Both Kinds of Music

slyke25:

Frank Fairfield at the Museum stage. 

The new fourth stage this year is quite intimate.

Neat.

thecountryfucker:

Via Across The Plains

Well everyone, today I have a very special treat for you..my very first field recording!

The subject is none other than California’s own Frank Fairfield.  I ‘ve had the pleasure of seeing Frank play several times and he never disappoints.  Frank is really doing a great job of getting out there and bringing the music of the people back to the people who have forgotten that it was theirs to begin with.  Frank is no fly-by-night snake oil salesmen, he is the real deal.  He lives and breathes traditional music of the United States and beyond, and it’s painfully obvious when you see him live.  He really puts his blood and sweat into giving folks the best show he can.  Check out Franks records at Tompkins Square Records.

The show was set-up with about 24 hours notice as a warm-up performance for Franks’ appearance at Hardly-Strictly-Bluegrass today.  The show took place in a little park directly behind the DMV office in Oakland.  Surrounded by a circle of candles Frank played 7 songs that i’ve never seen him play live before. It was a very intimate experience that the folks in attendance will never forget.  I want to personally thank a fellow named Tim for pulling a good show off at the last minute.

Notes on the recording:  This is the first time i’ve ever used my Zoom H2 digital recorder, but I think it did a great job considering i’ve hardly read the instructions.  There was a busy main street and a gaggle of young skateboard punks shredding and screaming in the DMV parking lot just beyond Frank.  I suppose that’s the nature of field recordings though, you get whatever  is happening that moment whether it’s intended to be recorded or not.  I did my best to boost the sound as much as possible, but It’s not as loud as I’d like it to be.  I recommend burning the files to CD and listening to it on your home stereo where you can crank the volume and it will sound much better.  Thanks for listening and ENJOY!

Download here

Tracklist

1. Cluck Old Hen (partial)

2. Going Across The Sea

3. Lonesome And Blue

4.Sally Ann

5.John Hardy

6. Cannonball

7. Chilly Winds