FestivaLink...Great live shows (legal)

[jjboone101]

With the recent departure of Bluegrassbox.com, I've been checking out the stuff on www.festivalink.net. #Some really great live performances from Grey Fox, Merlefest, etc. Particularly great is the John Cowan Band's version of "St. Anne's Reel" from MerleFest and Darrel Scott's set at MerleFest. My understanding is the artists directly share in the revenue generated, so no messy copyright issues...

Pretty easy to download the MP3s right to your iPod ITunes library. #No financial interest, etc., etc.

[cooper4205]

thanks for that. you can also find free live and legal shows at archive.org/audio. del mccoury, yonder mtn., drew emmit, old school freight train, leftove salmon and alot of other jam and bluegrass bands.

[Dave Gumbart]

I too have checked out Festival Link; having been to Grey Fox, I wanted to be sure to purchase a few sets. I did buy the Austin Lounge Lizards, and while the set was great fun and I like the tunes (excellent quality from FLAC files that are available), as I listened to it, I realized there were two songs missing from the set (maybe more?). Huh? Seems as though they could have kept them in - plenty of room on a cd for more. Or at least give people a heads up that it's not the whole thing. I do have another set from the festival pre-ordered, but I sure hope it's the full set from this artist. Still a good service, but why drop the tunes? Seemed kinda cheesy.

[jefflester]

Still a good service, but why drop the tunes?
Maybe an issue with cover songs?

[Dave Gumbart]

I did check the Lizards' web site, and one of the songs I noted was not on the live cd download is "Teenage Immigrant Welfare Mothers on Drugs." Their web site has the lyrics posted there, with a copyright to the Austin Lounge Lizards. Anyway, not a huge deal, but if a show is made available for sale (and I'm happy to support artists with my cash), I just thought it would be a fair heads up to note "not complete show" or something to that effect. Regardless, I will likely patronize Festivalink in the future as one source for indulging my music-listening jones.

[fiddlemeganb]

The way I understand festivalink, the artist gets to decide which parts of the show will be available. That would explain the missing songs. Perhaps the artist did not approve their release, either due to being unhappy with the performance or some similar issue. I am so glad this site is being discussed. Festivalink is doing a great job trying to put live music out there while still giving fair compensation for both artists and songwriters. I think they're really on the right track!