To the Editor:
Focus Alexandria is one of the many arts providers in Alexandria that fly under the radar screen. Since 2002, Focus Alexandria has been producing folk and acoustic music shows in the city. This coming Saturday night, Focus Alexandria will be presenting its 100th show, featuring John Flynn and Susan Greenbaum.
For the first 12 years in Alexandria, Focus Alexandria operated at the Church of the Resurrection. Since this past fall, we have been at the Church of St. Clement. Focusmusic is an independent nonprofit organization that operates three other venues in the D.C. metro area (in Falls Church, Mount Vernon and Rockville). Its vision is to provide affordable and accessible live folk and acoustic music every night of the week.
Alexandria used to be a center of such music, with The Tiffany Tavern and Cates hosting that kind of music and with the Birchmere, when it was located at 3901 Mount Vernon, regularly featuring it. The Birchmere is a great club, but when it expanded, it necessarily broadened the music it books, and folk and acoustic music no longer fills their schedule.
Focusmusic stepped in to fill that void and keep the historic role of Alexandria as a center for folk and acoustic music.
This Saturday's performers are among the best on the east coast. Susan Greenbaum's song Virginia the Home of my Heart was considered by the Virginia General Assembly to be the state song. This Richmond-based performer's music is receiving significant national airplay on Americana, folk and country stations. Wilmington (Del.)-based John Flynn’s songs call us together as they speak for the wounded, the weary, and the afflicted; for the prisoner, the soldier, and all the forgotten ones who walk unseen in our midst. He carries on the traditions of Pete Seeger and Phil Ochs.
The Alexandria City Council has been invited to share in this milestone and so far, Councilman John Chapman has positively RSVP'd. Join us at 7 p.m. to help us celebrate this milestone.Tickets and more information are at http://focusmusic.org/venue_alexandria.php.
Herb Cooper-Levy
Alexandria