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Loud As Folk

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  • Events
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Loud As Folk was founded by Spike McGuire as a monthly songwriters showcase in Reno, NV, debuting on April 20th, 2011. Before long, the series was pulling punk-gone-folk crossovers like Kevin Seconds, Kepi Ghoulie, and Franz Nicolay (The Holdsteady), who all appeared at the 1 year anniversary. 

With the help of Six Mile Station bandmate John Underwood, McGuire expanded the showcase and set sail as a touring revue in October of 2014. Taking the show on the road created an avenue towards an incredibly talented network. Performances included notable acts like Ian Cook (Larry And His Flask), Yotam Ben Horin (Useless ID), and Forest Pooky; who traveled all the way from France to hit the American road with Loud As Folk.

During a run of shows in April 2016, Spike and his longtime friend Greg Gilmore began dreaming of their own recording studio. After returning home, the pair pooled their resources and set up shop in the basement of The Potentialist Workshop (Reno based arts collective). That December, their recordings nabbed 2 spots in the Reno Gazette Journal year-end top 20 songs list.

Through 2019 growth continued in all directions, including the launch of Loud As Folk Radio Hour on 97.7FM KWNK and the live showcase moving into seated theaters and performing arts centers like Valhalla Boathouse Theater (Lake Tahoe, CA) and Piper’s Opera House (Virginia City, NV). 

When the world came to a halt in 2020, McGuire and Gilmore (now LAF VP) refused to lose momentum. With venues closed worldwide it was the perfect time for the studio to shine. That September the Record Club was born.

Each month an artist is invited to record an exclusive session which is then made available to club members on CD, cassette, digital, and lathe cut clear vinyl. The first release was a 10 track compilation of songwriters from 4 states and 3 countries who had visited the studio over the years. 

In less than six months, Spike and Greg had recorded sessions by songwriters from coast to coast, including San Francisco’s The Sam Chase and Vic Ruggiero (The Slackers) from NYC. Each release is accompanied with an in-studio music video made available to the public.

As venues began to reopen in 2021 the team worked diligently to bring live music back to the world as safely as possible. Beginning with the 10 year anniversary at Crystal Bay Club in Lake Tahoe, NV and continued by producing the Musicale at The Maizie series for Brewery Arts Center in Carson City, NV.

In 2022 monthly Loud As Folk showcases can be found every first Thursday at The Nevada Museum Of Art in Reno, NV.

It is anybody's guess which direction the organization will expand in next, but it can be certain that the aim remains dedicated to presenting true songwriters in their purest form, whether it be in a live setting or on a recording.

Kevin Seconds, Spike McGuire, Kepi Ghoulie at the 1 year anniversary in 2012.

Kevin Seconds, Spike McGuire, Kepi Ghoulie at the 1 year anniversary in 2012.

John Underwood performing at The Arlene Francis Center in Santa Rosa, CA on tour with Loud As Folk in 2014.

John Underwood performing at The Arlene Francis Center in Santa Rosa, CA on tour with Loud As Folk in 2014.

Greg Gilmore on tour with Loud As Folk in 2016. The bar special was catfish fry and $1 wine. A good time was had by all.

Greg Gilmore on tour with Loud As Folk in 2016. The bar special was catfish fry and $1 wine. A good time was had by all.

What the press has said:

Tahoe Weekly

Loud as Folk Record Club: Keeping the Dream Alive 
By Sean McAlindin click here for original article

Ten years ago, Spike McGuire was looking for a way to bring artists and audiences together when he founded the Loud as…

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Carson Now

Album Review: Gardnerville-native Bryan Jones releases new album 'Loud As Folk Vol. 5: Buffalo Moses'
By Alex Alcantar
 click here for original article

“Now it’s your old friend, Buffalo Moses, playing songs that I know...” 

Early on in…

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Tahoe Onstage

We’re back, folks: Live music returns to Crystal Bay
By Tim Parsons click here for original article

The first show will feature artists local audiences will know. Loud As Folk began in Spring 2011. It’s a monthly singer-songwriter showcase…

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This Is Reno

The Loud As Folk Record Club is here
By Nick McCabe click here for original article

Loud As Folk has been making its mark on our musical community since 2011 when it was founded by local singer songwriter Spike…

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Sierra Nevada Ally

Loud As Folk Record Club launches today
By Ally Graviana click here for original article

Downstairs in the Reno multidisciplinary art collective the Potentialist Workshop—underneath a theater, an art gallery, and an artist workshop—is the Loud As Folk studio…

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Everything Elko

Loud As Folk
By Eric Brooks click here for original article

Every so often something comes into your peripheral, slides closer to center, then consumes you. The first time I heard of Loud As Folk was reading through the…

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Tahoe Onstage

Reno’s Loud as Folk makes a huge splash at Valhalla Tahoe
By Tony Contini 
click here for original article

The monthly artist showcase known as Loud As Folk has been bursting the seams of its Reno home for years…

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Tahoe Onstage

Tony Contini from Tahoe Onstage chronicled our 4 day festivity celebrating 8 years of Loud As Folk's monthly showcase. Check out the articles by following the links below. 

 

LINK>> Spring has sprung: It’s Loud As Folk at…

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Tahoe Onstage

Tony Contini from Tahoe Onstage had some very kind things to say after the 4 days of festivities we threw to celebrate 7 years of Loud As Folk. Check out the articles by following the links below.

LINK>> …

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Award - Reno Gazette Journal

LAF Recordings Takes #9 in Year End Top 20 
click here for original article 

#9 Greg Gilmore - Who Am !? 
"With an acoustic guitar-picking arrangement tastefully augmented by haunting violin and cello, and a voice quavering like Jack…

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Award - Reno Gazette Journal

LAF Recordings Take #6 and #17 in Year End Top 20
click here for original article

#6 Rigorous Proof - AK-47 
"Rigorous Proof recorded this catchy, grooving, prog-rock number for the newly launched Loud As Folk Records in Reno…

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Reno Gazette Journal

Reno Music Beat: Loud As Folk Records nabs airplay for local artists
by Mike Sion click here for original article

Loud As Folk Records was not strategically plotted out as a record label. There was no detailed business plan, crowdsourcing campaign or funding pitch made to angel investors. Like so many of the artistic ventures incubating among the restless young creatives in the Biggest Little City, Loud As Folk Records came about organically. Even spontaneously. 

But the little startup endeavor — organized this year by local musicians Spike McGuire and Greg Gilmore after they got home from a regional tour by van — already is building a buzz. 
 

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