Go Folk Yourselves!
Go Folk Yourselves is a music community/event started by MA local musician Chris Lawless. Lawless is best known around Fitchburg for his former band SeX-Wing Starfighter, a punk band whose songs were strictly about Star Wars. Since the split from the band, Lawless has been very busy. His newest musical project, They’re Everywh-, recently opened for the Brooklyn “do it yourself” punk rockers Bomb The Music Industry! at Fitchburg State University. But if you were unable to make it out to see them at the BTMI show, They’re Everywh- performs at every single Go Folk Yourselves event.
Go Folk Yourselves is a guerrilla-esque show where Lawless and friends set up a “stage” out of the trunk of his mother’s minivan, draped in Christmas lights. Usually set up in a parking lot such as the Fitchburg State Civic Center, the shows are easily accessible to students and locals alike. Musicians such as Alex Szymcik (Tag Along), Dilila McDonagh, Evan DeLuca, Corey St Jean (Ambulance), Brian Dickens and of course Lawless himself can be seen play acoustic guitar on any folking night.
The folkings have an open mic style format with performances that include both originals and covers of such favorites as Andrew Jackson Jihad, The Front Bottoms, Johnny Hobo and plenty more. One thing you will always find at a folking is heart filled sing-a-longs. The group battled the bitter cold for the first few outings, making it almost impossible to strum a guitar with frozen fingers. Lawless’ solution? He moved the last couple to a 24 hour Laundromat. “The one catch is everyone has to do laundry”, says Lawless.
Most folkings have been in or around Fitchburg, but that doesn’t mean Lawless doesn’t want it to expand. He encourages others to make their own folkings, or similar concepts. He also has new ideas to keep it interesting, which include folking while riding the T in Boston all night.
Although only a handful of “Folkings” have happened thus far, if you ask Lawless when the next one is his answer will probably be “soon”. For fans of the folkings, hopefully Lawless’ words reign true. You can find more information about the events and They’re Everywh- on Lawless’ record label’ Facebook page, Raisin Toast Records- HERE
Go write on the Facebook wall and annoy Chris Lawless to do more and more folkings for the sake of all that is original, quirky and acoustic!
About the Author
Dave Mandaglio Dave is a college senior at Fitchburg State and an avid gamer. With a love for local and glocal music, Dave is co-creator and host of WXPL’s The Local Flavor. Born and raised on the Jersey shore, Dave proves there is more to The Garden State than bad smells and Snooki.
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