Press Release for ConChord 2009

As seen and heard on National Public Radio and YouTube: ConChord is returning to
Southern California, once again bringing with it a whole new angle on popular
folk music. ConChord is the premier Southern California festival event for fans
of ‘filk’ music. And what is filk, you ask? Filk has been referred to as
“folk music with an emphasis on themes of science fiction, fantasy, horror,
and high technology”. Others have described it as “the folk music of science
fiction fandom”, as many filk fans fit that definition. Still others are
simply music fans looking for a new twist on an old art form. Acoustic guitars
and high-tech lyrics.

Whatever their reasons for coming, filk fans will be gathering Friday, September
11th through Sunday, September 13th at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland
Hills (21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367). The three-day festival
will include various concert performances, open mic’s, and open song circles;
a dealers’ room for selling CDs and other items of fannish interest;
children’s activities; songwriting workshops; poetry readings and
storytelling; and the unique event known as The Totally Tacky and Tasteless
Review. Trust us; you’ll have to see it to understand it. And even then…

Special Guests for the 2009 ConChord include Carla Ulbrich and Joe Giacoio, two
skilled performers with many CD’s to their credit and songs about such diverse
topics as nasty health conditions (and their scary cures!), young geniuses,
post-apocalyptic nostalgia, and the existential crisis’s of super-heroes.
Renowned east-coast filk-singer and “musical philosopher” Gary McGath will
make a rare trip across the continent to join us. And local favorite Barry Gold
�"known for setting to music the words of many writers, including his wife Lee
�" will act as our Toastmaster. Many other performers will also take the stage,
and up-and-coming performers will have an opportunity to showcase their work in
one-shot and two-shot open mic concerts.

Tickets for the three-day event are $45.00 at the door. Daily admission is
available for $20.00. All admissions include a copy of the newest ConChord
songbook.

For more information regarding ConChord, visit our web site at www.conchord.org.
Or, write us care of: Zen Nine Productions, P.O. Box 61172, Pasadena, CA, 91116.

For more information regarding filk music, visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filk
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4967052
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxzU1dhdSB8