Mark Oblinger playing the cigar box slide guitar with Rebecca Folsom during the song "Girls Like Us." Folsom said this song is going to be the new song for the Girl Scouts of America's new campaign.
SWAN VALLEY – Rebecca Folsom and Mark Oblinger filled the Swan Valley Community Hall with their beautiful harmonies, talented wit and honest emotions Sunday, Sept. 23. Folsom's performance opened the 2018-2019 2 Valleys Stage concert series.
This was not Folsom's first appearance in the Seeley-Swan valley, having performed before with Celeste Krenz as the "Rhythm Angels."
Splitting her time between Colorado, Nashville, Tenn. and touring nationally, Folsom shared parts of her artistic journey as a singer, songwriter, poet and painter. The audience of nearly 60 listened as she shared about her accomplishments, self-given artistic challenges and learned the story behind the songs she sang.
Those in attendance climbed on a roller coaster of emotions as Folsom artistically captured life's ups and down. Her songs and poetry encouraged introspection as listeners explored their own thoughts, feelings and perceptions to find a greater sense of joy, love and happiness in their own world.
While some songs were meant to, as Folsom said, "change the world," others were light and caused the audience to erupt with laughter. Oblinger sang his song "This Elephant's Gerald," a song from his Grammy nominated children's album "Jumpin Jazz Kids." The audience tapped their toes to the catchy tune. Laughter ensued as they realized the play on words while singing the chorus, "The elephant's Gerald... sure can sing the blues."
Folsom closed the first half with "a messages from the dolphins to the human." The song came after she single handedly entertained 30 wild dolphins in Hawaii.
"Why worry when you can wonder" was the song she composed on the beach after her experience. She encouraged everyone to find things in their lives to wonder about, instead of worry.
"Open up your eyes and wonder," sang Folsom. "It is a choice we make between fear and being free. Come on and appreciate all the possibilities and wonder."
In addition to their performance, Folsom and Oblinger spent Monday and Tuesdays in Seeley Lake, Swan Valley and Potomac schools performing informances and music and writing workshops.
Reader Comments(0)