AFTM • P.O. Box 49608 • Austin, TX 78765
AFTM • P.O. Box 49608 • Austin, TX 78765
Second Sunday of every month at Artz Ribhouse. The member meeting is held from 12:30 pm until 2 pm, conveniently timed to precede the 2-5pm jam session.
at Ruta Maya (more info) on every 4th Saturday of the month.
Featuring Big Jug Band, Rattletree Marimba and 1001 Nights
Austin Friends of Traditional Music is sponsoring a 3-act kalimba showcase at Ruta Maya from 7 to 10 p.m.
Austin Friends of Traditional Music (AFTM) has its origins in the autumn of 1974 when a group of musicians gathered in an Austin living room with a special purpose in mind: to produce a traditional music convention with competition for pickers and singers. By November of that year, the first convention was held. It was financed on a shoestring budget and the only publicity was free publicity. And its producers wondered if there would be enough interest for the convention to last until noon. But by midnight, their fears had dissolved. Living room pickers from all over the area attended, competed, and got to know each other and AFTM was on its way.
AFTM is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to traditional music. We present 2 yearly music festivals highlighting the central Texas music community and featuring local, national, and international folk musicians. Our Mid-Winter Festival is held in late January and features 12 local traditional bands in 12 hours. The festival also promotes designating the month of January in Austin as Folk Music and Dance Month in conjunction with the national and international observance. The Austin String Band Festival is in the Fall and is an old-time and bluegrass centered event with the purpose of passing along traditional music to the next generation of enthusiastic musicians. We also host house concerts, jam sessions, and dances. AFTM serves as an educational and informative resource through its newsletter, web page, and local musician's registry.
We are now emailing the newsletter in .pdf format to those that had rather have the newsletter emailed than delivered by U.S. mail. If you want to participate, please sign-up below.
Our latest newsletter for September 2009, has been sent out and the pdf version can be found at Reel Times Index.
Dueling Banjos - Old-Time Music: Better Than It Sounds
--Austin Chronicle, March 20, 2007.
Picture by Todd V. Wolfson.
Used by permission by Mark Rubin and Austin Chronicle
Membership is open to everyone. New and involved members, volunteers, and willing helpers are the lifeblood of the organization. In order to carry out its goals, AFTM needs the support of interested persons, organizations, and businesses through tax-deductible donations. We invite you to join us, to participate, and to give of your time, energy, and resources in the important task of bringing and supporting traditional / folk music and dance in the Austin community. Join us!
For information about current activities and memberships you can join the yahoo groups to get updated event information or ask questions of other members. If you have questions about membership or upcoming events you can call (512) 476-3991.
This list is for members of the Austin Friends of Traditional Music, to facilitate informal discussion. Anyone may join the list. Messages are not moderated, and are distributed directly to the list members. However, only members of the list may post messages.
To subscribe, send a message to aftm-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or go to the yahoogroup's home page at http://groups.yahoo.com/.
You can email the board at board_at_aftm.us with your concerns, or if you want general information about our organization, you can email us at info_at_aftm.us or call 512.476.3991.