Now that my show is syndicated and has more of an international audience, I think a lot about how I can better represent a greater diversity of musical styles and voices (like expanding to include non-binary artists) and still continue to weave in Minnesota talent to give them a wider audience. I contacted the volunteer coordinator before I even moved into my apartment and was volunteering in the music library less than a month later.ĬR: What are some ways the Womenfolk project has evolved over the years?ĮS: I like to think I’ve gotten more creative and more intentional. I already knew about KFAI and the other great public radio in town, and it was one of many musical reasons I decided to move here. I’d done a women’s folk music show at WOBC when I was a student at Oberlin College, and it was one of my favorite things-an extension of what I had done my whole life, making mixtapes for friends and sharing music I thought they’d like. It feels like yesterday that I moved to Minneapolis, fresh out of college and looking for ways to connect to the Twin Cities music scene. The 20th anniversary concert at Parkway Theater in Minneapolis will feature an impressive lineup of regional acts that Womenfolk has showcased over the years.Īhead of this exciting event, we asked Ellen Stanley (who also performs under the name Mother Banjo) to tell us about her long-running show and the stellar roster of artists booked for the celebration show.Ĭarol Roth: 20 years! How does it feel to be approaching that milestone for Womenfolk?Įllen Stanley: Surprising! Can’t believe it’s already been 20 years. It’s deeply rooted in the local music scene but also features national and internationally known artists. Stanley also hosts a monthly Womenfolk concert at the 331 Club.Īs the name suggests, the show focuses on folk and acoustic music from women artists, including Americana, blues, bluegrass, country, singer-songwriter and roots music from all over the world. In addition to airing on KFAI every Wednesday 8 to 10 am, the show is syndicated and also available online for on-demand listening. 20, local musician, promoter, radio DJ and podcaster Ellen Stanley will celebrate her 20th anniversary of hosting Womenfolk, a radio show originally created for KFAI Community Radio in Minneapolis. ![]() Regardless, it doesn’t change who I am or what my Americana community continues to mean to me.On Sunday, Nov. I just want folks to know this wasn’t my decision. “While I’m incredibly flattered to be considered “pop” as a 40-year-old crooning lesbian mother, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit surprised and disappointed to learn the Recording Academy decided to move “Right On Time” out of the American Roots genre and into the pop category.īeing recognized by the Grammys - in any form - is a great honor. I cut every song live with acoustic guitars, vintage electrics plugged into old fender amps, beautifully aged pianos and with my foghorn vocals bleeding into every mic. “I am very proud to be the Americana Association’s Artist of the Year two years in a row and to have debuted at number one on the Billboard Americana chart! It was an honor to have made my album at the same place I made my last one….and with all the same folks! Same producers and band. Every rung I can sling my gay sequined boot up on top of gets queer people a little higher on the ladder to being seen as just a bit more human in the great American roots landscape I feel great responsibility in representing marginalized queer people in rural America who are raised on country and roots music but are repeatedly and systematically rejected by the correlating culture. There is not a moment where I don’t view my role as something larger. “The importance of staying and working within Americana is greater than just me. ![]() I am also proud that it represents a great number of people actively WORKING to platform marginalized people – LGBTQIA, women, and people of color (who, of course, actually built the genre). “It represents my community, my family, my friends and my beautiful island of misfits. “Americana/American Roots music is more than a genre to me,” Carlile posted on Instagram.
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