Folk Music in Chicago
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Looking for a place to enjoy some good old-fashioned folk music in Chicago? Look no further than the city’s many great folk music venues! From intimate club settings to large concert halls, there’s a folk music venue for every taste in Chicago. So come on out and enjoy some of the best folk music the city has to offer!
The History of Folk Music in Chicago
Folk music has been a part of Chicago’s identity since the city’s founding in 1833. The city’s diverse population has always been a source of musical inspiration, and Chicago has been home to many influential folk musicians. In the early twentieth century, the city’s folk music scene began to take on a more modern sound. Artists like Frank Hamilton and Win Stracke were at the forefront of this new sound, and their work helped to define what we now think of as Chicago folk music.
The early days of folk music in Chicago
Folk music has been a part of Chicago’s musical landscape since the early days of the city. The first folk music performers in Chicago were likely the city’s original settlers, who brought with them the music of their homeland. In the 19th century, as the city grew and became more diverse, so did its folk music scene. Irish and German immigrants brought their traditional songs and instruments to Chicago, and African-American musicians brought the blues.
The first major folk music festival in Chicago was held in 1893, during the World’s Columbian Exposition. The event featured performances by a number of famous folk musicians, including singer and banjo player Joel Walker Sweeney and fiddle player George Washington Dixon.
In the early 20th century, as jazz became more popular, folk music began to decline in popularity. But in the 1940s, a new generation of folk musicians began to revive interest in the genre. Led by artists like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, these performers injected new life into traditional songs and inspired a new generation of listeners.
The 1950s saw a renewed interest in folk music, thanks in part to the popularity of TV shows like “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,” which featured characters who were passionate about Folk Music (Folk Music). This newfound popularity led to an explosion of folk clubs and coffeehouses across the country, including in Chicago. These venues provided a fertile ground for emerging talent, including Bob Dylan, who got his start playing at coffeehouses in Greenwich Village.
In 1967, Dylan came to Chicago to play at the Newport Folk Festival. His electric performance sparked a massive backlash from some fans who felt he was betraying his roots as a “folkie.” But others recognized Dylan’s genius and applauded his willingness to challenge conventions. either way, Dylan’s set at Newport was a watershed moment for both him and for folk music itself.
Folk music continued to evolve in subsequent decades, incorporating elements of rock, pop, country, and other genres. Today, there are countless different styles of folk music being played all over the world. And while it may not be as popular as it once was, it remains an important part of our musical heritage.
The folk music scene in the 1960s
The folk music scene in the 1960s was very vibrant in Chicago. There were many clubs and coffeehouses that featured folk music, and there were also a number of radio programs that played folk music. The most famous of these was the WFMT Radio Network’s “The Midnight Special”, which featured live performances by many of the biggest names in folk music.
In the early 1960s, the Chicago Folk Club was founded by Ed McCurdy, Janice Hanson, and Steve Goodman. The club became a popular gathering place for folk musicians, and it soon began to book shows by some of the biggest names in the genre, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul and Mary.
By the mid-1960s, the folk music scene in Chicago was so thriving that Folkways Records decided to open a branch office in the city. The label released a number of important albums by Chicago-based artists, including The Second City Suite by Steve Goodman and Fred Holstein’s Old Songs New Songs.
In 1967, the first Chicago Folk Festival was held at navy pier. The festival featured a wide variety of folk musicians from around the world, and it quickly become one of the biggest events on the folk music calendar. The festival is still held every year, and it continues to be one of the most important showcase for folk music in the United States.
The folk music scene in the 1970s
In the 1970s, the folk music scene in Chicago was vibrant and growing. The Old Town School of Folk Music, founded in 1957, was thriving. The University of Chicago Folklore Society, founded in 1961, was active. The Chicago Folk Festival, first held in 1963, was an annual event. Clubs such as the Earl of Old Town and the Gate of Horn were presenting folk music every night. Record labels such as Folkways and Prestige were recording and releasing folk music albums.
One of the most important figures in the Chicago folk music scene was Michael Cooney. A native of England, Cooney had moved to the United States in 1963. He settled in Chicago, where he became involved in the folk music scene. In 1971, he founded the Old Town School of Folk Music’s coffeehouse program, which presented folk music concerts every week. He also ran a record label calledFlying Fish Records, which released albums by many important Chicago-area folk musicians.
Another important figure in the Chicago folk music scene was Steve Goodman. Goodman was a singer-songwriter who wrote songs about working-class life and the city of Chicago. His most famous song is “City of New Orleans,” which has been recorded by many artists, including Willie Nelson and Arlo Guthrie. Goodman died of leukemia in 1984 at the age of 36.
The Different Types of Folk Music in Chicago
There are many different types of folk music in Chicago. Some of the most popular genres include blues, jazz, and country. Chicago is also home to a large number of folk music festivals. These festivals are a great way to experience the different types of folk music in Chicago.
Traditional folk music
Traditional folk music is the term most often used to describe the music of countries and cultures that have been passed down from generation to generation orally, through song. The term “traditional” refers to both the content of the songs (subject matter about love, loss, work, play, and so on) as well as the style in which they are performed (usually without instruments or with only minimal accompaniment). In America, traditional folk music is often divided into two regional subgenres: New England Trad and Southern Trad.
New England Traditions
The best-known type of traditional folk music from New England is probably maritime music, which includes songs about sailors, whaling, and fishing. Maritime music was brought to New England by British and Irish immigrants who settled in coastal areas like Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the 1600s and 1700s. This type of folk music was also popular among African Americans living in New England, particularly in maritime communities like Newport, Rhode Island. Some well-known maritime songs include “Rolling Home from Old Bombay” and “The Mermaid.”
Southern Traditions
Southern traditional folk music is often divided into two subgenres: mountain music and bayou music. Mountain music is a type of folk music that originated in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia. It is characterized by its use of banjos, fiddles, and guitars; its focus on family life; and its use of English balladry (a type of narrative song). Some well-known mountain songs include “O Death” and “I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again.”
Bayou music is a type of folk music that originated in Louisiana among French-speaking cultures like the Cajuns (descendants of French settlers who live in south Louisiana) and the Creoles (people of mixed African American and European descent). This type of folk music is characterized by its use of accordions, fiddles, guitars, washboards (also known as scrub boards), and drums; its focus on food and family; its use French lyrics; and its use of call-and-response singing. Some well-known bayou songs include “Jolie Blonde” and “Allons à Lafayette.”
Contemporary folk music
Contemporary folk music refers to a wide variety of genres that emerged in the mid 20th century and after. The traditional folk music of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales is very distinct from the music of North America. Chicago is home to many different types of folk music, including blues, jazz, country and rock.
The blues is a genre of music that originated in the American South in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Blues music is characterized by its use of blue notes, improvisation, and often tragic lyrics. Chicago is home to many famous blues musicians, including Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Buddy Guy.
Jazz is a genre of music that originated in New Orleans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Jazz music is characterized by its use of improvisation, syncopated rhythms, and swung notes. Chicago is home to many famous jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, and Miles Davis.
Country music is a genre of music that originated in the Southern United States in the late 18th century. Country music is characterized by its use of banjos, fiddles, and steel guitars. Chicago is home to many famous country musicians, including Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Loretta Lynn.
Rock & roll is a genre of music that originated in the United States in the mid-20th century. Rock & roll is characterized by its use of electric guitars, bass guitars, drums, and vocal harmony. Chicago is home to many famous rock & roll musicians, including Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Buddy Holly.
Celtic folk music
Celtic folk music is a genre that is closely associated with the Celtic nations, which are regions that have a Celtic culture and heritage. This type of music is often characterized by its use of traditional instruments, such as the fiddle, bagpipes, and accordion. Celtic folk music often has a lyrical content that is based on stories and legends from Celtic mythology.
The Popularity of Folk Music in Chicago
Folk music has been gaining popularity in Chicago for the past few years. The city has a rich history of Folk music, dating back to the early 20th century. Chicago is home to some of the most popular Folk music festivals in the country, such as the Windy City Folk Festival and the Chicago Folk Festival. The city also has a number of Folk music clubs and venues, such as the Old Town School of Folk Music and the Hideout.
The rise of folk music festivals
Since the early 2000s, there has been a significant increase in the number of folk music festivals held in Chicago. In fact, the city is now home to some of the most popular folk music festivals in the country, including the Chicago Folk Festival and the Old Town School Folk Festival.
The popularity of these festivals has coincided with a resurgence of interest in folk music among young people. In part, this is because many of today’s top folk musicians are themselves young, making the music more relatable to younger audiences.
At the same time, there has been a growing appreciation for the traditional roots of folk music, as well as for its more contemporary forms. This has led to increased interest in folk music from both a historical and a cultural perspective.
The rise of folk music festivals in Chicago has had a major impact on the city’s music scene, and on the way that young people experience and appreciate music.
The popularity of folk music clubs
Folk music has been a part of the Chicago music scene since the city’s early days, when settlers from all over the world brought their own musical traditions with them. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries,Chicago was a hotbed of folk music activity, with Irish, Italian, German, Scandinavian, and Eastern European immigrants all adding their own flavor to the mix.
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in folk music among young people in Chicago. This has led to the opening of several new folk music clubs in the city, which have become popular gathering places for fans of the genre.
One of the most well-known folk music clubs in Chicago is The Hideout. The Hideout is located on Chicago’s North Side and has been hosting live music performances since 1934. The club is known for its intimate atmosphere and its commitment to showcasing local talent.
Another popular folk music club in Chicago is Uncommon Ground. Uncommon Ground has two locations in the city—one in Wicker Park on the North Side and one in Edgewater on the city’s North Side. Both locations feature live music performances seven nights a week as well as a full menu of locally sourced food and drink items.
If you’re interested in experiencing some of the best live folk music that Chicago has to offer, be sure to check out one of these clubs the next time you’re in town!
The popularity of folk music radio
Folk music has been popular in Chicago for many years, and there are several radio stations that feature this genre of music. While some listeners may prefer to listen to folk music on streaming services such as Spotify or Apple Music, others enjoy the experience of listening to folk music on the radio.
Folk music radio station WFMT is one of the most popular stations in Chicago, and it features a mix of traditional and contemporary folk music. The station also offers live performances and interviews with folk musicians.
Another popular folk music radio station in Chicago is WXRT, which plays a mix of traditional and contemporary folk music, as well as rock, blues, and country. The station also offers live performances and interviews with musicians.
In addition to these two radio stations, there are also a number of other stations that offer folk music programming, including WBEZ, WBBM, and WLS.
