Live Music Open Forum: Who Are Your Favorite Folk/Bluegrass/Country/Blues Performers in Second Life?

As promised, we're starting an epic New World Notes Reader's Poll for your favorite live music performers in Second Life. The first category: Folk/Bluegrass/ Country/Blues Performers. Nominate your most loved artists in any of those genres in Comments. This will help us (a panel of expert advisors and myself) narrow down the finalists for reader voting. Here's some other guidelines:

• Include a short description of each nominee, and ideally, links to their website(s) and YouTube performance video.
• Artists specializing in covers can be nominated, but those who perform at least some original work in SL preferred.
• To qualify as a "music performer in Second Life", the artist must have performed at least three live in-world gigs this year.

So start nominating now, the more the better. Readers' favorite artists will get a profile in New World Notes, and hopefully, a much larger fanbase. And if you're a Folk/Bluegrass/Country/Blues performer in Second Life, do encourage your fans to lobby for you here.

Update, 8/7: Bumped up again -- please keep nominating. WE WILL PROBABLY CLOSE NOMINATIONS AT THE END OF THIS WEEKEND!

Comments

[Opensource Obscure]

ok, for the first and the last time I will say what I feel when I listen to Folk/Bluegrass/Country.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Sorry! I have no excuses for my immature reaction.

And admittely, Folk/Bluegrass/Country is a kind of music that is very popular in Second Life as far as I see, and the "1-person with a guitar" formula usually works well. Keep up your work, people.

PS
blues is ok!

[Sioban McMahon]

Blues:

Tone Uriza
Madmax Huet (although he's not playing right now)

Folk:

DannyQuinn Irelund

[Ignatius Onomatopoeia]

I'd nominate Beth Odets as my favorite: some great old-time fiddle-playin' for us SL hillbillies.

@Opensource,

It's okay to not like bluegrass, though you'd go insane near me. Something about spending much of my free time on a farm got me in touch with old-timey and bluegrass.

When I hear most rap, hip-hop, and bubblegum pop, I scream and reach for the "off" button too :)

[Honour McMillan]

Blues? Well then definitely Von Johin - he does both covers and original music and is pure magic with that guitar. :)

http://www.vonjohin.com/VonJohin/Welcome.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vid6WdBHbK8&feature=related

[Arcadia Codesmith]

I hate genre labels. If I had to put a category on my favorites, it would be "crossover", because none of them are confined to one genre.

With that in mind... two of my favorite "folk" artists are:

1) CelticMaidenWarrior Lancaster: lovely haunting voice lends itself to tragic Irish ballads... but she also handles modern pop with skill and spirit.

2) MrMulti Writer: another artist with little respect for artifical boundries between genres. I love the texture of his voice and his willingness to reconstruct old favorites into new forms. His original work is well worth a listen as well.

I have no links, but both will pop up readily on a youtube search.

[Delinda Dyrssen]

Im going to get in so much trouble for saying this.. but here goes...Bluegrass Cosmic Haystack, Folk Too many to list.. Blues Von Johin

[Maurice Mistwallow]

My favorite folk artist in SL by far is Shannon Oherlihy. Her voice is pure folk.... she sings both well known and lesser known folk songs that touch people's souls as well as her own original material which is just beautiful. She definitely belongs on any who's who list of folk music in Second Life.

http://www.reverbnation.com/shannonmcmahon
http://www.myspace.com/shannonmcmahonbruchal

I'm not sure about favorite bluegrass... I think Beth Odets could fit that category as somebody else posted and I definitely second the nomination for Von Johin for best in blues.

[Maurice Mistwallow]

Forgot to include youtube performances with my nomination for Shannon Oherlihy..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7WtRdSYbUQ Shannon doing a Joan Baez cover at Melodies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpFzJDfByys Shannon performing her original 40 Years On along with Beth Odets at Holly GoLightly's Cafe

[Buckaroo Mu]

For the Blues, I can't help but nominate Dakila Lacava. He sits at an old pianer (his word) and channels Louis Armstrong. Unfortunately, he sometimes has some tech issues - he's broadcasting from half-way around the world, and his streams can be annoyingly choppy sometimes. Still worth a listen, he performs usually twice a week.

[bartelby Pegler]

Blues: Etherian Kamaboku, Arman Finesmith, Blindboink Parham, Von Johin and Ziffy Zarf

And when he plays in SL Charles Bristol is the real deal Bluesman :)

[ZenRascal Mandelbrot]

Noma Falta - My favorite electric blues performer.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW6rokE2MTY (and many others)

Website (not very active): http://www.nomafalta.com/

Inworld Group: Noma's Bluez

[Phil]

My favorite blues and folk musicians: HondoMesa Kidd, Brendan Shoreland & Noma Falta.

[Ajax Manatiso]

I have yet to see a performer who in SL who was not off key or off tempo -- usually both. Not only would Simon tell them to go home, they would have been gonged off the Gong Show. Yet they all seem to have "fans" Maybe some people's sound cards are off

[Komuso Tokugawa]

"I have yet to see a performer who in SL who was not off key or off tempo -- usually both."

@ajax Watch it bud, I resemble that remark!

[Jura Shepherd]

I'm throwing BlindBoink Parham in. There are Blues performers who's music I like just as much, but BlindBoink is a bit of a historian for a specific area of Blues. He has an educator's manner that adds to his performance and it seems to fit well with the SL platform when it comes to live music.

[Pierce Kronos]

Cosmic Haystack
http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/30934180

Bart & Whirl
http://www.cruxwork.com/wordpress/

[Emile Sands]

HondoMesa Kidd is DA BOMB!!!! I sooooo nominate him!!

[serene bechir]

Brendan Shoreland known in RL as David Walton, whose original song Sailors Sail Away can be found on the BBC website. Brendan is the most sincere, open and quality performer I have heard. The purity of his tone goes beyond musical skill and speaks to his true connection with the music. Performing originals and covers with no backing tracks or effects, Brendan performs on 6 sting guitar and 12 as well as some a Capella, depending on what best portrays the message of the song.

[Emile Sands]

I would like to nominate BRENDAN SHORELAND as an AMAZING folk performer. He is soooooo good!! :D

[Komuso Tokugawa]

I nominate Phillip Linden as best SL Blues performer! Man, that guy can really make you feel dem low down raggedy ass my pixels are dragging in the bitstream blues but yet can still pull out some fast, fun and easy high notes when the occasion demands it.

[Chantal Glenwalker]

Brendan Shoreland for sure is one of my favourite performers as all is live with no backing at all.

[Fox Ravenheart]

Brendan Shoreland is one of the finest folk singers on Second Life. He is worthy of nomination. Singing weekly from his maritime home of Plymouth England, Brendan compels a soulful nuance and elegance, a sandy sadness and windy wistfulness. He never seeks publicity nor linden compensation for his music. He is glad to give and honored to be heard. He unites his listeners into a circle and always inspires me. Though he would not seek this recognition, he should be recognized for the salubrious song he brings to a weary world.

[Rosemary Serenity]

I've ran into many performers in SecondLife and I must confess it is hard to choose a favorite. Still, from my list of favorites there is one name that must be mentioned and that is Brendan Shoreland. Not only had I the pleasure to listen to him in-world, I also had the pleasure to work with him on a RL film project to which he created an original soundtrack that was amazingly welcomed by the audience. Giving his voice to covers and opening up his heart with his original songs, Brendan is one of the singers that you can't - or at least shouldn't – miss as he adds that little something to music that reminds us of why it is considered an art.

http://www.brendan-shoreland.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

[MsKadee Gossipgirl]

I would like to nominate BRENDAN SHORELAND as an AMAZING folk performer!!!

[Komuso Tokugawa]

How come blues gets lumped in with the folkie dawg done left me deliverance fingerpickers?
Apart from a few rare cases like Bele Fleck's Flecktones folk country & bluegrass are pretty defined narrow genres, whereas blues spans a much broader range of sub-styles and instrumentation.

Lumping it in with them is rather narrow thinking (though I guess your "experts" must be aware of that *sigh*), also given the diverse range of excellent blues artistes banging it out in sl (off key and off tempo blues included)

"The blues is the roots, the rest is the fruits" Willie Dixon.

except for new country I guess
and Alternative indie folk...
and Acid Bluegrass...
and grunge folk country blues..
and...

I also vote for Brenden Shoreland...he knows how to encourage his fans to lobby for him!

[Holly McCann]

Having had an opportunity to host & hear various musicians at my own venue in SL, I would like to endorse Brendan Shoreland as one of the most creative and truly incredible talents & musicians within the SL circuit. Best of luck to you Brendan.

Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat!

[Juko Tempel]

but Komuso Tokugawa plays the best blues in SL

http://www.sonicviz.com/music/ktblues/

[Little Lost Linden]

I would like to nominate Michael Jackson for this honor. Michael Jackson practically invented folk music.

The only problem is that Michael Jackson has not performed in Second Life just yet since his mind transference out of his rl body and into Second Life, and so, he doesn't meet all of the nomination requirements listed above. :(

[Peter Newell]

I like Komuso's dirty blues, and Frogg Marlowe (and Jaycatt Nico of course) in the folksy-ness

[Komuso Tokugawa]

Qarl Linden...boy, can he sing the blues! He & Phillip "Metaverse Boy" Linden used to to this killer duo act, till they split. Their version of Crossroads was as Dark and Ominous as any.

Crossroads by Qarl "Carl" Linden & Phil "Metaverse Boy" Linden

I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees.
Asked the ceo above for mercy, "Save me if you please."

I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride.
I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride.
Nobody seemed to know me, everybody passed me by.

I'm going to see Rosedale, take my performance review by my side.
I'm going down to Rosedale, take my performance review by my side.
You can still barrelhouse, baby, on the lovemachine riverside.

You can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy Willie Brown.
You can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy Willie Brown.
And I'm standing at the metaverse crossroads, believe I'm sinking down.

[Toxic menges]

Well, that didn't take long did it?

[jt]

shannon rules

[Elseth Writer]

I nominate Serv4u Conacher for blues. He's known as "Da Bluez Preacher" and can do SRV like no other.

http://www.myspace.com/rayconfer

And may I echo a previous post? Why are you combining different genres?

[Ignatius Onomatopoeia]

Komuso, you city folks stop picking (so to speak) on Bluegrass. Come out to the country and you'll know we got it hard too.

You ain't lived until you have been to the Old-time Fiddler's Convention in the metropolis of Galax, VA :)

Still, best line in any of these "roots" genres is from the BB King:

"Nobody loves me but my mama, and she could be jivin' too."

I reckon there are a lot of former Lindens feeling that way.

[Ignatius Onomatopoeia]

That should have been "from the song 'Nobody Loves me but my Mother' by BB King."

Someone needs to make that "enter" key harder to reach or give me more coffee, one.

[Komuso Tokugawa]

Nah, the best lines come from Lucille Bogan, 1935.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ko2VXpW7_g

[Hamlet Au]

"And may I echo a previous post? Why are you combining different genres?"

Because I want to simplify the nomination/voting process, and winnowed it down to a combined handful, instead of a dozen-plus by genre. For example, I also have a "Pop/Rock/Industrial/Rap/Hiphop" category and a
"Electronica/Ambient/Live DJ" category. Not a perfect solution, but better than exhausting readers by doing one category at a time.

[Komuso Tokugawa]

I don't see any "Best Cowbell performer" category?

Granted it's a broad one like blues, and specialist genres such as indie.cowbell or alt.grunge.folk.cowbell or christian.hair.rock.cowbell etc should rightly be recognised but how can one seriously run an avtard idol "gamed by fans" popularity contest without cowbell dammit? or a swimsuit section for that matter!

[Magdellina McConnell]

My fave folk musician HAS to be Shannon O'herlihy. I heard her first at the Calmm Treehouse where she blew me away. Great voice and pure contemporary folk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E-86C_qS-U
http://www.reverbnation.com/shannonmcmahon

The blues are a bit tougher to chose from. But, I think I'm going to have to give you KelvinBlue Oh. A different type of blues musician, he keeps things very energized yet still hits the blues part of the blues. He has the guitar crying and the tears falling in the audience...
http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=NoJjNLAVfJw

There are plenty of musicians that also blend rock with both the bluegrass and blues that are fantastic.. another that comes to mind is izdovrcr Finesmith. He does 50's like no one else on SL fitting himself into all of these categories.

Bluegrass is easy. I have to go with Avatar Quinzet. This guy makes a dulcimer do things that no one else can. He plays a mean regular bluegrass and can also rock the house with the same instrument. What a performer!
http://www.secondnights.com/cms/index.php?option=com_zoo&view=item&item_id=542&Itemid=196&el_mcal_month=1&el_mcal_year=2010

[bebelou naidoo]

I would like to nominate Brendan Shoreland as folk musician of the year. Brendan has created the English Folk club which meets weekly in Steelheart Village. He has amazingly arranged for folk musicians around the globe to sing and play weekly without compensation to share their love of accustic music. The club has existed for more than 6 months and is thriving. He has managed to bring the English folk tradition to SL. No slouch himself, Brendan entertains weekly at the Black Kitty Pub with his unique blend of song and storytelling. You can listen to Brendan @ http://www.brendan-shoreland.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

[Bree Birke]

Hard to choose - but a personal favourite is Montian Gilruth. He regularly draws crowds in sl - this video - one of his original songs - was taken in rl a bit over a year ago at a show that was streamed, audio PLUS video, into sl during the Montreal Musicians' meetup, which Monti organized: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiFP0FB45vo . Accompanying him in this video is FunkyFreddy Republic, who is excellent in his own right.

An inworld vid; I believe the song Sarah is also an original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntdy99bmozI&feature=related

[Jenilia Congrejo]

Folk: Cylindrian Rutabaga (Grace Buford)
Blues: JueL Resistance (Suzen JueL)

[Jake rapp]

Beth Odets - solo & duets. Folk, blues & bluesgrass

[Tommy Suber]

Fantastic Somali Songs, please visit

http://somali-music.com

somali songs

[Beth Odets]

I nominate Beth Odets.... cause... ( oh wait... we cant vote anymore?)