Basic Folk Podcast: Betsy Siggins

Betsy Siggins is a folk boss in charge, and we’re beyond honored to welcome her as a guest on Basic Folk. Siggins has been an integral part of the folk music world since the late 1950’s when she and her roommate, Joan Baez, starting hanging around the Cambridge scene at Club 47. She worked at the famous folk club until it closed in the 1960’s. After that, she worked with The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and also paved the way for homeless shelters catering to AIDs patients in New York City. In 1997, she returned to Boston to serve as Executive Director at Club Passim (formerly Club 47) for 12 years. Currently, Betsy works on The New England Folk Archives/Folk New England and is working on her memoirs that are bound to be packed with priceless stories about folk legends like Baez, Bob Dylan, Jim Kweskin, James Taylor and many more.

In the podcast, we hear some of these fascinating stories from Siggins. We also get a glimpse into Betsy’s early roots with her family life that included some classical music influence as well as a love for early country radio. I honestly could have talked to her for days.

Enjoy this great conversation!! And, please subscribe!