It’s good to challenge yourself. Put yourself into various situations that may cause fear: jump off a high dive into a pool without holding your nose, eat some Ethiopian food, go skydiving or put your cooking skills to the test and try to make a Baked Alaska. Or perhaps you can channel your inner Woody Guthrie and bringing out that folk musician who lives somewhere inside of you.
All are attainable – especially the latter at the once a month open folk jam that take place at the Durango Public Library. It’s an open invitation to anyone, listener or player. Whether you’re an aspiring or seasoned musician, it’s a chance to bang out some folk tunes and share them in front of a like-minded audience.
If you go
WHAT: Open Folk Jam for any willing musicians.
WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.
TICKETS: Free.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit https://tinyurl.com/ytb7w38f.
Organized by local folk music lover Dennis Lum, the next folk jam will take place Saturday at the library.
Hosting these low-key concerts is something Lum has had on his to-do list for years.
“I’ve been playing folk music for almost 70 years. So, the impetus for this was that I’m getting old, and when I turned 80 last February, I decided I need to step out of my comfort zone,” he said. “I hadn’t played in front of an audience or with other people for over 50-some years, and I’ve been thinking about doing this for a long time. I consider myself a facilitator for folk music.”
These open, musical sessions are many different things.
For some, they’re an educational session that turns music lovers onto the wealth of folk tunes that have kicked around the pop culture, musical canon for decades.
“I wanted to show the younger generation how much fun it could be. You don’t have to play really well. You don’t have to play at all; you can just sing along,” Lum said. “And that’s what folk music to me has always been.”
For others, Lum included, it’s a kick in the tail to get out in public and play some music, share your talents and show other musicians and music fans what you know about the folk canon – from past names of Dylan, Guthrie and Seeger, and perhaps current names like Otis Gibbs or the recently passed Todd Snider. It’s an impetus to improve your own musical skills.
“It’s forced me to be a little better. I’ve learned several chords to a lot of songs, and I’m a great strummer. I’m a terrible picker,” Lum said. “But you know, it doesn’t matter. Your skill level isn’t that important. What’s important is you’re coming here and you’re putting it out there.”
Putting it out there you are. And you’re doing so in a scene where talent isn’t judged, there’s no price of admission that makes you expect your money’s worth, and everyone realizes that all musicians have to start somewhere.
“It doesn’t matter what level you’re at. In fact, this is a really safe place because everybody that comes knows that this is a place where we can come and we can just do our song, no matter how good or bad we are,” Lum said. “And actually, there has never been a bad performance. I mean, most of the people are pretty darn good. It makes me jealous.”
Lastly, it’s a showcase of community. Music is bonding; no matter what side of the fence you choose to stand on, we all can find some common ground through a love of music. While these sessions will educate, entertain and improve your own musical skills, they’ll also bring you a bit closer to your friends and neighbors.
“I believe music brings people together,” Lum said. “That’s what we need right now, is bringing people together.”
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. Reach him at liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.
