Show MO(re) Folk: Old-time Music & Quarantunes

We at MO Arts continue to use the Show Me Folk blog, in these unusual times, to shine a bit more light on Missouri’s folk and traditional artists, particularly those who have had shifted their focus a bit, or a lot, due to the world’s collective efforts to “flatten the curve.” We are often reminded that folk arts and folklife are not static, but dynamic and innovative. Tradition bearers prove that time and time again, especially in adversity. 

With these posts, we hope our readers find the time to visit the social media of featured artists. Perhaps, readers will be moved to make positive comments, purchases, reviews, or recommendations.

Thanks for turning your attention to Show MO(re) Folk. Look for hyperlinks below that take you to videos, websites, and social media profiles. Click on photo galleries for larger images.

Old-time Music & Quarantunes

In mid-March, we found ourselves deleting event after event in our calendars–both personal and professional. Missouri Folk Arts was set to announce a series of public events in partnership with the Museum of Art & Archaeology at Mizzou, Missouri State Museum, Current River Heritage Days, and St. Louis Storytelling Festival–among others. Museum events and exhibits are hard to execute at a distance. Still, the Museum of Art & Archaeology (MFAP’s home) releases online exhibits on Wednesdays and special object/art work features on Fridays via Facebook. Our colleagues at the Missouri State Museum are working from home, researching and planning for exhibitions when the Museum opens to the public again. Current River Heritage Day organizers have postponed. The St. Louis Storytelling Festival has offered an online festival via Zoom and Facebook Live for the last five weeks, with performances Tuesdays-Fridays. With a little time, a lot of ingenuity, and access to social media platforms, more musicians and festival producers have taken their music online. Missouri old-time, bluegrass, and honky tonk musicians are no exceptions.

We’ve recently learned, for instance, about the Facebook group Quarantine Happy Hour, with concerts piped in nightly from around the hemisphere. Don’t miss Missouri’s own Betse Ellis and Clarke Wyatt, who will perform at 7:30 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, April 30, 2020. Don’t worry if you didn’t catch the concerts live; they’re available to view at the group’s page still. And, more concerts continue to be scheduled. 

Banjo player (really multi-instrumentalist) and graphic designer Rachel Krause (KC MO) has kept us entertained with “quarantunes” on a regular basis via Facebook and Instagram. She’s using an app called Acapella to play duets with lots of talented friends, like “Sherburn’s Breakdown” with KC’s Matthew Hawkins, “Rachel” with John P. Williams (Madison, Mo), and John Lane of Illinois. By the way, if you haven’t seen Rachel’s interview “Breathing New Life into Missouri Fiddling” with John Williams and Kenny Applebee for Oldtime Central, scoot over and read that one asap.

You have to check out Possum and Patt’s Big Fiddle Show (aka Patt and Possum’s Big Fiddle Show). Join their Facebook group, and you’ll know when to tune in, like tonight April 29 at 7:00 p.m. While it’s true that Charlie (aka Possum) relocated to Illinois some time ago, in some ways, it’s like he never left Missouri.

Finally, don’t miss Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys‘ Facebook Live parties, like the one scheduled for “Sinko de Mayo.” Rex has recreated KC’s iconic venue The Ship in his basement. They’re playing music and donating tips to good causes, like KC’s Hospitality Support Initiative.

Posted April 29, 2020