Hallways

1:27 - Interview with Jennifer Roe, Exec Director of Folk Alliance

7:02 - Interview with MA Native, musician, and FARHOF Board Member, Tim McFadden

18:16 - Interview with Richard Burgess, President & CEO of A2IM

To learn more about FARHOF, visit www.farhof.org

Episode begins with interview.

Follow us on social channels at @folkhallboston!

This episode is available on Apple, Google, Spotify, and several other podcast platforms.

To learn more and support the Hall of Fame visit - www.farhof.org.

To learn more about our guest visit - https://davidbieberarchives.com.

Today's interview begins at 2:53

To learn more about today's guest and purchase his book visit - www.richardvacca.com

To learn more about FARHOF visit - www.farhof.org

Interview begins at 6:18.

To support FARHOF and learn more visit - www.farhof.org

Hallways returns with a new host and format. Scott Towers, Director of Special Projects and Theatre Historian, at the Boch Center reintroduces the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame in Boston, MA, and its mission. The podcast is returning in 2024 with stories, history, and a few interviews with the overall goal to discuss how Boston is home to The Music Of The People.

Ronnie ran into a few of the fine folks of the wonderful band The Mammals at this years' Folk Alliance International – back in the days when we were able to sit across from one another and talk about music.

Those days will return once again soon enough, but in the meantime, Lets listen to Ronnie talk to founding members Ruth Ungar and Mike Merenda.

Their website says they are a warm-blooded party band with a conscience, equally inspired by their folk predecessors and Americana peers, which fits right on with our mission at the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame.

When you meet Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale, it’s clear that the energy in the room just dialed up a notch -And this is not just about the Americana award-winning and Grammy-nominated duo’s unique yet classic sound, it’s their collective personality. Joey and Kenneth are the Milk Carton Kids out of California.

You may have seen them on the big screen as part of Inside Llewyn Davis, along with colleagues and mentors Joan Baez, Jack White, Marcus Mumford, and The Punch Brothers. Or perhaps you’ve seen them on tour with the Lumineers or Old Crow Medicine Show.

Joey and Kenneth complement each other in harmony, instrumentation and personality. They finish each other’s sentences and can banter like brothers who knew each other long before forming this duo that may remind you of a 21st century Simon and Garfunkel.

We sat with the MCK along with CEO of the Boch Center Joe Spaulding for a chat at the Cabot theater north of Boston and were privileged to sit back during a sound check that filled the theater with crisp guitar picking and vibrant vocal harmonies.

It’s hard to know where to start when talking about our next great artist. And it wasn’t a surprise to Hallways when Joe Spaulding asked Kevin Roosevelt Moore, Aka Keb’ Mo’, to be an honorary Chair at the FARHOF.

Over 25 years, Keb’ Mo’ has collected 5 GRAMMY Awards for his Blues-meets-Americana Signature sound. If you haven’t had the pleasure to hear his work in action, just picture a musical cross between the legendary blues of Robert Johnson and infectious groove of Jack Johnson

Keb’ Mo’ will connect with you at his show, or even on film. He’s collaborated with some of the most talented and respected artists and directors of our time. And when President Obama invites you to perform at “A celebration of American creativity” at the White House along with the likes of Buddy Guy, James Taylor, Usher, Carol Burnett and Esperanza Spalding... you’re in pretty good company.

We sat with Mr. Moore at Berklee School of Music and talked about putting musicians into musical buckets, collaborative writing and how women need to be in charge.

We look forward to having our honorary Chair, GRAMMY winning, Blues-Americana guest Keb’ Mo’ join us someday at the FARHOF / Boch Center, and we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

Ani DiFranco’s music, songwriting and performances are only part of the story of her success as an artist that rings true in the Folk Americana Roots extended family. It’s also the connection to those who have grown up with her and the ongoing conversation she has with her audience. This is the essence of the Folk artist, that engagement with the people, whether in person, or straight from the vinyl or the streaming platform.

Ani began her musical journey at the age of 9 in Buffalo, NY. House concerts, open mics, and a caring folk family helped give rise to this GRAMMY winning artist with 20 albums in her archives to date. Through The Righteous Babe Foundation she has supported multiple grassroots cultural and political organizations and causes including abortion, gay and women’s rights to name only a tiny fraction.

Ani has recorded with Prince, performed with Cyndi Lauper, and has been covered by Chuck D of Public Enemy. And although her roots are in folk, her collaborative spirit reverberates throughout a diverse musical catalog. She also released in 2019 her memoir No Walls and The Recurring Dream which you can purchase on her website at righteousbabe.com.

In this episode of HALLWAYS, Ani talks about being mentored by her folk community at open mics and the importance of pushing that envelope as far as you can. And it was as if Joe Spaulding, our fearless FARHOF leader and CEO of The Boch Center in Boston had whispered in Ani’s ear our mission statement when she emphatically offered… “When it’s the music of the people, the people have something to say!”

We spoke with the great Tom Rush in New Orleans at the Folk Alliance International conference. Have a listen to our chat, where we talk about Maine, small venues, the interaction Tom has with an audience, the great Club '47 (now Club Passim), his Harvard days and Folk as a community.

Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Tom began performing in 1961 while studying at Harvard University. He regularly performed at the Club 47 (now called Club Passim) in Cambridge.

He recently release his latest album Voices (2018) and is still on the road, performing and touring the United States.