‘Izzy Young: Talking Folklore Center’ Documentary Will Arrive on DVD in August

Izzy Young: Talking Folklore Center -- a documentary detailing the history of the Folklore Center, a New York City landmark that was instrumental in the ‘60s American folk landscape -- will arrive on DVD on Aug. 14.

The film includes archival footage along with folk music from the era. It also depicts interviews with Pete Seeger, Allen Ginsberg, the Fugs and New York City Mayor Ed Koch.

Young opened the Folklore Center in New York City’s Greenwich Village in 1959, which became a central location in the ‘60s folk scene. Young also organized Bob Dylan’s -- who wrote a song about Young and the center entitled “Talking Folklore Center” -- first concert at Carnegie Chapter Hall in 1961.

“I broke my ass to get people to come,” Young told Tablet Magazine of Dylan’s concert in a recent interview. “Only 52 people showed up but about 300 people remember being there. Everyone wants to say they were there. You understand?”

The Folklore Center hosted concerts from countless other musicians, including Dave Van Ronk, Tim Buckley and more. Young also wrote the column, “Fret and Frails,” for the folk music journal, Sing Out, and served on the magazine’s editorial board before moving to Sweden, where he resides to this day and operates the Folklore Centrum in Stockholm.

You can pre-order Izzy Young: Talking Folklore Center now at this location. Check out the film’s trailer at the top of the page.