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.

Wayne Hamilton

Wayne Hamilton is a Twin-Cities-based performing songwriter who’s been involved in supporting music of all kinds here for more than ten years. In addition to being a finalist in several folk/acoustic songwriting contests, he founded the Twin Cities chapter of Just Plain Folks, worked on the board of the New Folk Collective, serves as the President of the Minnesota Association of Songwriters (MAS), and hosts a monthly acoustic song circle. Upon request, he offers songwriting workshops and co-writes with interested musicians.

Here are two recent examples of how Wayne has helped promote songwriting and performance skills. Wayne organized an MAS lyric writing workshop in Roseville in October of 2008. Presenter Pat Pattison, Berklee College of Music Professor of Lyric Writing and Poetry, taught us how to make songs "gain weight." Secondly, I was one of the acoustic Folk performers for the Minnesota Association of Songwriters Showcase at Gingko Coffeehouse in October of 2008, an event organized by Wayne. More showcases promoting original songs by Twin Cities area performing songwriters are being scheduled for 2009. ~ Richard Schletty, St. Paul, Minnesota

Links
Wayne's website
Just Plain Folks - Twin Cities Chapter
New Folk Collective
Minnesota Association of Songwriters
Ginkgo Coffeehouse

Nominated By: Richard Schletty from St. Paul, Minnesota

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