fAll Song Festival 2021 - Portland Folkmusic Society

HomefAll Song Festival 2021

Portland FolkMusic Society is thrilled to announce the first fAll Song Festival September 24-26. If you are reading this site, you will find something to love there. This three-day online event will feature workshops and song circles, guest artists, and nightly large singing circles. Come join singers from the Northwest, across the country, and around the world, sing along with old favorites, hear songs you've never heard before, and bask in the glow of folk musicians having a great time!

Please read through the descriptions below and register at the bottom of this page - unless you already know all about it and just want to register. Then you can take the Express Self Checkout Lane!

Program!

Yes, the Festival program is ready! We don't anticipate many changes, but just in case, the link below will always take you to the most current version.

We are truly excited by the quality of the guest artists, and the scope and interests of the song circles and workshops that you participants are offering. Thank you!

fAll Song Program

If you have questions, send us an email and one of our Festival Experts will get back to you.

I know everything I need to know already and I just want to register, so I will...

Click Here!

(If you are not taking the express lane, read on,

and register at the bottom of this page)

Workshops and song circles

fAll Song is a space where participants can share what they know and love with other participants. In addition to the guest artists, we have a rich and interesting program of participant-led events for you. The only problem is that sometimes you will want to do two things that are happening at the same time. We're sorry - we have the same problem: too much good stuff!

Guest Artists

In addition to the participant-led events, and the evening gatherings, we are thrilled, humbled and excited that the following guests will be there to share their special music with us all:

Friday - September 24, 2021

Michelle Alany

A passionate violinist and vocalist, Michelle Alany has delighted and wowed audiences worldwide. Specializing in a global acoustic sound that features lush strings, soulful vocals, and rhythmic grooves, Michelle delivers enchanting interpretations of traditional and original Sephardic (Judeo-Spanish), Balkan, and Israeli songs infused with her tasty Austin-blues stylings. She is at home delivering haunting Metiterranean melodies, trading shredder blues licks, or gently crafting a sensuous country solo on the fly, bringing her joyous abandon and enthusiasm to any world of music.

Concert 1:00 PM Friday

Arietta Ward

Arietta Ward's diverse musical background and versatility have allowed her to perform with many artists including Esperanza Spalding, the late West African Master Drummer Obo Addy, Linda Hornbuckle, Curtis Salgado, Tony Ozier, Tyrone Hendrix, Farnell Newton as well as starting out with her beloved mother, famed NW legend Janice Marie Scroggins. Arietta's genre might be called Neo-Soul/Blues, or Funk, or just R&B; however, Arietta is more focused on content and the responsibility that she believes every artist has. As she expresses it, "Artists are healers, music has healing power. Music is sacred."

Arietta brings high energy, healing and passion. Do not miss her! Find out more at www.mzettasworld.com.

Concert 3:00 PM Friday

Saturday - September 25

Rita Gallagher

Rita Gallagher, of County Donegal, is considered one of the leading Irish traditional singers. She is known for "her distinctive rich voice, her remarkable range, her effortless delivery and her intuitive capacity for sensitive emotional connection. Like the finest traditional singers, Rita shows great discernment both in how she sings and in the songs she chooses to sing." (From Fonn Traditional Music and Song). Rita has won the All-Ireland Ballad Singing championship three times and was awarded the TG4 (one of the national TV channels) Gradam Ceoil (Music Prize) for traditional singing in 2017.

Concert 11:00 AM Saturday

William Seiji Marsh

Bill Marsh is a multi-genre guitarist, singer, bassist and music mindset coach based in the Los Angeles area, but before moving to Southern California, he worked with many Portland artists. He has developed an amazing stylistic range. He currently performs internationally with Portland’s crossover classical/jazz/pop polyglots, Pink Martini as well as genre-bending powerhouse singer/guitarist/whistler, Edna Vazquez. In the past he has toured and recorded with platinum-record-selling swing/rock outfit Cherry Poppin’ Daddies; Portland’s indie-rock favorite, Lost Lander; and Billboard-topping singer and songwriter, Halie Loren.

Concert 1:00 PM Saturday

Sunday - September 26

Cindy Kallet & Grey Larsen

Cindy and Grey are appreciated for their musicianship, admired for their songwriting, and loved for the warmth they radiate as people and performers. They have been playing and performing together for a decade, and their voices and instruments are beautifully tuned. Their repertoire includes traditional songs and many they have written, some of which have become absolute classics.

Scott Alarik of The Boston Globe calls Cindy “…one of folk music’s most respected songwriters… a brilliant guitarist….” Mike Joyce of the Washington Post calls Grey “… a gifted multi-instrumentalist who consistently demonstrates his melodic finesse”.

Concert 1:00 PM Sunday, workshop 3:00 PM Sunday

LaRhonda Steele

LaRhonda is a blues and gospel singer and songwriter recognized as one the Portland region's best rhythm and blues vocalists. She has been dubbed "The First Lady of Portland Blues”—a title of leadership that she lives up to as she shares songs that carry forth directly from her soul and spiritual life-force. She currently fronts the LaRhonda Steele band, is music director of the non profit Portland Interfaith Gospel Choir, and music director of Portland Center for Spiritual Living.

She has receive many awards, and her voice can be enjoyed on recordings of national and international artists, including Gino Vannelli, Curtis Salgado, Lloyd Jones, Mary Flower, and Norman Sylvester.

larhondasing@gmail.com

Facebook: larhondasteeleband

Larhondasteele.com

Concert 3:00 PM Sunday

Cost - Free!

But we are paying our wonderful guest artists. This can only happen if you contribute. 100% (really, ALL) of the donations we receive for the fAll Song Festival goes to the guest artists.

Business sponsors will receive a logo on the program and website for a $100 donation; a “shout out” at introductions for a $500 donation; and website recognition with a link to your business for a $1000 donation. Please be generous, ALL of the money is going to our performers!

To contribute, click here to go to the donations page, and choose fAll Song Festival (or mail a check to PFS, PO Box 1448, Portland, OR 97207 and mention “fAll Song Festival”).

Sponsorship

Some business friends of PFS and some individual supporters can donate a little more, and that helps a lot! We'll thank them with their logo here and on the program, and we'll thank them in other ways too! If this is interesting to you, please contact Brian Warner. We welcome and thank our first sponsors, Undiscovered Music, Friends of Filk, and Southwest Family Physicians. Click on the logos to find out more and please thank them for their support!

The best way to support PFS

Of course we gratefully accept donations for PFS, but if you are not already a member, please consider joining PFS. We have a membership category that fits any budget, and membership brings you real benefits, not only the satisfaction of supporting the music you love.

Read about membership and if you like join here.

Frequently asked questions

Q. I can't come for the whole time. Can I just come for some of it?
A. Totally. Come when you like, leave when you like.

Q. Can I just listen?
A. Of course!

Q. How do I come to fAll Song?
A. Register now. Right before the Festival, you will receive a link. One click, and you're in!

Q. What equipment will I need?
A. Definitely an internet connection. Most people have a computer, although some people join by phone. If you are leading a song circle or a workshop, then we will send you guidelines about how to get the best connection possible.

Q. And, uh, did you say "Zoom"?
A. Yes, we are using Zoom. If you have never ever used Zoom before, click here. If you have used Zoom before, please make sure you have the latest version.

Q. Will there be a panel discussions?
A. Yes! We are very pleased that the Festival is opening with a panel discussion on diversity and inclusion in Folk Music. You can read about it in the fAll Song Program. It will be Friday, at 11:00 AM

Register to Attend and lead a Workshop or Song Circle

Click here to Register and lead an event if you like.

Congratulations and Thanks! We are looking forward to seeing you September 24-26.

Problems with registration? We're sorry about that. Click here, tell us what happened, and we'll get back to you.

One more good thing...

Warm thanks to our friends at KBOO fm for supporting the community, for bringing us lots of great music, and for helping get the word out about Singtime!