Every year in Tucson, we have this lovely thing called the folk festival, in which local artists show off their work. One artist, in particular, Tim Wiedenkeller, gathered love and support from the community with his songs that remember the old days of the Old Pueblo. 

Check it out! 

Go trout fishing at folk festival  KELLY LEWIS

calendarplus@tucsoncitizen.com

A two-day event filled with stuff for the whole family, the 22nd annual Tucson Folk Festival is helping keep alive the spirit of storytelling that helps define the genre.

From workshops that focus on some of Arizona's stories and songs to craft booths and five stages of music, the festival provides the opportunity for attendees to learn something new and have a little bit of fun.

It seems fitting then, that Trout Fishing in America, a two-man band known for grabbing attention with silly but informative songs, should serve as one of the headliners at this weekend's event.

"It would drive us crazy if we had to do one thing all the time," bassist Keith Grimwood says in a phone interview from his home in Arkansas. "We play shows for kids, shows for adults, family concerts and everything in between."

Together for more than 30 years, Grimwood and guitarist Ezra Idlet are known for their eclectic range of songs that cover such wacky topics as nose-picking and the dreads of bed-head.

"People ask me a lot of times, 'What's the difference between a kids' show and an adults' show?' Grimwood says. "My quick answer is, 'No love songs at the kids' show.' Kids hate that kissy stuff."

For those who want to experience the difference for themselves, Trout Fishing in America will play two shows at the festival - one in the afternoon for children and one in the evening for adults.

"I think the evening show will rock a little harder with more soloing, love songs and stuff like that," Grimwood says. "If you see both shows, you can tell me the difference."

When they aren't self-producing albums from their own label (Trout Records), or attending the Grammys for the three nominations they have received, Grimwood and Idlet are teaching songwriting workshops at local schools around the country.

"It's surprisingly educational because creativity is so important in every aspect of our lives," Grimwood says. "People ask at first, 'How will you get the kids to respond and participate?' Well, we did two songwriting workshops and I said, 'How do you turn them off?' "

With a sound that appeals to a wide variety of people, it's no surprise that Grimwood says his band has seen its audience expand with each decade.

"A lot of shows we are doing these days are family concerts where everyone shows up together," Grimwood says. "I look out there in the audience and I see three, four generations of families out there who are enjoying our music. They may be there for different reasons, but they're all doing something together and it's really cool."

In its first time performing at the Tucson Folk Festival, Trout Fishing in America will play from 1-2:15 p.m. Sunday for the children's show, then hit the stage at 8 for the adult show.

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Cactus refrain will stick with listeners

KELLY LEWIS

calendarplus@tucsoncitizen.com

Local group the Tim Wiedenkeller Band will perform and provide an early release of its single "The New Old Pueblo" at the Tucson Folk Festival this weekend.

Filled with nostalgia for some of the traditions of Tucson's past, the song addresses cultural changes that the Old Pueblo has undergone, singer-songwriter Tim Wiedenkeller says.

"This is one of my most widely requested songs," the banjo player says. "It seems to resonate deeply with longtime Tucsonans especially."

Heartfelt and catchy, the song was created out of a trip he took to southern Arizona 10 years ago.

"A friend of mine threw a party with various Tucson musicians," Wiedenkeller says. "The Ronstadt family came and brought prickly pear cactus, or nopal. We peeled spines and told stories (while) getting to know each other, and it struck me as a privilege to be in a part of the country where they harvest different foods."

A few years later, Wiedenkeller moved to Tucson and began harvesting a patch of prickly pear and started juicing tunas, the fruit that grows on the cactus.

"Quickly I realized no one that I knew knew what nopal or tunas were, and it struck me as tragic in witnessing another culture or tradition falling by the wayside," he says.

"So, I wrote a song about the traditions of Tucson but I didn't want it to be depressing, so its hook is catchy."

The hook, which says, "We no peel nopal no mo' " serves as a cultural reminder of Tucson's past.

"It's interesting, when I perform it for an audience," he says. "The locals are all crying and giggling, and the people that aren't locals are just giggling because they don't remember."

Wiedenkeller will perform at 8:30 Saturday night. So bring your family - and maybe a box of tissues.