Patrick Sylvest, Troubadour Patrick Sylvest

This past weekend was the 5th annual Songwriter's retreat, hosted by Louisiana Songwriters and Amigo's, Steve Judice and Barry Hebert.

This episode includes tracks recorded by artists in attendance at the retreat and with each artist's express permission to duplicate and share herein.

The opening track is 'Slow Down' by Steve Judice from his 2011 release, 'When Darkness Falls'. Next, you'll hear a bit of songwriting in progress as Barry Hebert and Tony Cobb collaborate under the trees by the fire (forgive me if a little wind blows on the mic here). Nextly, Gary Ragan will share his song 'Shooting Stars', a tune he composed at last years retreat! First timer, Amelia Ryland follows with 'Small Town Blues', a lovely groove! Ryan Harris is next with a song he wrote right there in the Tickfaw marsh and recorded the very next morning in the living room of Cabin 5 (I play dobro on it!). The closing track is a favorite of mine by Baton Rouge songwriter and first time retreater, Martin Flanagan; His song 'Screen Door' can be found on his CD, 'Beneath these Strings'.

Steve Judice's music can be obtained; http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevejudice2

Martin Flanagan's music: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/martinflanagan

Thanks to all the artists who so kindly shared their time and talent with me this weekend at the 5th Annual Songwriter's retreat in Tickfaw, Louisiana.

This episode focuses on the catastrophic land and habitat loss that has occurred in coastal Louisiana. As a 'Folk' musician, I write about the issues of the age. As a native South Louisianian, there isn't a more pressing issue to write about. This podcast features an interview with Dr. Kerry St. Pe', reknown expert on Louisiana Wetlands and retired director of the BTNEP (Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program).

The songs shared herein; 'A Little Less Louisiana'(to call home), 'The Ballad of Hurricane Isaac (2012)', and 'Those Lands' are meant to communicate the perilous state of our vanishing coast. Also featured, Ryan Harris, Baton Rouge recording artist singing his song 'The River's Rolling High', on which I was honored and privileged to play dobro alongside fiddler, Robert 'Doc' Chaney when we recorded it at the Songwriter's Retreat in Tickfaw, LA last weekend.

As art, the songs bring some attention to the problem. To fully comprehend the multi-headed serpent that this problem emulates, there are many resources online such as http://www.btnep.org/ and http://www.voiceofthewetlands.org/ and a particularly informative video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJrI3xP7WO0.

"Louisiana Folk, Music and People", was conceived to share the songwriting of Patrick Sylvest and the many wells from which he draws his inspiration. In this first podcast, Patrick Interviews Author, Thomas Ard Sylvest, who also happens to be his 90 year old Dad. Please, give a listen! http://www.patricksylvest.com