Spring Revival And Supporting Live Music In Reno: Loud As Folk

Photo by Sam Ray-Johnson.

Reno live music has always been a huge draw for locals and tourists alike here in the Biggest Little City. A hub for all things creative, supporting the fine arts has been a priority for many who live here. For as long as I could remember, Reno music has been something special, not just as a source of entertainment to grab drinks over, but to inspire others to keep the spirit alive. 

To my delight, there have been several music-centered organizations and initiatives gaining popularity here over the past few years, especially in our post-pandemic world. Emerging from this never-ending winter, it seems as if the visionary fire is burning stronger than ever before, and it never lost its force. 

For 12 years, Loud As Folk has been kindling that fire. Founded by Six Mile Station lead Spike McGuire and eventually bringing in Vice President Greg Gilmore (of Greg Gilmore And The Fever Dreams), Loud As Folk began in 2011 as a monthly songwriter showcase. They’ve had a long history of touring, setting up a recording studio in the basement of The Potentialist Workshop, launching a radio hour with KWNK and even a monthly record club with exclusive sessions on CD, cassette and vinyl for members. 

During the pandemic shutdowns in 2020, McGuire and Gilmore were determined to support local musicians and bring live shows back as safely as possible the following year. They haven’t missed a single beat, highlighting the “little guys” – the talented songwriters, singers and performers that eat, sleep and breathe here. It’s just the kind of project that perks up my ears, and when they started “First Thursday” events at the Nevada Museum Of Art, I knew I had to follow up with these guys to give them the attention they deserved. 

Loud As Folk was celebrating its 12th anniversary on Thursday night on the fourth floor of the museum. Complete with a community collage-building project for The Fallen Fruit, wine samples and beer from Great Basin Brewing Company, the venue drew attendees of all ages, from elderly couples swing dancing to little children scamering and rolling around on the floor. Some wore punk vests, some had extravagant hats, others bundled up in Patagonia sweaters. People of all fashion statements and backgrounds and social groups gathered together to support a team that’s done so much for the community. 

“It's definitely been a learning journey in a big way, it’s grown more than I ever expected,” McGuire said. “Having a quality show really inspires us. I think community is the top focus.”

“When you work towards strengthening the community, you help everybody, including yourself,” Gilmore said. 

The event began with Gilmore’s solo performance, which was a perfect ease into an evening of song and dance. With Gilmore’s matching guitar and mic stand, his style was giving me retro 70s meets Western Nevada flair. It’s not often that I’m super into acoustic sets, but it’s undeniable that Gilmore was a polished singer-songwriter. He played flawlessly, his tracks were beautifully crafted in the folk essence of poetry, and his voice was nothing short of entrancing. I love it when the opening act of a show sets the mood for the rest of the festivities, and he was definitely on-point for the theme. 

“[Music] is different from a lot of other art forms, it’s all art forms in one,” Gilmore said. “You’ve got visual arts, you’ve got audio arts, you’ve got performance art on stage, it’s a very unique art form in that it kind of encompasses all art.”

Photo by Sam Ray-Johnson.

Six Mile Station with Spike McGuire was up next, and boy what a wild ride they were. Self-described as a band that’s a mixture of country, blues, rock and roll, bluegrass and punk – which covers quite an array of categories – I would say this profile isn’t too far off. McGuire’s background in theater acting really comes out in his vocals, throwing in some guttural growls, ghoulish wails and comic laughter with the storytelling air of a thespian. The group takes you on a journey of meeting the Devil, spooky hauntings and philosophical life lessons, truly embodying the brand of Americana that characterizes the genre. 

McGuire says one of his favorite aspects of the Reno community is the diversity of bands, and that diversity is clearly reflected in his own art and talent. Reno has something for everyone, especially when it comes to music.

“I’ll show up at a bar and say ‘I’m from Reno,’ and people will say, ‘Oh, well this is probably going to be a good show,’” McGuire said. “There’s just a lot of great people moving in great directions, and that’s something that I appreciate.”

“There’s a lot of really great talent in Reno, and I think a lot of it has to do with there being a lot of good gigs for singer-songwriters,” Gilmore said. “Something that we try to do is add to that, to keep people wanting to come here to play music.”

Another thing I loved about the anniversary celebration was sitting back and taking in the sheer amount of people who showed up. It was a packed house – so much so, that my partner and I were getting too overheated to stand inside. Even outside, there was a decent crowd present, and we felt like two marbles in a mixed bag of aficionados. It was the first time in a long time that I was filled with joy to be out in the community again, and it was something I desperately needed after the long winter we’ve had. It was refreshing and inspiring to see that Reno still cares about the music scene – and because of Loud As Folk, the music scene very much still cares about us.

“I don’t think it was possible [in 2009] to make a living playing music here,” Gilmore said. “That’s definitely something over the last 12 years that’s changed.” 

McGuire says that followers can expect bigger, better things from Loud As Folk in the future, with more First Thursday shows at the Nevada Museum of Art, and a solo live album recording in May thanks to a grant from the Nevada Arts Council. He’ll be promoting the album on a fall tour in November, at several historic venues across Nevada, including the Western Folklife Center in Elko and the Martin Hotel in Winnemucca. 

“[The music industry] can be a real hopeless, unforgiving business and I think what really separates the people that do make it and the people who don’t make it, is a lot of people just give up,” McGuire said. “It’s just as easy to build forward momentum as it is to build backwards momentum, so you really gotta focus on moving forward.”

To learn more about Loud As Folk, visit this link here. 

To listen to Six Mile Station, visit their website here. 

To listen to Greg Gilmore & The Fever Dreams, visit their website here.