Eisteddfod 2012 Traditional Music Festival Honors Andy and Bill Spence

Eisteddfod, a festival of traditional folk/roots music, is giving the annual Eisteddfod award for dedication, inspiration, and service to the practice and dissemination of traditional folk music to Andy and Bill Spence.

Andy is best known as the founder and administrator of the Old Songs Festival in Altamont, New York, called "truly sublime" by Sing Out magazine. Andy and Bill were instrumental in founding Albany's Pick'n and Sing'n Gather'n. Bill, who plays multiple instruments, is best known as a virtuoso hammer dulcimer player. His bands and recordings played a major role in the revival of the hammer dulcimer.

The word "Eisteddfod" is Welsh, connoting a gathering of poets and musicians. It was adopted by Howard Glasser, the founder of this festival, when he began these gatherings of singers and musicians four decades ago.

The Folk Music Society of New York, Inc. / New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation, an affiliate of the Country Dance and Song Society of America. It is run by a volunteer Board of Directors, elected by the membership. It runs concerts, weekends, classes, singing parties, and get-togethers, all with an emphasis on traditional folk music of all flavors.

The office is located at 444 West 54th St, #7, New York, NY. Call (718) 672-6399 or visit the website for more information.