Description
Book SynopsisA graceful and searching photographic ode to the people of the Kerrville Folk Festival, who gather annually in the Texas Hill Country to celebrate music and live an idealistic combination of nonconformity and intentional community.
Trade ReviewA striking collection of black-and-white film images capturing the spirit of the festival—guitars, sandals, tents, caliche dust, and all...In the absence of the chance to gather at Quiet Valley Ranch at least until the fall, Johnson’s tribute in
It Can Be This Way Always serves as both a satisfying fix for old-timers and an intriguing intro for newcomers. * Texas Highways *
Johnson pays joyful homage to the 49-year-old festival…The festival…comes to life in the pages of [
It Can Be This Way Always]...Johnson’s black and white photography centers attendees and volunteers instead of the musicians, capturing the spur-of-the-moment campfires, hazy summer fashion, and communal living that define Kerrville. * Texas Monthly *
Johnson’s black-and-white photos take in the entire scene, a mélange of campground, be-in, jamboree, dance floor, and jam session...Recommended for its depictions of a vibrant counterculture gathering and visual evocation of the power of music. * Library Journal *
As David Johnson’s photographs make clear, that ounce of difference continues to hold sway at Quiet Valley Ranch: it can be this way always. * Journal of American Folklore *
Table of ContentsForeword (Mary Muse)
Preface (David Johnson)
Plates
Roots of the Ballad Tree: Visions of Kerrville in Historical Context (Jason Mellard)
List of Plates
Acknowledgments
