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Photos by Ana Gibert

Day 1 at Folk Alliance began like every other day since Folk Alliance began: the warmth of old friends and the frisson of new discoveries.

We started out in the long registration line, hugging old friends like Conqueroo publicist Cary Baker (“Publicity since 6:30 AM”) and fellow writers and photographers. Standing in line is not something anyone wants to get good at, so we treated ourselves to Commander’s Palace, the first of many fine meals in the city which defines outstanding dining. Bolstered by a bottle of Cakebread wine that photographer Ana Gibert had smuggled out of her native Napa Valley, we headed for Sheraton floors 8 through 12, where showcases nestled like oysters in the Gulf’s plentiful beds.

Ana Egge, Kirby Brown and Mariel Buckley performed in the round, changing up the mood s they passed the mic between songs. Egge’s consummate songwriting, Brown’s winning smile and Buckley’s lovely vocals kept us our ears at attention for the duration.

Old friends Hat Fitz and Cara, up from Down Under, have never sounded or looked better. Trading vocals and harmonizing on their well-written songs, Fitz’s resonator and Cara’s percussion filled the room. Can’t wait to see them in their showcase in a larger venue in the coming days.

France’s Muddy Gurdie, with a left-of-center lineup, turned out to be a pleasant surprise. With a lissome lead singer playing muscular guitar, this group plays North Mississippi blues as if they were born there—though the French accent on the lyrics is a giveaway—and they’ve brought back a vintage hurdy gurdy, something we don’t hear every day, even at Folk Alliance, where odd instruments aren’t odd. The room was in almost total darkness, but we’ll get a better look at another showcase, that’s one of the many advantages of Folk Alliance’s setup.

One wonderful new discovers was Ryan McMullan, a young Irishman with a full head of Irish sensibilities, and an evocative voice to get those feelings out to his audience. This guy’s going far.

The Mammals, of course, played to a packed room. With throbbing rhythms, fun lyrics and bandmembers who constantly mug for the audience, what’s not to love? One of the songs off their new album, about doing all the things we aren’t supposed to do (like going to bed really angry with your partner)…well let’s just see how that turns out.  I can’t wait to hear the album.