The author’s car, beneath the snows of January
The gods of spring were capricious. March and April switched places. There were days when a ski jacket was too much, so we switched to a windbreaker. Changes in wardrobe were treacherous. The wallet got left behind; gloves got left behind; the keys went missing. Cellphone? We’re not modern enough to be concerned when it gets buried somewhere in the wrong bag or jacket. We’re still landline Luddites in this household.
Are we complaining? Who listens? As of this writing, it’s still chilly enough to wear a hoodie under the windbreaker. Temperatures are supposed to go back up to the 70s next week. At least May will be acting like itself.
The days rush headlong toward our first annual festival attendance. Usually, in this neck of the woods, that’s Clearwater Festival. However, we see that Brooklyn has put together a spectacular ahead of almost everyone. On these pages, that’s where we’ll get started.
Where we’ll end up will be revealed further into this issue.
May 18-20 ~ Brooklyn Folk Festival
347 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY / brooklynfolkfest.com
May 18 6:30pm Doors • 7:30pm Woody Guthrie’s 100th Bday Sing • 8:30pm Elizabeth Butters • 9:15pm Michael Daves • 10pm Dennis Lichtman’s Brain Cloud • 10:45pm Peter Stampfel & the Ether Frolic Mob • 11:30pm The Whiskey Spitters • 12:15am Four O’Clock Flowers
May 19 12:00pm Book Reading: Scott Alarik “Revival: A Folk Music Novel” and Ray Allen, Folklorist at Brooklyn College “Gone to the Country: The New Lost City Ramblers” • 2:00pm Kentucky Banjo Styles with Brett Ratliff • 2pm The East River String Band • 2:45pm Jessy Carolina and the Hot Mess • 3pm Tennessee Blues Mandolin with Ernie Vega • 3:30pm M. Shanghai String Band • 4:15pm Harmonica Competition • 5pm Bodoma • 5:45pm The Calamity Janes • 6:30pm Willy Gantrim • 7:15pm Piedmont Bluz • 8pm The Feral Foster • 9:30pm The Little Brothers • 10:15pm Cherven Traktor • 11pm Blind Boy Paxton • 11:45pm Whistling Wolves • 12:30am Veveritse
May 20 12 - 2pm Vocal Harmony Duos and Trios Workshop Taught by Emily Eagen and Don Friedman • 2:30PM Alan Friend and Friends • 4pm Squaredance • 5pm Pat Conte • 5:45pm Wretched Refuse String Band • 6:30pm Lydia Sylvia • 7:15pm Brett Ratliff & the Giant Rooster Sideshow • 8pm Pat Conte & Joe Bellulovich • 8:45pm Alice Gerrard & Beverly Smith • 9:30pm Brotherhood of the Jug Band Blues • 10:15pm Litvakus • 11pm Stephanie Nilles
At Brooklyn Folk Festival, Peter Stampfel and the Ether Frolic Mob are one of the riches that Brooklyn, the borough, seems to be host to lately. It’s great to see that one of the founders of the Holy Modal Rounders is still getting it done.
The GottaGetGone Festival is presenting Nora Jane Struthers among its artists. We were lucky to see her up close at a Musicon4 house concert in Manhattan. She’ll be a treat for festival-goers.
May 26-27 ~ GottaGetGon Folk Festival
Saratoga County Fairgrounds/Ballston Spa, NY
pickingandsinging.org/GGG_festival2x.htm
Nora Jane Struthers • Claire Lynch • Beverwyck String Band, with Peter Siegel • Guy Van Duser • Andreas Transø • Friday Night New Folk - more TBA
Warren Haynes’ Mountain Jam on Hunter Mountain is a multi-headed monster. It’s a good chance to see the amazing Stevie Winwood again. Then there’s The Word. I’m trying to imagine what slide wizard Robert Randolph is going to sound like alongside The North Mississippi Allstars. Words fail me. We saw Trombone Shorty last year at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. He worked the crowd on that huge hill as if we were all in a small club.
Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival, very intelligently, once again is presenting the Greencards. We caught them at one of the C.H.I.R.P. concerts in Ridgefield, CT last year, and they’re every bit as good as their recordings suggest.
Strawberry Park Cajun/Zydeco Festival knew that an invitation to Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys would get the party rolling. Another smart move.
Fred Eaglesmith’s Roots on the River has extended an invite to the sweethearts of the northeast, Red Molly. The Mollies are branching out further south and westward, but we always welcome them back to our neck of the woods.
It’s another great year at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. We can never get enough of Alison Krauss. Having Jerry Douglas in the band doesn’t hurt, and it’s a plus that he’ll be teaming up with others in the Telluride House Band. John Prine’s gritty stories fit right in with the bluegrass spirit. Glen Hansard, formerly of The Frames and The Swell Season, must be a hot property, now that Once, the film he starred in, is a hit play on Broadway.
At Delfest, we see that Steve Martin is diligently continuing his career as a musician. That’s no surprise to anyone who’s seen his many appearances on television with people like Bela Fleck. We met Steve briefly a couple of years ago in the audience at a Tim O’Brien concert in Manhattan while he was filming here. We found him to be just your regular, down-to-earth comic genius.
At the Tribute to Bob Dylan Festival at Warwick Valley Winery you can take your pick of which Bob interpreters you like, or just go for all three days. On Saturday, we like Commander Cody. On Sunday, the E’lissa Jones Band makes yet another appearance, and on Monday, we like Rod McDonald, The Kennedys and Mark Erelli.
The Appel Farm Arts & Music Festival has the ridiculously talented Tedeschi Trucks Band. As if that weren’t enough for one day (all right, I know, it’s not enough for a festival), there’s Dawes, Cheryl Wheeler and Sarah Watkins.
At the Kerrville Folk Festival, our good buddy Paul Sachs, up from the mean streets of the Lower East Side of New York City, is making the trip again, but this time as an invitee. Those cows he was so impressed with on his first trip will once again welcome their “inner city buddy.” Another home-grown talent, Anthony da Costa, is teaming up with John Elliot and Raina Rose to make Kerrville a stop on his annual summer cross-country tour. We were lucky to catch Pierce Pettis and his daughter Grace together at (Fordham radio DJ) John Platt’s monthly series On Your Radar at the Living Room in NYC. They’re a terrific duo and Grace is a rising star.
May 24-27 ~ DelFest
Allegany County Fairgrounds/Cumberland, MD delfest.com
The Del McCoury Band • Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers • Yonder Mountain String Band • Béla Fleck with Alan Bartram, Jason Carter, Ronnie McCoury, & Danny Paisley • Sam Bush Band • Railroad Earth • Leftover Salmon • The Travelin’ McCourys (feat. Keller Williams 5/26) • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Béla Fleck & The Marcus Roberts Trio • Keller Williams • Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver • The Infamous Stringdusters • Emmitt-Nershi Band • Luther Dickinson and The Wandering • Darol Anger and the Furies feat. Brittany Haas, Maeve Gilchrist, & Emy Phelps • Sara Watkins • Greensky Bluegrass • The Devil Makes Three • Della Mae • Joe Craven • The David Mayfield Parade • Split Lip Rayfield • The Larry Stephenson Band • Birds of Chicago • Mountain Sprout • Madison Violet • Sleepy Man Banjo Boys • Libby Kirkpatrick • Mon River Ramblers • ORBO & The Longshots
Note: Dates & performers posted earlier (last year’s) were in error . Dates & performers are now correct.
May 26, 27, 28 ~ Tribute to Bob Dylan Festival at Warwick Valley Winery
114 Little York Road, Warwick, NY 845-258-4858 www.wvwinery.com
May 26: Rob Schiff • Tim O’ Donohue • E’lissa Jones Band • Uncle Shoehorn • Professor Louie & The Crowmatix • Bill Kirchen
May 27: Anthony Fiore • Dead on the Tracks • Rave On • Rod MacDonald • The Kennedys • Blue Chicken (featuring members of the Levon Helm Band)
May 28: Mike Corbin • Evan and Lesley • Nik Real • The John Reddan Band • Rod MacDonald • Howard Fishman • The Kennedys
June 2 ~ Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival
Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, 457 Shirley Road, Elmer, NJ Tel: 800/394-1211 or 856/358-2472, fax 856/358-6513, appelfarm.org/arts-music-festival
Tedeschi Trucks Band • Dawes • Carolina Chocolate Drops • Jukebox The Ghost • Rodney Crowell • Cheryl Wheeler • Sara Watkins (Of Nickel Creek) • Brother Joscephus And The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra • Scrapomatic • Mason Porter • Quincy Mumford & The Reason Why
May 24 - June 10 ~ Kerrville Folk Festival
Quiet Valley Ranch/Kerrville, TX 830/257-3600 www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com
Jimmy LaFave • Zoe Lewis • MilkDrive • Limpopo • Grace & Pierce Pettis • Tom Prasada-Rao • Paul Sachs • Elliott, Rose and daCosta • BettySoo • New Agrarians (Tom Kimmel, Kate Campbell, Pierce Pettis) • Brother Sun • Butch Morgan • Trout Fishing in America • Justin Roth • Chuck Pyle • Carolyn Wonderland • Ruthie Foster • Terri Hendrix • Warren Hood & the Goods • John Fullbright • Big Wide Grin • Old Man Luedecke • Rowan Brothers - Chris & Lorin • Joe Pug … more TBA
Peter Stampfel
Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers
Tedeschi Trucks Band
May 31 - June 3 ~ Warren Haynes’ Mountain Jam
Hunter Mountain, NY mountainjam.com
Steve Winwood • Gov’t Mule (2 nights) • Michael Franti & Spearhead • Tedeschi Trucks Band • The Roots • Ben Folds Five • The Word (ft. Robert Randolph, John Medeski, & North Mississippi Allstars) • James Murphy (DFA / LCD Soundsystem) DJ Set • Lotus • Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue • The Travelin’ McCoury’s (ft. Keller Williams) • Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe • Dawes • Gary Clark Jr. • Carolina Chocolate Drops • Givers • Charles Bradley And His Extraordinaires • Mariachi El Bronx • Bustle In Your Hedgerow (ft. Joe Russo, Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz & Scott Metzger) • EOTO • Anders Osborne • Nigel Hall Band • Zach Deputy • Simone Felice • Sara Watkins • Break Science • Planet Of The Abts • The Lee Boys • Marco Benevento • Wolf! • Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds • The Sheepdogs • The Brew • Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real • American Babies • Caravan of Thieves • Matt Schofield • Delta Rae • Danielia Cotton • Jimkata • Ground Up • The Pedrito Martinez Group • Zee Avi • Aunt Martha • Kopecky Family Band • Wyllys • Chris Cubeta & the Liars Club • Lauren Shera • Uncle Lucius • Connor Kennedy Band • iS • Swear & Shake • Simi Stone • Charlie Dane • Kelli Scarr • Ratboy Jr • Bari Koral Family Rock Band • Turkuaz • Chris Assaad
Jimmy LaFave
Steve Winwood
At the 2011 Philadelphia Folk Festival, fans show their appreciation for venerable folk DJ Gen Shay.
We don’t know how festival director and promoter Steve Lurie does it. Since he got on board, each year, the lineup at Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival Festival tops the previous one. Where do we start? Ani DiFranco and Joan Osborne? Bela Fleck and The Punch Brothers and Tim O’Brien? Yikes!
Another favorite, Ollabelle is a great choice. We’ve seen Alejandro Escovedo at Outpost in the Burbs (Montclair, NJ) and at The Rubin Museum in NYC. Alejandro is more than a performance — he’s an event. Martin Sexton and Josh Ritter? Jill Sobule and Aoife O’Donovan? OK … you get the idea … enough of that. It’s going to be another tough year deciding what stage to sit at.
Less embarrassingly, we recognize a lot more names at the Old Songs Festival this year than last. We’ve done a feature on Sharon Katz and the Peace Train and we’ve seen Anne Hills and David Roth on a number of occasions. Just last November, we picked up a couple of CDs by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) conference and found out what wonderful singers and musicians they are. We’ve reviewed both live and recorded music before by the fabulous Canadian musician Ken Whiteley.
At Great Blue Heron Music Festival, Except for Entrain and the returning Donna the Buffalo, we didn’t recognize any of the other names listed. Ouch. Given some time restrictions, we looked up one of them — Big Leg Emma — on YouTube … O.M.G! What a huge sound — fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, drums and organ. Actually, a fixture at this festival, they rock, they swing, and they take straight bluegrass and get it dirty and funky. Initially, we watched a more acoustic format. Their full-on electric segments can get pretty Allmanesque. This group stays pretty busy between Pennsylvania and upstate New York. We’ll keep checking their tour schedule during the coming months for an opportunity to see them.
May 31 - June 3 ~ Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival
42 Pierce Rd, Preston, CT (860) 886-1944 strawberrypark.net/bluegrass-festival
Dailey & Vincent • The Boxcars • The Greencards • The Gibson Brothers • The Steeldrivers • The Kruger Brothers • Larry Stephenson Band • Monroeville • Newfound Road • Dixie Bee Liners • Lou Reid & Carolina • Cia Cherryholmes & Stetson Adkisson • Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass • Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters • Della Mae • Hot Mustard
June 7-10 ~ Roots on The River
Annual Fred Eaglesmith Weekend, I-91, Exit 6, Bellows Falls, Vermont Info: 866-484-3669 rootsontheriver.com
Hot Mustard • Roger Marin Band • Barnstar! • Melissa Ferrick • Steel Wheels • Red Molly • Hayes Carll • Fred Eaglesmith Band • Mary Gauthier
June 21-24 ~ Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Telluride, CO Tel: 800/624-2422 bluegrass.com/telluride
Thursday: Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas • John Prine • Laura Marling • Thelma & Louise featuring Chris Thile & Béla Fleck • Greensky Bluegrass • Dan Mangan • Della Mae
Friday: John Fogerty • Leftover Salmon • Del McCoury Band • Béla Fleck & The Marcus Roberts Trio • O’Brien Party of Seven • Edgar Meyer & Mike Marshall • Head for the Hills • Seryn
Saturday: Sam Bush Band • k.d. lang & the Siss Boom Bang • Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers • Yonder Mountain String Band • Jerry Douglas featuring Omar Hakim & Viktor Krauss • The Devil Makes Three • Run Boy Run • Telluride Troubadour • Telluride Band Contest
Sunday: Telluride House Band featuring Sam, Béla, Jerry, Edgar, Bryan & Stuart • Glen Hansard • Punch Brothers • Brett Dennen • Peter Rowan’s Big Twang Theory • John Cowan Band Gospel Hour • Joy Kills Sorrow
June 16 & 17 ~ Clearwater Festival 2011
Great Hudson River Revival
Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Ani DiFranco • Martin Sexton • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Béla Fleck • Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band • Arlo Guthrie & The Guthrie Family • Dawes • Joan Osborne & The Holmes Brothers • Punch Brothers Featuring Chris Thile • Deer Tick • Balkan Beat Box • Alejandro Escovedo • Donna The Buffalo • Peter Yarrow • Holly Near • Joanne Shenandoah • The Klezmatics • Tinariwen • Tom Paxton • Raul Midón • Tom Chapin • Tim O’Brien • Aoife O’Donovan (of Crooked Still) • David Amram • Ollabelle • Jay Ungar & Molly Mason • Guy Davis Band • Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely • Melissa Ferrick • Brave Combo •Jill Sobule • Sara Watkins • Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys • Jesse Lége & The Bayou Brew • The Chapin Sisters • Joel Rafael • Dala • Joe Purdy • Joseph Firecrow Band • David Wax Museum • Bhi Bhiman • Alsarah • The Deadly Gentlemen • Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole • Forro In The Dark • Jose Conde Y Ola Fresca • Sharon Katz & The Peace Train • Vanaver Caravan • Walkabout Clearwater Chorus • Elizabeth Mitchell •The Rivertown Kids • Power of Song • The Storycrafters • Rick Nestler • Kim & Reggie Harris • Arm-of-the-Sea Theater • Charlie Dane • Roger the Jester Linda Richards Paul Richmond Dog On Fleas • Jesse Bruchac • Regi Carpenter • Gregorio Pedroza • Lot Therio • Wink • Marva P. Clark • Niemö • Laurie McIntosh
July 6, 7, 8 ~ Mariposa Folk Festival
Tudhope Park, Orillia, ON, Canada
Jann Arden • Billy Bragg • Johnny Clegg • Danny Michel • Old Man Luedecke • Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams • Hey Ocean • Good Old War • The Arrogant Worms • Treasa Levasseur • Oh Susanna • The Once • Florent Vollant • Aaron Mangoff • Meaghan Blanchard • Julian Fauth • Eileen McGann • James Keelaghan
June 22 - 24 ~ Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music & Dance
Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont, NY
oldsongs.org/festival/index.html
Sharon Katz & the Peace Train • Archie Fisher • Patrick Ball • Nuala Kennedy • John McCutcheon • Bruce Molsky • Galant, Tu Perds Ton Temps • Mulebone • Anne Hills • David Roth • Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer • Kim & Reggie Harris • Dennis Stroughmatt • Larry Hanks & Deborah Robins • John Kirk & Trish Miller • Comas • Peter & Mary Alice Amidon • Dan Berggren • Brother Sun • Groovemama • Ken Whiteley • Andrew & Noah Band • Rik Palieri • John Roberts • Magpie • Ron Gordon & Michael Eck • the Storycrafters • Fennig’s All-Star Stringband • Cassi & Maggie MacDonald • Greenfield Dance Band • Joe Hickerson • Susan Trump • Steve & Betsy Fry • Roger the Jester • Bob Nicholson • Todd Crowley and the Musical Petting Zoo • Bruce Hutton
July 6-8 ~ Great Blue Heron Music Festival
Wait Corners Road , Sherman, NY 716-487-1781
Donna The Buffalo • The Town Pants • Toubab Krewe • Entrain • Kevin Kinsella w/ Mosaic Foundation • Big Leg Emma • Smackdab • Sim Redmond Band • The Hindu Cowboys • Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band • La Krema • Jimkata • Jim Avett • Tiger Maple Stringband • Lake Street Dive • Ron Yarosz & The Vehicle • Driftwood • The Steam Donkeys • Stewed Mulligan • The Bogarts • Blue Sky Mission Club • Shotgun Jubilee • Buffalo Zydeco • Old Dawg Bluegrass • Cindy Haight • Amanda Barton & Bill Ward • Ken Hardley • Bess Raynor • Max Garcia Conover • Claire Stuczynski • James Hunnicutt • Waterband • Eric Brewer & Friends • Eastern Boys • The Haybalers
July 6- 8 ~ Greater New Bedford Summerfest
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park,
New Bedford, MA summerfestfolkfestival.com
Joan Akin • Molly Andrews • Annalivia • Claudine Arcand • The Beans • Amy Black • Jeff Black • Benoit Bourque & Son • Boxcar Lilies • Andrew Calhoun • Charlie Cover • Truck Croteau & Mary Beth Soares • Catie Curtis • Dala • Jeff Davis • Deadly Gentlemen • John Dipper • Joanne Doherty • Melissa Ferrick • Bob Franke • Seth Glier • Livio Guardi • Dave Gunning • The Kennedys • Jeremy Kittel • Patty Larkin • Zöe Lewis • Joel Mabus • Cassie and Maggie MacDonald • Rod MacDonald • Peter Mulvey • Chris Pahud • Barbara Phaneuf • Pumpkin Head Ted • Raz de Maree • Ian Robb • John Roberts • Garnet Rogers • Nathaniel Smith • Art Tebbetts • Hiroya Tsukamoto • Women in Docs • Peter Yarrow
June 30 ~ American Roots Music Festival
at Caramoor
149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah, New York 12:30pm
caramoor.org/festival/americanroots
12:30-6pm. General lawn seating: Eilen Jewell & band • Red Molly • Roosevelt Dime, banjo songster Old Man Luedecke • Spuyten Duyvil.
7:30-10pm. Reserved seating Venetian Theater: Evening Performers: Hot Tuna Acoustic – with the legendary Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady and Barry Mitterhoff • David Bromberg Quartet
July 4-8 ~ Winnipeg Folk Festival
Birds Hill Park, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Aaron Burnett • Abigail Washburn • Adam Cohen • Aisha Alfa • Asani • Atomic Duo • Bahamas • Belle Starr • Besh O DroM • Beth Orton • Bill Frisell; “All We Are Saying” • Billy Bragg • Black Sea Station • Blitzen Trapper • Carolina Chocolate Drops • Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires • Chic Gamine • Crumbs • David Bromberg Quartet • De Temps Antan • DeVotchKa • Doug Paisley • Dry Bones • e.s.l • Eliza Gilkyson • Elliott Brood • Ellis Paul • Emmanuel Jal • Feist • Fish & Bird • Good Old War • Gustavo and the Green Fools • Iron & Wine • Jake Chénier Band • James Vincent McMorrow • Jimmy LaFave • Good Old War • Gustavo and the Green Fools • Iron & Wine • Jake Chénier Band • James Vincent McMorrow • Jimmy LaFave • Junior Brown • Justin Rutledge • K’NAAN • Kim Churchill • Madison Violet • Martyn Joseph • Mary Gauthier • Matt Andersen • Natalia Zukerman • Orchestre Poly Rythmo • Ozomatli • Pharis & Jason Romero • Pokey Lafarge and the South City Three • Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem • Royal Wood • Ruthie Foster • Sam Amidon • Sarah and Christian Dugas • Shelley Bean & the Duckety Muds • Sidi Touré • Sketch • Snowblink • Steep Canyon Rangers • Tedeschi Trucks Band • The Barr Brothers • The Beauties • The Fretless • The Head and The Heart • The SteelDrivers • Todd Snider • Walking Woody’s Road feat. Mary Gauthier, Jimmy Lafave, Ellis Paul and Eliza Gilkyson • Willy Porter • Yves Lambert Trio
July 11-15 ~ Woody Guthrie Folk Festival
Okemah, OK woodyguthrie.com
Arlo Guthrie • Judy Collins • Melanie • Jimmy LaFave • Carolyn Hester • Ellis Paul • Joel Rafael • Don Conoscenti • Red Dirt Rangers • Sam Baker • Audrey Auld & Anna McCue • Dave Phenicie • Johnsmith • David Amram • Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines • Ronny Cox • Butch Hancock • John Fullbright • Ramsay Midwood • Bill Chambers • John McCutcheon • The Burns Sisters • Billy Bragg • Michael Fracasso • Larry Long • Gretchen Peters • Radoslav Lorkovic • Kevin & Dustin Welch • Mike Blackwell • Michael Prysock • Greg Jacobs • Bob Livingston • Happenstance • Miss Brown to You • Grant Peeples • Susan Herndon • Mike Stinson • Catherine Britt … more TBA
July 19-22 ~ Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
The Walsh Farm, 1 Poultney Road, Oak Hill, NY greyfoxbluegrass.com
Hosted By Dry Branch Fire Squad Featuring: Hot Rize / Red Knuckles and The Trailblazers • Del McCoury Band • David Grisman Sextet • Infamous Stringdusters • David Bromberg Band • Mountain Heart • Jesse Mcreynolds’ Songs Of The Grateful Dead (Tribute To Jerry Garcia) • Punch Brothers • Blue Highway • Claire Lynch Band • Gibson Brothers • Steeldrivers • Lonesome River Band • Noam Pikelny & Friends featuring Aoife O’Donovan • Tony Trischka & Territory • Chris Thile & Michael Daves • Della Mae • Old-Tyme Kosmik Trio (Darol Anger/Rushad Eggleston/Bruce Molsky) • Monroeville • Deadly Gentlemen • Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen Bearfoot • Milk Drive • The Hillbenders • Frank Fairfield • Barley Jacks • Dixie Bee-Liners • Too Blue • Sarah & The Tall Boys • Anne & Pete Sibley • Jim Gaudet & The Railroad Boys • Sleepy Man Banjo Boys • Get Down Boys • “Berklee” Bands • Pete Wernick’s Bluegrass Jam Campers… more TBA
July 27-29~ Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
44 County Road 7D, Hillsdale, NY, Dodds Farm, just off Route 22 north of Hillsdale falconridgefolk.com
Emerging Artist Showcase winners: Pesky J. Nixon • Louise Mosrie • ilyAIMY • Blair Bodine
Friday Summer’s Eve Song Swap: Ellis, Holly Near, Rod MacDonald & John Flynn
Other performers include: Brother Sun • Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams • Spuyten Duyvil • The Clayfoot Strutters • Giant Robot Dance • Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen • Peter, Paul & George • Storyhill • The Ivy Vine Players • Country Spice • Eddie from Ohio • The Storycrafters • Nerissa & Katrina Nields • Girlyman • John Francis • Todd Sheaffer • Tracy Grammer • Eilen Jewell … more TBA
Unplugged Showcases - Acoustic Live Booth
Friday: Friction Farm • Jon Paul • Phil Henry • My Dad's Truck • Paul Sachs • The YaYas • Greg Klyma • Aaron Nathans • Annie & Rod Capps • Jason Dennie
Saturday: 1:45 Susan Kane • Marci Geller • Mark Berube • Carolann Solebello • Honor Finnegan • Karyn Oliver • Annie Donahue & Erik Balkey • Cadence Carroll • Rob Lytle • The Boxcar Lilies • Christopher Brown
Sunday: Putnam Smith • Connor Garvey • Shawn Taylor • Stu Markus • Brad Yoder • The Levins
July 26-29 ~ FloydFest
Floyd, VA 540/745-FEST floydfest.com
Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas • Michael Franti & Spearhead • Jackson Browne • Brandi Carlile • SOJA • Leftover Salmon • Drive-By Truckers • Matisyahu • Dawes • Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers • Ozomatli • Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder • Sam Bush Band • Galactic with Special Guest Corey Henry • Punch Brothers • Gary Clark Jr • ALO • Conspirator • Garage A Trois • Toubab Krewe • Locos Por Juana • David Wax Museum • Big Tony & Trouble Funk • The Mighty Wonders • MarchFourth Marching Band • The Pedrito Martinez Group • Steep Canyon Rangers • Orgone • Anders Osborne • Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band • Drew Emmitt Band • Gregory Alan Isakov • The Rogues • Hoots & Hellmouth • Jonathan Wilson • The Dead Kenny G’s • Marco Benevento • ArtOfficial • American Dumpster • Yarn • American Aquarium • Jonathan C Ward • Joshua Panda Band • Morwenna Lasko & Jay Pun Quartet • Ivy League Hillbillies • Ha Ha Tonka • Love Canon String Band • Big Daddy Love • The Mantras • L Shape Lot • Kings of Belmont • Leathal Matter • Dot Dot Dash • Backstep • The Situationist • Drum Call Ensemble • Fire in the Belly • Juggle This! • Peter Irish • Sideshow Bennie • James David • Poe Mack Tapas Stage • The Trapeze Show • Allison Keys • Molasses Creek • Carbon Jam • Becki the Balloon Lady • Miss Behavin • drumSTRONG • Barefoot Movement • Blue Ridge Sweethearts • Boston Boys • Danny Knicely with Special Guests • Doug and Telisha Williams • Elizabeth Laprelle • Hot Licks from the Crooked Road • Larnell Starkey and the Spiritual Seven • Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes • Nat Reese • Scott Miller • Wayne Henderson and Friends • Whitetop Mountain Band
July 19-22 ~ Gathering of the Vibes
Seaside Park, Sound View Drive, Bridgeport, CT (203) 908-3030 gatheringofthevibes.com
Primus • Phil Lesh & Friends • Bob Weir & Bruce Hornsby w/ Special Guest Branford Marsalis • Sts9 • 7 Walkers Featuring Bill Kreutzmann • Mickey Hart Band • Strangefolk Reunion • Yonder Mountain String Band • Steel Pulse • Zappa Plays Zappa • The Avett Brothers • The Greyboy Allstars • George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners • Keller Williams • Dark Star Orchestra • Mates Of State • Deep Banana Blackout • Alo • Ryan Montbleau Band • Max Creek • Assembly Of Dust • Zach Deputy • Kung Fu • Joe Pug • Toubab Krewe • OuterNational • David Gans • The Mclovins • Papadosio • Dangermuffin & Yarn • Dopapod • Cosmic Jibaros • Twiddle • Band Together • Andy The Music Man • Lucid • Late Night: Royal Family Ball Featuring Soulive And Lettuce • Conspirator • Gigantic Underground Conspiracy • The Machine
July 28-29 ~ Newport Folk Festival
Fort Adams State Park, Harrison Avenue, Newport, RI
Saturday: My Morning Jacket • Iron & Wine • Patty Griffin • Guthrie Family Reunion • Dawes • Deer Tick • City And Colour • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Alabama Shakes • Sharon Van Etten • Blind Pilot • First Aid Kit • Brown Bird • Jonny Corndawg • Spirit Family Reunion • Robert Ellis • Frank Fairfeld • The Apache Relay • HoneyHoney • Sleepy Man Banjo Boys • Elizabeth Mitchell & You Are My Rower
Sunday: Jackson Browne • Conor Oberst • The Head & The Heart • Punch Brothers • Tallest Man On Earth • Tune-Yards • Tom Morello: The Night Watchman • Trampled By Turtles • Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires • Gary Clark Jr. • 0f Monsters And Men • New Multitudes Feat. Farrar, Johnson, Parker, & James • Sara Watkins • Jonathan Wilson • The Deep Dark Woods • Carl Broemel • Ben Sollee • Spider John Koerner & His Rag Tag Boys • Joel Rafael • Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons • The Kossoy Sisters • Berklee City Music Choir
July 22 ~ Huntington Folk Festival
Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park, Huntington, NY Prime Avenue and Main Street (Route 25A) fmshny.org
Evening feature act: The Falcon Ridge “Most Wanted to Return” Tour: Pesky J. Nixon, ilyAIMY, Louise Mosrie and Blair Bodine (Audience favorites for 2011 The Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists Showcase)
Afternoon showcases hosted by AcousticMusicScene.com and Acoustic Live in NYC [Scheduled Acoustic Live acts include: Marci Geller Friction Farm, David Goldman, Susan Kane, Carolann Solebello, Mark Berube, The Levins, Lois Morton, Stu Markus, Josh Joffen, The YaYas, Honor Finnegan and My Dad’s Truck. Sequence & more acts TBA]
This festival is free to attendees
August 18 ~ BACCA Bluegrass Festival
(Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts)
Noon - 8pm
Tanner Park, Copiague, NY www.babylonarts.com
Buddy Merriam & Back Roads • Too Blue • Free Grass Union • Appalachian Diaries featuring Maria Fairchild and Kerry Keamey • Acoustic Electrix • The Mandolin Experience featuring Buddy Merriam
August 17-19 ~ Philadelphia Folk Festival
Old Poole Farm Schwenksville, PA folkfest.org
Performers TBA
Aug 31 - Sep. 2 ~ Rhythm & Roots Festival
Ninigret Park, 4813 Old Post Rd, Rt 1 Charlestown, RI rhythmandroots.com 888/855-6940
Host Band: The Pine Leaf Boys featuring: David Bromberg Big Band • Carolina Chocolate Drops • The Duhks • Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys • Donna the Buffalo • Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie • The Gourds • Blackie & The Road Kings • Roddie Romero & The Hub City All Stars • Johnny Nicholas & Hellbent • Sarah and The Tall Boys • Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp • Golden Triangle • Jesse Lége and Bayou Brew
Acoustic Live in NYC is a cultural partner with the American Roots Music Festival at Caramoor and we’ll be attending the evening performance. David Bromberg and Jorma and his crew make for a potent mix. We hate missing Eilen Jewell, Spuyten Duyvil and the Red Molly, but a prior commitment will prevent us from attending during the day.
For this year’s New Bedford Summerfest, we’re especially psyched to see Garnet Rogers. He rocked the long-gone Fast Folk Cafe (NYC) back in the mid-’90s and has been a favorite ever since. We hope to have some of our back issues featuring Seth Glier, Catie Curtis and Rod MacDonald at the ready for any of their fans who’ve not seen our profiles on them. We’ll also be looking to get reacquainted with NERFA discoveries Amy Black and The Boxcar Lilies.
The Mariposa Folk Festival features a couple of other acts that were introduced at separate NERFA conferences. Treasa Levasseur was a main stage showcase artist a few years back and made quite an impact. Additionally, we were very impressed with a CD by The Once that we reviewed this past December.
We mentioned the “border crossing” at the Winnipeg Folk Festival in last year’s festival issue. In addition to the Canadian thrills — Madison Violet, among others — we see U.K. stalwarts Beth Orton and Martyn Joseph, as well as American players Natalia Zukerman, Jimmy LaFave and Eliza Gilkyson. This is another amazing array of talent.
The annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival will “occupy” a small corner of Oklahoma once again, musically at least. Woody was one of the original 99% to express his views toward the 1%. Those views will be advanced once again by the likes of his son Arlo, Judy Collins, Ellis Paul and Jimmy LaFave. We’re glad to see folks like Gretchen Peters and Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines join in. Bless Lloyd’s daughter Natalie — I’d bet that this Dixie Chick would be here if the payback from the country music community wasn’t so harsh.
The Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival isn’t missing a chance to break new ground. The Old-Tyme Kosmik Trio with Darol Anger, Rushad Eggleston and Bruce Molsky is a fascinating configuration. We’re betting that it’s Rushad who’s bringing the “Kosmik.” It’ll be good to see him again. Chris Thile & Michael Daves will no doubt be playing selections from the album Sleep with One Eye Open, their recent collaboration. All bluegrass fans know that Hot Rize and Red Knuckles and The Trailblazers are Tim O’Brien configurations and will be eager to hear both.
The Huntington Folk Festival has moved their calendar slot up a couple of weeks to just before Falcon Ridge. This plays nicely into featuring the FRFF Emerging Artist winners’ tour as its main act. Acoustic Live in NYC and AcousticMusicScene.com will once again showcase an afternoon of quality performers at our booths.
At Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, there’s a bit of “Woodyfest” in the appearance of Rod MacDonald and John Flynn. Both are extremely articulate songwriters who champion social justice. We haen’t seen Tracy Grammer or Girlyman for a while and we’re looking forward to hearing them.
Acoustic Live will again host unplugged showcases at our booth.
One name immediately jumps out at us from the performer list of this year’s Floydfest: The Dead Kenny G’s! Inspired is what I call it … or maybe just wishful thinking. Call me a curmudgeon, but back when I listened to fusion, Kenny’s soft-jazz auto-pilot arpeggios used to drive me nuts. The variety here is impressive: Union Station, Drive-By Truckers, Hoots and Hellmouth, Brandi Carlile, Corey Ledet … If boredom strikes anyone here, check your pulse … you’re in serious trouble.
The Gathering of the Vibes presents a staunch array of bands carrying on the Grateful Dead trance vibe. Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bob Weir with their own groups? Deadheads should be pleased, unless, of course, they feel that Bruce Hornsby doesn’t fit their idea of Deadmania. The idea sure works for me. There’s also a fascinating aspect to the addition of Branford Marsalis.
The Newport Folk Festival always manages to blend old and new with panache. We like the juxtaposition of the Alabama Shakes with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The Tune-Yards (Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner), recognized by Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, Spin Magazine and the New York Times, for their avant-garde style, stand in stark contrast to Spider John Koerner & His Rag Tag Boys. We don’t think the Newport Folk Festival was intending to create controversy when Dylan went electric, but it may have become an underlying theme ever since.
The 10th annual BAACA Bluegrass Festival once again puts Buddy Merriam & Back Roads front and center. We’ve checked out the Appalachian Diaries EP from Kerry Kearney featuring Maria Fairchild and it’s a beauty. This looks to be a very special day.
We’ve checked and double-checked and it looks like the Philadelphia Folk Festival has cut back to three days this year. We’re still seeing listings of the 2011 performers at the website, so stay tuned for what we’re sure will be a stellar lineup.
Once again, Labor Day weekend will find us at the Rhythm & Roots Festival. We love the ease of the campground — a nice, flat abandoned airfield with grassy areas for tents and paved runways for driving/biking back and forth from the campsite to the festival stages. Some favorite performers include Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys and the David Bromberg Big Band. If you’ve ever heard David in concert sing/rap “Will Not Be Your Fool,” or “Send Me to the ’Lectric Chair,” you know why we love this guy. You know, it dawns on me … “Hey David … we need to talk … Let’s get you on the cover of our little rag … waddya think?”
Imagine the stories he’d tell! That would be a great finale to a very successful festival season.
Now let’s get out there and have some fun!
Ani DiFranco
Big Leg Emma
The Greencards
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Acoustic Hot Tuna
Chris Thile & Michael Daves
Merrill Garbus of the Tune-Yards
June 7-10 ~ Strawberry Park Cajun/Zydeco Festival
42 Pierce Rd, Preston, CT (860) 886-1944 strawberrypark.net/bluegrass-festival
Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie • Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys • Keith Frank & The Soileau Zydeco Band • The Pine Leaf Boys • Horace Trahan & The Ossun Express • Ryan Brunet & The Malfecteurs • Jesse Lege & Bayou Brew • Li’l Anne & Hot Cayenne • Planet Zydeco • JimmyJo & The Jumbol’ayuhs • C’est Bon
Big Leg Emma