The Ashland Folk Collective (AFC) has been building the music community in the Rogue Valley for the past two years and was gearing up for another amazing third year when the world shut down due to COVID-19. The AFC squeezed in one last show for the foreseeable future on March 10th with The Ballroom Thieves before canceling/postponing seven shows, their largest season to date. Jacqui Aubert, the founder of Ashland Folk Collective, shared that, “Each show takes about 50 hours of work to produce from scouting, booking and finally production. It was sad to have to cancel all of our plans and very hard for the artists whose livings just fell apart.” According to Aubert, 90% of the purchased tickets were donated to AFC in order to support the non-profit, “the response was incredibly heartwarming.” The AFC is patiently waiting for the state to lift the ban on large gatherings, but until then how can listeners support the music community?
Musicians may not be able to share their work like they are accustomed to, but many are seeing this as an opportunity to reach beyond their comfort zone. Matthew Lennox has been busking full time in the city of Bath, England for ten years and is using his extra time to learn how to record and edit videos. He explained that he hopes this new skill will help him gain even more traction when busking is an option again. Portland based musician and AFC favorite, John Craigie shared that, “now’s a great time to connect with your fanbase and see what they like about your expression and see how you can meet them.” Like many other artists, Craigie has hosted several live streams on Instagram and between songs, takes calls from fans to connect during this crazy time. Craigie said, “…livestreams are not the most enjoyable, the most enjoyable part is the crowd and playing a song in my empty room is more awkward than it is fun. You know people are watching, but you have no idea if they’re hearing it well or if they’re liking it whereas if you’re in a room with people you can feel everyone’s collective joy or sorrow…[the] next one I’m going to focus more on [taking calls].” The live music scene is having to adapt to this new normal, but thanks to the internet and creative minds, a new way of experiencing live music is available.
Right now might be the best time for new music. John Craigie released two singles at the beginning of April to a fanbase that was eager for something fresh. His Dylan-esque voice and poetic lyrics in “Vallecito” are captivating while “To Love Somebody” brings in many voices with a classic Craigie sing-a-long. Hiss Golden Messenger, who was scheduled to perform in Ashland on May 7th, but postponed with a new date in progress, released a new live album, “Forward, Children: A Fundraiser for Durham Public Schools Students”, also at the beginning of April, to support the Durham Public Schools Foundation (DPSF) in North Carolina. MC Taylor, the man behind Hiss Golden Messenger, had been working with DPSF on his last tour, adding $1 to every ticket sold and since the release of “Forward, Children” has donated at least $20,000 to DPSF.
Taylor explained that he wanted to give back to his community and said, “my wife is a public school teacher and when schools started closing down because of the Coronavirus, the first thing she said is there’s going to be a lot of hungry kids out there because so many of them depend on public school for at least two of their meals every day.” While it is a strange thing not being able to tour after the release of a new album, the current global situation has given fans more time than ever to fully enjoy new music and personally connect with their favorite musicians.
We may not be able to see the bands and artists that we love in person, but we can still support them and enjoy the new ways they are creating content. According to Craigie, there are musicians like the accomplished Portland based Clara Baker, who are offering private virtual lessons. Now might be the perfect time to finally learn the guitar or to sing like you’ve always wanted. Jeffrey Martin and Anna Tivel, who performed for the AFC last February, have been sharing songs for kids and adults alike through Band Camp. Their work is all donation based and to help families enjoy something new together while staying at home.
Music is paramount in this world and while we are all isolated music continues to connect us around the globe. Musicians are being forced to think outside the box in order to maintain their livelihoods, so it’s time for us, as listeners, to follow suit. How can we continue to support musicians and the connection of humankind from the safety of our homes? Follow your favorite artists on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music as well as on social media.
According to Laurie Shook, one half of the folk duo The Shook Twins, “[streaming and subscribing] is a really great indication for promoters and booking agents for [bands] to get into bigger places in the future.” Apple Music, Spotify and other streaming platforms pay artists every time a song of theirs is played, you can support your favorite band purely by streaming them through your phone or computer. Share your favorite music with your friends and family by making playlists or sending YouTube videos. Tune into live streams and tip artists through their PayPal or Patreon accounts. Purchase merchandise from artists directly through their website to show your support.
The Ashland Folk Collective are currently working on bringing live music to the community all while maintaining safety guidelines. Aubert is working on creating live performances in a drive-in movie theatre-esque style with a mobile stage that would drive around Ashland. The non-profit is also working on hosting small performances with tiny audiences as well as live stream shows. Follow AFC on social media to stay up to date.
Autumn Micketti 