I met with Art Menius through the portal we call Zoom, traveling to his porch in the vicinity of Durham, North Carolina. He leaned back comfortably into a weathered black rocking chair with a backdrop of white plank siding; sheers across the window hinted at a gentle breeze. I felt drawn to Art’s easy demeanor all the way from my cottage in Virginia, like I could sit on that stoop and listen all afternoon.

I’d come looking for an experienced opinion on how modern technology affects a tradition born of penniless hard work. Art served as the first Executive Director of the International Bluegrass Music Association. He was also the first president of Folk Alliance International, and recently re-joined the FAI board.

The spirit of the conversation was hospitable as a Southern stereotype – two neighbors on a front porch. I wish I could tell you we had lemonade or mint Juleps, or barbecue.

I got what I wanted.

AM: Trying to look at folk music as something as narrow as a musical genre or a radio format is really misleading, because we’re a broad, diverse ecosystem, a complete community: agents, managers, record companies, artists, music lovers; house concert presenters who aren’t in it for the money at all; the recording engineers, the music publishers…we are a community, and to me it’s always been about being part of this big tribe of people who are not drawn to one narrow genre of music but are drawn because of the breadth and because the people just seem to share certain values. I hate to in any way mimic Jason Aldean, but it is a certain kind of the best of small town values. Seeing people as individuals, accepting their diversity, accepting peculiarity; in fact it’s almost a granular level of acceptance of people as they come.

me: You mentioned using technology to preserve culture.

AM: Any time that there’s new technology, there’s a tremendous opportunity for those who love traditional culture, even for culture based in those traditions, because the people who adapt early to successful technology get a reach they wouldn’t get otherwise. Of course now the CD is making a comeback because the touring bands can’t get the vinyl pressed in time for their tours, so they have CDs to sell to their fans.

me: I know some people I follow say, “nobody buys CDs anymore.” But we’re all old guys! We need CDs to play in our cars! Everybody doesn’t have Sirius XM yet.

AM:…and a little uptick even with young people who are like, “Wow…these CD things are only like $15 and an album’s $30. So maybe I’ll just get this CD.”

me: So if it’s not for money, why are you doing it?

AM: I’m doing it to be part of this community. “I really like these crazy people. Maybe they’ll accept me being crazy, too.”

I think the values are deeply in dealing with folks one-on-one, with valuing personal relationships, with considering something more than a bottom line.

Get the full interview on the granular level here: Porch-Sittin’ with Art Menius.

Please enjoy this live interview on YouTube: FAR-West presents Radio Promoter Art Menius in conversation with musicologist Joel Tepp

debora Ewing writes, paints, and screams at the stars because the world is still screwed up. She improves what she can with music collaboration, peer review for Consilience Science-Based Poetry Journal, and book design at Igneus Press. Find her art and word everywhere, including Jerry Jazz Musician, Shot Glass Journal, Beyond Words Literary Magazine, Cholla Needles, and Dodging the Rain. Follow her on “X” and Instagram @DebsValidation, and into seedy pool halls but probably not dark alleys.