Our GA-uests!- Filk Programming

Barry and Sally Childs-Helton

Guests of Honor, Barry & Sally Childs-Helton 
The Childs-Heltons have been a moving force of nature in the filk community for nearly two decades. Nominated for nine Pegusus Awards, they have won twice in the category of Best Performer; in 1988 playing together as a duo, and in 1994 with the legendary Black Book Band. They have two cds, Paradox and Escape from Mundania, and a third — First Contact — with BBB. For the past several years they've been making amazing music with keyboardist Debbie Gates and harper Jennifer Midkiff in the band Wild Mercy.

Sally is the consumate percussionist, excelling at most instruments that can be creatively whacked, thumped, smacked, cracked, and doinged. But, more than a brilliant accompanist to any song, she's also a talented lyricist. Barry is an amazing guitarist with licks and chord progressions that make most of the pluckers in filk shake their heads in awe. "Awwwww...how does he do that?!") His rich and resonant bari-bass voice sings from the center of his heart. Sometimes that's a silly heart — just ask him what it takes to be a pirate, or a chicken on a raft, or a traveler going down the cosmic drain.

We're all in luck because Barry's song cycle Dream of a Far Light, after nearly 30 years of work, is finally finished and recorded. We can almost guarantee that you'll be hearing some of it at GAFilk. We're grateful to have them come all the way from Indianaland to share their music, stories, poetry, and insight with us.

 

 
Toastmaster, Larry Kirby
Larry Kirby has been bringing smiles to his listeners for ages now. Larry began writing song parodies in the mid sixties and got into filking when he ordered Quarks and Quests through an sf slick in the mid 80's. ("Damn," he cried, "this is just what I do! People like me...I must find them!") Make no bones about it, Larry is a "Good ol' boy" who enjoys picking his guitar and singing uproarious songs from a wide repertoire of subject matters. His musical inspirations include Homer and Jethro, Mad Magazine, Tom Lerher, the Fish, and the Wulf. He believes that no one should be allowed to make another Highlander movie until they listen to Mac Carson's "Brother Michael's Song." He has a talent for making fen feel at ease, and we're happy to have him helping us this year.

Larry and his beloved Deborah live way out in the country near St. Matthews, South Carolina where, much to the consternation of local hunters, their small piece of land is a registered National Wildlife Habitat. The Larry and Deborah host the occasional housefilk, with the promise of crash space to anyone willing to make the long trip. "I like very much listening to new filkers," says Larry, "and I support Teri's buckyball filks whenever possible. I have met some really good people through filking and hope to meet many more in the future."

Larry does a lot of writing while working swing shift at a chemical plant for the last 32 years — for some reason his late night chortling and scribbling at work tends to make some folks...nervous.

<Larry Kirby
Our Interfilk Guest, Harold Feld, Harold Feld has been a mainstay of the Northeast Filk Community, writing, singing, sharing and promoting filk and filk conventions. He brings a treasure of filk with him. He's also a very talented story-teller, and we hope to enjoy sitting around while Uncle Harold spins us a tale or several.

Harold Feld

Plus our SUPER SECRET GA-UEST!  Once again, GAFilk will be bringing in another special surprise guest. This is someone who has contributed in a mighty way to the sf/fantasy world, who loves the filk community, and who rarely gets an opportunity to attend a convention without the pressures heaped upon "pros". We want to give this person the opportunity to simply enjoy the convention and have a good time.

  • This Year's Super Secret GA-uest
  • Previous Super Secret GA-uests....
  • GAFilk GA-uest History
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