July
3-5, 2009
PDF of the flyer to download,
print and post...help spread the word!
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Friday Night Kick-Off Concert
July 3, 2009
Starting time is 6:30 PM
sponsored by
Maria Muldaur
Ellis Paul Peter Mulvey
This show begins at 6:30 PM at Custom House Stage. For ticket information, go to tickets page.
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Artists booked for 2009...(scroll down to see photos and short bits about each artist)
In alphabetical order:
Roy Book Binder
Benoit Bourque
Susie Burke & Dave Surrette
Bua
Ronny Cox
Dala
Antje Duvekot
Stacy Earle & Mark Stuart
Cliff Eberhardt
Jonathan Edwards Trio
The English Men
Tim Eriksen
Stephen Fearing
Bob Franke
Gadelle
John Gorka
Livio Guardi
The Kennedys
Louis Killen
Claire Lynch
Lovell Sisters
Harry Manx
Danielle Miraglia
Maria Muldaur
Peter Mulvey
Ellis Paul
Red Hen
Red Molly
Reveillons!
Claudia Russell & Bruce Kaplan
Richard Shindell
Art Tebbetts
Daniel & Luc Thonon
and more!
More about the Performers:
Roy
Book Binder is a blues singing, guitar picking, song-writing raconteur, and has
been for the past 40 years. Roy has been continually touring across America in
his tour bus, which has been his home for the last thirty years, as well as
performing internationally. Back in the early 1960s, Roy learned his craft from
the legendary blind street singer, Reverend Gary Davis, who was thrust into the
national spotlight when Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded his song "If I Had
My Way." After two years of traveling the folk-blues circuit with his
mentor, Roy struck out on his own. Along the way, he befriended Pink Anderson,
an old Carolina medicine show performer (who by the way was the "Pink"
in Pink Floyd. Pink's stories and songs will forever be kept alive as long as
Roy has a stage to perform on. In his travels, Book Binder has run across quite
a cast of characters, including three peg-legged dancers, and a 90-year-old
classic blues singer with a sparkling smile, who was known as, "Diamond
Teeth" Mary (Bessie Smith's half sister). All of these characters have
become a part of a "Roy Book Binder show" which is a hilarious
educational experience not to be missed!
**********
A
versatile artist overflowing with energy and a contagious joie de vivre, Benoit
Bourque has been winning the public over for more than 25 years. Charismatic,
exuberant, warm, funny, limber and a band’s sparkplug are a few words that
have been used to describe him. A musician, dancer, singer and caller, Benoit
has been a member of different bands with whom he has toured extensively in
North America and in Europe. Éritage, Ad vielle que pourra, Hommage à Alfred
Montmarquette, Bourque et Bernard, Matapat, Le Vent du Nord, are all bands that
benefited from his talents and unmistakable charisma. He is a specialist in
Quebec traditional dance and has presented lectures and workshops in many camps
and festivals. Benoit has also shred his skill in step dancing and bones playing
which is a family tradition as his dad and grandfather were both bones players).
Benoit is the recipient of multiple awards including 4 Juno Awards (the
Canadian equivalent of the Grammy).
**********
Susie
Burke and David Surette have made a name for themselves as one of the finest
acts on the lively New England folk scene. Together since 1988, Susie and David
have built a steady following for their own blend of contemporary, traditional,
and original folk and acoustic music. Burke's vocal style is at once stunning
and heartfelt, and is matched by Surette's fluid fretwork. Susie’s musical
tastes and influences are varied and many, encompassing contemporary and
traditional folk, swing, country, topical songs, and acapella singing, with
detours along the way for Broadway showtunes and classic ballads. "She
possesses one of the finest, purest ballad sopranos heard in folk music
today" says the Boston Globe, noting that "her phrasing is
unerringly devoted to the lyric" and that "Burke displays a gift for
pulling honest emotional chords - all too rare in these clever and cynical
times. One of New England's finest guitarists, Dave has been quietly generating
a growing following. His solo albums "Back Roads" and "Trip to
Kemper" have helped to establish him as a top player and arranger of Celtic
fingerstyle guitar, yet his diverse repertoire also includes original
compositions, blues and ragtime, traditional American roots music, and folk
music from a variety of traditions, all played with finesse, taste, and
virtuosity. He is equally at home on the mandolin and bouzouki, and is
well-known as a top-notch accompanist in New England's contra dance and Celtic
music circles. Folk Roots magazine notes that his "bouzouki, guitar,
and mandolin playing is exemplary."
**********
A quintet comprised of some of America’s most talented, young musicians, Bua have been described by Irish Music Magazine as “the essence of a superb band,” their sound “a throwback to the playing of the 1960s and 1970s, keeping the music down the path of tradition” and their 2006 release, Live at Martyrs’, “a work without gimmicks, where the musicianship is of the highest quality.” It is no surprise then that Bua, lending to its Irish Gaelic meaning of ‘innate gift,’ have quickly risen to the status of America’s premier traditional Irish music ensemble.
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In
Hollywood, they say it takes smart actors to play stupid characters, and nice
guys to play nasty villains. Ronny Cox is the poster-boy for the latter
point.
He played slithery corporate snakes in "RoboCop" and "Total
Recall;" but as a singer-songwriter, he is a study in easygoing amiability
and unforced charisma. He charms crowds with self-teasing humor, tart
progressive insight, and a lulling Southwestern folk sound. His repertoire is a
smart mix of witty ditties, bluesy swing tunes, heart-on-sleeve romances, and
real-life anthems. Ronny
sums it up nicely. "I'm interested in weaving a tapestry of songs
and stories with an over-all arc that eventually comes together and tells us
something about 'the human condition'. I know that sounds kinda pompous... but
that's what I'm trying to do... and to have a few laughs along the
way."
While Ronny started out as a musician and has emphasized that side of his career for the past few years, he still is one of the most respected and sought-after character actors in Hollywood. Since his debut in John Boorman's film "Deliverance" including playing guitar in the famous "dueling banjos" scene, Ronny has appeared in over 50 films including "Beverly Hills Cop(I & 11)", "Bound for Glory", "Robo Cop", "Total Recall" and too many others to mention. He has starred in numerous TV movies and in the TV series of "Apple's Way", "St. Elsewhere", "The Agency" and of course as Senator Kinsey in "Stargate SG1". And on April 9 of this year he was seen opposite Carol Burnett on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” and another guest spot on “Commander In Chief” on May 2.
In the past few years Ronny has concentrated on his music. The results include his being named a finalist in the South Florida Singer/Songwriter competition, headlining such venues as the prestigious Old Town School of Folk in Chicago and hitting one of his favorites stops along the way, the annual Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, Texas. He has appeared numerous times as a singer-songwriter on major media outlets including the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and National Public Radio’s Mountain Stage.
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Dala
features vocal harmonies guaranteed to give you chills. Dala has it all-talent,
charisma, looks, charm, and heavenly, harmonious singing voices. Duo members
Sheila Carabine and Amanda Walther also make use of their considerable talents
on guitar and piano to create a unique brand of acoustic pop. Their fun and
energetic stage presence has made Dala a fan favorite at festivals across the
country. Having shared their signature style of music with ever-broadening,
enthusiastic audiences, these two best friends are quickly gaining momentum and
winning ardent fans each remarkable concert, festival and step along the way.
**********
Antje
Duvekot is a Heidelberg, Germany native but currently resides in Massachusetts.
Famed singer-songwriter, Ellis Paul, is telling everyone who will listen that
she's the next great American folk singer/songwriter and guitarist. Her songs
are provocative, dark-eyed ballads, that fans of a young Shawn Colvin will
enjoy. The Boston Globe said her first CD was the "most convincing debut CD
by a local songwriter since Dar Williams." And a Rolling Stone writer has
recently said that she is a "...terrific writer and singer, with the
instincts to do things right, over and over and over." She has released her
new record "'The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer" which demonstrates
why, according to The Boston Globe, "Antje Duvekot's provocative, dark-eyed
ballads are becoming the talk of the folk world. Duvekot has gotten hotter,
faster than any local songwriter in recent memory."
**********
Few
husband-wife musical duos provide audiences with the complete entertainment
package that Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart dish out in a live performance.
Armed with clever acoustic guitar interplay, autobiographical songwriting,
lovely harmonies, and humorous storytelling this couple captivates your
attention from the first moment they are onstage. Based out of Tennessee,
Earle and Stuart draw from blues, pop, country, rock, and more in their
heartfelt music. The years of touring the folk/Americana circuit (playing 170
concerts a year) have given them a knack for reaching out to the audience in
an intimate “come in to my living room” fashion.
Stacey and Mark own their own record label, Gearle Records, and have made 8 CDs over the years. Since meeting in 1992 and marrying in late 1993, the partners have toured the USA, Canada, and Europe repeatedly. They left the environment of pursuing a major label deal in Nashville in 1998 to target small intimate venue crowds in theaters, coffeehouses, festivals, clubs, and house concerts. This has become their home and they are a recognized fixture on the folk music trail they blaze.
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Red
House Records proudly marked the return of Cliff Eberhardt with “The High
Above and the Down Below”. This CD was named one of the TOP 5 of 2007 last
Christmas Eve by USA Today reviewer/critic Elysa Gardner. On this
first CD in 5 years the soulful songwriter delivers 12 striking original
songs. Deftly combining his heavy pop and jazz influences, Cliff returns with
songs of life and its many layers of experience- reaching out to many avid
listeners.
“Cliff
Eberhardt sings with passion and with wit…what makes his brand so rare is the
self-assurance and poise he brings to his nearly flawless show.” —The
New York Post
“One of the most talented musicians on the solo acoustic circuit... full of
well-crafted songs and rich, emotional vocals.” —Seattle
Post Intelligencer
*********
Once you hear Jonathan Edwards' voice, you'll want to hear it again and again. His rich, warm tenor has a distinctively unique and natural quality.
Jonathan
has acquired an enviable track record, one of skill and grace in the sometimes
brutal world of the music business. And he has done it while keeping intact his
ear for a strong melody and love of a beautifully crafted song. During his
37-year career he has recorded 15 albums and penned such notable hits as
"Shanty" and "Sunshine", which earned him a gold record in
1971. This classic song, covered by Paul Westerberg, is included in the 1995
release of "Friends", a compilation of music for the hit NBC-TV show,
and is heard in the 2004 Will Ferrell film “Anchorman” and included on the
soundtrack. His 1987 children's album, "Little Hands", selected by the
National Library Association as a "Notable Children's Recording", has
sold over 20,000 copies and is still going strong.
Jonathan celebrated 30 years of "Sunshine" with a "First Annual Farewell Tour" w/Kenny White on piano in 2001. “First Annual” was prophetic, since he is touring now more than he has in years and showing no signs of slowing down. A recent Netherlands tour resulted in a live CD, “Rollin’ Along”, scheduled for radio distribution in 2009. He also scored the soundtrack for “The Golden Boys”, a major motion picture scheduled for release in 2009, and he has a small role as a reformist preacher in the film.
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The English Men
The New Bedford Summerfest is proud to present the first North American appearance of the four piece folk-rock band The Englishmen. Melodeon player Gareth Turner and fiddler extraordinaire Guy Fletcher is joined by guitarists and vocalist Gerry Colvin and bass player Nick Quarmby. Gareth and Guy make up two-fifths of New Bedford’s favorite electric folk band, Little Johnny England. Gerry was born in Barrow-in-Furness and raised in Orpington, Kent. In the early 1980's he co-founded the legendary skiffle-cowpunk indie outfit 'Terry & Gerry'. This seminal band not only earned a living for many years but also performed on British television and reached No.1 in the British indie charts. In the nineties Gerry spent some time in Nashville working as a professional songwriter. Nick was born in Birmingham and moved to Gloucestershire in 1967. Having performed with various blues bands in the 80's, he joined 'The Dockery Boys' in 1991. Nick has continued to play bass and acoustic guitar throughout the nineties and met Gerry in 1996 at the Albert Inn in Bedminster, Bristol. Thereafter they performed as a duo for three years, recording a debut album ‘ColvinQuarmby’, which was released in October 1998. Their band, by the same name has gained great popularity in the British Isles.
**********
One
of the best singers in American roots music, Tim Eriksen "connects the
present and the ancient with an immediacy that will make your bones
tremble." A songwriter of rare intensity and an inventive
multi-instrumentalist, he redefines American tradition with a "northern
roots" sound that encompasses old Massachusetts murder ballads, chilling
shape-note harmonies and originals alongside southern Appalachian and Irish
songs.**********
Stephen Fearing has
spoken of the “artistic thing” in Ireland, where he spent much of his
childhood — an esthetic, a musicality, that infuses everyday life, as well as
“a mournfulness in Irish music, just a sonic quality that people would think
of as being a bit sad.” Irish music is only one of many influences you’ll
hear in Fearing’s work, though. An acoustic performer known for his guitar
playing and penetrating lyrics, Fearing may be as popular in his native Canada
as a member of the award-winning folk-rock group Blackie and the Rodeo Kings as
he is for his solo career; in fact, one reviewer wrote that he “should be far
more popular than he is.” This may seem like an odd way to recommend an artist
to you, but it’s a delicious treat to discover a talent that’s been hidden
in the open, in Stephen’s case, since he released the first of his six records
in 1986.
**********
Bob Franke is at the peak of his considerable craft; brimming with the
wise and spiritually generous songs for which he is best known, along with
wrenchingly convincing topical songs and sugared with the hilarious. His are the
kind of songs that really do have the power to change the world by being taken
into the lives of people. They come to you, these songs.
As
Tom Paxton says, "It's his integrity. I always think of Bob as if Emerson
and Thoreau had picked up acoustic guitars and gotten into songwriting. There's
touches of Mark Twain and Buddy Holly in there, too." Bob's songs are
considered classics, fueled by his deep faith and the real-life lessons taught
him by his 30-odd years of playing everywhere from concert halls to street
corners. Bob has appeared in concert at coffeehouses, colleges, festivals, bars,
streets, homes and churches in 33 states, four Canadian provinces and England.
His concerts have appeared in lists of the top five musical events of the year
chosen by critics in the Boston and San Francisco Bay areas. In 1990, the Boston
Music Awards nominated him as an Outstanding Folk Act.
Consider this list: Peter, Paul and Mary; David Wilcox; John McCutcheon; Sally Rogers; Lui Collins; Garnet Rogers; June Tabor. These well-known artists (and many more) all sing and record Bob's music. Seasoned veterans and novices alike are drawn to the complex, warm-hearted spirituality and captivatingly clear-cut melodies of Franke's songs.
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Gadelle
is a four member, all woman, traditional French-Acadian band that includes
former internationally acclaimed Barachois members, Helene Bergeron and Louise
Arsenault. Gadelle is an old Acadian word, which translates as “wild
berries” and also has a connotation of a feisty female. This new group's
performance is delivered with a stylistic essence and the stagecraft that
Barachois was well known for. All hailing from Prince Edward Island on Canada's
east coast, the four members of the group are: Helene Bergeron - vocals, piano,
pump organ, fiddle, foot percussion and step dancing; Louise Arsenault - fiddle,
harmonica, foot percussion, step-dancing; Caroline Bernard- primary vocalist,
piano, pump organ, accordion and guitar; Paige Gallant- fiddle, mandolin,
guitar, bass and step-dancing. Caroline and Paige are from the newest generation
of gifted traditional musicians and are teamed up with Louise and Helene who are
veterans of the stage. Gadelle members play and dance with ferocity and
conviction while putting on one heck of a show.
**********
Rising
from a milieu of lovelorn singer/songwriters, John Gorka illuminates instead
with his trademark wordplay, twisting, tuning and typing words and phrases in
the way a balloon artist creates complex creatures from simple balloons. Few
contemporary songwriters coax language as deftly as he does. For over two
decades, John’s keen ear has picked up the stories of those along his path,
folding them into poetry and song. His keen perceptiveness inspires people from
all over the world to share their stories. By involving those tales in his
music, he escapes the trap of introspection that hobbles less gifted
singer/songwriters. John Gorka flies below the pop culture radar with an almost
cult-like following that never fails to fill concerts. Speak with any of his
fans and one instantly feels their enthusiasm and genuine affection. His shy,
almost self-effacing stage presence rightfully focuses attention on the songs.
His versatility on guitar and piano keeps his sets musically interesting, while
his rich baritone effortlessly executes his bidding. And he’s never short of
the sly comment or clever joke that invariably ignites his audience. "The
preeminent male singer-songwriter of the New Folk Movement." -
Rolling Stone
**********
Livio
Guardi & Wilson Montuori
Livio Guardi from Florence Italy and Wilson Montuori currently living in New York City are an acoustic duo who bring to their audience a unique musical blend after ten years of performing together. Their repertoire includes songs in English and Italian, and they also play instrumental pieces that draw on Mediterranean, blues, old-time, jazz, Latin and Irish music.The variety of instruments, and Guardi and Montuori’s touch of Italian humor, make a performance by this duo a fascinating musical odyssey. They have been interviewed on numerous radio programs and their music has received wide airplay. In July 2003 they were musical hosts at “The Roundtable,” a program sponsored by WAMC Northeast Public Radio and hosted by Paul Elisha. Their latest CD, Diomedee, is a collection of songs inspired by the Mediterranean Sea and has been widely acclaimed in the music press in Europe and the United States.
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The story of Pete and Maura Kennedy’s personal and professional relationship, now in its second decade, is somewhere between fate and a fairytale. How else can you explain a chance meeting in Austin between two East Coast-born musicians that immediately sparked a songwriting collaboration, a first date at Buddy Holly’s grave, an enduring romance, and a creative partnership that radiates warmth, positive energy, and captivating music? After Pete and Maura’s fateful 1992 meeting (the subject of their first Appleseed CD’s title song, “Half a Million Miles”) and several years of touring and recording with Nanci Griffith, the duo seceded amicably from Griffith’s Blue Moon Orchestra and became The Kennedys, recording CDs that encompass their favorite musical styles while incorporating the naturalistic, transcendental and mythological teachings of Joseph Campbell, Eckhart Tolle, Walt Whitman, and various Eastern-oriented philosophers into their songs and lives. The body of work The Kennedys have created since their 1994 wedding is a reflection of their musical and philosophical influences and experiences separately and as a couple. Their goal is to live in the moment, appreciating every second of sensation, which imbues their music with a constant sense of wonder and freshness.
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Louis Killen is one of the most widely
influential musicians of the folk revival and a key voice of English traditional
song. He is a hard-core, unadulterated folksinger whose passionate delivery is
matched by a deep and wide-ranging knowledge of the songs and the working people
who made them.
The
mixture of Irish, Scots and English living in the coal-mining and industrial
region known to the ancients as Northumbria sets it apart from the rest of
England, pulling into it the musical traditions of all three countries while
maintaining its own distinct musical style. Louis Killen draws on all four
traditions to bring a wide range of folk music to his audiences.
To
these four is added the Anglo-American tradition of deep-water shantying and
sailor ballads common to both nations. Louis's first-hand experience working
aboard brigs, brigantines, schooners and sloops in the late '60s and early '70s
put him in the forefront of the current revival of maritime music on both sides
of the Atlantic.
He
is the folksinger's folksinger.
**********
Double
Grammy nominee Claire Lynch is a joyous musician, dynamic vocalist and
creative songwriter all wrapped up into one package.
Claire has been described by Dolly Parton as possessing "one of the sweetest, purest and best lead voices
in the music business today." In addition to her two Grammy nominations,
Claire has had extended stays in the top reaches of the Gavin Americana and
Bluegrass Unlimited charts, and received an IBMA award for "Female Vocalist
of the Year" in1997. Claire’s harmonies have graced the recordings of
many stellar musicians, from Ralph Stanley to Linda Ronstadt. Equally gifted as
a songwriter, her songs have been recorded by The Seldom Scene, Patty Loveless,
Kathy Mattea, Cherryholmes, The Whites and others.
Although Claire’s songwriting is an undeniable gift, it’s her
“captivating”, “hillbilly angel” voice that has marked her career. As
one reviewer observed, “Claire’s is one of those rare voices which instantly
reveals a beautiful personality and allows her to speak directly to your
heart..."
**********
Three young sisters blend in heavenly harmony and playing with Rebecca on mandolin, Jessica on fiddle and Megan on dobro. The music they play has roots deep in bluegrass Appalachia, and branches growing ever upward and outward, towards parts yet unknown. Early signs were clear, when the ensemble from Calhoun, Georgia, won a Prairie Home Companion talent contest. After that Rebecca won Merlefest’s mandolin contest as its youngest contestant and first female. But it is harmony, rather than competition, that most distinguishes the group. Whether performing their original compositions or re-envisioning an old standard, the Lovell Sisters Band blends as only the classic ensembles can. They provide a breath of fresh air and a sense of reassurance, that the music will be in good hands as it gets passed on to the next generation.
***********
Blues
man Harry Manx has been called an "essential link" between the music
of East and West, creating musical short stories that wed the tradition of the
Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas. He has created a unique sound
that is hard to forget and deliciously addictive to listen to. Born on the Isle
of Man, Manx spent his childhood in Canada and left in his teens to live in
Europe, Japan, India and Brazil. He honed his hypnotic live show on street
corners, in cafes, bars and at festivals. But it was Indian music that captured
Manx and in the mid 80s he began his five-year tutelage with Rajasthani Indian
musician Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (Grammy winner with Ry Cooder for A Meeting by the
River). He also received the gift of Bhatt's custom-made, self-designed Mohan
veena-a 20-stringed sitar/guitar-that was the catalyst for Harry to forge
a new path with his now signature east-meets-west style of music. Blending
Indian folk melodies with blues, a sprinkle of gospel, and compelling grooves,
Manx's "mysticssippi" flavor is hard to resist, easy to digest and
keeps audiences coming back for more.
**********
A strong steady thumb on an old
Gibson guitar is the driving force behind Danielle Miraglia's delta blues
influenced guitar style. Add a raw, powerful, whiskey tinged voice and one might
be tempted to label her a blues artist. But while Miraglia's style pays homage
to these blues traditions, her classic rock verve, catchy melodies and eclectic
array of song subjects that range from deeply personal to socially relevant give
it an original twist that is all her own. A fresh sound along with a sharp wit
and a captivating stage presence is gaining her fans all over the map. "It
won't be long before the rest of the country takes notice." - Performing Songwriter.
**********
Best
known for her seductive '70s pop staple "Midnight at the Oasis," Maria
Muldaur has since become an acclaimed interpreter of just about every stripe of
American roots music: blues, early jazz, gospel, folk, country, R&B, and so
on. While these influences were certainly present on her more pop-oriented '70s
recordings (as befitting her Greenwich Village folkie past), Muldaur truly came
into her own as a true roots music stylist during the '90s, when she developed a
particular fascination with the
myriad
sounds of Louisiana. On the string of well-received albums that followed,
Muldaur tied her eclecticism together with the romantic sensuality that had
underpinned much of her best work ever since the beginning of her career.
Her
newest album, “Yes We Can!” showcases the work of some of the most socially
conscious songwriters of the past half-century: Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Allen
Toussaint, Earl King and Garth Brooks, to name a few. Throughout the album's
thirteen tracks, hosts of well known progressive voices, collectively dubbed The
Women’s Voices for Peace Choir, help Muldaur shed the light and sharpen the
focus on the precarious state of the world and its future. Included on the
high-profile guest list are Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, Jane Fonda, Odetta, Phoebe
Snow, Holly Near and several others.
**********
Peter
Mulvey began as a self-described "city kid" from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He played, wrote, and sang in bands while studying theatre at Marquette
University. After graduating, he traveled to Ireland, where he learned the trade
of busker on the streets of Dublin. Returning to the U.S. a few years later, he
settled in Boston, building an audience through street and subway performing,
while also immersing himself in the thriving musical community. Since his 2000
release The Trouble with Poets, Mulvey has found a home with the venerable indie
label Signature Sounds Recordings. His most recent albums for the Massachusetts
label were the 2006 release The Knuckleball Suite, the 2004 release Kitchen
Radio, the 2003 collaborative Redbird album (with label-mates Kris
Delmhorst and Jeffrey Foucault), and his 2001 CD, Ten Thousand Mornings,
an album of cover songs recorded entirely in the subways of Boston. MOJO
described the album as "simultaneously Mulvey's homage to his one-time
training ground and a beautifully atmospheric record of gifted
interpretations."
Always looking for ways to further immerse himself in language, art, and
music, Mulvey has also scored music for theatre and modern dance, and has had
numerous songs featured in film and television including various WB programs and
PBS documentaries.
"The subtle power of his voice, a husky, hushed baritone... understated, at once sophisticated and intimate... as cover-worthy as Randy Newman, Elvis Costello and Dar Williams."-The Washington Post
**********
Ellis Paul is one of the leading voices in American songwriting. He was a
principle leader in the wave of singer/songwriters that emerged from the Boston
folk scene, creating a movement that revitalized the national acoustic circuit
with an urban, literate, folk pop style that helped renew interest in the genre
in the 1990's.
His charismatic, personally authentic performance style has influenced a
generation of artists away from the artifice of pop, and closer towards
therealness of folk. Though he remains among the most pop-friendly of today's
singer-songwriters - his songs regularly appear in hit movie and TV soundtracks
including "Me, Myself, & Irene," starring Jim Carrey, and
"Shallow Hal," with Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow - he has bridged
the gulf between the modern folk sound and the populist traditions of Woody
Guthrie and Pete Seeger more successfully than perhaps any of his songwriting
peers.
**********
Red Hen is a “new” Old Time Band that dips into a blended palette of old
time, country and bluegrass, with a few Celtic roots showing.
Their repertoire is traditionally based, mixed with award winning new tunes and
songs written by band members Jane Rothfield and Allan Carr. Boasting four
distinctive lead voices with great harmonies and instrumental excellence, Red
Hen is acoustic Americana at its best.
**********
Red Molly consistently brings concertgoers to
their feet with stunning three-part harmonies, crisp musicianship, and a warm,
engaging stage presence. Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner and Carolann
Solebello have garnered a devoted fan base. These ladies have a lot of fun on
stage, and it’s contagious. "Everything Red Molly sings is delivered with
tick-tight arrangements, crystalline vocals, and caramel harmonies. But what is
most striking is the ardor they bring to everything they do, whether snuggling
into the sweet parochialism of an old spiritual, or the gritty pathos of a
Gillian Welch tune. They come on less like stars strutting for their minions
than pals sharing their favorite songs. In the friendly world of the
coffeehouse, that remains a starmaking quality."-The
Boston Globe
**********
Réveillons! is French for Wake Up! It is clearly the message this band seeks to
convey. Indeed, since it was founded in 1996, Réveillons! has been on a mission
to reawaken the traditions and culture that lie dormant within each of us. Réveillons!
presents music for listening, dancing, singing and playing from Québec. The
band offers reels, jigs, French songs, step dancing and dances to keep you
moving day and the night.
The quartet, based in Montreal, has performed at major festivals in Québec as
well as many other venues where, like in the olden days, the rhythms of
traditional music breathe life into evenings of dancing and rejoicing. Réveillons!
offers a new approach to traditional music; their repertoire is not confined to
a single, fixed period in time, their music is alive, and while it retains the
spirit of tradition, it never ceases to grow and change as the band explores
creation, archives and interpretations. Réveillons! fits right in with the
current universal trend, a collective longing to "return to our
roots", in that it works to revive and stimulate tradition and cultural
heritage.
**********
Claudia Russell & Bruce Kaplan
Award winning songwriter Claudia Russell is a gifted vocalist, a
musicians' musician, and has appeared as a backup singer on recordings
by some of the best songwriters on the LA independent music scene. As a solo
artist, Claudia quickly bonds with audiences, winning them over with her
powerful voice, an eclectic mix of originals, obscure gems, humorous stories,
and a “Who me?” attitude. Most recently, Claudia has been touring the
country with her husband Bruce Kaplan accompanying her on mandolin and guitar.
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An
expatriate New Yorker now living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Richard Shindell is
a meticulous craftsman of song whose six studio albums and one live recording
have been revered by critics and fans alike. Innovative, original and
occasionally spiritual, Shindell’s songs weave tales that interchangeably
champion the downtrodden, exalt the disaffected or wax empathetic to those lost
to society’s fringes. From his first record, Sparrow’s Point (1992) to the
newest album Vuelta (2004), Shindell has demonstrated a penchant for songwriting
at once passionate and profound. His songs are often slowly and painstakingly
crafted until honed to perfection. Conversely, he is also capable of writing
tunes that are simply clever and amusing.
Shindell’s songwriting is truly eclectic, ranging from lighthearted ballads
and adulterous love songs, to dirges and diatribes that skillfully skewer
politics, prejudice, war and religion. He has a unique ability to morph into the
soul of the many and varied personalities he casts as narrators in certain
songs--songs that are veritable novellas framed in haunting acoustic melodies,
sometimes including cryptic, revelations through the eyes of a woman.Now,
Shindell returns north with an astonishing collection of covers called South of
Delia. To say that South of Delia is a record of covers, however, would not do
justice to the spirit of this project. It is a deeply personal choice of songs
that Shindell offers up here — that of an expatriate looking back at the
country he moved away from. With guest appearances by Lucy Kaplansky, Viktor
Krauss, Richard Thompson, Tony Trischka, Eliza Gilkyson and others, South of
Delia offers up new interpretations of songs such as Acadian Driftwood (Robbie
Robertson), Seor (Bob Dylan), and Deportee (Woody Guthrie). Shindell also
thoroughly rehabilitates Bruce Springsteen’s often misunderstood Born in the
USA.
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New Bedford's own troubadour and a cornerstone of Summerfest both as performer
and stage host. He is a seasoned guitarist-singer-performer averaging 200 to 260
gigs a year, who also hosts the Open Mics and the Spotlight Series held at the
Café Arpeggio. He also plays coffeehouses, festivals, bars, pubs,
fairs, and more. His 'day gig' is "Music For the Ages" that
specializes in playing for seniors in nursing homes, assisted living, senior day
care, Councils on Aging, & church gatherings.
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Original members of the seminal French-Breton band Ad Vielle que pourra, Daniel
and Luc Thonon play an array of instruments in a variety of styles that cross
genres and world cultures. Luc has explored renaissance, traditional, bossanova,
jazz and rock music playing the recorder, flute, saxophone and accordion. The
instrument that most captivated him is the Flemish bagpipe from his native
Belgium. Daniel has studied 8th century Arab-Andalousian music at the
Conservatory of Tlemcen in Algeria, the harpsichord and early music in Geneva
and early instrument making and restoration in Paris. Among the many instruments
he plays are the hurdy-gurdy and the accordion. He last played at the New
Bedford Summerfest with his group Montcorbier.
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