The San Francisco Folk Music Club

The San Francisco Folk Music Club hosts events and provides resources for lovers of folk music in the Bay Area.

What is the San Francisco Folk Music Club?

The San Francisco Folk Music Club is a musical organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of folk music. The club was founded in 1961 by a group of musicians who wanted to create a community for folk musicians and music lovers alike.

The club hosts various events throughout the year, including open mic nights, concerts, workshops, and dances. They also have an extensive library of folk music recordings that members can borrow.

The club is open to everyone, regardless of musical experience or knowledge. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just starting out, the San Francisco Folk Music Club is a great place to meet other folk music lovers and learn more about this style of music.

History of the San Francisco Folk Music Club

The San Francisco Folk Music Club was founded in 1956 by a group of music lovers who wanted to share their passion for traditional folk music with others. The club has been active ever since, organizing monthly concerts and dances, hosting visiting musicians, and holding an annual Folk Festival.

The club was originally headquartered in the basement of the Unitarian Universalist Church on Franklin Street in San Francisco. In the early years, the club held its concerts and dances in various locations around the city, including Golden Gate Park and the Presidio. In 1964, the club finally found a permanent home at Noe Valley Ministry, where it has been based ever since.

Over the years, the San Francisco Folk Music Club has welcomed many famous folk musicians to its stage, including Joan Baez, Odetta, Cisco Houston, Judy Collins, Bill Staines, and Tom Paxton. The club has also hosted numerous music workshops and jam sessions, giving members a chance to learn new songs and techniques from each other.

Today, the San Francisco Folk Music Club is as active as ever, with a vibrant community of members who love to sing and play together. If you’re interested in joining this vibrant community or attending one of the club’s events, please visit our website or contact us for more information.

The San Francisco Folk Music Club Today

Today, the San Francisco Folk Music Club is a vibrant community of folk music lovers who come together to enjoy and preserve this unique American art form. The Club hosts regular events and meetings, featuring live music and dancing, workshops and jam sessions. Membership is open to all who love folk music, whether they play an instrument or not, sing or listen.

The San Francisco Folk Music Club’s Mission

The mission of the San Francisco Folk Music Club is to preserve, promote and present traditional and contemporary folk music and dance.

The club was founded in 1958 by a group of local folk music enthusiasts, and has since grown to become one of the largest and most active folk music clubs in the country. We offer a wide range of activities for our members, including weekly concerts, dances, sing-alongs, workshops, jams, and an annual festival.

The San Francisco Folk Music Club’s Members

The San Francisco Folk Music Club (SF Folk Music Club) is a non-profit, membership organization dedicated to promoting and preserving folk music in the Bay Area. We are one of the oldest and largest folk music clubs in the country, with over 500 members.

The Club sponsors concerts and dances featuring traditional and contemporary folk music from around the world, as well as workshops on various aspects of folk music. We also maintain an extensive library of folk music books, recordings, and instruments, which are available to our members.

Our members come from all walks of life and from all over the Bay Area. Some play instruments, some sing, some just enjoy listening to live music. What we have in common is a love of folk music and a desire to keep it alive.

The San Francisco Folk Music Club’s Activities

The San Francisco Folk Music Club sponsors many activities throughout the year. These include a Beginning Folk Guitar class, Coffee Houses, Potluck Picnics, appearances by touring artists, and an annual Folk Music Festival.

The Beginner’s Folk Guitar class is offered every Spring and Fall. This class is designed for the complete beginner, with no prior guitar experience necessary. The class meets once a week for eight weeks, and each student receives a detailed handbook which includes chords, strums, and tunings. In addition, students have access to an online forum where they can ask questions and share songs with other students.

The Club also hosts Coffee Houses on a monthly basis. These are informal events where folk musicians can get together to play and sing. There is no stage or sound system, and performers are welcome to use the Club’s PA system if they need it. The Coffee Houses are always free and open to the public.

The Potluck Picnics are held several times each year, usually on a Saturday afternoon in one of the city’s parks. These are potluck style events, so everyone is asked to bring a dish to share. In addition to food and drink, there is always live music at these picnics. All picnic attendees are welcome to bring musical instruments and join in the jamming!

Each year, the Club also invites touring folk artists to perform at its monthly concerts. These concerts take place at various venues around the city, and tickets can be purchased through the Club’s website or at the door on the night of the show.

The San Francisco Folk Music Club’s Future

The San Francisco Folk Music Club (SF FMC) has been an vibrant and active organization since its founding in the late 1950s, promoting and encouraging the enjoyment and performance of traditional and contemporary folk music. We presently have about 150 members, who come from all over the Bay Area.

We’re very excited about our plans for the future, which include increasing our educational and performance opportunities, expanding our membership base, and reaching out to new audiences. We’re already hard at work on a new website, which will be launched later this year. In addition, we’re planning a series of educational events, including workshops on songwriting and fingerstyle guitar playing. We’ll also be offering more opportunities to perform, both at our regular club nights and at special events.

So if you’re interested in folk music – whether you’re a performer, listener, or just someone who’s curious about the music – we encourage you to check us out. We welcome everyone to come to our club nights and events, and we hope you’ll consider joining us as a member.