A folk band with big dreams

I was born in 1950 and grew up with Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Donovan. I also made music myself, playing guitar in a folk band. We were all in the same class at school and from time to time we were asked to play at children's parties and folk dances.

I remember this one time when we entered a music competition and we had to take a bus to get there. After the ride we needed to walk a mile or so from the bus stop out of town to get to the venue. It was a hot summer's day and, after trudging for what seemed like hours along the main road, we were horrified to see that all the other bands were getting ready to play - with their amplifiers, electric guitars, drums and microphones–they all looked so professional! And we just stood there with two folk guitars, maracas and a tambourine!

We were so disappointed and knew that we didn't stand a chance. If I would have had my way, I would have trudged back to the bus stop without having given a performance. But we went on stage and played unplugged - without microphones, amplifiers or electric guitars.

I can't even remember what is was we sang but I presume that it was something like "We shall not be moved" - trying to imitate Joan Baez. Or maybe it was Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind"? What I can remember is that it was the day that we realized our dreams of signing a recording contract would never became a reality.

Sent by: Christine from Germany
Edited by: Kerstin Boljahn

Blowin' in the Wind is the title of a popular folk song written in 1962 by Bob Dylan and released on the album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.
Joan Baez is a folk singer from the USA with a trademark soft soprano voice. She later began to blend folk with rock. She and Bob Dylan would also play together on stage.