Folk Music in California
Contents
Discover the best places to enjoy live folk music in California. From well-known venues to hidden gems, there’s something for everyone.
The Origins of Folk Music in California
Folk music in California can be traced back to the days of the Gold Rush. At that time, miners and other workers in the state were looking for a way to relax and escape from their everyday lives. They did this by singing and playing music from their home countries. This tradition has continued throughout the years and has resulted in a rich and diverse folk music scene in California.
The Gold Rush
Folk Music in California can be traced back to the Gold Rush of 1849. This was a time when people from all over the world came to California in search of gold. Many of these people brought their own music with them, and as they settled in different parts of the state, they began to develop their own unique style of folk music.
One of the most influential groups during this time was the San Francisco Bay Area’s The Kingston Trio. They popularized a style of folk music that was influenced by traditional Irish and Scottish music, as well as by the music of other countries that settlers had come from. The Kingston Trio’s sound was a perfect fit for the area’s bohemian culture, and they quickly became one of the most popular groups in America.
The popularity of folk music in California continued to grow in the 1960s with the emergence of The Byrds, who combined elements of folk and rock to create their own unique sound. The Byrds were followed by other California-based folk-rock groups such as Love and Buffalo Springfield. These groups helped to further cement California’s reputation as a hotbed for folk music.
The Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl of the 1930s was one of the most devastaing environmental disasters in American history. “Black blizzards” swept across the Great Plains, darkening the sky and turning day into night. The dust clouds were so thick that they blocked out the sun, causing temperatures to plummet. People and animals suffocated; crops withered and died.
The Dust Bowl forced millions of Americans to abandon their homes in search of work and a better life. Many of them ended up in California, where they brought with them the folk music of the American Southwest. This music would eventually become one of the defining genres of California’s musical landscape.
Folk music is often passed down from generation to generation, and this was certainly true in the case of the Dust Bowl refugees. The songs they brought with them were a reminder of home, and they helped to create a sense of community in a time of great upheaval.
Today, there are many California-based folk bands that are keeping this musical tradition alive. If you’re ever in the mood for some toe-tapping tunes, be sure to check out some of these artists!
The Evolution of Folk Music in California
The history of folk music in California is as diverse as the state itself. With influences from Mexico, the Native Americans, and a variety of immigrant groups, the music of California has evolved into a unique blend of styles and genres. From the early days of Spanish missionaries to the Gold Rush era, folk music has been an important part of the state’s history.
The influence of Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie was one of the most influential folk musicians of the 20th century. He is best known for his political songs, including “This Land Is Your Land” and “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos),” which protesting the treatment of migrant workers in California. Guthrie’s songs were influential in the development of the American folk music tradition, and his work helped to shape the political and social consciousness of a generation of Americans.
The influence of The Weavers
The Weavers were a hugely influential folk music group in the 1950s. Based in New York City, the group popularized many traditional folk songs, including several Californian folk songs. The Weavers’ success had a direct impact on the evolution of folk music in California.
The Weavers’ Californian folk songs were particularly popular in the Los Angeles area. This popularity led to a increase in interest in folk music among Los Angeles-based musicians. These musicians began to experiment with incorporating elements of folk music into their own work. In doing so, they created a new subgenre of folk music known as “California Folk.”
Today, California Folk is widely recognized as its own distinct genre of folk music. Thanks to The Weavers’ influence, it has become one of the most popular subgenres of folk music in the state.
The influence of Joan Baez
Few people have been as influential in the folk music scene in California as Joan Baez. A singer, songwriter, and activist, Joan Baez first came to prominence in the early 1960s with her critically acclaimed debut album, Joan Baez. Her poignant lyrics and beautiful voice helped to catapult her into the national spotlight, and she quickly became an icon of the folk music scene.
Joan Baez’s influence can be heard in the work of many of today’s top folk musicians. Her unique blend of traditional folk music with a more modern sensibilities has helped to shape the sound of California folk music over the past few decades. Some of the most popularfolk musicians in California today, such as Jackson Browne and Dave Alvin, credit Joan Baez as a major influence on their music.
So next time you’re listening to your favorite folk music station or browsing through a folk music festival lineup, take a moment to think about the influence of Joan Baez on the California folk music scene. Thanks to her groundbreaking work, we enjoy a richer and more diverse array of folk music than ever before.
The Contemporary Folk Music Scene in California
According to the California Folk Music Society, contemporary folk music is “a musical style that includes traditional music from around the world as well as more modern singer-songwriter type material.” In other words, contemporary folk music encompasses a wide range of music from different cultures and traditions. In California, the contemporary folk music scene is vibrant and growing. Let’s take a look at some of the folk musicians in California who are keeping the folk music tradition alive.
The influence of Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s impact on the folk music scene in California in the 1960s was profound. His songs “The Times They Are A-Changin'” and “Blowin’ in the Wind” became anthems of the Civil Rights and anti-war movements, and his landmark album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan introduced a new generation of listeners to the joys of traditional folk music. Dylan’s popularity helped to launch the careers of many other folk singers in California, including Joan Baez, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and The Byrds.
The influence of Phil Ochs
Phil Ochs was an American musician, singer-songwriter and political activist who was known for his unique and influential style of folk music in the 1960s. He was a leading figure in the folk music scene in California, and his songs often reflected his left-wing political views. Ochs was particularly interested in the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement, and he wrote some of his most famous songs about these topics. “I Ain’t Marching Anymore” and “Draft Dodger Rag” are two examples of his songs that protested the Vietnam War.
Ochs also wrote songs about other social issues, such as poverty (“Joe Hill”), racism (” Here’s to the State of Mississippi”) and sexism (“Changes”). In addition to his political songwriting, Ochs was also known for his sharp wit and humor. His song “The Crucifixion” is a good example of this, as it satirizes the way that the media covers events like the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Ochs’s influence on the contemporary folk music scene in California is still evident today. Many of the musicians who got their start in the folk scene in California were heavily influenced by Ochs’s music, and his songs are still covered by musicians today.
The influence of The Byrds
While the Byrds did not exclusively play folk music, their contribution to the genre was significant, especially in the realm of electric folk. The band’s sound was a melding of country music, folk music, and rock and roll, which they referred to as “jingle-jangle”. The Byrds’ use of electric instruments and rock and roll rhythms set them apart from other folk groups of the time and helped to create a new subgenre known as “folk-rock”. The Byrds’ influence can be heard in later folk-rock groups such as Simon and Garfunkel, the Beach Boys, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, and America.
