Reviews
The Folk Collection has
played to enthusiastic audiences at The World Theater Performing Arts Center on
the campus of California State University Monterey Bay; the venerable Freight &
Salvage Coffee House in Berkeley; public venues such as the City of Calimesa
Summer concert series; Fallbrook Americana Concert Series; Escondido, Oceanside and West Covina public libraries;
The Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena; and the Old Town Music Hall of El Segundo.
We’ve also entertained sold out rooms at such spots as Boulevard Music in Culver
City; Russ & Julie's Concert
Series in Oak Park; Bob Stane’s Coffee
Gallery Backstage in Altadena; Bean Town in Sierra Madre; the Noble House
Concerts in the San Fernando Valley; and at the very selective once-a-month show
at the Blue Ridge Pickin’ Parlor in Granada Hills. We have performed at fairs,
outdoor concerts, organizational fundraisers, high school and college reunions,
and private parties.
Sample quotes from venues we have played:
From Phil Esparza, WORLD THEATER, Cal
State University Monterey Bay
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full letter
"Your
show was upbeat, soulful and captured the true spirit of the 60’s and 70’s while
maintaining a freshness and contemporary feeling that made everyone feel good.
You brought a lump to my throat and touched the heart of our audience."
From Bob Stane, Coffee Gallery
Backstage
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full letter
"You and your audience will know they've gotten their money and their
evening's worth and that everyone will want to repeat the experience soon."
From Roslyn Templin, El Segundo
Public Library
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full letter
"I would not hesitate to recommend The Folk Collection to anyone who
has an appreciation of authentic folk music and variety entertainment."
From Cathy Cronin, Concerts at Wood
House in Woodland Park, San Marcos
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full letter
"The enthusiasm and enjoyment you displayed during your show was
infectious; everyone had a great time laughing at your stories and jokes,
listening and singing along."
From Chris Warber, California
Traditional Music Society
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full letter
"I can't recall any other performer that gets the audience involved as
much as you do."
From Candy Drake, Yucca Valley
Summer Music Festival
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full letter
"Every aspect of our collaboration from start to finish was highly
professional, as well as the band's presence on stage."
From Michele Gilmour, Channel
Islands Park "Concerts by the Sea"
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full letter
"Not only is your group comprised of gifted musicians, your are all,
truly wonderful entertainers."
From Brian Kendall, City of Las Vegas Office of Cultural
Affairs
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full letter
"The Folk Collection is entertaining and professional in every respect.
Without hesitation I would recommend you to other performing arts venues."
From Russ & Julie Paris, Russ & Julie's House Concerts
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full letter
"More than one attendee told us afterward that it was among the best
shows we've hosted and that they couldn't remember the last time they had so
much fun."
From Alexis Braun, City of Sierra Madre "Spectacular
Summer Sounds"
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full letter
"The Folk Collection was a great addition to our series. Residents and
concert enthusiasts gave The Folk Collection great praise... "
From Chris Warber, California Traditional Music Society
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full letter
"The Folk Collection has a standing invitation to return any time you
would like."
From Ken Petty, City of Arcadia Summer Concert Series
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full letter
"I personally enjoyed listening to your band perform. Plus, the
audience feedback we got was very positive..."
From Tim Day, San Diego Folk Heritage
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full letter
"Not only did you sell the place out, but we feel you were among the most
entertaining acts we have provided to our audiences in some time."
From Bill Fields, Old Town Music Hall, El Segundo
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letter
"Through a harmonic blend of voices and instruments, the entire performance was
nothing short of stunning."
From Walt Pyle, Event Coordinator, Calimesa Community Summer
"Concerts on the Green"
"Your professionalism and
stage presentation was appreciated by everyone in attendance. Your song
selections really reflected the 'Folk' era and everyone enjoyed the audience
participation numbers."
From Cynthia Smith, Escondido, CA Public Library 2006:
"This year we advertised their performance and word of their concert
spread. Our audience must have been awaiting their return. The June
attendance was a standing room only crowd which overflowed our 250 capacity
auditorium.
Once again, their show entertained young and old. It was fast paced, upbeat, and humorous, and the audience sang along with many old favorites. The show was so good, and our crowd so pleased, that during intermission I was asked by many attendees to book them again. At the beginning of the second set, I announced that I had invited The Folk Collection back for the third consecutive year. The crowd responded by enthusiastically cheering!
I strongly recommend The Folk Collection to other civic
organizations and presenters. You will not be disappointed and your
audiences will be delighted."
Link to full letter
From Barbara Greenspan, Noble House Concerts
"We had such an
overwhelming reservation response to our notice that The Folk Collection would
be playing our Noble House Concert, that we scheduled an earlier second show --
something I have never done before. The Folk Collection was one of the most
entertaining and crowd pleasing acts we have presented. The trio connected
immediately with the audience, which included young children, and brought them
all "into" their performance. Their humor and surprise last song -- a satire on
rap music -- was warmly received by adults and children. We are having them
back as soon as my "one-year" between shows rule is met."
From Cynthia Rosedale, Pasadena Senior Center Summer Concert Series
"The Folk Collection was the highlight of our 2005 season. The music was fun,
uplifting and familiar to the audience. They played to the attendees and
everyone's toes were tapping throughout the hour-long performance….It is with a
great deal of enthusiasm that I recommend The Folk Collection as a participant
in your program."
From Charles Kissinger of Bean Town Café, a terrific acoustic coffee house in
Sierra Madre, California:
"The Folk Collection played our coffee house and filled our room, plus
standing room. They played for three hours and truly entertained our audience,
who often sang along with them. In addition to the folks who were familiar with
The Folk Collection's 60s and 70s acoustic music, we had a lot of 20 something
walk-ins, who don’t usually pay attention to this sort of acoustic music -- and
most of them stayed and listened to the rest of the show. Our Saturday night
shows are very professional; we have artists from throughout the Country here on
Saturday nights. The Folk Collection's Saturday night show was as good as they
come. We look forward to having them back soon."
From Jay Tinsky, of Genghis Cohen in Los Angeles:
"The Folk Collection has played our showroom several times, including New Year's
Eve 2003-2004. They usually fill the house with patrons -- which helps our food
and beverage sales. Their shows are always lively, fun, solid, and full of good
harmony and song. They are a true folk act, harkening back to the '60's Peter
Paul and Mary era. And, as a bonus, they all wear Hawaiian shirts."
From Ric Griffith, of Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor in Granada Hills, California
(normally a bluegrass house, but, for us, a folk club!):
"[They] gave an outstanding performance at our concert. Their more than two hour
show was extremely entertaining and left the audience very satisfied…We have
been in business for thirty years, selling instruments, teaching all string
instruments, and hosting a once a month acoustic concert. We know what works
with our audiences, and The Folk Collection really worked. We will have them
back in the regular "cycle" and recommend them to other venues."
From Escondido, CA Public
Library 2005:
"Our audience loved the show and gave the group a standing ovation -- which was
an exceptional response. The Folk Collection's music, humor, and personality
engaged our citizens of all ages, from seniors to eight year-olds, and everyone
in-between. It was truly a fun and entertaining evening, and everyone left
smiling and humming! We highly recommend The Folk Collection to other
presenters."
From Brad Penner, Oceanside, CA Public
Library:
"Everyone enjoyed the warmth and humor of their favorite songs ... as well
as The Folk Collection's originals. A strong recommendation."