Rachel Nicholas, Contributing Writer
“Anyfolk,” a free folk music showcase highlighting local musicians and artists, had its second September installment last week at the historic Hofheimer Building.
The show is completely silent other than when the musicians play, allowing audience members to embrace the emotions of acoustic folk music as they sing stories of love, belonging and inclusivity.
“The idea behind it is that people think of folk music as just a genre of music,” event founder Tyler Meacham said. “Any songwriter, whether they’re a pop, country or R&B artist, anyone can come in and play their song acoustically, and the story is still able to be communicated.”
Meacham came up with the idea for “Anyfolk” a year before the first show took place, after she played at a similar event in Asheville, North Carolina. She believed Richmond could benefit from shows like this due to their community-building nature and atmosphere.
“The [2024] election happened, and I started feeling pretty useless as a musician just in the sense of, like, ‘what power do I have here?’” Meacham said. “So the idea for ‘Anyfolk’ kind of came back. I could bring people together, create some good vibes and maybe be a safe space for people to just show up.”
The term “Anyfolk” came to be through Meacham’s desire to highlight folk music’s original purpose — a way for everyone to share a part of themselves, regardless of who they are.
Although the event emphasizes acoustic performances in traditional folk style, it allows for different types of music to be played, highlighting artists like indie singer Hailey Reese.
“I haven’t seen anybody do this where it’s a traditional folk setting,” Reese said. “I saw the one mic, no amplification and knew I wanted to be a part of it.”
Reese recently transferred from a local college in Nashville to VCU. “Anyfolk” was her first gig since moving to Richmond.
“I was looking for fun little opportunities, and saw ‘Anyfolk’ on Instagram and thought this is the coolest thing ever,” Reese said.
A.J. Kohlhepp, a VCU alum, started creating music later in life, pivoting from teaching English to songwriting. He cited “Anyfolk” as a great place to perform and gain experience. Kohlhepp later became friends and coworkers with Meacham.
“We love what Tyler has done here,” Kohlhepp said. “She has put together something special and we couldn’t be more proud.”
Kohlhepp has been to several “Anyfolk” shows as a viewer, and recently joined the team as a volunteer.
“Anyfolk” has hosted 17 successful shows, occurring bimonthly, since its inception on Dec. 11, 2024.
With its growing audience and inclusive mission, “Anyfolk” continues to carve out a space for connection and creativity in Richmond’s music scene, giving every voice — no matter the genre — a stage to tell their story.