The Columbus Folk Music Society, Inc. – a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization april, 2017

A Different Strummer newsletter

Illustration by Jenny Alberti

April 29 Coffeehouse to offer WHAT’S INSIDE: a slice of April Coffeehouse features local DUO (Phil Hart & Steve Rolfe) Interview by Bill Cohen Phil Hart, singer/songwriter, folk Bill Cohen: At our monthly Sour cherry pie pg. 1 musician, and his bass playing coffeehouses, we define “folk 2 fun musical ways buddy, Steve Rolfe play songs with music” very broadly, so each of catchy tunes with thought-provoking you can help this our featured acts have differed lyrics that Phil has been writing since year’s folk festival pg. 1 the early 70s. greatly. For folks who’ve never heard you sing, please tell us To listen visit: www.facebook.com/Sour- “notes worth taking how you describe your music. Cherry-Pie-296604507043057/ central ohio folk Phil Hart: I have always festival pg. 3 struggled with the “genre” label. In the 70s I was in a CFMS Jammers spread band called “Succotash”, folk music spirit pg. 5 which we understood to be a pot of corn, several kinds Announcing Festival of beans, and any other headliner vegetables you happened john gorkA pg. 6 to have in the fridge. It was a nod to the fact that our Calendar of Events pg. 7 See Sour Cherry Pie – page 2 2 Fun Musical Ways You Can Help This Year’s Folk Festival ! by Bill Cohen Pay a few bucks to hear some upcoming musical fundraisers. El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant great folk music . . . and help us at 3230 Olentangy River Road. April 8 will feature a double shot pay for this year’s Central Ohio Folk – two polished bands will take Whiskey Maggie calls itself “an Festival. That’s the idea behind two the stage in the party room at 2 Fun Musical Ways – page 4 contact us at: voicemail 614-470-3963 page 1 A different strummer april, 2017 Sour Cherry Pie – from page 1 unusually fast, but typical of how the Four albums and one of Kingston set list included all kinds of stuff, core of a song shows up. Trio’s. That was a pivotal moment from Peter, Paul, and Mary to the in my life. In 1967 I enrolled as a Bill: Who are the musician heroes Beatles to Dolly Parton to the Everly vocal music major at a big state and heroines that have influenced Brothers to some of our originals. school where I had to hide my folk your music? The music I am drawn to and try to tendencies from my professors. write should have a melody that can Phil: was a huge Then while working at a summer stand on its own and some lyrical influence on me when I was young, camp in 1970, another counselor poetry to make me want to pay though I didn’t realize it at the time, introduced me to the idea that it attention. because when I was learning his was okay to write our own songs. Bill: Many of your songs are I had just started playing the guitar originals. Tell us a little about the winter before, encouraged how you do your writing. Where by another friend. Two of those do your ideas come from? Give first songs, the “Friend Song” and us an example of one of your “Shine,” came directly out of the originals and how it came to be. Camp Akita experience, and I still get requests to perform them. In

Phil: Song ideas usually come retrospect it may seem odd to some to me in one of two ways. One is folks, but I never really saw myself fear of the deadline, like where I as a songwriter till I turned 50 and promised someone I was going to my wife insisted that my birthday write a song for their wedding or present was to be a recording something. But the most common session with several old friends place for me to encounter my muse from California. That turned into the is on the interstate. When I am out album Sing Me Home and inspired on the highway my consciousness the title track. goes into some kind of musical Zen Bill: Do any of your past state, and it is difficult to keep my songs, it was through someone performances come to mind as brain from throwing out little phrases else’s voice. I loved Bob Dylan and being particularly great. . .or awful ? and saying, “Hey, what do you think for their social justice about this?” voice and James Taylor for his style. Phil: I think what sticks out right My song, “Visiting Nanna,” showed I was a huge Crosby, Stills, Nash, now is the recent overwhelmingly up on the way to Wisconsin two and Young fan. I was introduced to positive reaction I have been years ago for the holidays. It’s about John Prine late. He’s a hero. getting from folks to my song “Lady my sister-in-law narrated by her Liberty,” which was written in the fall Bill: What’s your history as a young granddaughter. We were of 2010. It is surprising and sad that performer and song writer? crossing northern Illinois when I the theme in that song is even more When and how did your musical turned to my wife and said, “Hey, of a crisis today than when I first career begin? write this down.” I continued to wrote it. dictate phrase by phrase till, in less Phil: When I was in junior high an than an hour, there it was. That was older cousin lent me two Brothers See Sour Cherry Pie – page 3

FolkSide Coffeehouse – Sat, April 29 Held at: Columbus Open Jam 6-7 pm; Open Mic 7-8 pm Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Ave Sour Cherry Pie: 8 pm (Clintonville)

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Phil Hart – from page 2 to Morgantown, and Steve headed when Steve came home, and we Bill: At your April coffeehouse to China to teach English for two got back to playing and decided to appearance, you’ll have some keep the Sour Cherry Pie label as a excellent back-up musicians, and way to keep folks connected with you’ll actually be appearing as part our performance calendar. I really of a group called Sour Cherry Pie. . . . the most common “ place for me to appreciate the flavors, rhythmic and Tell us about your fellow music- melodic, that Steve adds to our makers. encounter my muse is on sets. (You can check our Facebook Phil: In about 2010, I was invited the interstate. When I am page for upcoming performances.) to sing several songs for a wedding, out on the highway my Bill: Is there a particular theme or and I asked the couple if they would consciousness goes into thrust that seems to run through mind if I got some guys to help many of your songs? me. Steve Rolfe (bass) and Perry some kind of musical Zen Leatherman (mandolin and vocals) state, and it is difficult Phil: I don’t know that there is a put together a nice little set of to keep my brain from theme, per se. I intentionally try to songs, and when the wedding was mix the musical style of my songs, over we had lots of nice feedback throwing out little phrases but lyrically I am most attracted to including a couple of folks who and saying, “Hey, what telling stories that come from actual relationship experiences. In the last wanted to know what the name of do you think about this?” our band was. Sour Cherry Pie was few years I have joked that I am Phil Hart born out of that gig, and we played currently more in my “Phil Ochs” around Columbus till the summer period in trying to use my songs of 2013 when the Rainbow Gardens years. And I thought I was just as lenses for looking at religious or album was recorded, Perry moved getting warmed up! I was relieved political positions in a different light.

Notes Worth Taking – CENTRAL OHIO FOLK FESTIVAL May 6 & 7, 2017 • May 6 & 7: Battelle Darby Creek song. Please keep lyrics family Metro Park-Indian Ridge area. friendly! • New this year: official “festival • John Gorka featured mascot” (you’ll know him when headliner Saturday evening. you see him!); festival coloring Pre-registration highly book; a parade for the kids recommended. Tickets $15 at: (4pm Sat). centralohiofolkfestival.eventbrite. com. • Numerous free concerts, dance opportunities, musician • Worst Song in the World gallon (lyrically). 2 separate • We could use more: workshops for beginners and Contest milk jugs (clean and labels contests: one 8pm Friday seasoned artists. Visit: www. removed). We also need night and the other 4:15pm on ColumbusFolkMusicSociety.org ribbons, beads, small artificial Saturday on the main stage. All for up-to-date information. flowers, & empty coffee and welcome to participate. Contact oatmeal containers. Drop off: • Kick-off potluck and jam on Tom Nagel at: tomnagel@ Linda McDonald’s: 444 Oakland Friday (Cedar Ridge Lodge): wowway.com. You can enter Park Ave. 6-9pm. All members invited! one or both and with the same

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2 Fun Musical Ways – from page 1 experience both those great bands place at Byrne’s Pub at 1248 W. and help produce the folk festival Third Avenue near Grandview from energetic and entertaining pseudo- on May 6 and 7. The evening at the 3 to 5 p.m. Donate whatever you traditional Irish lineup.” The April 8 fundraiser starts at 6:30 p.m. want as you sing along, and we’ll foursome includes guitar, fiddle, If the music makes you hungry, you use the money for the folk festival. flute, and bodhran/cajon. As the can buy delicious Mexican food off Plus, you can buy a pizza or other band’s website notes: “These guys the El Vaquero menu. Plus, there’s scrumptious food off the Byrne’s are all about drinking, joking, and a bar. Pub menu. singing along (often in that order). Whiskey Maggie will pump out The mood, food, and playlist will some rowdy pub songs paired be different at anA pril 23 musical Sat, April 8 unceremoniously with foot-stomping fundraiser. We’ll take you back 6:30-9:30 pm (El Vaquero’s) traditional tunes.” to the 1950’s and 60’s folk music revival, as the Folk Ramblers – Carl Whiskey Maggie Also in the musical lineup will be Yaffey and Bill Cohen – lead us longtime CFMS favorites, Halfway in a sing-along. We’ll do songs & Halfway Home Home. That 5 member band made famous by the Weavers, Pete specializes in Americana music, Seeger, the Kingston Trio, Harry $10 donation at door which often tells poignant stories Belafonte, Peter Paul and Mary, about the gritty lives of prisoners, and others. The only instruments Sun, April 23 factory workers, diner waitresses, will be Bill’s guitar and Carl’s banjo, (Byrne’s Pub) gamblers, addicts, lovers, and but everyone’s singing voice will be 3-5 pm down-and-outers. welcomed, along with your shoes For a $10 per person donation for tapping. Folk Ramblers at the door, you’ll be able to The April 23 sing-along will take we’ll pass the hat

Page 4 www.columbusfolkmusicsociety.org A different strummer april, 2017 CFMS Jammers Spread Folk Music Spirit by Bill Cohen “A raucous cacophony and lots Guitarist Karen Stephens also songs, instruments, styles, and of fun.” That’s how guitarist and notices how the children react to personalities each week,” says singer Mike Zajano describes the music. “I love it when one of guitarist and singer Charlie Flowers. the Saturday morning jam he the kids actually sings or plays with “And yet, over time, there is a joins that shifts from comfortable repetition the Worthington Green that each member farmers’ market in warm comes to appreciate in weather to the indoor the collective effort to Worthington Mall in the accompany them.” winter months. Improvising songs with Sometimes it’s just a that ever-changing handful of musicians. group also hones Other times, the jam the musicians’ skills, grows to a full dozen or according to guitarist more. “Everyone gets into and singer Hugh the spirit of the music,” Farthing. “To see notes jammer Steven someone you play with Ing. “When we pass the Ella Tridico contributes her part. Photo by Ben Tridico become a very good microphone around the musician through their circle and everyone gets a chance us. It’s all about passing on the own efforts improving every week to present a song, it’s the closest music to another generation.” is a great thing.” thing -- coming from this inveterate Adult spectators often find “Non-judgmental” is how singer Trekkie fan – to a group ‘Vulcan themselves drawn into the familiar and guitarist Dan Clarke describes mind-meld.’” folk tunes the jammers do. Karen the attitude among the musicians. The jammers bring tambourines, relates this story from just a few He says it’s silly that “TV has made rhythm sticks, and drums. weeks ago: us think that we all must sound Shoppers are delighted to see their “We were doing ‘Will the Circle Be like Johnny Cash and play like Eric children pick up the instruments Unbroken,’ and I noticed a woman Clapton.” Instead, Dan says, the and keep the beat. “The kids bang wiping her eyes. The verse was jammers simply accept everyone’s along but we love it because they the one about the ‘hearse come musical abilities and styles, using are participating,” says flutist Linda rolling for to carry my mother the diversity to learn from each McDonald. “We have seen the away,’ so I went over during the other. same families visit us for years! We song, thinking she had just lost Another great thing is the feeling have really seen the children grow her mother. Turns out it was her of community the jammers help up.” grandmother who had recently to spark. “I get an ego boost Percussionist Tom Nagel agrees. passed, and they had sung this – and boy, with my low self- “One young fellow has been song at her funeral. I gave her a esteem, I need it!” says singer coming regularly for several years, hug.” and guitarist Terry Keller. “I also starting when he was 3 or 4 years The camaraderie among the love the laughter and general old; I think he’s in middle school musicians is another highlight of pandemonium.” now. He loves the washboard trap the Saturday Worthington jams. Laughter, sometimes sparked by set. Dan Clarke has gotten several “I enjoy that with the arrival of a jokes and puns, are indeed another of the kids interested in cigar box new combination of musicians, highlight. Washtub bass player guitars, which he makes for them.” there is an ever-changing meld of See CFMS Jammers – page 6

www.columbusfolkmusicsociety.org page 5 A different strummer april, 2017 Announcing 2017 Central Ohio Folk Festival Headliner Advance purchase of tickets recommended: centralohiofolkfestival.eventbrite.com John Gorka “the leading singer/songwriter of the New Folk movement”! – Rolling Stone “widely heralded for the sophisticated intelligence and provocative originality of his songs.” – Boston Globe"

John got his start in the 1970s in a coffeehouse in eastern PA. By 1984 he won the prestigious New Folk Award at Texas’ Kerrville Folk Festival. In 1987 he released his first album, I Know, to popular acclaim. Over the years, he has released a dozen critically acclaimed CDs. In 2010, an album with friends and landed on Billboard Folk Charts and was one of the most played albums on folk radio. Many well known artists have also recorded and/or performed John Gorka songs. He regularly tours across the U.S. and throughout Europe. “With a tangle of songs that emotionally connect us all and leave a tender trace, John Gorka stimulates the cerebrum, keeps our smiles agile and fit and reconnects us with what really matters most in music: honesty.” - Brian DAmbrosio, Huffington Post (1/04/2014) JohnGorka.com

CFMS Jammers – from page 5 could be close enough to playfully $700, donating it to the Columbus Charlie Hummel was one of the hug them. Folk Music Society. In 2016, the humorists until he recently retired Actually, it was Larry’s wife, Jan, bonanza doubled to about $1400! from the group, citing the fact he’s who brought the jammers to the It’s just another example of a nearing 90 years old. Talk about Worthington Green nearly a decade win-win project. The jammers in commitment to a group. From his ago before she died in 2011. Jan Worthington spread the joy of home in the small town of Orient in was in charge of the Worthington folk music. Southwest Franklin County, “it was Farmers’ Market and wanted lively They love a 55 mile round trip every Saturday music to spice things up, so Larry what they’re morning for 12 years through put out a call for jammers via the doing. Their downtown Columbus. (Ugh)” Columbus Folk Music Society. audiences Charlie’s “interaction with the The shoppers and kids who gather leave with a ladies,” has provided a lot of laughs around the jammers often show smile. The for the jammers, according to fellow their appreciation with a couple CFMS is jammer Larry Staats. Larry recalls quarters or a dollar bill thrown into a richer literally. that Charlie often urged young collection jar. The small donations And all of us female bystanders to come up and really add up to big bucks. In 2015, are richer play his washtub bass, just so he the jammers raised a total of about figuratively.

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Seriously folks, post this on your frig! Welcome to Save the Date . . . Our New and The Saturday Music Jam (Clintonville). $10 donation at at Worthington Farmer’s door. Full food service & bar. Returning Market 9:30-11:30am – Members: each Saturday at The Shops Sunday, April 23 – Folk Sing-Along featuring the at Worthington Mall thru Linda Blaine All are welcome to play. Folk Ramblers. Held at: April. David Clutter (new) Consider bringing a chair. Byrne’s Pub, 1248 W. 3rd Ave (Grandview Hts). No cover, Mark Henry (new) Wednesday, April 5 & 19: but we’ll pass the hat. Food & 2-3pm – Jam at Laurels of drink available. Worthington (for Memory Care Unit) – 1030 N. High St., Saturday, April 29 – Listings: Worthington. Contact Dan FolkSide Coffeehouse: Clarke at [email protected] to 6pm Open Jam; 7pm Open Instruments: be put on an e-mail list. Mic; 8pm Sour Cherry Pie. Martin Mandolin (1968 or ’69) for sale. Held at: Columbus Mennonite $650. Contact Jane VanAuken at: Saturday, April 8 – COFF Church, 35 Oakland Park Ave, [email protected]. Benefit 6:30-9:30pm – Cols. Suggested donation: $7; featuring Whiskey Maggie students $5; CFMS members Lessons: Old-time banjo lessons (clawhammer, & Halfway Home. Held at: $5; under 12 free. Handicap El Vaquero’s, 3230 Olentangy accessible. frailing, drop-thumb, etc.). Contact Carl River Rd, Columbus Yaffey at: [email protected].

If you can donate empty gallon milk jugs for our festival, click here: on How to Remove Labels!

Want to find out more OR you can join as a member. Benefits include: camaraderie with fellow folk music lovers in town, about the Columbus Folk discounts on certain admissions, this monthly Music Society and it’s newsletter and the comfort of knowing that all events are family friendly! A membership form is provided on events? the last page of this newsletter. Visit: www.columbusfolkmusicsociety.org following our own . . . Thursday, April 13: Friday, May 5: 8-11pm 7-8pm – Grassahol at – Whinestopper at Tara Upper Arlington Library, Hall, 274 E Innis Ave, 2800 Tremont Rd, Upper Columbus, OH 43207. Arlington, OH. No cover.

www.columbusfolkmusicsociety.org page 7 The Columbus Folk Music Society P.O. Box 20735 Columbus, OH 43220

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Please send completed form and payment to: In an effort to be both fiscally and environmentally responsible, we will The Columbus Folk Music Society send a full-color, interactive newsletter via e-mail unless you request a hard copy be mailed to you. P.O. Box 20735, Columbus, OH 43220 1 I prefer a hard copy via regular U.S. mail )&$,N.=&#/$&",,G"E&<$,#6"E&U/0.&K.E4&K$1#0C"E&8$"6E=&H"=9%&&[.#1&&&R&&&^&&&I&&&T&&&Z&&7.#&&&&&8@E$"1$&3063E$&.,$9