Murder Ballads: The Dark Side Of Folk

The New Los Angeles Folk Festival is celebrating Halloween with a Murder Ballads event, featuring some of L.A.”˜s most unique and striking folk acts. Frank Fairfield, Simon Stokes, Boy Scout Jamboree (Spindrift acoustic), Vaud & The Villains, Amanda Jo Williams with Olentangy John and Horse Thieves, Triple Chicken Foot, Driftwood Singers, RT N’ The 44”˜s, Julia Holter, Emily Lacy and Henry Wolfe will perform the killing songs that time won’t forget.  Murder ballads and songs of despair lie at the foundation of American folk music—right alongside gospel and patriotic songs. We are unique as humans, in that we are fascinated by our own transience and fantasies about demise. Simply consider the enjoyment of Halloween, with children running around disguised as demons and ghosts. Abraham Lincoln contended that we all possess the ’better angels of our nature’ somewhere deep down. In contrast, murder ballads give voice to our fears, our innate violence, and our terrible inclinations, while also capturing a period in history rife with these extremes. Join us in celebrating this accidental tradition. Presented by The New Los Angeles Folk Festival + The Echo