Festival Link



Folk Spokes

In every community, there are devoted people behind the scenes helping to make the folk music scene vibrant, thriving by keeping the wheels rolling. Whether it's a longtime volunteer at a folk club or house concert series, a festival or venue director, a local folk radio host, or a writer who reviews CDs or concerts - one common thread is that these people love the music. They are passionate about serving artists and fans and making sure the folk scene in their community is strong and active.

We chose the name Folk Spokes from listener submissions for Folk Alley's new feature because spokes support wheels while connecting an unbroken circle of the best of musical traditions. Folk Spokes is an opportunity for you to nominate the unsung individuals (or spokes) in your community and to give them a well-deserved moment in the spotlight.




Andy Spence


Andy Spence from Voorheesville, New York has been an entrepreneur and producer for over thirty years in the field of folk and traditional music, based in the Albany, NY area. She was a founding member of the Pick'n and Sing'n Gather'n (still gathering to do the same today) and, most notably, Old Songs, Inc. Still under Andy's direction, Old Songs has been presenting folk concerts in the Albany area since 1977, as well as offering contra dances and instrument instruction. But Old Songs is best known for the annual Old Songs Festival which will celebrate it's 29th year in 2009.

Andy is also the founder and proprietor of the folk music mail order business Andy's Front Hall which, though considerably downsized today, still sells some of the classic recordings they produced themselves in the 1970s and '80s.

Dedicated to presenting folk, traditional, Celtic and world music and dance in New York's Capital District, Andy Spence continues to carry on the tradition.

Links
Old Songs
Old Songs concert series
Old Songs Festival



Nominated By: Roger Mock





Comments



Andy's gift for fostering Folk of all ages, styles, and cultures has permeated the Albany (NY) area since well before my arrival here in 1970. She was the coordinator of the all-volunteer crew of the Fox Hollow Festival that introduced me to the close camaraderie of the then-young Pickin' & Singin' Gatherin', on whose Board I served back in 1975-76. Thirty-plus years later, her spirit and hard work still inspire countless volunteers to contribute their time and talents to make possible the annual Old Songs Festival, as well as the Concerts that Old Songs presents throughout the year. One of Andy's greatest passions has been fostering love of folk music in children and teens, and the abundance of 2nd- and 3rd-Generation musicians in our area is a testament to her success. Two instances illustrate the legacy of Andy's emphasis on Family Involvement in both Old Songs and the PSG: the blossoming of Hannah Spence into a gifted musician, and my daughter Rebecca Tell's election as the First 2nd-Generation Board Member of the PSG! My only disappointment when I saw Andy nominated as this month's Folk Spoke was that Roger Mock had beaten me to it! Ad Multos Annos, Andy.

Posted by: Mary on August 17th, 2008 at 06:15am



Registered users can post comments in the blog. Please register or log in (on the right) to share your views.

Support Folk Alley During Our Spring Fund Drive!

Email:


Password:



Forgot your password?