John Voorhees talks with Ken Gaines about the origins of Camp Stupid at the Kerrville Folk Festival and how to know folk music when you hear it. Plus, tunes from Gary Sapone, Hans York, Val D’Alessio and Dave Tinder.
Here are the websites of this episode’s featured artists:
The only incidental music in this episode is Asking For Trouble from the album Asking For Trouble by John Voorhees.
This is the transcript for the interview in Episode 5. If you listen at the same time you read, you may notice a few minor differences. That’s because I did a little editing to make the audio flow better. You’re welcome.
– John
DW: And so, what else are you afraid of?
AF: Well, I wanted to ask, when you were my age, when you were starting out, at some point when you had this life, this street-performing life, you were traveling and playing for anyone who would listen, did you ever find someone that served as a mentor or to guide you?
DW: Yes! There were thousands. And most of them were not musicians.
AF: Okay.
This is the second half of the interview between pianist-songwriter Allie Farris and former A&M artist and relentless seeker David Wilcox. (Part 1 is in Episode 4.) David’s views on the personal journey of songwriting and the importance of listening to your inner truth are particularly poignant after the sudden death of Amy Winehouse.
I play several fragments and songs of Dave’s through the course of this show, and you can hear them complete and buy your own copies through the following links:
Next episode in two weeks on Monday, August 22. Cheers!
David Wilcox recorded his latest CD, Reverie, in front of a hand-picked audience of fans who were instructed NOT to clap until everything was finished. He was also kind enough to video the proceedings, so here’s the opening track.
This is the transcript for the interview in Episode 4. If you listen at the same time you read, you may notice a few minor differences. That’s because I did a little editing to make the audio flow better. You’re welcome.
— John
DW: Hey, this is Dave Wilcox. I’m at Kerrville. I love being at Kerrville, I’ve been coming here for 25 years. And I remember when I first came here. It was kind of bewildering seeing these song circles and hearing these beautiful songs, some of them from people who’d just started playing, some of them from people who’d been playing all their lives. And they were on equal footing. The authority of the song is what spoke, and not any sort of industry credentials. And around the campfire when you can’t even see whose face it is, the character that comes into view is the character in the song.
And so you listen and you get transported into these wonderful other worlds where there’s beautiful characters and drama and the song paints a whole beautiful picture. And the fun part, and the frustrating part, is that, you know, on one level we’re all equal and the songs find their way into our hearts with no problem. And then on another level you wonder, how do you ever get your music out there when it’s not just a campfire? And I remember, y’know, 25 years ago when I was just starting, I had so many questions about, well, what do you do first? Should I buy a sound system? Y’know, should I get a manager? Should I try to, y’know… there was so many questions.
But I think one fun way to talk about this was, last night I got into a conversation with a wonderful songwriter who I just heard for the first time. Allie has just come to Kerrville this year, and y’know, she’s 20 years old and she’s right where I was way back then when I was feeling like, What do you do next? So I’d like to introduce you to Allie. I forgot your last name, what’s your last name?
AF: My name is Allie Farris.
DW: Allie Farris. So y’know, even though we’re talking to lots of people through this magical airwaves, I would love to just hear sort of how this festival feels to you, where you’re going from here, if you have any questions that might … help all of us, y’know, the ones who have been doing it for a while and forget how magical it is, the ones who are just starting out and want to get a perspective on sort of how we get to where we’re going. So, what’s on your mind?
This is the first half of an extraordinary interview between Allie Farris, a fiercely talented young performer looking for the secrets of songwriting success, and one of my musical heroes, David Wilcox. The end result is not just an overview of the logistical problems facing struggling musicians, but also a lesson in conscious and adventurous living that can apply to anyone trying to eke out a more creative existence. I feel privileged to have been at the right place and time to just put a microphone between these two.
I play several fragments and songs of Dave’s through the course of this show, and you can hear them complete and buy your own copies through the following links:
The second part of this talk will be available in two weeks, on Monday, August 8. Cheers!
Allie Farris and world-renowned folk musician David Wilcox join me under the Camp Stupid tent at Kerrville for a fascinating talk about the intentional creative life. You can hear the result (or part one of the result) this Monday in episode 4.