Many Voices, One Mission : Liberating Folk Music

How The Folk Collective aims to create a model for liberating folk music from its narrowly defined past.
Every culture has its own folk music - be it traditional and passed through the ages, or new creations that tell the human stories of lives lived and living. The popularity of the Folk Revival of the 50s and 60s brought a widened audience and a new generation of performers - but also a problematic whitening of the genre that had been so multicultural in its origin.
The Folk Collective was created in 2022 by the arts non-profit organization and presenter Passim to face this challenge of representation and narrow definition in folk music. Being that Club Passim has been at the center and forefront of folk music in this country for more than half a century, the organization felt a duty to reframe the narrative and take action to create real change.
This panel discussion with the Folk Collective will explore folk music's historical roots and question why it's been narrowly defined. It aims to challenge this limited perspective by highlighting diverse voices and experiences often sidelined within the genre. Through inclusivity and authenticity, the discussion seeks to redefine folk music as truly reflective of the rich tapestry of human expression. This marks a pivotal moment in reshaping the narrative and fostering a more inclusive community within the genre.
The Folk Collective hopes to answer those questions. They are a broad representation of a community, performing music “of the people” for their community. Simply put, they are folk musicians.
Moderated by Callie Crossley.
0:00:00 - Introduction
0:00:50 - Welcome Remarks
0:09:19 - Performance 1
0:12:33 - Discussion Start
1:01:50 - Q&A
0:12:33 - Discussion Start
1:18:10 - Performance 2
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