a great story it is. British kid in 50’s doing what all those other british kids were doing in the 50’s. Learning American music, blues, country, rock-n-roll, jazz. Hard for those guys to get good American equipment and guitars. He grew up with Jimmy Page and played the same Hamburg clubs the Beatles started in. He knew Jerry Reed. He played with EmmyLou, The Everyly Brothers and Eric Clapton. All for years at a time. Check out anything by the band that he came to America with, Head Hands and Feet. He gave some serious props to Redd when he showed up there too. Great player. Cool session.
Afternoon session of Ragtime guitar with Mary Flower. Mary’s got a great way of laying things out and walking people through some deceptively difficult stuff. Great to see a master teacher in action.
Mastering a music city was another panel I sat in on. This was more for the community building side of things but was very interesting and really presented well. Lots of great examples of musicians growing awareness and assets in towns and neighborhoods all over the western world, Toronto, Cincinnati, Soho in London and Germany even.
I had a long list of showcases I wanted to see saturday night. Tim and Myles are a father/son duo from Nashville with a blistering set of virtuoso playing. They are friendly acquaintances so I got to say Hi and talk a little bit. 
I caught The Blackbird Review last year and got to reintroduce myself this year. The stuff they are doing was great then and they’ve really upped their game in just one year. This husband/wife duo is one of the best KC has to offer right now. Great show, guys.
Lluewen Steffan is an amazing singer and guitarist from Wales. Her songs sung in Welsh were just haunting. I don’t think I’ve heard anything quite like it before. She had a really great little ensemble with her including a 5 string up-right bass and an innovative Boudran player (Japanese guy playing the Irish drum!). I stopped her in the hall later and she took a little time to talk with me. Thanks, Lluewen!
Totally missed the Hot Club of Cowtown who was high on my list of must-see’s. Boo. I did get downstairs in time for Los Texmaniacs. These guys just smoked it. Truly entertaining, a hitting conjunto band with high level players from San Antonio. Their banjo-sexto player and lead singer, Max Bacca must truly be a star. I got to talk to these guys for a little bit too. Very kind and welcoming. Super fun set.
The Sojourners followed them. Amazing gospel trio singing with what I can only describe as a rockabilly band. A great rockabilly band. I wanted to meet their guitarist who I’d seen around some of the clinics. He played perfect stuff in that style and it really worked with the singers. Those guys took you to church. AND they played “People Get Ready”! You don’t often get to hear it the way Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions intended it. 
I caught a couple of guys from Making Movie in the hall before their set. I tried to make a connection about a friend of a friend to no avail. They were still friendly though. Then they proceeded to just kill it. These guys are another of the great musical offerings from KC. I’ve been watching them for a few years and they have steadily amped up what they do to a very high level. They are headed for big things, they’re already doing some big things and they deserve it.
The showcase with Bill Kirchen, Redd and Albert Lee was another packed house. I only caught a little bit of it as I was late and couldn’t even get in the door. I stood outside next to the FAI executive director and made the comment, “too bad nobody likes these guys”. He didn’t laugh. You see it’s funny because the place was packed. haha.
The night steadily spiraled out of control. Upstairs for as many private showcases as I could get into. Great to run with Dan Bliss for a few shows. We caught guitar hero and mentor,Rod Fleeman and lost him again. We caught the amazing solo performance of Texas rock and soul diva, Patrice Pike. Patrice is an angel from heaven with the voice to match. She can make anyone love her instantly, she is a real talent. Real. 
Caught up with Freebo and Banana jamming with our friend Rick from Victor and Penny. Laying it down with a great feel, guys. Stopped in the Kc music collective room for a few backslaps, some baby kissing, name dropping and some refreshment too. Running with Garrett from Maria the Mexican and Patrice for a while. Lost them. Found Rod again and followed him around until he gave me a lesson in the hallway! His never-ending creativity and curiosity about musical practice, art and thinking is an inspiration. Always a new angle, a new handle for him and that’s why he’s the greatest.
I chased down David Amram and forced him to let me help him carry his bags down to the Oklahoma room where apparently, all the magic was happening. He didn’t need my help. He didn’t really want my help but he was gracious, he made another connection with me and I said thank you.
At some point you just have to say… it’s been a great Folk Alliance this year. Stick a fork in me, I’m cooked. Only a quick, one hour, late night drive home and it’s all over for me.
It really was a great conference all around. I’ve got to summarize that some of the favorites were…
Patrice Pike, Leyla McCalla and co., The Sojourners and their guitarist, David Amram, Los Texmaniacs, Making Movies, Steve Poltz, The Ok Room, hanging and running in the hallways late at night with the who’s who of the hometown. Great to be a part of the community and have some camaraderie for just a while. When everyone is working and playing, it’s hard to meet, hear and just see all the talent we have in KC at home and all that we have visiting our fair city.
Special thanks to everyone that I was able to make a personal connection with this year…
Mike at Freight Train Productions, Dan Bliss, Havila and Chris Bruder, Rod Fleeman, Garrett Nordstrom and Maria the Mexican, Adam Galblum, Tim Huggins, Mike Patrum, Chris Robley, Patrice Pike, Blackbird Review, Tim and Myles, Pretend Sweethearts, Fran w/ House concerts, Jason Buice, John Bunch, Lance Canales, Lluewen Steffan, Martha, Mary Flower, Simon, Kristen and Doug from Under the Big Oak Tree, Mud Stomp Records, Shawn and Deagan Poores, Rick and Jeff from Victor and Penny, Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Dalquist, Cody Wyoming, Freebo and Angus Finnan.
I’ve got a list of my personal Pro’s and Con’s of the festival that I won’t submit here but would send over to anyone interested.
Drop me note at [email protected] for those more private impressions and in depth analysis.
Looking forward to next year!
