Vinyl Is Making A Comeback

vinyl records

Vinyl just sounds better, right? It sounds “warm” and even though the digital recordings are “clean” vinyl just “feels” more comfortable. Well now vinyl is officially making a comeback. Check out this recent New York Times article stating that vinyl sales are on track to reach about 5.5 million.

David Bakula, Nielsen SoundScan’s senior vice president of client development and insights, said:

“We never expected the vinyl resurgence to become as crazy as it is,” he said. “But it’s come full circle. We get kids calling us up and telling us why they listen to vinyl, and when we ask them why they don’t listen to CDs, they say, ‘CDs? My dad listens to CDs — why would I do that?’

Nice vinyl Collection

Nice Vinyl Collection

I’m rediscovering my record collection. It’s like connecting with old friends and remembering where we were when we first met. Now the collection in the photo is a bit extreme, but somehow I can relate. Read about the “Vinyl Hoarder” here.

Here are some of the world’s greatest record stores. How many have you visited?

Of course you have to take great care of records. We all remember when our favorite recording got scratched or worse “warped”.

John Hartford has a great song about this.

Some folks have created a business out of unused phonograph records.  Here is my favorite.  Eye Glasses!

Vinyl Eye Glasses

It’s called Vinylize.

Well, now my kids may understand what I mean when I say “You sound like a broken record.”

 

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Folk Films, Festivals and Artists Funding

For the Love of the Music

Folk film directors, festival organizers and artists are using crowd sourcing these days.  They fund projects like films, festivals, cd recordings and just to name a few. Creative people are raising millions of dollars through sites like Kickstarter, indigogo, PledgeMusic and others.  Where else can you find out about the passions of people all over the world?

Here are a few that have come across the radar screen lately. Take a look!

 

Film

 

Joan Baez at Folk Club 47

Joan Baez at The Club 47

For The Love of the Music: The Club 47 Folk Revival

This is a documentary exploring the rich history of Club 47, the iconic Cambridge, Massachusetts folk music mecca from 1958-1968. Narrated by Peter Coyote, it explores the influence the Club had on a unique group of folk musicians, from the evolution of the 60s folk revival to the singer-songwriter era. Featured are interviews with Joan Baez, Taj Mahal, Judy Collins, Tom Rush, Maria Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur, Jim Kweskin, Jackie Washington, Jim Rooney, Peter Rowan and many more.

More info here.

Festivals

Working Waterfront Festival

The Working Waterfront Festival

Come to New Bedford, America’s largest commercial fishing port, to learn about the men and women who harvest the North Atlantic. Walk the decks of a scalloper, dine on fresh seafood, see fishermen’s contests, and watch a cooking demonstrations. Experience the workings of the industry which brings seafood from the ocean to your plate. Lot’s of folk art too.

More info here.

Artists

Michaela Anne and Marian Evans just completed successful campaigns for new music projects.. Last Dance Productions is happy to support all of these folk projects. Find a project that you can be passionate about and lend your support. You’ll be glad you did.

 

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A Conversation and Performance with Bill Staines

Bill Staines

Anyone not familiar with the music of Bill Staines is in for a special treat.

Last Dance Productions is pleased to welcome Bill Staines to one of the great listening rooms in town, the New England Folk Music Archives, on Wednesday, July 17th at 7pm.  We’ll have a conversation with Bill recording his thoughts about the Folk Scene in New England over the past years that will be deposited into our growing oral history collection.

After the conversation we’ll be treated to a performance by Bill.

For more than forty years, Bill has traveled back and forth across North America, singing his songs and delighting audiences at festivals, folksong societies, colleges, concerts, clubs, and coffeehouses. A New England native, Bill became involved with the Boston-Cambridge folk scene in the early 1960’s and for a time, emceed the Sunday Hootenanny at the legendary Club 47 in Cambridge. Bill quickly became a popular performer in the Boston area. From the time in 1971 when a reviewer from the Boston Phoenix stated that he was “simply Boston’s best performer”, Bill has continually appeared on folk music radio listener polls as one of the top all time favorite folk artists. Now, well into his fifth decade as a folk performer, he has gained an international reputation as a gifted songwriter and performer.

Ticket and more information here

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Marina Evans Debuts New Album

Marina Evans

Marina Evans is looking for funding for her new cd and LDP is happy to spread the word.

From Marina:

I am Marina Evans, a folk/rock singer songwriter from Rockport, Massachusetts. This April, I am SO excited to board a plane to Florence, Italy where I am hoping to record my first full length album!

I’ve got the plane ticket, and I’ve written the songs. The band, producer, and studio are on board and at the ready; pre-production is already underway. Now, all I need is your help to git ‘er done!

First off, let me explain how Italy fits into the picture. I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Florence in 2008, and promptly and permanently fell in love with the place. I had written a few songs then and played at the open mics, where I met some Florentine musicians with whom I eventually gigged and recorded. From that point on I couldn’t stay away, and I have been extremely lucky to be able to return to Florence over the years as time and money has allowed.

When I wasn’t in Italy, I was in my hometown of Rockport, Massachusetts or nearby Gloucester. These too are beautiful, inspiring places that are just full of music – so much so that the majority of my catalog has been written here (check out Dogtown, the EP I released in Gloucester last fall). In fact, unless something spontaneous happens in the studio in Florence (you never know), this entire new album will have been written on Cape Ann. In that way the new album is a product of a bi-continental life, divided and bridged by oceans.

Years of traveling back and forth have paved the way for this record. And now, incredibly, it’s all in place – the songs, the band, even the studio (!) – just waiting for me to pull the trigger.

That is (ahem), with your very kind assistance!

Help out with the project

Click here

 

 

 

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W50 SUMMIT Accelerating the advancement of women leaders who make a difference in the world.

W50 SUMMIT

Accelerating the advancement of women leaders
who make a difference in the world.

APRIL 4–5,2013
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
BOSTON, MA

Last Dance Productions is thrilled to assist Barefoot Events in producing this historic event.

In celebration of this year’s 50th anniversary of women being admitted to the two-year MBA Program, Harvard Business School, under the umbrella of the Culture and Community Initiative, is undertaking a series of special events, programs, and exhibitions that explore the past, present, and future of women leaders in business and civic life.

A major part of the celebration will be the W50 Summit, a two-day program focused on accelerating the advancement of women leaders who make a difference in the world. Taking place at the School, the Summit program will begin on Thursday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. with an address by Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust, and conclude on Friday, April 5 with remarks by HBS Dean Nitin Nohria and a lunch with HBS students. There will be an optional morning program on Thursday, April 4 from 9:00–11:00 a.m.

Highlights will include a presentation of the results of the alumni survey, discussion of a new case on the history and future of women at HBS and in business, workshops, panel discussions, and screening of a new documentary about the experiences of women on campus and after graduation. This event promises to be an exciting opportunity to join with fellow alumni and HBS faculty to reflect on where we have been and where we are now, and to set an agenda for the future.

 

More information on the W50 Summit here.

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