Folk Music Comes to Dallas

The Dallas music scene is about to get a little bit folksier! This weekend, the city will be hosting the Folk Music Comes to Dallas festival, featuring some of the best folk musicians from around the country. If you’re a fan of folk music, or just curious to check it out, be sure to swing by and check out the festival!

History of Folk Music

Folk music has often been seen as the music of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is a genre that is passed down through the generations, often being molded and shaped by each one. It is a genre that has many different sub-genres, and often tells the story of a people. Folk music has found its way to Dallas, Texas and has made a name for itself there.

Origins in the British Isles

Folk music has its origins in the music of the people who were traditionally not part of the commercial music industry. In the British Isles, this includes the music of the English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh people. This music was originally passed down orally from one generation to the next.

Folk music evolved over time as people moved to new places and their music changed to reflect their new surroundings and experiences. For example, when the Irish immigrated to America in the nineteenth century, they brought their folk songs with them. These songs eventually evolved into today’s Americana or country music.

In Dallas, you can hear folk music at The Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe, which features live music seven nights a week. The Old Quarter is known for its intimate setting and its focus on acoustic folk, blues, and country music.

Migration to the United States

The history of folk music in the United States is a long and varied one. Folk music has been a part of the American experience since the early days of the country, when settlers from all over the world came to the land in search of a better life.

The first folk music to come to the United States was brought over by the British and Irish immigrants who came to the country in the 1600s and 1700s. This music was based on the music of their homeland, and it was used as a way to express their feelings about their new lives in America.

As more people from different cultures came to America, they brought their own musical traditions with them. African Americans, for example, brought the musical traditions of their homeland with them when they were forced to come to America as slaves. These traditions blended with the music of the British and Irish immigrants to create a new type of folk music that was uniquely American.

Today, folk music is still an important part of American culture. Folk musicians often use their music to express their feelings about current events or social issues. And while some folk musicians have become famous, many more continue to play this type of music simply because they love it.

The Folk Music Revival

In the early 1960s, America was going through a folk music revival. This was a time when people were interested in learning about and listening to traditional folk music from around the world. The folk music revival was started by a group of young people in New York City who were interested in music and culture.

The Almanac Singers

The Almanac Singers were a folk music group, active from 1940 to 1943 and again from 1949 to 1952, that recorded nineteen albums and made a major contribution to the folk music revival of the early 1960s. The group was founded in New York City by Woody Guthrie, Millard Lampell, Lee Hays, and Pete Seeger. They took their name from the Cowboy Almanac and sang songs about labor rights, peace, and social justice.

The Almanac Singers’ most famous album was entitled Songs for John Doe, and it contained such classics as “Talking Union,” “Which Side Are You On?,” “Union Maid,” “Roll the Union On,” “The Ballad of Pretty Boy Floyd,” and “Hard, Ain’t It Hard.” All of these songs were written by Guthrie, Lampell, Hays, or Seeger, and they were all performed in the traditional style of folk music. The Almanac Singers’ style of music was highly influential on the development of both the folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s.

The Weavers

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the US Folk Music Revival began. This was a time when people became interested in the music of America’s past, particularly music from the 19th century. One of the most popular groups during this time was The Weavers.

The Weavers were a folk music group from New York City. They were formed in 1947 by Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman. The group became very popular, especially after they appeared on the television show “Sing Along with Mitch” in 1955. They recorded many songs that were hits, including “On Top of Old Smokey” and “Kisses Sweeter than Wine.”

The Weavers disbanded in 1964, but their music continued to be popular. In fact, their version of “The Times They Are A-Changin'” by Bob Dylan was one of the first Dylan songs to become a hit.

Bob Dylan

In the early 1960s, Dylan’s songs became anthems of the American Civil Rights and anti-war movements. He wrote and performed some of the most influential songs of the 20th century, including “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a-Changin'”. Dylan was born Robert Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota on May 24th, 1941. He grew up in Hibbing, where he learned to play guitar and piano. In 1959 he began attending the University of Minnesota, but he left after one year to pursue a music career.

Dylan’s first album, Bob Dylan, was released in 1962. It featured folk standards as well as original songs. His next album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, included such classics as “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”. In 1964 Dylan went electric with the release of Another Side of Bob Dylan. This album featured such classic Dylan songs as “It Ain’t Me Babe” and “My Back Pages”.

The 1960s was a decade of change, and Dylan’s music reflected this change. He wrote protest songs about the Vietnam War (“Masters of War”) and racism (“The Times They Are a-Changin'”). He also wrote love songs (“Make You Feel My Love”), funny songs (“Subterranean Homesick Blues”), and religious songs (“I Shall Be Released”). In 1965 Dylan went on tour with The Hawks (later known as The Band). This tour introduced his new sound to audiences all over the world.

In 1966, Dylan was injured in a motorcycle accident near Woodstock, New York. He retreated from the public eye for several years while he recovered from his injuries. During this time he recorded some of his best music, including John Wesley Harding (1967), Nashville Skyline (1969), and New Morning (1970). In 1974 Dylan went on tour with The Band again. This tour was captured on film in Martin Scorsese’s documentary Rolling Thunder Revue (2002).

In 1975 Dylan released Blood on the Tracks, which many consider to be his best album. It features such classic tracks as “Tangled Up in Blue”, “Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll”, and “Shelter from the Storm”. In 1979 Dylan released Slow Train Coming, his first album of religious music. This album features such classics as “Gotta Serve Somebody” and “I Believe in You”.

Dylan has continued to write and perform throughout the years. Some of his later albums include Oh Mercy (1989), Time Out of Mind (1997), Love and Theft (2001), Modern Times (2006), Together Through Life (2009), Tempest (2012), Shadows in the Night (2015), Fallen Angels (2016), Triplicate (2017) ,and Rough And Rowdy Ways(2020).

The Dallas Folk Music Scene

The Dallas folk music scene is heating up, with new clubs and venues popping up all over the city. Eager music fans are flocking to these new venues to see their favorite artists perform. Whether you’re a fan of traditional folk music or looking to discover new sounds, there’s something for everyone in the Dallas folk music scene.

The Old 97’s

The Old 97’s are a country rock band from Dallas, Texas, United States, formed in 1993. The band’s name refers to the Union Pacific Railroad’s train wreck of 1897 near Sherman, Texas. The Old 97’s have released ten studio albums, one live album and two compilations. Rhett Miller is the lead singer and primary songwriter. Ken Bethea is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist. Bassist Murray Hammond performs backing vocals on some tracks as well. Philip Peeples was the band’s drummer until he left the group in early 2014 to focus on his family life; he was replaced on tour by fill-in drummer Jamie Wilson beforethe band hired Josh Block as their new drummer later that year.

The band has been together since 1993 with little lineup changes: Rhett Miller (vocals/guitar), Ken Bethea (guitar), Murry Hammond (bass), and Philip Peeples (drums). Originally from Denton, Texas, the group moved to Dallas after signing with Bloodshot Records in 1996. The group had a cult following in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas before moving to Chicago where they gained popularity playing at Schuba’s Tavern. In 1998 they were featured on an episode of MTV’s Alton Brown’s Good Eats where they performed their song “Boxcar.”

The Dallas Folk Festival

The Dallas Folk Festival is a three-day music festival featuring more than 30 national and international folk performers on four stages. The festival also offers workshops, jams, and other opportunities for folk music fans to get involved in the music. The Dallas Folk Festival is held every year in early October at the Dallas Arboretum.

The Dallas Folk Club

The Dallas Folk Club is a non-profit organization promoting folk music in the Dallas area. We have an active membership and sponsor several events each year, including concerts, workshops, dances and more. New members are always welcome.

The club was formed in 1962 by a group of folk music enthusiasts. We are one of the oldest continuing folk clubs in the country. We are a 501(c)3 organization, and all donations are tax deductible.