Mennofolk come from all over

Photo by Jon Styer

Two musicians of Mennofolk take turns playing at the Common Grounds.

Mennofolk musicians Alex Albright, Andru Bemis, Louis Ledford, and Rachel Ries brought their musical talents to Common Grounds Tuesday night, playing music that comes out of their Mennonite experience.

Mennofolk is a volunteer-driven movement that seeks to honor the influence of folk music in the Mennonite church and to give a voice to today's Mennonite folk musicians. Or as Louis Ledford and Andru Bemis put it, it's "a loose collection of artists and musicians who happen to be associated with the Mennonite church or a Mennonite community or come from a Mennonite background. Basically, it's music that grows out of the Mennonite experience, whatever that might be."

The purpose of Mennofolk is to raise the profile of Mennonite musicians and songwriters and to provide a supportive venue for them to perform their music. It's focused on folk music, but the genre is considered very broad.

According to the press release, "We are interested in bringing to the fore whatever forms of musical expression are coming out of people's everyday experiences in today's myriad and diverse communities."

Ledford pointed out that most Mennofolk musicians come from all over the country and usually get involved after hearing about it from a friend and going from there. Ledford and Ries are from Chicago; Bemis is from Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Albright is from Harrisonburg.

For some of the Mennofolk musicians, performing with the group is their full-time job, even though the pay is minimal.

"I don't make much money," said Bemis, "But I don't spend much either."

Ledford and Bemis have performed in Michigan, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Alabama. Columbus and Albuquerque are next on their list.

For more information on Mennofolk or to find out about their next appearances, go to their website at www.mennofolk.org.