Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
"LITTLE MEDICINES" were doled out in the music of Rebecca Folsom at the Rex Theatre, Saturday. Songs from her albums Little Medicine and Extraordinary Days were featured, and students from Thompson Falls High School were treated to a private performance and a Q&A session.
A vocal range of nearly four octaves is impressive, but add showmanship, harmonies, near-obsessive songwriting and adept guitar playing, and you've got quite a performance. Presented by the Sanders County Arts Council (SCAC), the contemporary country music of Rebecca Folsom hit the stage of the Rex Theatre in Thompson Falls on Saturday, bringing with her the above-mentioned tools of the trade and years of experience in the traveling singer/songwriter lifestyle.
Her latest two albums, "Extraordinary Days" and "Little Medicines," were created from a feverish year of songwriting that resulted in 52 finished pieces.
"I want these to be toe-tapping visions of hope," Folsom said of her shared works. "These songs are little medicines for the soul."
Accompanied on mandolin and guitar, Folsom and her acoustic guitar were highlighted by a down-home, festive stage set design arranged by SCAC board member and Clark Fork Valley Hospital head nurse Lisa Eberhardt. The harvest themed stage lent an appropriate setting to the country troubadour.
Despite the "contemporary country" label, her sound range spans traditional western to bluegrass. The simplicity of the delivery of lessons and stories in her songs could convince someone unfamiliar that Folsom might have been writing these songs over a hundred years ago in a small, sleepy southern town somewhere. But the honesty she taps from within and the voice that delivers her ideas is much more ornate than the simple truths laid out lyrically.
In addition to the Rex performance, Folsom and her duet partner visited Thompson Falls High School for some time with students.
"It was a great experience for the kids," said SCAC's Karen Thorson. "There was a question and answer session that went both ways – Rebecca wanted to know what the kids were listening to these days, and sought insight as to why those artists are inspiring to them and what messages they get from the music."
Folsom told of her experiences on the road and the highs and lows of the lifestyle. "She shared that she was all lined up to play Red Rocks music festival in Colorado but instead wound up playing to five people in Starbucks," said Thorson. "It was eye-opening for the students to hear it isn't always like they see in the media."
Folsom's two-set performance was the first in the Sanders County Arts Council's Tapestry series of performing arts events. This is the third performing arts season for SCAC, and the council reported seeing growing momentum.
"We are learning a lot from our evaluation cards given out at each performance," shared Thorson, who explained that attendees can take evaluation cards that also have a ticket number with a matching number. The audience fills out the feedback portion of the card, rating the performance. Their number goes into a drawing for various prizes as incentive for participation.
"SCAC uses the feedback given to help us know in what direction to go. Although we are in our third season, we are still trying to figure out the county and what they want to see come through," explained Thorson, who added that people are welcome to write on the back of the cards to suggest performers they'd like to see for future concerts.
Included in SCAC's momentum were additional season ticket sales Saturday evening and a 50/50 raffle where the winner donated their share right back to SCAC.
"We are off to a great start for the season and look forward to seeing everyone in Paradise for pianist Scott Kirby on October 28," Thorson said.
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