Vocal Classes for Contemporary Folk Week @ The Swannanoa Gathering

July 28 – Aug. 3, 2024

Details & Registration:  https://swangathering.com/catalog/cf/contemporary-folk-week/

Contemporary Folk Week welcomes newcomer Dar Williams to a staff that includes Grammy-winners Tom Paxton and Jim Lauderdale, vocal instructors Moira Smiley and Red Molly’s Laurie MacAllister, and folk veterans John Gorka, Cliff Eberhardt, Joe Craven, Ellis Paul, David Wilcox, Nora Jane Struthers, Greg Greenway and Vance Gilbert to form a stellar team of veteran singer/songwriters. Drawing on tradition and innovation, our instructors bring a world of practical and imaginative experience to help you create and perform the music that makes your heart sing. Whether you’re trying out material at a local ‘open mike’, a performer gaining some experience, a working musician looking for some help in reaching your next goal, or someone who would simply like to feel more confident pulling that guitar out in front of others, we’re here to help. Our top-notch staff, knowledgeable in the various aspects of both the art and business of contemporary acoustic music, can help you achieve your goals. In addition, our limited enrollment and small campus encourage community-building at its best with frequent and informal interaction between students and staff, all doing our utmost to ensure that you go home energized and empowered to make the most of your music. Choose from a wide variety of songwriting, performance, vocal and creativity classes which all stress supportive interaction among staff and students and individual attention to students’ needs. Each day’s schedule will address both artistic and commercial questions and concerns, while also providing time for sharing music on an informal basis, and social activities will include open mikes, concerts, song circles, and spontaneous music-making.  

Contemporary Folk Week runs concurrently with Guitar Week using the same schedule, so it’s easy to take classes in either program. Please note, however, that the Contemporary Folk Week open mikes are open only to those who have declared themselves to be Contemporary Folk Week students and are taking at least two classes in the Contemporary Folk Week program.