[dar-list] Who's the New Dar?

[Jim Gottlieb]

This is a question based on a discussion held at the post Falcon Ridge dinner last year.  Someone mentioned that the number of volunteers at Falcon Ridge had been much less than in previous years, and I wondered if that might be because there are fewer young people (who would be more likely to volunteer due to a lack of funds) attracted to the festival.

When I started attending Falcon Ridge in 1997, people like Dar and The Nields had huge teenage followings.  But now that they (and their fans) have aged and are raising families, I don't think today's kids can really relate to them as they once did.  The lack of traffic on this list, I think, further proves the lack of Dar Williams enthusiasm bubbling these days.  Heck, even Ani is married now!

And I don't see anyone of that stature taking Dar's place.  There are many young folk artists that I think are really talented, but I'm not sure any of them are at Dar's level in terms of attracting huge crowds.

Am I wrong?  I hope so.  Who is out there in the folk world right now who can attract a thousand teenagers to a festival the way Dar once did and inspire the same kind of fanaticism?
--
Jim Gottlieb
http://TokyoJim.com/