Bridger Folk Music Society
History

The Bridger Folk Music Society was born in the Spring of 1980. Three friends - Ron Goede, Sue Packer and Steve Nrny had observed that folk music was pretty scarce out here beyond the hundredth meridian. There were very few concerts or venues in the area, especially in Cache Valley, Utah. Also, there was a growing population of good musicians without the places and means to become acquainted and socialize.

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So the three decided to try hosting a concert to test the waters. Using mostly their own resources (read $$) they booked Bill Staines to give a concert at the Newman Center. They had a very modest turnout but Bill gave a great show and enough encouragement to maybe try it again. That show got the ball rolling in another sense as well - a few volunteers popped up, willing to help with the next show. They convinced Bonnie Carol to bring her incredible talent and mountain dulcimer over from Colorado. The crowd was bigger but still modest. By word of mouth the basic audience did seem to be growing. They brought in Bill Staines again, accompanied by Jerry Rau and they found that the Newman Center was actually a bit crowded. By this time local musicians were volunteering to staff promotion tables at the Utah State University Student Center. This was also the location for ticket sales. It seemed like the whole idea was going to work but now they realized they would need a venue with more seating. They worked out an arrangement with the Eccles Conference Center at Utah State University and the rest is history. The Eccles has hosted about 85% of the BFMS concerts and continues to be our main venue.

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Bonnie Carol returned in 1983 accompanied by Randy Kelley to a very respectable crowd at the Eccles followed that year by Banish Misfortune with their eclectic mix of folk, Irish and "Renaissance Jazz." They brought us our first 'sell-out' crowd. A lot had been learned in a few short years about how to promote and host musicians and we were well on our way as an organization. Since 1980 we have hosted in the neighborhood of 150 musicians and folk music acts including: Margaret MacArthur, John McCutcheon, Trapezoid, Carla Sciaky, Priscilla Herdman, Utah Phillips, Judith Edelman, Rosalie Sorrels, Doug Brown, Greg Brown, John Saxton, Chuck Pyle, Ramblin Jack Elliot, Peter Ostruschko, Martin Sexton, John McCuen, Sawyer Tom Hayden, Tom May, Woods Tea Company, Karen Savoca, Norman and Nancy Blake, Bryan Bowers, Cozy Sheridan, Chris Proctor, Bill Mize, Cow Daddies, Mick Maloney, Pat Donahue, Small Potatoes, Matt Flinner, Doug Wintch, Kate MacLeod, Kruger Brothers, Brooks Williams, Rani Arbo, Peter Mayer, et.al., et. al.

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Over time the BFMS has matured into an "umbrella" organization that serves as a central meeting place for any and all interests in folk music. A survey was conducted to determine the level of interest in folk music and musicianship in the valley. Using the results of the survey, we were able to put local musicians in touch with each other. From this contact, the twice-monthly acoustic jam sessions began. This association provided the opportunity for several of our local bands to form and coalesce. It also prompted an interest in improving skills and knowledge through workshops of all kinds - we've hosted workshops on mandolin, Celtic fiddling, autoharp, guitar, old timey fiddling, Cape Breton fiddling, etc. etc. We continue to promote local musicianship and interest through our coffehouse and house concert series and have recently absorbed the increasingly popular Contra Dance Series along with the Cache Valley Folk Dancers.

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