Atlanta Area
Friends of
Folk Music
and
John McVey
October 21
Important Note: The location for our October Coffeehouse has changed from what was listed in our printed newsletter.
Those of you who are members of AAFFM and receive our hard copy newsletter by regular mail were advised that our regular third Saturday show featuring John McVey opening for Caroline Aiken slated for October 21st would mark the return of our series to our regular home at the Garden Hills Recreation Center near Buckhead. Unfortunately, while the rebuilding of the center is nearing completion at this point, there is no assurance that the Certificate of Occupancy will be granted in time for the GH Association to rent out the facility on that date. Thus, our October show will return a final time to the clubhouse in Pine Lake.
The doors will open at 7:30pm, and the music will start at 8:00, continuing until about 10:30. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and desserts will be available for purchase; those wishing to drink alcoholic beverages may bring their own. The requested donation at the door will be $8 general admission ($7 for AAFFM members). Children under 12 are welcome without charge.
DIRECTIONS: From I-285 on the east side of Atlanta, exit Memorial Drive and head east (outside the perimeter) for 1.6 miles and turn left on Clubhouse Drive (just past the post office on your right). In a few blocks the street makes a circle around the clubhouse building - you'll run into it if you don't follow the street around to the parking lot.
Opening the Show -- John McVey
This guy is rapidly gaining the reputation as being one of the new
sensations on the contemporary folk scene. He offers wonderful, well
crafted original tunes sung with a great, smooth voice backed by solid
guitar work.
We first received his promo materials a couple of years ago (before he had a professional agent, like he does now), and they included a short demo tape of a live performance. Before we switched from tape to CD at our shows, we used to play McVey's demo as background music before the shows and during the breaks once in a while. His music was so good it always resulted in someone coming over to the soundboard and asking who this guy was, and when we were going to book him.
Well, we finally have, and this promises to be a truly great opening set from a performer whose talent really deserves a feature slot.
Featured Act -- Caroline Aiken
Our featured act in October is the one and only Caroline Aiken.
Raised on St. Simons Island, she was only fourteen when she got her
first paying gig singing with a rock band on Long Island. She hasn't
stopped since, and appears much too busy moving forward to spend much
time looking over her shoulder. Her music career has taken her from
New York to California, Central and South America, Seattle, with her
landing in Atlanta back in '78.
She was a regular opener at the Moonshadow for the likes of Leo
Kottke, Muddy Waters and Randy Newman. In '81 she tried New York City
on for size, and actually had her own night each week at The Other End
on Bleeker Street. It was on to Europe in '84, then back to the
States, where she opened for Bonnie Raitt several times in '85 (which
resulted in Bonnie's appearance on Aiken's first album Line of
Vision).
The early 90's had Caroline with her band Cold Shot producing her second album, Dancing With Danger. Caroline garnered a Critics Choice award from Creative Loafing in '91, nomination for Best Acoustic Act at the Coca Cola Music Awards in '93, and both Best Vocalist and Best Acoustic Guitar Player at the New South Music Awards in both '91 and '92.
Aiken has subsequently recorded three additional principally acoustic albums. Her third effort, Live at the Attic (recorded at Eddie's Attic) featured the able assistance of the Indigo Girls and Gary Mo Moore of Mother's Finest. Her fourth album, Live Bait (also recorded live), garnered significant radio airplay as part of the rotation on the nationally syndicated Acoustic Cafe show (also heard 800 station worldwide on the Voice of America network; but unfortunately, not here in Atlanta), as well as Folkscene out of KPFK in Los Angeles. Her current release is the critically acclaimed Butler Field, and also features the Indigo Girls.
Caroline's favorable reviews include Creative Loafing, Acoustics Magazine, University Reporter and Dirty Linen, among many others throughout the country. In describing Aiken's mainstage performance at the vaunted Kerrville Folk Festival, Pierce Pettis said simply, "Caroline Aiken just smoked 'em." When Shawn Mullins was asked on 99X radio recently who he thought was the next act to break out of Atlanta, his first reply was Caroline Aiken.
A talented guitarist, Aiken's show will feature both six and twelve string guitars. She has an incredibly strong, clear voice that is going to just knock you over at Garden Hills (try to imagine Bonnie Raitt performing there instead of at the Omni!).
Come join us on the 21st!