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Sincerely,
Chris Frank, CEO

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NEW: The efM Blog Your chance to toss it around with efM CEO Chris Frank. We may be late to the blogging game, just don't call us late for lunch...

efolkMusic Radio Puts Listeners in 'High Touch'
     We've updated our efm Artists Radio show, hosted by Live365, so check it out! This is a three hour show featuring songs and tunes from our member artists. It sounds pretty darned good, if we do say so ourselves, and requires a broadband connection.
     Tune in and hear some of efolkMusic's most popular artists plus get exposed to new talent, music you probably won't hear on your local radio station (if you are lucky enough to have one!).

Tune in: efM Radio On the Air

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     Sign up for the efolkMusic Newsletter, a twice monthly email update with new CD and MP3 releases, features and (sometimes) more.

Folk Music On the Air???
     In the "old" days, the radio was our main source. Unfortunately, the latest stats from folkradio.org don't give folk artists a lot of hope.  Last year's #1 artist, based on the 207 reporting stations, was Bob Dylan- with a whopping 665 spins FOR THE YEAR!!!! Think about it- if radio play generates CD sales, how many sales do you suppose Doc Watson (#19) got from his 399 spins? 
     (Doc and Bob are luckier than most, though, as you may still be able to find their platters at your neighborhood Walmart.) 
    OK- so chances are you won't hear enough of the good stuff on your local station, except maybe a few hours a week (if you're lucky)- how do you find out about new artists and music?
       Our goal is to provide that essential connection. We have a growing database of folk festivals, folk radio shows, concert schedules, and of course you can listen to full-song streaming previews from our featured artists.
     AND you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to own a nice selection of music- we have thousands of legal downloads for sale, 98 cents a track, plus lots of free ones, and we've been serving them up since 1999! We offer a handy 'Multi-pak' to make tracks easy to buy (and even cheaper!) by pre-paying like you do with phone cards. Head over to Download Central >>

Folk Festivals Listings • efM Artist Performances

Master the Musical Saw in a Week!

     Here's a great tutorial on a nearly lost art (just the kind of thing we like around here) from Peter Wentworth of MusicalSaw.com:

      When I say "master the saw" - I don't just mean you will be able to peck away at a few simple songs. I mean you will actually be competent enough to perform on stage! Honestly, the Musical Saw is that easy to learn
      In many people's minds, the Musical Saw is more closely associated with Vaudeville than Folk Music - However, its plaintive tone does lend itself to playing much of the Folk repertoire. Another attraction for folk musicians is how incredibly easy the learning curve is. One can easily be playing beautiful music after just a week's practice. ...Even if (like me) you have failed over and over agin to learn any other instrument. As long as you are not tone deaf you have all the ability you'll ever need. Don't read music? - No problem, in fact, since the Musical Saw is played by feel, being able to read music does not really give you much of an advantage.
      The origins of this folk musical instrument are shrouded in the mist of time with many claiming it was discovered in their lands. In the US, the most likely candidate for originating the Musical Saw tradition is 1800's Appalachia. However, both Scandinavia and South America are also considered candidates for having originated the Musical Saw. More than likely, the Musical Saw was independently discovered over and over again each time someone noticed the beautiful bell-like tone when they tossed their saw to the ground. Although it is possible to play any saw, you will need a concert quality Musical Saw to deliver a two octave range and a sonorous, mellow tone. In addition, learning to play on a Musical saw will be much easier. (click to learn more...)

Heros
By Mark Winegar
     
      New Orleans is the cradle of American music and it almost died when hurricane Katrina devastated the city last year. Musicians scattered throughout this great nation and the city is still not a paying basis yet. Worse yet, the hurricane season is starting up again and the levies are still in ruins. Yet, there is a bold spirit in New Orleans evidenced by the celebration of Mardi Gras during the crisis. With virtually no governmental assistance the people of city and region are slowly returning and rebuilding in defiance of plans to usurp its culture and heritage.
     A refugee from Alice’s Restaurant rose to the challenge of helping to rebuild the musical venues in New Orleans. Yes, our hero is Arlo Guthrie!

 “When I think of New Orleans, I think of music. The City of New Orleans is America's first music city. New Orleans is the city that truly began America's contribution to the history of music worldwide. Without it, there'd be no popular music, as we know it today.
      When I wonder what they might need in New Orleans to get back on their feet, the stuff that gets ruined under water, I think of all the sound boards, the cables, the lighting, the microphones, the instruments; I think of the stuff you need in the hundreds of little clubs and bars that bring the music to the street - the street that brings the people to the city. And I think of the many thousands of people who depend on those people for their livelihood.” (Arlo Guthrie 2005)

    Arlo had a hit with Steve Goodman’s song City of New Orleans several years ago. He took this song as a theme for his humanitarian efforts to revive the New Orleans music scene. He leased the real train the call the City of New Orleans for a tour from Chicago to New Orleans. The tour started on December 7 th, 2005 and ended on December 17th.
     Benefit concerts were held at every major city along the route. Arlo extended an open invitation to musicians to join the tour and many did including Willie Nelson.
      Proceeds from the tour were used to supplement generous donations from the musical equipment manufacturers. The goal was to equip each venue in New Orleans with sound equipment and guitars so they could open for business and get back on a paying basis.
     Unfortunately I couldn’t make the tour. I had classes to teach, final exams to give, and final grades to turn in. But I was there in spirit. I even used my humble talents to write a song about it all that I played at local benefits for Katrina’s victims. Here it is:

New Orleans, don't you know,
it got flooded when that hurricane blowed. Katrina, that was her name.
And what she did to New Orleans was just a shame.

 Now you can't count on the President,
the legislature, or the cabinet
'cause when it flooded the folks were all alone.
The people went hungry just like a dog without a bone.

 Now give your dollars and your dimes.
Let’s help the Red Cross get there in time
to help the people of New Orleans.
‘cause the hurricane season can still be mighty mean.

 Now I hear Arlo calling my name
"come on boy and jump on this train
to New Orleans. That's where we're gonna go.
And you can play your guitar and be a part of the show!"

 He said, give your money and your time.
Give your talents like I'm giving mine
to New Orleans, land of the Mardi Gras
‘casue you know they need it down in Louisianna.

Arlo Guthrie exemplifies what is best about the American spirit. He saw other Americans suffering and did something about it. He didn’t wait for the federal government to act. He didn’t turn his back on his fellow citizens. He applied his God-given talents to helping the people. More of us should follow his example.

(Thanks to efolkMusic artist Mark Winegar- click here for his music)

One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple
By the Relief Office I saw my people-
As they stood hungry, I stood there wondering if
God Blessed America for me.
                    -Woody Guthrie, a little used verse from "This Land Is Your Land"