Those that do choose to explain their motivation behind their songs further the intimate nature of the open mike evenings. Both the environment and the music allow for the musicians to connect with the audience. The building even encourages this intimacy. This intimacy seems to be one of the more valuable elements of one's experience at Club Passim. Much of the music heard at the club seems to be steeped in the folk tradition.
Folk music is, of course, a genre that revolves around the art of storytelling.
This perhaps explains why the artists are so willing to share their stories behind their songs, to truly engage the listener in a way that is too often lost or passed over in more expansive forms of music. Club Passim surely plays an integral part in the foundation of these artists' careers, therefore maintaining its well-deserved reputation as one of the finest venues for new folk, country, and blues music in the Boston area. These performing musicians come from all corners of the music scene. Some are from points as far as Alaska, others are from the club's backyard, just miles down the road in Cambridge. There are numerous schools of music heard under one roof.