[FM] Re: Folk Alliance Notes from Sage and I

[JATICE@aol.com]

I just wanted to thank all those that made the trip so memorable for my 
daughter, Sage, and I.  It was my first national conference and her first 
*any* conference.  It took her awhile to get Lou Bega and Eiffel 65 out of 
her head, but she was eventually brought around to folk by the spoken 
word......yes, LES BARKER!  For those that don't know, Les is an English 
poet, amazingly funny and unassuming and most importantly, accessible.  So, 
Sage found folk through a back door.   

We agree that one of the highlights for us was watching Tom Prasada-Rao and 
Billy Jonas sharing the "stage" in the Songs.com suite on Saturday.  Masters 
of creating a positive energy exchange. It's a spiritual thang (as my friend 
Beth Williams would say)!

Thanks to Sonny Ochs and Pete Seeger for allowing Sage to "interview" them, 
as part of her out-of-school assignment.    

For me, the highlights were many, and seeing old friends was part of it.  
Caroline Aiken was terrific in the Fox Run suite, followed by John McVey, 
Dana Cooper and johnsmith.....what an amazing combo!  

I heard a woman for the first time, named Jan Crist (sp?).  She knocked me 
out.  I believe she's with Silent Planet.   A real singer/songwriter on all 
counts.   Reminded me of Gilian Welch, on her lighter days!