As we turn the corner into May, the temperature finally begins to resemble
something that might support a festival season.
The gusting April winds had an icy edge. It only took a small bump for my imagination
to envision air masses heading south, passing over currents in the North Sea, headed in
the same direction. Of course they're swollen with melted masses of Polar ice cap and a
disintegrating Greenland. Could I be on to something? Don't worry. Sometimes I also
think I hear Al Gore singing "All Along the Watchtower."Just before he delineates another
unfolding disaster. Hey, I got issues.
My therapist says I'll be OK. I just need to get out more often. Hang out with a few thousand
people, perhaps.
I haven't divulged that, along with birds chirping amidst new blossoms in the trees, high above
the whine and roar of New York City traffic, I hear the sound of a fiddle sawing and trilling
the strain of a bluegrass tune and I struggle not to break into a buck and wing.
Maybe seven or eight festivals won't diminish greenhouse gases, but it might keep me
grounded. It's worth a try. Maybe I'll see you out there… Maybe you should just avoid me…
Be careful where you put that tarp!
&emdash; Richard Cuccaro
2007 may come to be known as "The Year of Red Molly." Their profile took
a big jump after being selected for a formal showcase at the Northeast Folk Alliance
Conference in 2005. Then, in 2006, they won one of the three coveted favorite
new performer showcase awards at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Since then, they've
hit the ground running. We're happy to see that they're performing at a bunch
of this summer's festivals.
May 11 - 13 ~~ NJ Folk Project
Spring Festival
Stillwater, NJ phone 609/426-9064,
www.folkproject.org/Festivals.html
email: FestReg@folkproject.org
• Joe Crookston • Modern Man
• John Roberts & Tony Barrand
• Christine DeLeon • Dugan's Hooligans
• Ellen Musikant • Carla Ulbrich
• Nils Fredland • Elixir
NJ Folk Project Few festivals are as dedicated to an integrative folk
experience as the New Jersey Folk Project. They hold two weekend-long
festivals each year, in the spring and fall These events are held at a YMCA
camp where participants stay in heated cabins dormitory style, or camp in tents.
There are organized events with scheduled performers, workshops,
round robins, dances, skits, singalongs, canoeing, etc. Joe Crookston's
mystical songwriting and guitar virtuosity should dazzle many and his
engaging personality will completely envelop listeners. Modern Man and
Carla Ulbrich will be on hand, countering depressing worldly affairs,
making sure things don't get too serious.
May 11 - 13 ~~ The 6th Annual Susquehanna
Music and Arts Festival
Ramblewood Campground, Darlington, Maryland
mywebpages.comcast.net/smaf2003/smaf.html
Terri Allard • Jess Klein • Lynn Frances Anderson • Greg Klyma
• Danny Bakan • Tim Mason • Liz Barnez • Kate McDonnell
• Jonathan Byrd • Angie Miller • Don Conoscenti • Ashland Miller
• Lynn Deeves • Irina Rivkin • Anne Feeney • John Seay • Jen Foster
• Small Potatoes • Four Shillings Short • SONiA and Disappear Fear
• Jeffrey Gaines • Spirit Wing • Spook Handy • Anne Weiss
• Kim and Reggie Harris • Annie Wenz • Chrisine Havrilla • Wishing Chair
• Georgie Jessup • Cletus Kennelly and Lori Kelley • Tom Kimmel
Susquehanna We recall the great shows that Terri Allard performed
at the Fast Folk Cafe in the 90's. This Virginia native should be right
at home at this festival. We'd like to think Kate McDonnell is at home
wherever she goes. Our nomination for folk goddess, Kate writes as
good as anyone and better than most. One of these days, her songs and
her Joan Baez-like soprano will get the recognition they deserve.
Among the others, Jonathan Byrd, Don Conoscenti and Small Potatoes
are the ones we like the most.
Warwick Valley Winery
114 Little York Road, Warwick, NY
845-258-4858 www.wvwinery.com
May 19, 20 ~~ Apple Blossom Music Festival
114 Little York Road, Warwick, NY
845-258-4858 www.wvwinery.com
Saturday: • Master and Margarita • Red Molly • Straight Drive
• Awry • The Holmgren Brothers
Sunday: • Marty Koppel • McMule • Kevin and Kate McKrell
• Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart • The Anarchist Orchestra
May 26, 27 & 28 10am - 6pm ~~ Tribute to Bob Dylan Festival
Admission $10.00 in advance, $12 at the door
Saturday May 26th Lucy Kaplansky • Amy Correia • Jason Spooner trio
• Peter Spink • Mike Baglione • Kyle Hancharick • Peter James
Sunday May 27th • Mary Lees Corvette • The Kennedys • Sloan Wainwright
• Marty Mike Steve and Tom • Tony Vitello • Project Mercury
• Mighty Girl • Joe Mckay •
Monday May 28th • The Kennedys • Rod Macdonald • David Frye and New Morning
• McMule • John Sheehan • Kevin Craig • Anthony da Costa
• Pete Agnoli Band
Warwick Valley Winery The Apple Blossom Music Festival finds Red Molly
in the mix with a coterie of bluegrass acts. Abbie's Dobro, Laurie's banjo and
Carolann's mandolin provide a solid foundation for their tight harmonies.
Their version of "Darlin' Corey" grants them immediate access. We like "Caleb Meyer,"
too. Their repertoire keeps growing, so there's no telling what they'll add for this festival.
This venue, with its always-improving performer line-up has also booked Stacy Earle
and Mark Stuart. The Tribute to Bob Dylan Festival at the Winery gets better every year.
For years, we've not been able to catch Mary Lee's Corvette at a live
performance and we're overdue. We've heard that their cover of Dylan's
Blood on the Tracks album is not to be missed. Now's our chance to correct that
oversight. Few performers are as qualified to interpret Dylan as Rod MacDonald.
This sharp-tongued, left-of-center sage brings his own biting sarcasm to bear on
society's miscreants. Plus, as we've stated before, his racked harmonica work
surpasses Bob's by a country mile. The Kennedys can cover anyone they choose
and do it with panache. Dylan is no exception. Old friend Sloan Wainwright is
here, too. She'll wrap that big voice around a favorite and we're all better for it.
May 24 - June 10 ~~ 36th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival
Quiet Valley Ranch/Kerrville, TX 830/257-3600
www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com
• Austin Lounge Lizards • Band of Heathens • Ben Beckendorf • Thad Beckman
• Vince Bell • Jim Bizer • Bobby Bridger • Jonathan Byrd • Jud Caswell • Chris Chandler
• Judy Collins • Ronny Cox • AJ Croce • Dave Crossland • Duology • Antje Duvekot
• Jonathan Edwards • Ruthie Foster • Denice Franke • Brenda Freed • Steven Fromholz
• Will Owen Gage • Vance Gilbert • John Gorka • Tracy Grammer • James Hand
• Terri Hendrix • Sara Hickman • The Hudsons • Steve James • Johnsmith • Billy Jonas
• Diana Jones • Jon Vezner & Celeste Krenz • Jan Krist • Jimmy LaFave • The Laws
• Bob Livingston Trio • Lost Gonzo Band Reunion • Laura Love Trio • The McKay Brothers
• Buddy Mondlock • Ian Moore • Claude "Butch" Morgan & the H!X • Drew Nelson
• Northern Lights • Gretchen Peters • Patrice Pike • Gary Primich • Chuck Pyle • Gayle Ross
• Tom Russell • Eric Schwartz • Steve Seskin • Allen Shamblin • Cosy Sheridan
• Small Potatoes • Michael Smith • Kevin So • Amy Speace and the Tearjerks
• Amilia K Spicer • Jason Spooner • Martin Swinger • Taxi Chain • Eric Taylor
• Texas FlatLINEers • Lucie Blue Tremblay • Trout Fishing in America • Graham Warwick
• Washtub Jerry • Susan Werner • Corinne West • Kenny White
• Walt Wilkins & the Mystiqueros • Jack Williams • Peter Yarrow
Kerrville Where do we start? An embarrassment of riches, as usual. There are a bunch
who we've featured in these pages. Antje Duvekot, Jonathan Byrd, Vance Gilbert,
Cosy Sheridan, Tom Russell,and Diana Jones have been cover articles. Eric Schwartz,
who can be tender or outrageously funny, was a page 3 feature in our December 2000 issue.
The Kerrville web site tells us that Diana and Jonathan will show their duo act to the lucky
folks. We said it last month, but it can't be overstated how good they are as a duo. A fantasy
workshop would be Diana and Jonathan, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings and
Tracy Grammer and whoever she's partnering with these days. Jimmy LaFave is a
long-time favorite (among many) who we've somehow overlooked for a cover feature.
We hope to remedy that soon. Same for Jonathan Edwards and Ruthie Foster.
Buddy Mondlock, a standout from the days of Fast Folk (Magazine and Cafe), is also
someone we need to get in print on our pages. Has everyone heard Chuck Pyle's
"Over the San Luis," from his latest CD? It portrays the sensation of a bird in flight
and, in this author's opinion, nails it. It's simply a perfect song and Chuck is a blessed
songwriter. We don't get to see him often enough in the Northeast. There are at least
two year's worth of future Acoustic Live articles at this festival!
May 25 - 28 ~~ GottaGetGon Folk Festival
Saratoga County Fairgrounds/Ballston Spa, NY
www.pickingandsinging.org/GGG_festival2x.htm
email: ggg@capital.net
Jeff Warner • The Raisin Pickers • Maria Gillard • Beaucoup Blue and more…
GottaGetGon Our buddies, David and Adrian Mowry of Beaucoup Blue are going to
light up this festival. Anyone who hasn't heard David play slide guitar is in for an
eye-opening treat. He's off the charts
May 31 - June 3 ~~ Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival
42 Pierce Rd, Preston, CT
Thurs: 5 pm - 10 pm; Fri/Sat: noon - 11 pm; Sun: 10 am - 4:30 pm
(860) 886-1944, www.strawberrypark.net
Tickets: Advance (by 5/28): $20 - $100; After 5/28: $30-$120
Additional camping fees apply for overnight.
Rhonda Vincent • Chris Thile & the How to Grow a Band with Bryan Sutton
• Mountain Heart • The Grascals • Cherryholmes • Dry Branch Fire Squad
• Gibson Brothers • The Green Cards • Infamous Stringdusters • Dale Ann Bradley
• The Lovell Sisters • April Verch • Nothin? Fancy • Cadillac Sky
• Amy Gallatin & Stillwater • Steep Canyon Rangers
Strawberry Park Bluegrass We've seen Rhonda Vincent a bunch of times and
"not just a pretty face" doesn't begin to cover it. Her band cooks and so does she.
AND --PC or not --she is damn good-looking. Chris Thile, of Nickel Creek fame,
has been doing his own solo thing. From radio play alone, we know he's a huge
talent and will continue to grow over the years. A former child prodigy, "Legendary
status" for him is not out of the question. Showing a propensity for getting out and
playing in more intimate settings, he showed up in our listings recently in venues in
the East Village here in New York City, but regrettably, we were not able to catch
one of his shows.
June 2 ~~ 19th Annual Appel Farm Arts & Music Festival
Appel Farm Arts & Music Center/Elmer, NJ www.appelfarm.org 800/394-1211
Robert Randolph & The Family Band • Joan Armatrading Into The Blues US Tour 2007
• Amos Lee • North Mississippi Allstars • Leon Redbone • Chris Smither • Adrienne Young
• Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra • Sam Shaber • Hoots & Hellmouth • Kate Gaffney
• Carsie Blanton
Appel Two big families highlight Appel this year. Besides the Randolph clan, we have
Mississippi's first family, the All-Stars. Anyone who's acquainted with the Hill Country Revue
album will know what we mean. R.L. Burnside may be gone, but the rest of the crew is still
smokin'. We're sure, as well, that the audience will be ready to "show some emotion" to one
of our favorite divas, Joan Armitrading.
June 2 - 3 ~~ Michael Arnone's 18th Annual Crawfish Fest
SussexCounty Fairgrounds in Augusta ,NJ,
www.crawfishfest.com
• Dr. John • New Orleans Social Club • Bonerama • Cowboy Mouth • Sonny Landreth
• The Duke Robillard Band • Hubert Sumlin • Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen
• Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie • Corey Ledet and His Zydeco Band • Pine Leaf Boys
• Funk-n-Gumbo • Superchief Trio • Li'l Anne and Hot Cayenne …and more
Arnone's Crawfest You can't go wrong with Dr. John and Sonny Landreth, but the guy who
gets my personal attention here is Duke Robillard. Founder and former lead guitarist AND lead
vocalist for Room Full of Blues, he's predominately known for his stellar guitar work. I remember
his growling vocals and playing guitar upside down behind his head. He's played with, among others,
Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Robert Gordon. He was voted Best Blues
Guitarist by The W.C. Handy Awards in 2000 and 2001.
June 7~10 ~~ Blast From the Bayou at Strawberry Park
Strawberry Park, 42 Pierce Road, Preston, CT 06365
(860) 886-1944, Toll-free: (888) 794-7944, www.strawberrypark.net
Tickets: By 6/4: $25-$95; After 6/4: $230-$115
Children 13-17: half price; 12 and under: free
Additional charges for camping hookups or RV Rentals.
Full weekend pass includes camping in the rough.
Th: 5 pm-10 pm, Fri/Sat: noon-11:00 pm; Sun: 10 am - 4 pm
• Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys • Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie
• Donna the Buffalo • Chris Ardoin • The Iguanas • The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band
• Jesse Legé & Bayou Brew • Li'l Anne & Hot Cayenne • The Pine Leaf Boys
• Travis Matte • Hot Tamale Brass Band • and more tba.
Strawberry Park Bayou Blast Steve Riley will get everybody's Cajun blood boiling.
The best dancers will move to that hot, staccato Louisiana rhythm with legs intertwined.
This has always been an erotic art form, as I tell my younger coworkers who generally
frequent the NYC clubs. However, if a trance-like experience is what they're after, Donna
the Buffalo never fails. DTB seems to mix Cajun, Zydeco and The Grateful Dead all at once.
When one looks at the rest of the line-up, it's obvious that the feet are going to be flying.
With names like Chris Ardoin, The Iguanas, The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band,
Jesse Legé & Bayou Brew and Li'l Anne & Hot Cayenne, you know for sure…
Louisiana is in the house!
June 7-10 ~~ Roots on the River
The Eighth Annual Fred Eaglesmith Weekend
I-91, Exit 6, Bellows Falls, Vermont
Info: 866-484-3669, www.rootsontheriver.com
Tickets: $17-$39; Weekend Passes: $89-$115.
Under 12yrs: 1/2 price at door. Infants: free.
Thursday, June 7 Vermont Artists Night
Josh Maiocco • Scott Ainslie • The Starline Rhythm Boys • Sandra Wright Band
• Willie P. Bennett • Roger Marin • Fred Eaglesmith and the Flying Squirrels
• Joe Gee • Red Molly • Dan Whitley Band • Eilen Jewell • Gandalf Murphy
& The Slambovian Circus of Dreams • Chris Knight • Iris Dement • David Olney
Roots on the River Looks like our sweethearts, the "Mollys" are swinging up into Vermont
to join Fred Eaglesmith and friends for the first time. As roots music goes, it doesn't get much
better than this, with Iris DeMent, David Olney (add him to our list of future cover stories
-Whew! Can he write 'em!), and Scott Ainslie in attendance.
June 16 & 17 ~~ Clearwater Music and Environmental Festival
The Great Hudson River Revival
www.clearwater.org/festival.html
Croton Point Park, in Westchester County, NY
Bruce Cockburn • Cowboy Junkies • Entrain • Etones • John Jorgenson Quintet
• Leo Kottke • Bruce Molsky with Tony Trischka • Red Molly • Rick Nestler
• Peace Train • Kevin So and Midnight Snack • Buffy Sainte-Marie • Pete Seeger
• Matt Turk • Vanaver Caravan • Paul Winter • Joint Chiefs • Mystic Rebel
• Rivercity Slim & The Zydeco Hogs • Vanaver Caravan • Bindlestick Bill
• Steve Charney & Harry • Dog on Fleas • Spook Handy • Paul Richmond
• Roger the Jester • Story Laurie & Ira McIntosh • Storycrafters • Uncle Rock
• Vaudevillian Players • Rick Adam • Arm-of-the-Sea Theater • Jenny Boas
• Brett Constantine • Bruce Engholm Etones • Annie Hassett • Eric kollenberg
• Ezell Flora Nina • Raging Grannies • Roger the Jester • J. Peter Schuerholz
• Waffleclown • Walkabout Clearwater Chorus • Story Grove Barbara Aliprantis
• Carol Birch • David Gonzalez • Bill Gordh • Ionataiewas • Motoko • Storycrafters
• Teatro Imperfecto • Valerie Tutson • Keith Wann
Hudson Stage • Aztec 2 Step • Betty & the Baby Boomers • Greg Greenway
• Spook Handy • Kat Mills • Red Molly • Rick Nestler • Buffy Sainte-Marie
• Kevin So and Midnight Snack • Storycrafters • Matt Turk
Circle of Song • Jan Christensen • Dirty Stay Out Skifflers • Dan Einbender
• Hope Machine • Evy Mayer • Donna Nestler • Linda Richards • Eric Russell
• Sarah Underhill • Sol Weber
Clearwater Is there a better pairing than Bruce Cockburn and Clearwater?
Rocket Launcher, indeed!
Bruce has been a champion of the left for decades. As a Canadian, he has kept a wary eye
on his neighbor to the south and weighed in on all matters pertinent to anyone with a pulse
and whose head is not too far buried in the sand -- or in their own posterior. "This is Bagdad,"
from his latest CD, Life Short Call Now, was written in response to his visit to that city.
The songs on the previous album, You've Never Seen Everything, especially the title track
and "Trickle Down," were a wide-raging indictment of practically every ill visited on this planet
by our industrialized, corporatized society. The sadness in "Postcards from Cambodia" is like
a bottomless well. That said, he is, without a doubt, as complete a songwriter-musician as you'll
find. His lyrics and melodies are compelling and his guitar work is stunning. The also-recent
release of Speechless, a completely instrumental guitar album is testimony. We saw Bruce
twice last year, but seeing him in this setting will be something special.
The big guns will continue firing with the appearance of The Cowboy Junkies and Paul Winter.
Buffy Sainte Marie is a wonderful blast from the past. Speaking of junkies, those hooked on
12-string histrionics will be thrilled to see Leo Kottke. If banjo's your thing, Tony Trischka is here
with Bruce Molsky. Bruce plays fiddle and guitar as well as banjo, so this performance should be
dense in virtuosity. John Jorgenson was a stranger to our ears, so we checked out his web site and
the video of his jam with Tommy Emmanuel blew us away. The YouTube clip of his band in action
is thrilling. We are very psyched to see this guitar wizard and his group.
Red Molly, again, is here, too. Maybe somebody up there was listening when I made the silent wish,
"Uhh, could they just go everywhere I go?" Well, maybe not quite. Let's not be greedy.
June 15 - 17 ~~ Fairfield County Irish Festival
Trumbull, CT www.irishfestival.org
• The Subdudes • Maura O'Connell • Joanie Madden
• Liz Carroll & John Doyle • Glengarry Bhoys • Blackthorn
• Searson • Highland Rovers Band • Scythian
Fairfield County Irish Festival This is the first time we're hearing about this one.
Though we're not familiar with most of the names, we see that they've got Maura O'Connell,
so right away, we know they're serious. We're not exactly sure how The Subdudes work here
-- we've seen them fit in thematically with Cajun music, but they're so good it shouldn't matter.
We're betting that one of the guys in the band has an Irish name, at least.
June 22 - 24 ~~ Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music & Dance
Altamont, NY P.O. Box 466 Voorheesville, NY 12186,
www.oldsongs.org/festival
phone: 518/765-2815, fax 518/765-4193 email: oldsongs@oldsongs.org
• Magnolia Sisters • Magpie • Jeremy Kittel Trio • Mamadou Diabate
• Paul Rishell & Annie Raines • Bodega • Finest Kind • Brian McNeill
• Simple Gifts • Michael Cooney • Arrogant Worms • Les Girls • Enoch Kent
• Herdman/Hills/Mangsen • The Whippersnappers • The Stillhouse Rounders
• Jon Bartlett & Rika Ruebsaat • Steve Tilston • Pat Humphries & Sandy O
• Pat Wictor • Kieron Means & Sara Grey • Crazy Quilt • Louis Killen
• David Munnelly Band, more
Old Songs This tradfest has a lot going for it. Not the least of which, us contemporary
singer/songwriter aficionados can always use some grounding (all right, a LOT of grounding).
We see that Louis Killen is here. We used to see him regularly at the old Fox Hollow festival
in upstate New York. His way with an old sailing ballad was mesmerizing. Michael Cooney
was a staple at Fox Hollow, too. Michael is a festival unto himself. The deeper we get into
the performer list, the better it gets. Let's see: Stillhouse Rounders, Jeremy Kittel, Magpie,
Pat Humphries and Sandy O, Pricilla Herdman-Anne Hills-Cindy Mangsen, Steve Tilston, Pat Wictor.…
Wow! It's jam-packed. They should issue some sort of folk doctorate (at least a certificate) just
for attending.
July 6 - 8 ~~ Mariposa Folk Festival
Tudhope Park/Orillia, ON, Canada
www.mariposafolk.com/signpost.php?dest=home
• Gordon Lightfoot • Don McLean • Hawksley Workman
• Susan Aglukark, Serena Ryder • The Good Brothers, more
Mariposa The big names here, of course, are Gordon Lightfoot and Don MacLean.
While we aren't familiar with the others, we did make the acquaintance of one of the
up-and-coming Canadian performers at NERFA this past November. Toronto native David Celia
grabbed our attention right away when we visited the Canadian guerilla showcase room.
His CD was a delight and we saw him again the following week at The Rockwood Music Hall
in New York City. It's no surprise to find him among the big cats at Mariposa.
July 6 - 8 ~~ New Bedford Summerfest
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
New Bedford, Mass. 508/997-5231 www.barrel-of-music.com
• Jake Armerding • Joyce Andersen • Jeff Black • Rory Block • Bodega
• Benoit Bourque • Judy Cook • Michael Cooney • Ronny Cox • Finest Kind
• Beppe Gambetta • Vance Gilbert • Jack Hardy • James Keelaghan
• The Kennedys • Jess Klein • Patty Larkin • Karen Mal
• Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams • Dan Plews
• Harvey Reid • John Roberts • Eric Schwartz • Kate Taylor • Art Tebbetts
• Steve Tilston • Gareth Turner & Guy Fletcher • John Whelan • Jack Williams
• Anne Whiting & Dance Manian Tevils • Women in Docs • Susan Werner …and more
New Bedford Summerfest Here it comes. The best mix of contemporary and traditional
folk music on the planet. And what a setting! Spread across the cobblestoned streets of the
Whaling National Historical Park, the assortment of styles is mind-boggling. We haven't seen
Rory Block in a while. The blues never looked so good, and she can pick it as good as she looks.
Speaking of picking, Beppe Gambetta will be in town. Italy's foremost flat
picker (you can't still be the only one, Beppe) is going to bend some minds. Susan Werner's
new album has been bending some minds as well. We don't want to know what the evangelicals
think about it (or about anything for that matter). This monster talent masters any subject she
chooses to lyricize (I hope that's a word). We got to see a good bit of Jake Amerding at last year's
Boston folk Festival and we were extremely impressed. This one's a comer. Our old faves, the
Kennedys will pour some rock into the mix --there's some Buddy Holly hangin' around from
that trip to Lubbock. Patty Larkin is a local gal made good. How good?
We've found that it's impossible to measure what her music does to a heart that's open. Our r
eservations are already made nearby and we can smell that sea air and taste that seafood at the
big food tent! Hope you'll join us for a sublime outing, just up the block from the fishing boats.
July 6 - 8 ~~ 16th Annual Great Blue Heron Music Festival
Sherman, NY greatblueheron.com/index.html
P.O. Box 791/ Jamestown, NY
email: gbhfest@netsync.net
• Donna the Buffalo • The Horse Flies • The Avett Brothers • The Sim Redmond Band
• Slo-Mo, Entrain • The Town Pants • Willis Prudhomme & Red Line Zydeco • Bombadil
• Big Leg Emma • Boy With a Fish • Jim Donovan • Kelly & the Cowboys • The Chicken Chokers
• Jenn Wertz w/Isabella • John & Mary & the Valkyries • Buffalo Zydeco • The Talk to Me's
• Shoot the Moon • Crow Greenspun • Tiger Maple String Band • Smackdab • Yankee Zydeco
• Pine Ridge • Bruce Peterson Blues Project • Steel Pan Alley
Great Blue Heron Donna The Buffalo and the Horseflies are going to get some serious
folkie booty-shakin' happening here. It never fails, every time we see these two groups.
John and Mary and the Valkyries would be John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey and group.
John was a founding member of 10,000 Maniacs, but left the band. Mary was a classical violinist
and brings some serious chops to the enterprise. John and Mary played the tiny Fast Folk Cafe
back in the late 90's and were brilliant (an amazing coup for me as manager and booking person
for that show). Other names that intrigue us are Shoot the Moon, Big Leg Emma and…
The Chicken Chokers! Hmmm… How did they get THAT name?
July 11 - 15 ~~ Woody Guthrie Folk Festival
Okemah, OK www.woodyguthrie.com
• Arlo Guthrie • Kevin Welch • Jimmy LaFave • Sara Hickman • Joel Rafael • Butch Hancock
• Ellis Paul • Tim O'Brien • Ronny Elliott • Terri Hendrix w/Lloyd Maines • Rob McNurlin
• Jack Williams • Don Conoscenti • Antje Duvekot • Johnsmith • Bill Chambers • Sam Baker, more
Woody Guthrie Festival We see that Ellis Paul is making his annual pilgrimage to Okemah again.
That's one of the things we admire him for. A great contemporary artist who recognizes the debt
we owe, and pays his respects to, the greatest of folk trailblazers. Ellis gets our vote as a significant
contributor to the current musical landscape. He's joined by, among others, native son Jimmy LaFave,
Woody's son, Arlo (how much do we love Arlo?), Tim O'Brien (he covers anyone and it sounds great),
and Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines (great songwriting meets great pickin').
July 19-22 ~~ Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
Rothvoss Farm, 758 E. Ancram Rd, Ancramdale, NY 12503
(just off Rt 22, 8 miles south of Hillsdale) 1-888-946-8495,
www.greyfoxbluegrass.com
Hosted as always by Dry Branch Fire Squad
• The Duhks • Tony Trischka Double Banjo Spectacular • Sparrow Quartet
• Infamous Stringdusters • Doyle Lawson • Steep Canyon Rangers • James King
• Pete & Joan Wernick, • Dismembered Tennesseans • Dry Branch Fire Squad.
FRI (7/20): Nickel Creek • Mountain Heart • Rowan & Rice • Dry Branch Fire Squad
• Uncle Earl • Crooked Still • Infamous Stringdusters • The Duhks • The Wilders
• Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper • Danny Barnes.
SAT (7/21): Sam Bush • The Waybacks • Marty Stuart & the Fabulous Superlatives
• Claire Lynch • The Greencards, • Kruger Bros. • The Wilders • Crooked Still,
• Dry Branch Fire Squad • Biscuit Burners • Bearfoot Bluegrass.
SUN (7/22): Biscuit Burners, • Dry Branch Fire Squad • Bluegrass Gospel
Project • Bluegrass Academy performance.
Dance Stage bands include Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superatives including
Kenny Vaughan and Harry Stinson • the Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck,
Abigail Washburn and Casey Driessen; as well as Sam Bush, and Nickel Creek.
Grey Fox We've read that the current Nickel Creek tour is the last for an indefinite
period of time and that they won't be recording together again as a group. This festival is a
good chance then, for the folks in the northeast to catch them, if only on Friday. Acoustic Live
can only attend Grey Fox on Saturday and Sunday so we'll miss that chance. Also, to date,
we've only seen Abigail Washburn. of Uncle Earl, solo. Our curious fascination to see this all-female
old-timey, bluegrass group will have to continue unsatisfied, for now.
We'll content ourselves instead, with the virtuosity of Sam Bush, The Waybacks, and Crooked Still.
We envy the diehards, who get to see, on Thursday and Friday, Uncle Earl, The Duhks,
Rowan & Rice and Tony Trischka's Double Banjo Spectacular. Tony will be playing with
Noam Pikelny, known early on as a banjo wonderkind out of Chicago. Noam, heavily influenced
by both Tony and Bela Fleck, spent 2 years with Leftover Salmon. Of course, the entire proceeding
will be overseen by host band Dry Branch Fire Squad which features the dry, homespun,
mischevious wit of leader Ron Thomason. His bio on the Dry Branch web site reads, "Ron started
out as a child and never got over it." Well, thank goodness there's more than one of us!
July 26~29 ~~ Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
www.FalconRidgeFolk.com
44 County Road 7D, Hillsdale, NY
Dodds Farm, just off Route 22 north of Hillsdale
Clayfoot Strutters • Dust Poets • Eddie From Ohio • Ellis, Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian
Circus of Dreams • George Marshall with Wild Asparagus • Glengarry Bhoys • Jason Spooner Trio
• Jimmy LaFave • John Gorka • Lowen & Navarro • Lucy Kaplansky • Marshall Crenshaw
• Nerissa & Katryna Nields • Pat Wictor • Richard Shindell • Red Molly • Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers
• Terri Hendrix & Lloyd Maines • The Rowan Brothers • The Sevens • Tidal Wave • Tracy Grammer
Falcon Ridge We usually don't get to see Tracy Grammer until festival season, so this is a good time
of year for us. She'll carry the late Dave Carter tribute torch and give us all a taste of why Dave chose
to perform (and life-partner) with her . Fiddler, guitarist and singer, she embodies the folk spirit.
Haven't seen Jimmy LaFave in a while, so we're eager to hear that "Texoma twang." Besides
being a great writer, he interprets Dylan better than anyone, and can cover oldies as good as anybody.
His "Walk Away Renee" is better than the original and is our all-time favorite. All three members
of Cry Cry Cry -- Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky and Dar Williams -- will be "in the house."
They've shown no inclination to renew that august combination, but hey, who knows? Maybe lightning
will strike. Of course, since they were voted by the audience as one of the top three "Most Wanted
To Return" acts in the 2006 Friday New Performer Showcase, Red Molly would be here at
"The Ridge."They'll be onstage with the other two acts, reprising the Falcon Ridge Preview mini-tour
that Anne Saunders arranges every year -- 8 to 10 gigs in northeast venues (check our listings) --
to promote the festival and give the newcomers greater exposure.
Speaking of newcomers, Acoustic Live will once again present its own showcases at our booth on
the midway. Scheduled to perform this year are:
Thursday, 2-4pm: Charles Nolan (Host w/Cheryl Prashker) / Susan Kane / Phil Minissale / Red Molly
Friday, 2-4pm: Arlon Bennett / Phil Henry / Cadence Carroll / My Dad's Truck / Meg Braun /
Matthew Broady / David Goldman / Jud Caswell
Saturday, 2-4pm: Glass of Water / Jim Gilmour / Scott Seltzer / Mike Morris / Lara Herscovitch /
Joe Crookston / Kathleen Pemble and Ali Chambliss / Bobby Syvarth (Host)
Sunday, noon-2pm: My Dad's Truck - Morning Gospel show / Rich Deans / Hope Machine /
Anthony da Costa / Matt Turk / Chuck E. Costa / Ali Chambliss / We're About 9
Last year, we were in the middle of our Friday showcase when a torrential downpour forced
audience and players into our booth where we proceeded to have ourselves a memorable tent
revival session. WFUV'S John Platt was with us and spoke on-air in the following week's Sunday
Morning Breakfast show of the trancendent nature of the experience. The videos of this unforgettable
experience that we uploaded to YouTube include Joe Crookston covering Supertramp's
"The Logical Song," and three from Pat Wictor: "Rejoice in My Troubles," "Heaven is So High,"
and "Love is the Water." Just click on titles and check them out!
August 3 - 5 ~~ Dunkin' Donuts Newport Folk Festival
Newport, RI
[phone 401/847-3700] www.festivalproductions. net/newportfolk/index.php
Allman Brothers Band • North Mississippi Allstars • Dirty Dozen Brass Band
• Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • Tom Morello (of Rage Against the Machine)
Assembly of Dust • Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas
• Emmylou Harris • Amos Lee • Alejandro Escovedo • Ralph Stanley, and more.
Newport This one always gets the heavy hitters. The Allman Brothers Band and the Mississippi Allstars?
PLUS Alejandro Escovedo? Alison Kraus and Union Station AND Emmylou Harris? Somebody got
greedy here, and isn't the Newport audience lucky that they did! We saw Alejandro Escovedo recently
in New Jersey at The Outpost in the Burbs. It wasn't just a performance. It was an event. There's
more drama and passion in one Escovedo song than most performers can pack into an entire album.
And, he can rock. "Castanets," anyone? If you haven't heard the song with that title, find it and listen. Hard. You'll "like it better when she walks away," too.
August 11 ~~ Second Annual Huntington Folk Festival
Heckscher Park, Huntington, NY fmshny.org
Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park
Showcases
5pm Long Island Artists: Steve Robinson / Glen Roethel and Denise Romas / Ken Korb and Bruce MacDonald
6pm Acoustic Live in New York City presents a song swap with: Meg Braun / Lara Herscovitch / Mike Morris / Paul Sachs (hosted by Richard Cuccaro)
7pm Song swap with: Phil Minissale / Danielle Miraglia with Tom Bianchi / James O'Malley (hosted by Michael Kornfeld)
8pm Opening Act: Beaucoup Blue
Feature Act: TBA May 13th
Huntington (Long Island) Last year we held showcases in front of our booth. This year we get to hold 'em on the mainstage. Not as many, but a bit more prominent. We've seen Meg Braun grow from an ingenue swapping songs at Jack Hardy's Monday Night soiree to running swaps of her own at various venues. We've grown increasingly fond of her voice and we hope you will, too. When it comes to voices, they don't come much more powerful that our old friend, Paul Sachs. He'd blow people away on a regular basis down at the old Fast Folk Cafe and he's still doing it. Lara Herscovitch has always impressed us with her energy and
intelligent writing. We know you'll be impressed as well. We met Mike Morris at NERFA last fall and liked his energy and singing style. We're happy to have him join us.
We're ecstatic that Beaucoup Blue will be opening for the main act. That means more people will get to know and love the father and son duo, David and Adrian, the way we do. We've been told that the main act will be announced on May 13th, so watch our web site (or theirs). We're sure you won't be disappointed!
August 17-19 ~~ 46th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival
Old Poole Farm Schwenksville, PA www.folkfest.org
• Back of the Moon • Baka Beyond • Carsie Blanton • Sam Bush • Carolina Chocolate Drops
• Jonathan Edwards with Cheryl Prashker • Fennings All Star String Band • John Flynn
• Freebo • Groovemama • David Holt • Diana Jones • Jess Klein • Bettye LaVette • Les Yeux Noirs
• James Leva • The Lovell Sisters • The Mammals • Zan McLeod • Elvis Perkins
• The Pine Leaf Boys • The Quebe Sisters • Quiet Riot • Gene Shay • Mavis Staples
• Stephan Wade and Friends • Toby Walker • Doc Watson • Pat Wictor • Jack Williams more TBA…
Philadelphia There's a lot of synchronicity between the Philly Festival and Acoustic Live.
We're planning on a cover feature on Toby Walker for our August issue, and, since he's
performing here, it'll look real good, there on the info rack just inside the main gate!
Ahhh, what the hell… might as well just give them out in the audience! Pat Wictor's here again, too,
and we were an early champion of Pat's considerable talents. We'll want to be in the audience
when our April feature, Diana Jones takes the stage. We featured another scheduled performer,
local Philly area artist and fierce activist John Flynn, back in February of 2003. And, as always,
it's going to be fun walking around the campground, taking pictures of the various wacky
themed campsites. Bob's Country Bunker, with it's built-in saloon is one of our annual favorites.
Hold a cold one for me fellas!
Aug 31 - Sep 2 ~~ 36th Annual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival
Salem County Fair Grounds US 40, Woodstown, New Jersey
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage • Cherryholmes • The Grascals • Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
• Nashville Bluegrass Band • Seneca Rocks • Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass • Lost Highway
• John Reischman & The Jaybirds • James Reams & The Barnstormers • Foghorn String Band
• April Verch • Country Current • Tuesday Mountain Boys
Aug 31 - Sep 2 ~~ 10th Annual Rhythm & Roots Festival
Ninigret Park, 4813 Old Post Rd, Rt 1 Charlestown, RI
www.rhythmandroots.com 888/855-6940
Fri: 5 pm-midnight, Sat & Sun: noon-midnight
HOST BAND: The Red Stick Ramblers • Bela Fleck & the Flecktones • Susan Tedeschi
• Natalie MacMaster • Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys • Donna the Buffalo
• Marty Stuart & the Fabulous Superlatives • Creole Cowboys • James McMurtry
• Los Straitjackets with Big Sandy • Racines • Johnny Nicholas & the Texas Allstars
featuring Joel Guzman and Greg Piccolo • Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans • The Buddhahood
• The Pine Leaf Boys • Ray Bonneville • Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams
• Corey "Lil Pops" Ledet • Dennis & Jennifer Stroughmatt • Ed Poullard • Magnolia
• Plus many more TBA...
Rhythm & Roots Host band, the Red Stick Ramblers, have been one of our favorites for a
few years now, ever since we saw them at Clearwater. Though we lean, more often than not,
toward solo singer/songwriters, this group piques our interest. The twin fiddles absolutely smoke.
They can cook in bluegrass or Cajun. The guitarist is a hot player, and he has to be to hold his
own with those twin leads.
We've never actually seen Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. We've heard the name so often, it's
grown to legendary stature, so this is going to be a first for us, and a memorable outing.
Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys have hosted here quite a bit, and seem to make this a
permanent stop on their itinerary and boy, are we glad. Steve at Central Park Summerstage (NYC)
was the first date for this author and his wife.
Natalie MacMaster is guaranteed to positively shred it whenever she puts the bow to the fiddle, and
don't get in the way of those dancing feet! The party atmosphere at R & R is infectious and
Susan Tedeschi, a local Rhode Island blues monster who blows 'em a way nationally is going
to send it up a few notches.
That partyin' crowd in front of the stage will be up and shakin' it. It's been a while since we've
seen Ray Bonneville. We miss his wry lyrics, edgy baritone, tight guitar work and the
humming-bee sound of his racked harmonica. Now for a bit of conjecture: We're figuring that
James McMurtry is going to play both the main and workshop stage. He'll probably have a
backing band, but maybe not when he does the workshop. The folks who know that this guy
is a national treasure will be getting to the workshop tent early, 'cause it's going to be packed.
His father, Larry, takes a few hundred pages to write a novel. James can pack one into one song.
There's the redneck family gathering of "Choctaw Bingo," the snow beginning to fall on a single
mother in "Rachel's Song," the tired couple waking up 'once in a while in the same room' in
"Down Across the Delaware," the marching band doin' the best they can to play 'Smoke on the
Water' in "Levelland," and on and on. His free online download "Can't Make it Here Anymore,"
perfectly encapsulated the ills of our current administration and the overall moral and fiscal state
of affairs in this nation. For this author, this is another first sighting, and everything else stops
when this man climbs the steps to the stage.
Sept 14 - 17 ~~ 2nd Annual Strawberry Folk Music Festival
Strawberry Park, 42 Pierce Road, Preston, CT
Tel: (860) 886-1944, Toll-free: (888) 794-7944
www.strawberrypark.net/folk_music.htm
Jonathan Edwards • The Kennedys • Tracy Grammer • Chris Smither
• Vance Gilbert • Gandalf Murphy • Dave Mallett • Lucy Kaplansky • Red Molly
• Rani Arbo • The Nields • Mustard's Retreat • Girl Howdy • Crowfoot
• Big Bandemonium • Peter David Band • Beth Molaro • Sue Rosen • Richie Havens
• and many, many more!
Strawberry Park Folk Fest This festival, in its 2nd year, has tapped a nice variety of
vintage artists--Richie Havens and Jonathan Edwards (these guys are ageless) and contemporary
-- Chris Smither, Vance Gilbert, Lucy Kaplansky, The Kennedys and Tracy Grammer. There's
something for everyone. One that stands out for us is Dave Mallet. Big voice, big heart. Influenced
by country singers Jim Reeves and Ray Price and early folk acts such as Peter, Paul and Mary
and the Kingston Trio, he sometimes reminds people of Gordon Lightfoot.
Sept 15 & 16 ~~ Boston Folk Festival
Umass Boston Morrissey Boulevard, South Boston/Dorchester
(617) 287- 6911 www.bostonfolkfestival.org
Boston There's no performers listed yet for this year's Boston Folk Festival. The web page for the
BFF describes the highlights from 2006 and states that information will be updated on May 10th
-- too late for this publication. However, we've had such a good time at each one we've attended,
we're betting that this year will live up to our lofty expectations. I'd hate to miss those workshops
at the Pavilion Stage at the edge of the harbor.
Free Concerts in New York City
Once again, we'd like to recommend the web site operated by our good friend, web guru Randy Shannon,
www.freeconcertsnyc.com. Many performance series, such as Central Park's Summerstage
and Lincoln Center's Roots of American Music haven't posted their line-ups yet. When they do,
the links will be available at this invaluable site.
We hope to see all of our friends out and about in the coming warm months!