In every community, there are devoted people behind the scenes helping to make the folk music scene vibrant, thriving by keeping the wheels rolling. Whether it's a longtime volunteer at a folk club or house concert series, a festival or venue director, a local folk radio host, or a writer who reviews CDs or concerts - one common thread is that these people love the music. They are passionate about serving artists and fans and making sure the folk scene in their community is strong and active.

We chose the name Folk Spokes from listener submissions for Folk Alley's new feature because spokes support wheels while connecting an unbroken circle of the best of musical traditions. Folk Spokes is an opportunity for you to nominate the unsung individuals (or spokes) in your community and to give them a well-deserved moment in the spotlight.

Matt Smith

Many people recognize the name Club Passim and know that the Cambridge venue has been the heart of folk and acoustic music for decades. Perhaps not as many know the name Matt Smith, Club Passim's Manager. Often the first to arrive for shows (for sound check) and the last to leave (to lock up) in between Matt oversees ticket sales, laughs with patrons, encourages volunteers and sits invisibly in a dark corner running sound during the performance.

He is an easy guy to like. He's funny, personable, laughs all-the-time, is irreverent and supportive at the same time, and sports a roster of buddies that includes legendary and well loved songwriters from around the globe. More than being fun to hang around with, though, Matt may well be the most influential person in the folk and acoustic music realm. Certainly that is true for the northeast where Matt is the driving force behind the Cutting Edge of the Campfire festivals which are designed to provide emerging and edgy artists a showcase they otherwise would have a hard time finding.

Nominated By: Vera Scott from Massachusetts

Comments