SERFA is one of the many regional Folk Alliance conferences held through out the US.We did a back to back attendance mainly because sadly the hurricane that hit Asheville NC took our their beautiful venue in the mountains.When we saw it was in Owensboro KY, we were delighted it was within a day’s drive (9.5 hours), and it was a part of the country we never had visited yet.Neither disappointed.We loved our visit and I found some great vinyl stores to visit, and the conference again introduced us to music and people we had never met before; and likely would have never met them.As a house concert host, there is no way we can host everyone we loved, but I will follow everyone and buy as much as their music that inspires me.
If you go to Owensboro, check out TD's Tuff Decisions. Supposedly that statue is the largest thinker statue and I love the modest boxers they put on him. No Lori didn't lift it up to look underneath. I'd go back again, I just was thinking wait until you hit all the stores with vinyl. Let's admit his had the best selection on had values and fair prices on the rarer pieces.
I do highly recommend that if you book music, attend a regional either in your area or outside.Artists tour nationally so you don’t have to only go to your region.I know I understand that as a venue you are actually needed to work on the weekends.Let them know, or at least watch my videos and ask for recommendations.
This year's videos will be both traditional horizontal videos and vertical shorts with one, two or three artists. They are both in my Around Town playlist and a separate one for SERFA 2025; I'm thinking it helps me and others run into the memories and enjoy them more.
We have decided since our first FARM that Thursday's add fun, but we almost burn out of music with two nights so our first music boost was from song swaps that were in a conference room with an outstanding view of the Ohio River. We would find ourselves at least one more time for an evening private showcase.
I love the song swap format, but I enjoyed it more when the artist decided to project more toward the back where the audience was. Immediately in two song circles we got the "Oh their cool" goosebumps on a few artists. Some it took a while to learn their names, and some I never learned First was Alicia Best from "A Different Thread" followed by two people I never totally got their names. (The Shorts are included in the SERFA Playlist at the end)
In the same workshop I saw my first fiddler that blew me away. I later found out Alice Hasen is both a SERFA Board member, and had the closing Official Showcase. Oh my she was good, but so far I haven't found her on Bandcamp to buy her music.
Next up for us was the Official Showcases; and oh yeah I'm not posting every video I took in this blog. I'm thankful for the nice write ups in the program is saved a lot of typing.
Tim was a kind of guy you could listen to all night because he changes styles nicely.
Ashley floored me coming out with a dulcimer, and my is she full of energy.
Oh btw... after Ashley we had to take a pause in the tornado shelter area. Boy if that place was a full house I don't know where everyone would have made it.
Kevin was one of those artists that got Lori and my attention. Funny during the house concert workshop the guy leading it said, "You know when you are inspired to ask a musician to play your series when the goosebumps or hair on your skin goes up." His set was wonderful, and the Password song has been bought on Bandcamp, and I'm waiting for his vinyl to show up. Speaking of the song, it's the one I recorded.
Innovative and interesing, loved the sing along song. Ha.
I loved the comment that someone put on the video I uploaded from Annick's showcase, "Hey there! I've never heard anything quite like this before, but I really enjoyed the musical acoustics and accompanying vocals. May I ask what this style of music is called?" She introduced it as traditional a cappella singing with a bass accent; or something like that... boy she is talented and fun to watch and listen to.
That smile on Holly's picture says it all, she comes across loving every minute and you feel you've met a new friend. Meanwhile she's a talent to listen to as well.
Ok South East does not guarantee that all the artist come from the region and that's cool with me. Rachel was not shy to be proud of her Texas roots.
The Young Fables was another eclectic sound.
If you haven't attended a FAI conference you know the magic is in the private showcases that start about at 10:30 and go until 2:00 at night. The Owensboro convention center took some of the magic out of the showcases because they refused to let the hosting person bring in treats into the room. Tasty deserts and wine were always presented to have you stay in the same room. With so many to go to, it became a competition of sorts that we absolutely loved. Oh well, we still picked one room and stayed most of the night. We wanted to see Ben Gage, A Different Thread, and Lyal Strickland. The first we knew and the later we heard him in one song during the day and sat next to his mom at dinner. Of course it was the Magnolia Jane sponsored room and even though it was only one Jane, Sarah was a favorite of the weekend.
Here was a song from Lyal, boy was good; and I've already started buying his music on Bandcamp.
A Different Thread was another favorite that gave us goosebumps and yes we're in conversation about a house concert. Right, when we go to the showcases, if the first row is open we take it. Makes for videos intensely close but it's the memory we have too.
Sure it was because they weren't Official Showcase artist that we followed them upstairs to a great room with a night view of the Ohio River.
That showcase had four SERFA board members in it when we first stopped in, so here's the short and video. Alice Hasen's second mention in this blog post, and there will be a third. I could have just followed her around and it would have been a great weekend. (because she tended to back up so many people not that I'm a stalker of beautiful fiddle players)
Yes... we tuckered out at 1:15, and the next day was sure to bring out more shopping and enjoying Owensboro; though I did attend a house concert workshop that was nicely attended with many a host; plus I had a walk through the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Then we had lunch and of course if you haven't experience a Hall Jam, this is what it's like. I stopped to listen because I had just met the bass player from The Little Mercies at the house concert workshop.
We did some antiquing during the day, so our first music was the Official Showcases on Saturday.
Hannah was a sweet performer who is originally from Eau Claire, WISCONSIN. (well of course she's sweet then, right?)
While we really never saw them in any more than that hall jam and this Official Showcase, they definitely were top five favorite of the weekend.
I inadvertently told someone at the event that I didn't know anyone in the Official Showcases... how could I forget Arielle. I met her at FARM in 2022, and have kept in touch with this Cali woman since then. I did get a hug from her, but we were both too busy for that cup of coffee conversation.
Wow, Mean Mary was talented as _____ on the banjo. Oh my so much fun to watch and listen to. I did look and couldn't find her music on Bandcamp. (sad)
Brandi Carlile should ditch the twins and pick up the triplets yes not just brothers I think they said triplets.
Yes here is the hat trick, Alice was such a fun addition to SERFA showing up in so many spots including some private showcases I've seen posted around. Unfortunately I couldn't find her music on Bandcamp either, but I'll keep following her socials and maybe something will shake loose.
Here's a later addition to this post, Gypsy Wagon Studios is posting every Official Showcase, and I both want to be reminded of that, and watch Alice's again.... so I'm posting it in this post to remind me it's there:
Lori (my wife) was ready to give up the night when I talked her into one more private showcase and it didn't require walking up or down the stairs, it was in the lobby. What a view.
Our last chance to see Mike Ward a good friend and he did a song off of a new cd that he gifted me over the weekend.
And it was our first time to hear Lucy Isabel who was another board member I would see everywhere but didn't hear her sing until the end.
Finally we gave up after seeing another favorite, Ben Gage do a set.
As I looked back at my recap for SERFA 2024 I noted that I didn't highlight every video in the post. You know I love to make these recaps but this time of year is busy. I need to plant my garden, the grass is growing, and yes just this week we'll go to two more concerts and one graduation party. Boy the 2024 SERFA ended up really getting me closer to many of the artists, and while I can't book them all my Bandcamp purchases include much of their music. I've gotten closer to Admiral Radio, Adrian & Meredith, and yes Sarah from the Magnolia Janes remembered us from last year. Plus yes we did book Jess Klein after first see her at SERFA. Yes all 33 videos I posted last year are at this link.
So as I said earlier not every short or video was shared in this post, so here's a link to the 2025 videos . Yes this year I had decided sampler videos of multiple artist were going to fit the "Short" requirement of 3 minutes... I hope you enjoy.
If you made it all the way down to this point, here's a treat. Gypsy Wagon Studio has setup a tripod in the Official Showcase and in the Private Showcase they sponsored. So far his video playlist is only 9 videos, so I guess I shouldn't beat myself up on taking so long to finish this post. Here's a link to his playlist that I'm sure will be added to since his 2024 FAI playlist was 28 videos strong.
Next steps:
- Stop over to the Review page to my other most spinned and loved albums.
- Browse the rest of the blogs by stopping at this "Theme Page."
- Enjoy Tune Tuesday which brings you one song from a past blog post.
- See what other post have been most popular recently with our Stats Page.
- Find out who in the world thinks he has the authority to write this blog in the About.
- Let me answer why you won't find the playlists on Spotify here.
- Finally, the Mission page explains why there is no advertising cluttering the page.
If you use Facebook, we have a page "Like" us there and it will help you remember to read the next post
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