Loud as Folk
Loud As Folk was founded by Spike McGuire as a monthly songwriters showcase in Reno, NV, debuting on April 20th, 2011. Before long, the series was pulling punk-gone-folk crossovers like Kevin Seconds, Kepi Ghoulie, and Franz Nicolay (The Holdsteady), who all appeared at the 1-year anniversary.
With the help of Six Mile Station bandmate John Underwood, McGuire expanded the showcase and set sail as a touring revue in October of 2014. Taking the show on the road created an avenue towards an incredibly talented network. Performances included notable acts like Ian Cook (Larry And His Flask), Yotam Ben Horin (Useless ID), and Forest Pooky; who traveled all the way from France to hit the American road with Loud As Folk.
During a run of shows in April 2016, Spike and his longtime friend Greg Gilmore began dreaming of their own recording studio. After returning home, the pair pooled their resources and set up shop in the basement of The Potentialist Workshop (Reno based arts collective). That December, their recordings nabbed 2 spots in the Reno Gazette Journal year-end top 20 songs list.
Through 2019 growth continued in all directions, including the launch of Loud As Folk Radio Hour on 97.7FM KWNK and the live showcase moving into seated theaters and performing arts centers like Valhalla Boathouse Theater (Lake Tahoe, CA) and Piper’s Opera House (Virginia City, NV).
When the world came to a halt in 2020, McGuire and Gilmore (now LAF VP) refused to lose momentum. With venues closed worldwide it was the perfect time for the studio to shine. That September the Record Club was born.
Each month an artist is invited to record an exclusive session which is then made available to club members on CD, cassette, digital, and lathe cut clear vinyl. The first release was a 10 track compilation of songwriters from 4 states and 3 countries who had visited the studio over the years.
In less than six months, Spike and Greg had recorded sessions by songwriters from coast to coast, including San Francisco’s The Sam Chase and Vic Ruggiero (The Slackers) from NYC. Each release was accompanied with an in-studio music video made available to the public.
As venues began to reopen in 2021 the team worked diligently to bring live music back to the world as safely as possible. Beginning with the 10 year anniversary at Crystal Bay Club in Lake Tahoe, NV.
After 24 monthly releases and live performances back in full swing, the Record Club came to a close in October 2022 and the focus returned to in-person gatherings. Loud As Folk's monthly showcase can be found every first Thursday at The Nevada Museum Of Art in Reno, NV.
It is anybody's guess which direction the organization will expand in next, but it can be certain that the aim remains dedicated to presenting true songwriters in their purest form, whether it be in a live setting or on a recording.
Cuttingly self-exploring, delivered with emotionality, and with just the right pop Americana sensibilities, Here I Am is Alice Wallace’s most expansive album yet. For fans of songwriters who turn personal heartbreak into musical gold and for anyone who loves a powerful, full-ranged, expressive voice, Here I Am is not to be missed
