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" Last year in Toronto, we had 11 venues featuring 44 different acts. "Dennis Batson
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Norm Shaw
Memphis and several of its clubs will take on a decidedly folky feel the second Wednesday in February as the International Folk Alliance brings its "FolKrawl" to town as part of its annual convention. The FolKrawl is the only public event planned for the convention, which runs Feb. 11-13, with most activities taking place at the Crowne Plaza and the Cook Convention Center. More than 1,500 people are expected to attend the convention. "It attracts people from all over the world," says local organizer Dennis Batson. "Last year (in Toronto), we had people from Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, England, Scandinavia, Germany, France and elsewhere, as well as a lot of Canadians and Americans." The FolKrawl has grown as the Folk Alliance has grown. Started 11 years ago at a meeting of 130 people in Malibu, Calif., the Folk Alliance has grown to about 2,500 members, says Batson, who was at the first meeting in Malibu. The FolKrawl started when more people wanted to perform than could during the three-day expo. "Last year in Toronto, we had 11 venues featuring 44 different acts," says Batson, who produces the annual Dulcimer Festival here in Memphis. "To give you some idea of the interest, 266 acts submitted applications, so only one out of six was approved to perform." For Memphis, nine clubs are tentatively lined up for the FolKrawl: Beale Street's Blues City Cafe, King's Palace, Black Diamond, Alfred's, Center for Southern Folklore and New Daisy; and Downtown clubs Huey's and the Map Room. Rod and Hank's Guitar Shop also may host some music. The New Daisy will be booking its own acts, with about 10 performers expected. The other clubs will be booked by the Folk Alliance. Admission will be by wrist ticket, with admission to all clubs included. The price has not been set yet. "I think the perception in Memphis of 'folk music' is someone in Mountain View, Arkansas, with bib overalls on," Batson says. "But folk music is an umbrella for all kinds of music, from singer-songwriters, to blues, to even some rock 'n' roll. The Grateful Dead were certainly a folk band. "What people will see, though, is predominately acoustic music. There are almost no electric instruments. Sure, a guitar or mandolin may be amplified by a microphone and speakers, but there's almost no electric instrumentation." The FolKrawl is a fund-raiser for the Folk Alliance, which up until last year was a completely volunteer organization. Most of the planning for the event, which moves each year, is done by phone or over the Internet, Batson says. "The Folk Alliance convention is the most rapidly growing music conference in the United States," Batson says. "Other performance conventions, such as South by Southwest, may have grown as fast, but no trade convention has grown as fast. "We are essentially a trade show. We could be selling screws, but our product is music. We are mostly composed of performers, promoters, producers, festival publicists and others in the business. At the expo, you'll find everything from people selling music to people who specialize in graphic design for folk festivals." Batson says about 200 exhibitors will be on hand at the convention center. Work began more than a year ago on the Memphis convention. Memphis was awarded the convention about four years ago. This is the 10th annual convention, with such cities as Philadelphia, Chicago, Tuscon, Ariz., and Toronto playing host previously. Groups similar to the Folk Alliance have now been started in Australia, France, Germany and Scandinavia. Batson says he expects all of them to affiliate sometime in the near future. Admission to the convention center, workshops, panel discussions and other showcases is limited to paid attendees. Admission to the expo is $360 for non-members and $300 for members, although you can purchase a membership for $40 before buying an expo admission.
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