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Performers are listed alphabetically by last name (if solo performer or dance workshop instructor), group name, or the first-appearing surname of a duo or other number of performers.
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A Bunch of Ballads (Abbott
Stage)
Ballads are stories told in songs. In our local area, the tradition of
singing these narratives is still very active, and we have assembled four
of the best local practitioners, great singers all: Melissa Weaver
Dunning, Chris Noyes, Lisa Null,
and Andy Wallace. Look for their individual bios.
Amara (Jamboree Court)
Amara has been studying dances of the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey
and Central Asia for 13 years and performing professionally since 1997.
She has traveled to Turkey and Morocco and is planning on a trip to Egypt
next year. Amara teaches weekly Middle Eastern/North African dance classes
at three different levels through the Gaithersburg and Rockville Departments
of Recreation and Montgomery College's Wellness Program for faculty and
staff. She also teaches workshops on ethnic/folkloric dance forms, costuming,
stage makeup, and Arabic and Turkish rhythms as well as beginning dombek
(Middle Eastern drum) classes. Amara is co-director of the semi-professional
dance ensemble, BASSAMA!, which has performed at the Frederick Festival
of the Arts, First Night Alexandria, Taste of D.C., Taste of Bethesda,
and at a benefit concert for the pediatric oncology unit at Johns Hopkins
hospital. See her Web site at www.amaraofthemoon.com.
Her accompanists, Gordon Coupe and Dale Hall, play a variety of Middle Eastern and African percussion instruments. Gordon also plays the electric guitar and is self-taught on the saz (Turkish long-neck lute). Both perform regularly with Stream and the Blue Dragon Band and the Cairo Connexion and sometimes for Amara's classes.
Nick Annis (Grove
Stage)
Nick Annis was kicked out of his high-school marching band and found the
chorus room next door, and has been singing since. He has tested oil wells
in Texas, run a bakery and a cabinet shop and a restaurant. He fixed some
stuff, broke some others. He has sold ice-cream from a truck and sold
kitchens. He has built up some things and some friendships, and tore some
down, too. The recent transplant from Florida was a winner of the Wildflower!
songwriting contest in Texas, a finalist in the Plowshares contest in
Pennsylvania, and finished second in the South Florida Folk Festival songwriting
contest. Nick is often accompanied by singer and multi-instrumentalist
Elizabeth Crisfield. The former Floridian is a classically trained violinist
who has turned to fiddle. She also has played in the contra band Arch
Creek and in a Celtic duo with Scotsman Murray MacLeod. www.nickannis.com
Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation
(7th Heaven Stage)
The Foundation is an ever-changing mix of new and experienced musicians
who celebrate the blues through concerts and weekly jam sessions. We're
delighted to again have some of the Archie Edwards regulars come to Takoma
Park and show us what happens every Saturday afternoon at the legendary
D.C. barbershop at 2007 Bunker Hill Road, N.E. One of the group's members,
Eleanor Ellis, also played at the first Takoma Park Folk Festival in 1978.
www.acousticblues.com
Arte
Flamenco (World Stage)
Born in the mountains, the caves, the gypsy neighborhoods, in the south
of Spain, preserved by families in the intimacy of the patio, Flamenco
is not only a dance, but a whole way of looking at life, and interpreting
life's joys and sorrows through music. The music is the result of blending
of many cultures that thrived over the centuries in the Iberian Peninsula,
and includes elements of the New World and of Africa. Arte Flamenco is
a locally based dance company founded by Natalia Monteleon in 1997. Their
performance schedule has taken them to all local Hispanic and international
festivals, arts events, regional schools and universities. Among their
highlights are three performances at the Millennium Stage of the John
F. Kennedy Center for the Perfoming Arts, the Baltimore Museum of Art,
the University of Maryland, and the Mexican Cultural Institute. www.arteflamenco.us
Noa Baum (Jamboree
Court)
Noa Baum is an acclaimed performance artist, educator and workshop facilitator.
Born and raised in Jerusalem, she trained in theatre at Tel-Aviv University
and holds an M.A. in Educational Theater from NYU. Since 1982, Noa's storytelling
has captivated and inspired children and adults internationally. She's
worked with a wide spectrum of populations from Head Start programs and
senior centers to universities and hundreds of schools, libraries, churches
and Jewish congregations. Noa's storytelling builds a bridge of understanding
and compassion between East and West, American and Israeli, Arab and Jew,
past and present. Her one-woman show, "A Land Twice Promised" is
based on Noa's personal dialogue with a Palestinian woman, offering the
moving testimony of memories that illuminate the complex and contradictory
history and emotions that surround Jerusalem for Israelis and Palestinians
alike. www.noabaum.com
Beth-Allison
& the Well-Strung Boys (Field Stage)
Beth-Allison & the Well-Strung Boys play a unique style of Americana
music that combines rock, alt-country, blues, jazz and even a little bluegrass,
reflecting the diverse influences of the individual members. While mostly
showcasing the songwriting skills of Beth Rinaldo, Allison Page and Scott
Holland, the group also performs an eclectic selection of the favorite
songs by artists such as Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Bruce Springsteen,
Steve Earle, the BoDeans, Johnny Cash and Kasey Chambers. Rounding out
the group is the dynamic rhythm section of Kevin Forder on bass, Pete
Best on drums, and the extraordinary Helen Hausmann on violin, mandolin
and vocals. www.beth-allison.com
Blue Moon Cowgirls (Field
Stage)
The Blue Moon Cowgirls is a shimmering trio of female voices backed by
the highly acclaimed instrumentalist, Ira Gitlin. The Cowgirls blend front-porch
directness with neon-lit sophistication as they sing about home and highways,
heaven and honky-tonks, heartbreak and hope. Their repertoire stretches
from the 1920s Appalachia to the Everly Brothers and beyond. www.bluemooncowgirls.com
Bog Wanderers Ceili Band (World
Stage)
A ceili band is one that plays for Irish country dancing, and the Bog
Wanderers are one of the top ceili bands on the east coast of the U.S.
Jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas, and slides are their mainstay, with the
added attraction of superb vocals by banjo-player Betsy O'Malley.
For the last ten years, the Bog Wanderers have been the house band for the monthly ceili (traditional Irish country dance) sponsored by the O'Neill Malcom branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE), the Dublin-based "Irish Music Association." The dance is held in Fairfax, Virginia and always attracts a great group of Irish-dance enthusiasts, both new and experienced.
The Bog Wanderers are:
Betsy O'Malley, tenor banjo, tin whistle and vocals
Joe Dezarn, fiddle, remarks
Danny Flynn, button accordion and piano accordion
Tabby Finch, piano, harp, hammered dulcimer
Jesse Winch, drums, bodhran, percussion, mandola, guitar and harmonica
The Bog Wanderers have just released their first CD, Here's To You,
on the Falling Mountain label. It's a fabulous collection of tunes and
songs both traditional and original.
www.fallingmountain.com/bws.html
Oscar Brand (Abbott
Stage)
Oscar Brand has presented the oldest continuous radio show in history
since 1945, the award-winning "Folk-song Festival" on New York
Public Radio. In his long association with the National Public Radio network,
he has been host of "Voices in the Wind," arts interviewer for
"Morning Edition," and co-host of the five-hour "Sunday
Show." Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Brand has also worked with the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and composed the Canadian anthem, "Something
To Sing About." He has scripted and scored ballets and commercials,
is the author of seven best-selling books, and has recorded 90 LPs. Curator
of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Brand has written songs for two Broadway
shows and for Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte, the Smothers
Brothers, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He also wrote and scored the
Kennedy Center's Bicentennial musical, "Sing America Sing."
He has won numerous awards for his work, which includes 75 documentary
films and hundreds of television programs. As a leading performer for
children on TV, records, and films, Brand was on the advisory panel that
created the series known as "Sesame Street." His concerts for
adults and children have earned him such accolades as this from The
New York Times: "One of America's best." He created music
for the critically-acclaimed film, "In White America" and the
score for "How To Steal an Election." Brand's CD, Presidential
Campaign Songs 1789-1996, was released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
in 1999. www.oscarbrand.com
"Mister Don" Bridges (Grassy
Nook Stage)
"Mister Don" returns to the Festival with his high-energy interactive
children’s music that includes plenty of sing-alongs, songs with
accompanying motions, and lots of rhythm instruments for the kids to play
as they sing, march, dance, and skip. Come join the fun! www.donbridgesongs.com
Richard Broadbent (7th
Heaven Stage)
Playing and singing nearly all his life, Richard Broadbent began writing
songs in 2001. Richard's writing aspires to that of the great storytellers
like Steve Goodman, John Prine and Bob Dylan, in a writing and singing
voice that is all his own! His first recording is Christiana,
a collection of songs 53 years in the making, and released November 2003.
Check out www.richardbroadbent.com
for more!
Buffalo Nickel Band (Lenore
Robinson Dance Stage)
This six-piece swing ensemble has delighted audiences at folk festivals,
concerts, and dances with their inventive and easy-going style since 1986.
Versatile mandolinist Tom Mindte demonstrates that his chosen instrument
is quite at home in swing; his playing is reminiscent of the great Jethro
Burns, and Tom is a fine vocalist as well. Bob Rubin's lyrical guitar
work makes it clear why he is one of the most in-demand players in the
D.C. area. The band's drummer is Bill Mason, a consummate professional
and a jazz player since the 1930s; his musical resume includes the U.S.
Army bands that backed jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong during overseas
tours. Marv Reitz contributes vocals and a swinging style on saxophone
and clarinet. Pete Hinz skillfully complements the other strings with
his violin, and Kathy Reitz does a fine job on the big bass fiddle. The
Buffalo Nickel Band plays an enjoyable mix of tunes ranging from Benny
Goodman to western swing, and includes both vocal numbers and instrumentals
for your listening (and dancing) pleasure. www.pxrec.com/Patuxent_Swing-bnb-homepage.htm
Frank Cassel, beloved Banjoman at the Takoma Park Farmers Market on Sundays, will rove through the Festival grounds all afternoon. For information about his new CD and his other performances, please see www.banjomanfc.com.
Chris Chandler and Anne Feeney (Grove
Stage)
Renowned rabble-rouser and unionmaid Anne Feeney and acrobatic performance
poet Chris Chandler roll up with their "metaphoric highwire act,"
a dynamic concoction of rousing music, "folken word" poetry,
and humor that inspired the Boston Herald to call them "the most
creatively radical performers on the coffeehouse circuit." Pittsburgh
native Anne Feeney, who has spent decades putting her songs and body on
the front line of the labor movement, possesses a seemingly limitless
repertoire of activist songs that provides the musical counterpoint to
Georgia-born Chris—now living in Takoma Park—puts on a vaudvillean
presentation of beat poetry and road tales from his journeys. Their highly
theatrical collage of songstress, southern preacher and wandering minstrel
show supports the cause of working people's solidarity. http://www.primecd.com/chandler.htm
John Chowning (7th
Heaven Stage)
John Chowning is a singer-songwriter from the Washington, D.C., area who
grew up in the Midwest. John has appeared at a number of venues in the
Washington area over the past dozen years, but only recently has he taken
performing seriously. However, he has considered himself a dead-serious
songwriter since his early years growing up in a small Indiana mining
town. His family and musical roots come straight out of the hills and
hollers of eastern Kentucky, but along the way he has blended gospel,
rock, blues, and other musical influences together to create what he sometimes
calls "suburban acoustic." Others have called his music literate,
passionate, insightful, and deeply purposeful. His own songs and the covers
he chooses simply relate to the everyday struggles of life.
Lea
Coryell and Ralph Lee Smith (Abbott Stage)
Lea Coryell and Ralph Lee Smith play and sing roots-based music, with
Lea playing old-time banjo and Ralph playing Appalachian dulcimer. Both
also play harmonica. Lea's repertoire includes Appalachian music, sea
songs, blues, old and new country music, humorous songs, and traditional
hymns. Ralph plays old-time Appalachian songs and tunes on the dulcimer.
Both perform on authentic traditional and antique instruments, including
a 19th Century "tack-head" banjo and a 19th Century dulcimer,
both from Southwestern Virginia.
www.shenandoahacoustics.com/coryell
Rachel Cross (7th
Heaven Stage)
Rachel Cross started her musical career in 1983 as a street musician in
Paris, France, and has been playing guitar, writing songs, singing and
recording ever since. Rachel was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist
for the award-winning world-beat band Big Village for eleven years. Known
for her high-energy performances, positive vibe, and powerful voice, Rachel
has performed at countless venues, colleges, and festivals including the
Kennedy Center, on board the Green Peace Warrior, and at the Mid-Atlantic
conference for the National Organization of Women. Her debut solo CD,
Angels & Aliens, Monsters & Freaks, on Dreamy Eyes Records
is now in its second pressing and is receiving airplay across the nation.
www.rachelcross.com
Jennifer
Cutting's Ocean Orchestra (Field Stage)
What do you get when you cross Irish jigs with a rock-and-roll rhythm
section; mythology and classical symphonic themes with spine-tingling
electronics? You get the Ocean Orchestra, an all-star ensemble of the
Washington area's favorite Celtic and rock musicians, directed by boundary-bending
composer/bandleader Jennifer Cutting. The lineup features Cutting on electronic
keyboard and accordions; Grace Griffith on vocals, Zan McLeod on bouzouki,
mandolin, and electric guitar; Chris Noyes on vocals, whistle, and acoustic
guitar; Dave Abe on fiddle; Rico Petruccelli on bass, and Chris Stewart
on drums. Alternately ethereal and house-rocking, the band plays Cuttings's
newest electric folk arrangements of Irish and British traditional music
and her award-winning originals, as well as reprising a few of the best-loved
pieces she wrote for her critically acclaimed British folk-rock band,
The New St. George. Cut loose and dance, or lose yourself in dreamy reverie.
There's nothing like it anywhere... Ocean is Celtic music for ancient
moderns! www.kinesiscd.com/jennifercutting
D.C. Labor Chorus (Abbott
Stage)
The D.C. Labor Chorus is a musical ensemble representing union members
from the Washington, D.C., area. Some Chorus members are professional
musicians but most are union members and activists who just love to sing!
The D.C. Labor Chorus sings for rallies, demonstrations, and picket lines.
They welcome union members to the annual Great Labor Arts Exchange at
the George Meany Center each summer, and they hold an annual "Sacred/Favorite
Songs" concert every winter. The D.C. Labor Chorus welcomes new members
who love to sing and promote union solidarity.
Dead Men's Hollow
(Abbott Stage)
Dead Men's Hollow hails from the shadows of the nation's capital. Mining
the essentials of an old-time country string band, they take traditional
songs ... add a little jazz, gospel and blues ... add female harmony vocals
... and come out with their own unique brand of Americana. Acoustic Americana.
Harnessing the prolific pens of the band, they also stir in a mix of original
songs about traditional country themes: trains, being lonesome, crying,
and love gone wrong. The result is Dead Men's Hollow. www.deadmenshollow.com
DinoRock Productions (Grassy
Nook Stage)
Imagine dancing, singing dinosaurs and their human sidekicks, a company
of players crisscrossing the United States in a big white truck, performing
everywhere from Oregon to Florida, from California to Maine. That's DinoRock
Productions. This October will be their 20th anniversary.
Since their premiere at the Smithsonian Institution's Discovery Theatre in October of 1984, the musical-theater company founded by puppet designer Ingrid Crepeau and singer/songwriters Michele Valeri and Michael Stein have brought facts and fun about dinosaurs to children and families in 40 states and the District of Columbia, but they are never happier than when they are performing for a hometown crowd.
In a review for Family Fun magazine in Chicago, Illinois, Moira McCormick said: "A winning franchise all around, DinoRock will knock the socks off your Jurassic-loving tot." www.dinorock.com
Melissa Weaver Dunning
(Abbott Stage)
Melissa Weaver Dunning is a singer of traditional ballads specializing
in the music of England, Ireland and Scotland. Her powerful and clear
unaccompanied singing brings the old story songs to life and weaves vibrant
pictures of life in another age. Melissa has had the great good fortune
to study for many years with Scottish weaver and singer Norman Kennedy.
She is dedicated to carrying on some of the wealth of tradition gleaned
from this apprenticeship both in weaving and in music, and has been teaching
classes in traditional handweaving since 1996. Melissa has performed throughout
the Eastern United States and in the British Isles and in France, including
performances at the Smithsonian Institution and Georgetown University
and with the Boston Camerata. Melissa also works in school settings, presenting
specialized programs in the areas of history, literature, and the arts.
Her repertoire includes early American folk song, shape-note hymns, and
the village singing traditions of Europe and Eastern Europe. WeaverDun@aol.com
Ellen Engle and Marc Shepanek (Lenore
Robinson Dance Stage)
Ellen Engle and Marc Shepanek, a.k.a. Flying Feet Enterprises, have won
swing-dance championships from Virginia to Australia. Popular local-area
dance instructors since 1989, Marc and Ellen teach at Glen Echo Park on
Monday evenings and on the second Sunday and second Friday of every month.
They also can be found teaching and performing at other venues and special
events throughout the Washington, D.C., area. Their classes will have
the beginning dancer up and dancing in no time, while having fun and feeling
no pressure. Marc and Ellen will tell you that the best dance move in
the world is a smile and that as long as you take care of your partner
and those around you, there are no wrong moves, there are only new moves.
www.flyingfeet.org
Exuberance
(Lenore Robinson Dance Stage)
Exuberance is made up of middle-school and high-school fiddlers who study
with Ellen Jacobs, along with some of their favorite adult back-up players.
The group has an extensive repertoire of jigs, reels, waltzes and other
dance tunes.
Joe Glazer (Abbott
Stage)
Folksinger and social historian Joe Glazer has been collecting, composing,
and performing songs of workers, protest, and politics for more than 50
years. He has performed in nearly every state in the U.S. and more than
60 countries around the world where he interpreted American life in song
and story for the United States Information Agency. Glazer has recorded
more than 30 albums, CDs, and cassettes with songs about working people,
social movements, the environment, politics, and American immigrants.
His latest recording is The Music of American Politics, highlights
of American political history told through its campaign songs. glazerjoe-m@boo.net
Gypsy Meltdown (Lenore
Robinson Dance Stage)
Gypsy Meltdown features a trio of musicians active in the traditional
American folk-dance scene. With Kathy Kerr on fiddle, Colleen Reed on
flute, and Keith Gillis on guitar, Gypsy Meltdown weaves together old
and new melodies from New England, Appalachia and the British Isles with
driving rhythms to create a groove.
Halau O Na Hali'a (Grassy
Nook Stage)
Halau O Na Hali'a is a hula school based in Waldorf, Maryland, under the
auspices of Kumu Hula (Hula Master) Wayne Kaho'onei Panoke, of Kaneohe,
Hawai'i, and Kumu Hula Ladd Kahele Heleloa of Las Vegas, Nevada. The halau
(school) was created to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture through dance
(hula), chant (oli), and mele (song). halauonahalia@yahoo.com
Tom Hall (Lenore
Robinson Dance Stage)
Tom Hall has been enjoying and teaching Cajun/Zydeco dancing since 1986,
when he lived near New Orleans and attended frequent fais do-dos.
Tom is a founding member of what is now a vibrant Cajun/Zydeco music and
dance community in the Washington/Baltimore area. He makes frequent visits
to Louisiana dance halls and is learning to play the Cajun accordion.
tommyhall@earthlink.net
ilyAIMY (7th Heaven
Stage)
Cross Ani DiFranco with Jethro Tull and sprinkle liberally with the passion
of an acoustic-grunge aesthetic. "A bone-rattling acoustic act with
driving lyrical force ... male/female harmonies that lock in, lift, drop
and pull ... and then they slow it down and rip you open." —Jake
Stephens, On Tap magazine. Touring nationally during the last
nine months has confirmed it: The music of Baltimore-based acoustic duo
ilyAIMY doesn't sound like any other band and doesn't fit comfortably
into any established genre. Only a series of nominations from the Washington
Area Music Association (2001: Best Alternate Rock Recording, and 2002:
Best Contemporary Folk Group or Duo) have even tried to nail it down.
What ilyAIMY is: tight harmonies, percussive acoustic guitar, personal
songwriting and a strong co-fronting partnership unlike that of any other
band. Rob Hinkal and Heather Lloyd are "a welcome jolt in a stream
of otherwise sedate coffeehouse folkies," says the Rocky Mountain
Bullhorn, bringing an edgier folk flavor while maintaining the acoustic
singer-songwriting tradition. www.ilyaimy.com
International Dance Favorites (Lenore
Robinson Dance Stage)
Jamie Platt has been teaching international folkdancing regularly for
more than 20 years. Information on the Glen Echo Folkdancers can be found
at www.dancingplanetproductions.com.
He has appeared many times at the TPFF, the Washington Folk Festival and
the FSGW Minifest. His teaching is fun and accessible to all. Sarenica
plays a variety of lively music from Serbia, Croatia, Greece and elsewhere.
This will be fun!
Irish
Fire (Field Stage)
The members of Irish Fire are no strangers to followers of Irish traditional
music. Singers Grace Griffith (2003 WAMA Artist of the Year) and Dominick
Murray blend their voices in beautiful harmonies and are joined by Donegal-style
fiddler Dave Abe, keyboardist Paul Nahay, and champion Irish step dancers
to present a lively performance of stories, traditional songs, and dance
tunes. Playing together since 1997, the group has performed at such diverse
venues as the Birchmere and the White House. www.irishfire.net
Jawbone
(Grassy Nook Stage)
Still fresh from their trip to India to perform for the Dalai Lama in
October 2003, Jawbone (Amikaeyla Gaston, Eric Maring and Gregory Heelan)
is thrilled to be making its third appearance at the Takoma Park Folk
Festival. Jawbone’s lively harmonies, a wide array of instruments
(including, yes, a donkey’s jawbone), improvisational sing-alongs,
and a “love-for-life” approach to music appeal to little and
big people alike. Their debut CD, Jawbone, was released in September
2003. www.jawbone.us
Bill Jenkins World of Music (Grassy
Nook Stage)
Children of all ages: Come and create your own music! Grab an instrument
and be part of a real band composed of authentic Asian, African, and South
American percussion instruments. Multi-cultural music educator Bill Jenkins
demonstrates his unique collection of over 100 musical instruments from
Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and Native American heritage and guarantees
to turn the audience into a band by the end of his set. Bill Jenkins has
been collecting instruments from around the world for 30 years and brings
them to schools, museums, libraries, etc., for hands-on programs. Through
playing music we learn to appreciate other cultures and connect with all
of humanity in peace. worldofmuse@aol.com
JumpStart (Lenore
Robinson Dance Stage)
JumpStart is a high-energy contra-dance band with over 21 years experience.
They enjoy playing dance music from the American, Canadian, Scottish and
Irish traditions, as well as many original tunes. They perform regularly
with the Patchwork Dancers and for dances, concerts, weddings and parties.
They've played at the Smithsonian museums, on the Mall, and at many area
festivals. JumpStart includes Jim Besser (concertina, guitar), Kathy Kerr
(fiddle) and Jay Roberts (guitar).
Joanne Juskus with Willard Morris (Grove
Stage)
One of the mid-Atlantic's most enchanting singer-songwriters intertwines
her exhilarating vocal and instrumental arrangements into a blend of ethereal
folk pop. Juskus, whose voice has been compared to Joni Mitchell and Kate
Bush, has received eight WAMMIE nominations. www.joannejuskusmusic.com
Kathy
Kerr (Jamboree Court)
Kathy Kerr says there is nothing more fun than playing music. On fiddle
and mandolin, she is happy to try any style. She is a frequent performer
in local contra-dance bands including Gypsy Meltdown;
Squeezer, Geezer and Kerr, and the ultimate jam, the Glen Echo Open Band.
“Open up that case and let's play!”
Steve
Key (Cash & Carter Tribute) (7th Heaven
Stage)
Steve Key wrote "Record Time (33, 45, 78)," recorded by country
star Kathy Mattea, has performed at major folk festivals such as Philadelphia
and Winnipeg, and won the New Folk Songwriting Contest at the Kerrville
Folk Festival in Texas. He is also known for his humorous songs, story
songs, folk ballads, sing-along anthems, and songs of heart and home.
His current CD, House Blend, was recorded at house concerts in
Maryland, and he continues to play house concerts, showcase clubs, church-based
coffeehouses, festivals and other folk venues. He is the president of
Focus, a non-profit membership organization based in Washington, D.C.,
which presents folk-music concerts in various venues and has a mission
of creating a full-time listening venue for folk music (www.FocusMusic.org).
He is also the host of weekly open mics in the D.C. area. www.stevekey.com
Camela Widad Kraemer (7th
Heaven Stage)
Widad grew up in Wisconsin, traveled as an actress for some time, and
landed at a theater where her music career began. While she was singing
covers on stage with a company in Columbus, Ohio, she stated writing songs
for her first album, Eve. This first recording took her to Austin,
Texas, where she performed live on the Austin Music Network and KUT 90.5
with John Aielli. After some time she took her music to Los Angeles for
a while, and then to Northern California, where most of the songs for
Call to the Soul, her latest release, were written. Now living
on the East Coast, you can find updates about her local live performances
at www.camelak.com.
Wendy Lanxner & Tricia Khleif (7th
Heaven Stage)
xoxo ('sho-sho') is a group of musicians in the Washington area
making original music. xoxo's music may be hard to categorize, but it's
easy to relate to. With vocals, guitars, mandolin, flute, fretless bass,
and a hybrid drumset, the group has the musical resources to bring a rich
palette of sounds to their original material. In any given xoxo set, you
may very well hear vocal harmonies, Middle Eastern, rock or reggae rhythms,
all playing over funky, deep-rooted melodic bass lines. The group's spirited
energy, sense of humor, and soulful delivery draw in audiences, and their
material covers the wide range of human experience. xoxo features Wendy
Lanxner on vocals, guitar, mandolin and flute; Tricia Khleif on vocals
and guitar; Franz Kellner on fretless bass, and Bob Novak on percussion.
xoxowendy@verizon.net
David
LaFleur (7th Heaven Stage)
David LaFleur's dynamic, thoughtful and hilarious songs keep him in demand
in coffeehouses, house concerts, and festivals throughout the D.C., Maryland,
Virginia, and West Virginia area. See www.floridamusic.org/cgi-bin/musicians.cgi?num=35
for more!
Ruthie Logsdon (Cash & Carter Tribute)
(7th Heaven Stage)
Lead vocalist of Ruthie and the Wranglers, Ruthie Logsdon
has racked up numerous WAMMIES including 2002 Best Country Vocalist and
2000 Songwriter of the Year from the Washington Area Music Association.
Ruthie was proud to discover that she is related to the late Jimmie Lloyd
Logsdon ("Rocket in My Pocket,""The Death of Hank Williams")
and is carrying on a family tradition! www.ruthieandthewranglers.com
Gregory Lygon (7th
Heaven Stage)
Known for his acoustic-guitar artistry and for a crystal-clear tenor voice,
Gregory Lygon is quickly earning the respect of his peers in the Washington,
D.C.-area music community. His refreshing approach to AAA/Contemporary
Acoustic music combines the clarity and conscience of folk, the sophistication
of jazz and the imagination of new age to create a dynamic and soulful
sound. Nominated in 2003 for the WAMMIE Award for Best Instrumentalist
in the Contemporary Folk category. His CD, UnEarthly Passions,
was hailed by the Alexandria Old Town Crier as "exotic &
dreamlike." www.gregorylygon.com
Lyuti
Chushki (Lenore Robinson Dance Stage)
In the Bulgarian language, "Lyuti Chushki" means "Hot Peppers,"
and that is the kind of spicy traditional Bulgarian music that this band
plays. Lyuti Chushki is a combination of professional musicians from Bulgaria
and American musicians from the Baltimore/Washington area who have been
playing for festivals, weddings, concerts, and other special events since
1997. Their toe-tapping music, played on traditional instruments from
Bulgaria, takes you back to the old country—it is joyful, evocative,
compelling and lyrical, in modes and rhythms generally not found in western
music. Their unusual instrumentation includes kaval (end-blown
flute), gaida (bagpipe), gudulka (bowed stringed instrument
with resonating strings), tambura (fretted instrument similar
to a guitar) and tupan (large drum), all of which serve to accompany
the unique Bulgarian vocal style, which has a beauty all its own. weiner.larry@comcast.net
Diane
Macklin (Jamboree Court)
Diane Macklin is a professional storyteller, actress, and educator who
uses storytelling as a way to break down cultural barriers and unite people
of all backgrounds. She tells original stories and folk tales from Africa,
the Americas, and other parts of the globe. The stories Diane tells are
centered around hope, peace, justice, and wisdom. She focuses on character-building
through the arts. Her motto is "Making a difference, one story at
a time."
Diane’s silky-smooth "dancing hands” mixed with her dramatic presence enchant audiences, both young and old. She invites listeners into her stories by encouraging participation and igniting the imagination. Her background in education, multiple intelligences, diversity, and conflict resolution are infused into all performances, workshops, and residencies. Diane has earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Vassar College and a Master of Arts in Teaching Middle School English (Grades 5–9) from Simmons College.
Diane has appeared on National Public Radio and Washington Storytellers Theatre Speak Easy. She also works with various organizations committed to arts and education: Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning, Imagination Stage, and Interact Story Theatre. www.dianemacklin.com
Jim Maxwell (Lenore
Robinson Dance Stage)
Dr. Jim Maxwell teaches clogging, tap and Irish step. Jim has been teaching
clogging; tap, jazz, and Irish step dancing in the Metropolitan area for
several years. His teaching was the subject of a Washington Post article
on October 12, 2000, and he has a clogging video that is sold nationally.
He won first place for free-style clogging. Jim has completed four TV
shows that are shown on "Our Place," a show for children. Jim
is the director of the Patchwork dancers, and some will be joining him
at the Festival. Patchwork starts with a base of traditional clogging
dance routines, but the team shows considerable Irish influence in its
style. Patchwork performed at so many retirement homes that they received
an award for this service from the Fairfax Council for the Arts. home.earthlink.net/~jimmaxwell
MiraMarKlezmers (Jamboree
Court)
The MiraMarKlezmers play joyous, heartfelt, authentic Klezmer music, tunes
that were played for weddings and simchas in the old shtetls in Eastern
Europe. Klezmer originates from the Jewish communities in Eastern Europe
and has been influenced by Gypsy, Hungarian, Romanian, Russian, and Balkan
folk music. This is why it is international in nature and you don’t
need to be at a Bar Mitzvah to enjoy it.
The sound of the band is unique because of its uncommon instrumentation. It consists of Frank Sparber (Clarinet), Mira Yemini (Accordion), Larry Robinson (Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin), John Sausser (Tabla), Monty Montgomery (Tuba), Seymour Green (Trombone). The MiraMarKlezmers are professionals who have been playing with different local bands in the Washington/Baltimore area for many years. The band has been playing together for over 5 years. They are music-lovers who love to play for those who love to listen and enjoy.
The band has performed for the Rockville JCC, Israeli embassy, Kensington
Coffee House, Smithsonian's Family Day, City of Rockville Family Arts
Night Series, libraries, local festivals, private parties, Bar Mitzvahs
and weddings. The band has recorded a demo CD, is participating in the
recording for the "Hungry for Music” project, and is planning
to cut a new CD soon. 081440@msn.com
Lisa
Moscatiello & Dave Chappell (Grove Stage)
Billboard magazine has said that Lisa Moscatiello possesses a
voice of "knee-buckling poignancy and believability," and Philadelphia
DJ (WXPN) Gene Shay has called her "one of the best voices in the
business." She has won more than 20 Washington Area Music Association
awards, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for her CD,
Second Avenue. She has been performing with Dave Chappell for
nearly 10 years. Dave is one of the most sought-after electric guitarists
in the region, known as much for his driving solos as for his taste and
versatility. A multiple WAMMIE winner, he has performed with Jerry Lee
Lewis, Sam Moore and Marvin Hamlisch and plays regularly with the Rhodes
Tavern Troubadors and Billy Hancock. www.lisamoscatiello.com
Zoe Mulford (7th
Heaven Stage)
Roots-based songwriter Zoe Mulford creates the sort of magic that silences
noisy coffee-shops and gets churchgoers singing about underwear. Her new
CD, Traveling Moon, is available at the House of Musical Traditions
and through CDBaby.com.
Bill Mulroney (7th
Heaven Stage)
Once and again singer-songwriter Bill Mulroney returned to the music scene
in 2002 after a brief 22-year layoff. Bill and his Second Wind Band perform
each Wednesday night from 8:30 to 12:00 at the new Austin Grill in Silver
Spring, Maryland. The band performs acoustic sets of rock, pop, blues,
country and folk music—many original songs and also many classic
covers. Bill welcomes you to come out to the Austin Grill, located on
Ellsworth Drive just off Georgia Avenue, one block south of the intersection
of Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road. And check out his Web site, www.BillMulroney.com,
to learn about the inspiration for his debut CD, Second Wind,
and about the songs that have emerged from his "second wind."
Eva Murray (Lenore
Robinson Dance Stage)
Traditional dance caller Eva Murray started calling in 1997 and now serves
as the dance hostess at contra dances and community gatherings throughout
the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and beyond. She performs at venues
small and large, from house parties to the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo
Park. Eva calls traditional American folk dances, accompanied by live
music, for dancers young and young at heart, new and experienced alike.
Her repertoire includes zesty contras, squares, circles, long-way sets,
triplets and other traditional dances that fit the occasion. Eva's love
for traditional dance is apparent in the enthusiasm she brings to the
stage! mywebpages.comcast.net/contracaller
Nana Malaya and the Nubian Theatre Company
(World Stage)
The Nubian Theatre Company (Nana Malaya, Bara Morton and Eric Lewis) is
an exciting and highly acclaimed professional music, dance and theatre
ensemble. It specializes in the folklore of the African Diaspora—Africa,
the Caribbean, and the Americas. This multitalented company uses dance,
musical instruments, and drama to present a brilliant, energetic performance.
Nana Malaya is an internationally known choreographer and dancer, songstress, actress, storyteller, writer, poetess, musician, mother, minister and activist.
Chris Noyes (Abbott
Stage)
Chris Noyes has been teaching and performing on the Eastern Shore of Maryland
for the past 18 years. She is a veteran of the Baltimore/Washington Irish-music
scene, and is one of the founding members of the original Chesapeake-flavored
folk trio, Crab Alley. She has, in recent years, collaborated with Lisa
Moscatiello and Grace Griffith, performing as GLC at the historic Avalon
Theatre, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, as well as most of the coffeehouses
on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and D.C. Chris also is a member of Jennifer
Cutting's Ocean Orchestra. Chris's solo CD, Mirrorstones,
was partially funded in 1994 with a grant from the Maryland State Arts
Council; she received a Governor's Citation for excellence in folk music.
An avid fan of obscure ballads, she enjoys finding treasures in folk compilations;
she also writes her own songs. Chris teaches voice and guitar privately
and also teaches music at Tilghman Elementary School on Tilghman Island.
She received a Master of Science in Music Education, with a concentration
in voice, from Towson University in 2003.
Lisa Null (Abbott
Stage)
Lisa grew up in a musical family and began singing professionally in the
1970s. She's sung at coffeehouses, pubs, and festivals all over the U.S.,
Canada and Britain, appeared on "A Prairie Home Companion,"
and recorded two albums, primarily of ballads. A folklorist, writer, and
voice teacher, she was a co-founder of Green Linnet records. enul@starpower.net
Howard Parker (7th
Heaven Stage)
Howard Parker and his Hot Take-Out Band serve up a spicy mixture of zydeco,
folk, blues and politics to go! Singer/songwriter Howard Parker "reaches
for the sky with musical optimism! His songs are a polished blending of
American roots music and adult contemporary pop." Introspective songs
about learning to embrace who you are, loving people's faults, living
out your dreams and facing your paranoia. Funny songs about how to tell
off yer boss and dogs that talk! Romantic songs about falling for the
wrong person ... and meeting your forever love. Howard performs in a wide
variety of venues from coffee houses, restaurants and parties to concert
venues and bars. www.howardparker.com
Pam Parker with Steve Jones and Scott Giambusso
(Abbott Stage)
Pam Parker, a soprano with the D.C. Labor Chorus, has
released her first solo CD, Working Class. Pam is often heard
on WPFW radio and on progressive radio around the United States. Her rendition
of "Folsom Prison Blues" was included on the soundtrack of the
independent film, "Tales of a Bugged-Out Black Chick." Pam also
performs in area clubs, sponsors and performs concerts for many worthwhile
causes, and often sings at peace and justice rallies here in her native
D.C. www.pamparker.com
Steve Jones is the composer of the powerful labor jazz opera, Forgotten: The Murder at the Ford Rouge Plant. The musical was presented here in the D.C. area before its sold-out premiere in Detroit, and is scheduled to run in other cities. He is also a music professor at Columbia Union College here in Takoma Park. In addition, he sings bass with the D.C. Labor Chorus and is "front man" for the Steve Jones Trio, which plays in great jazz venues all over the D.C. metropolitan area.
Scott Giambusso is a 40-year veteran sideman, leader and producer on the Washington, D.C., music scene. Always in demand, this multi-instrumentalist and singer specializes in guitar, string bass, electric bass, tuba and percussion. His versatility has led to jobs with many diverse acts, from Jamie Abersold and Charlie Byrd to Chuck Berry and The Tokens. Mr. Giambusso is also a faculty member of the Montgomery College Rockville campus, where he teaches jazz bass studies.
Brooke Parkhurst (7th
Heaven Stage)
WAMMIE-winning vocalist Brooke Parkhurst is accomplished singer, old-time
banjo player and whistle/flute player. Her capacity to create melodic
lines is the force behind the original arrangements of the new-wave Irish
band Tinsmith. She has been performing and teaching
old-time and Irish music since 1986, and was popular in the D.C. area
in the '80s and early '90s in the Celtic/Appalachian duo Clishmaclaver.
banjowitch@hotmail.com
Ann Porcella (Cash & Carter Tribute)
(7th Heaven Stage)
Ann Porcella's musical taste gravitates toward the gospel music she learned
at home from her preacher father and very large musical family. Her deep,
powerhouse voice adapts well to many different traditional styles, though
harmony singing is her first love. She has performed solo and with a variety
of ensembles at folk venues around the country, including the Augusta
concerts, Folk on Broadway, and the Blue Moon Cowgirls.
Ritchie Porter (Grassy
Nook Stage)
Ritchie Porter has been performing, teaching, writing and directing in
the Washington area for 20 years. He has taken his one-man shows to many
schools, libraries and festivals both here and in New England, including
summer tours of the libraries of Cape Cod. His work combines wordplay
and a love of literature with an imaginative use of props and physical
comedy. Current shows are "The Mystery of the Muffin Man," "Tales
from the Magic Box," "Treasure Island" and "The Odyssey."
In his spare time, he teaches drama at Saint Andrew's Episcopal School
and shares his toys with his wife and two boys. Visit his Web site at
www.ritchieporter.com.
Siobhán Quinn and Michael Bowers
(Grove Stage)
By the time Stevie Ray Vaughan pulled the 19-year-old Siobhán Quinn up
on stage to dance with him on "Look at Little Sister," she was
already a music veteran. She had sung traditional Irish, English and American
folk, art songs and medieval madrigals in five languages, as well as rock
& roll for years. Siobhán belts and soothes her way through explosive
performances, combining a strong blend of contemporary and traditional
folk and acoustic rhythm & blues. Her inaugural recording, Two
Rivers, released in 1999 with Ben Murray, received rave reviews from
fans and critics alike. The duo put out a second CD, The Grande Affair,
last year. Michael Bowers' music has been referred to as "folk with
an attitude" and "urban campfire music." His lyrics range
from the heartfelt to humorous. www.siobhanquinn.com
Rhythm Workers Union (Jamboree
Court)
The Rhythm Workers Union, founded in the spring of 2001, is a non-hierarchal
collective of activist musicians committed to living consciously and building
a better world. They have supported more than 150 marches, rallies and
benefit concerts for peace and social and environmental justice since
their inception, along with providing community drum circles to enhance
joy and connectedness. They meet weekly in Takoma Park, engage in consensus
decision-making, and hold a new members' night on the second Tuesday of
the month. Anyone who cares about issues of peace, justice and
sustainability—and who is interested in using music as their activist
tool—is invited to join. Get more details at www.rhythmworkersunion.org.
Rick
& Audrey (Grassy Nook Stage)
With sweet harmonies and a distinctive blend of guitar and bouzouki, Rick
and Audrey perform music for the whole family. Some of their favorite
audiences average under the age of 10. At schools, libraries, farms, and
festivals, Rick & Audrey specialize in instilling a sense of wonder
and excitement for younger audiences. As a teacher of elementary music
in D.C. schools, Audrey has collaborated with students to create songs
and dances that inspire children to participate wholeheartedly. And with
Rick's inner child very close to the surface, their performance is always
engaging and inevitably educational. But don’t think it’s
just the kids having fun. There have been frequent sightings of so-called
“adults” dancing on tables, shouting out garden ingredients,
and just plain singing along!
www.richarddahl.com
Ruthie & the Wranglers (Field
Stage)
Ruthie & the Wranglers play rockin' American Roots music (also
known as FUN!) and are based in the Washington, D.C., area. Known for
their original upbeat songs like "(I'm Gonna Kill Myself) If It's
the Last Thing I Do" and "I Wanna Be Your Auctioneer,"
their first two albums were among the Top 20 of the Americana Radio Charts.
Their third release, Live at Chick Hall's Surf Club, also gained
national critical acclaim. These musical night owls continue their clever
songwriting skills, penned by Billboard magazine as "...nothing
short of brilliant," as Ruthie and the Wranglers deliver their all-original
album, Someday. www.ruthieandthewranglers.com
Bob Rychlik (World
Stage)
Bob Rychlik got his first fujara as a gift from a friend in 1999 and has
been playing it ever since. Besides performing and composing for the
instrument, he also cooperates with Washington dance company City Dance
and has performed on many stages from the Kennedy Center in Washington,
D.C., to St. Petersburg, Russia.
Sarenica (Lenore
Robinson Dance Stage)
Sarenica [pronounced sha-REN-eet-sa] plays Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian,
and Greek tamburica music from the South Slavic and Slavic-American traditions.
Repertoire includes high-energy music for dancing, as well as for listening,
from both town and village folk sources. Its members are Craig Packard,
D prim and bugarija, vocals; Kelly Marshall, D prim; Larry Robinson, G
brac; Tony Kambic, G brac; Val Radosevic, bugarija, and Tomy Armstrong,
bass. Craig@cal.org
Scottish Hour (World
Stage)
Join the members of Thistledown—Julie MacGorka, piano, Nora MacGarver,
fiddle, and Richard MacSeidel, cello—as well as harpist Ellen MacJames
and members of the MacWashington Scottish Country Dance Team as they lead
you through the exciting and varied world of Scottish music and dance.
You'll be dancing in your seat as they play and dance to traditional and
contemporary jigs, reels, strathspeys and waltzes.
Shango Band (Field
Stage)
The Shango Band is a D.C.-area reggae group that sings about real life
and current world issues with a likeable mix of smooth, lovers-edged tunes
and harder, more "true" roots tunes. With all-encompassing sound,
strong instrumentation and quality songwriting, the Shango Band has been
performing since the late 1980s and won the award for Best Reggae Band
in the 2001 D.C. Annual Reggae Music Awards. The band's bass-player, singer,
songwriter and producer, Erald (Englishman) Briscoe, spent a number of
years in England as a youth. He has performed with many reggae bands there
and around the U.S. for about 30 years. Englishman received WAMMIE awards
in 1989 for Best Male Vocalist, in 1990 for Best Instrumentalist, three
in 1991 and two more in 1992. He has been a Master Artist in the D.C.
Folks Arts Program for the Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Other
members of the Shango Band also have performed with reggae bands throughout
Europe and the U.S. They include Eric (Spidukie) McDermott (drummer/singer/songwriter)
and Jackson (Professor) Briscoe (keyboards), a graduate of Howard University
and MIT, where he studied mathnmatics and classical music. The Shango
Band performs at many university night clubs and international events
in Europe and the U.S. Their live performance keeps the audience feeling
upbeat, irie and positive! Englishman and the Shango Band recorded their
latest CD, Got to Know Your Purpose, in Iceland, while completing
their European tour. www.cdbaby.com/cd/shango1
Ship's Company Chanteymen (Abbott
Stage)
Ship's Company Chanteymen are dedicated to preserving and performing maritime
music and other forms of traditional entertainment. The Chanteymen perform
professionally in addition to donating time and energy in support of Ship's
Company living-history initiatives. This jolly band of merrymakers has
been seen and heard all up and down the East Coast of the United States
performing at living-history events, music festivals, private parties
and other settings. Their full-length recording, Donkey Riding,
features hearty work songs, soulful ballads and lively instrumentals.
www.shipscompany.org/chanteysingers.htm
David Shneyer (Jamboree
Court)
David Shneyer returns to lead this popular workshop in blowing the ram's
horn (shofar). A folksinger, storyteller and rabbi, David will teach the
various sounds associated with this most ancient musical instrument. Everyone
will get a chance, too! He will also share stories from the
Middle East and Eastern Europe about its meaning and use throughout the
ages in legend and in practice. David is the director of the Am Kolel
Judaic Resource and Renewal Center, based in Rockville, Maryland. He also
plays with the Fabrangen Fiddlers folk band. www.am-kolel.org
Verlette
Simon (7th Heaven Stage)
Take a little bit of Gladys Knight, add a drop of Mavis Staples, throw
in some James Taylor, a little Emily Saliers and a pinch of Jackson Brown,
and you'll come out with the acoustic soul fusion of Verlette Simon. Verlette
has worked in both the A&R and Promotion departments of Atlantic Records.
She has shared the stage with Castleberry Dupre, Milo Z, Rachel Cross,
Patty Labelle, Salt 'N Pepper, and Toshi Regan, just to name a few. In
1999 Verlette moved from New York to Maryland, and has managed to build
an impressive following in a short time. Her performances are full of
inspirational anecdotes, introspective moments and an outpouring of soulful
energy. She has performed at such venues such, the Kennedy Center, the
Washington Club, Kensington Coffee House, Metro Café, Jammin' Java, Berwyn
Café, Woodystock at Chief Ike's Mambo Room, Madam's Organ, and a variety
of house concerts and folk festivals. www.verlettes.com
Slaveya (World Stage)
Slaveya sings folk music from Eastern Europe and neighboring regions.
Slaveya's repertoire is drawn from the primarily Slavic vocal heritage
of Bulgaria, Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia and Russia. Traditionally
sung by women, the lyrics reflect the constants of village life: the
harvest, war and its heroes (folk and real), matchmaking, flirtation,
loves lost and found, birth and death. These songs are sung while women
work sowing and harvesting in the fields, at "working bees" in the
home, and while participating in community life at village dances, weddings
and religious and seasonal celebrations.
Slaveya, founded in 1984, takes its name from the Bulgarian word for nightingale. The members of Slaveya are American women who are united in their love of this beautiful music. Tatiana Sarbinska, an internationally recognized performer and teacher in Bulgaria and the United States, joined Slaveya as artistic director in 2003.
Jen & Scott Smith of Naked Blue (Grove
Stage)
Borrowing from the Americana tradition but firmly grounded with a pleasing
pop sensibility, the husband/wife performing songwriter team of Jen &
Scott Smith enjoy the freedom to make a living writing, recording and
performing their music. Without the support of a record deal since 1997,
they have been supported by a loyal and enthusiastic group of fans across
the U.S. that continues to grow. In May 2003 they celebrated their fifth
CD release, Five by Five, which has sold thousands of copies.
Jen and Scott, along with their band, Naked Blue, have toured the U.S.,
U.K. and Germany. Jen Smith is a three-time recipient of the Washington
Area Music Association Best Female Vocalist in the Rock/Pop, Roots Rock
and Contemporary Folk categories. Jen & Scott's songwriting credits
include cuts on film and television spots, including "Brooklyn South,"
"Second to Die," "The Girl Next Door," "About
Sarah," "The Smokers," "That's Life," "Jack
& Jill," and "The Young & the Restless." www.nakedblue.com
Squeeze
Bayou (Lenore Robinson Dance Stage)
Squeeze Bayou plays exciting Cajun dance music from Southwestern Louisiana
with a dash of Zydeco thrown in. The band plays lively two-steps and soulful
waltzes, as well as music that blends many styles, including country music,
blues and Creole. Their material comes from traditional sources and the
vocals are sung in Cajun French. The band includes Karen Collins (fiddle
and vocals), Matt Levine (lap steel guitar), Fred Feinstein (guitar),
Kevin Enoch (bass), David Lopez (drums), and Brian Simms (piano accordion).
The musicians in Squeeze Bayou have been performing traditional music
at dances, festivals, wedding receptions, parties and other events in
the Washington, D.C., area for over 20 years. In 1998, the band received
the "Prix Dehors de Nous," known as the "Cajun Grammy"
for best recording of a Cajun band outside of Louisiana for their CD Steppin'
Fast. squeezebayou.com
Mark Sylvester (7th
Heaven Stage)
Drawing on his folk, jazz and classical backgrounds, Mark composes music
that often crosses genres, creating a full and exciting sound from just
one acoustic guitar. Mark regularly appears in and around Washington,
D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland, highlighting music from American Gypsy,
his CD of original acoustic-guitar instrumentals. In addition to
his solo shows, Mark performs as a member of several groups, including
the "forest rock" group Tree Surgeons. A multi-instrumentalist,
Mark can be heard accompanying several area singer-songwriters on acoustic
guitar and upright bass. www.marksylvester.com
Franklin Taggart (Cash & Carter Tribute)
(7th Heaven Stage)
Franklin Taggart is a well-known performer and songwriter in the D.C.
metro area. His debut CD, Falling All the Way, was nominated
for five WAMMIE awards in 2001. Franklin was awarded the Traditional Folk
Instrumentalist WAMMIE that same year. He has begun working on a second
CD. www.franklintaggart.com
Tinsmith
(Grove Stage)
Tinsmith is a high-energy folk band playing traditional Celtic music in
a new way. Citing influences from blues to bluegrass, from funk to jazz
to mountain music, the group brings traditional songs and tunes into the
new century. Known for their fun and energetic performances and for the
taste and delicacy of the arrangements, Tinsmith as been making audiences
dance since 1997. Led by core members Rowan Corbett (guitar, bouzouki,
bones, djembe) and WAMMIE-winning vocalist Brooke Parkhurst (banjo, Irish
flute, tin whistles), the group also includes superb bassist Henry Cross
and their newest member, guitar and mandolin virtuoso Avril Smith. www.tinsmith.net
Mary
Sue Twohy (Grove Stage & 7th Heaven
Stage)
Smooth vocals dancing above subtle, expressive guitar garnered Mary Sue
the 1999 Best New Artist award from the Washington Area Music Association,
and nominations for Best Contemporary Female Folk Artist, Contemporary
Folk Recording and Song of the Year. Says Dave Richards of the Morning
News, "As far as the Goose-Bump meter goes, Mary Sue Twohy is
up there with Nanci Griffith, Sarah McLachlan, Iris Dement." She
has recorded two CDs: Training Butterflies, produced by Pete
Kennedy, and The Risk Involved, produced by Pete and Maura Kennedy.
www.marysuetwohy.com
The
Unusual Suspects (World Stage)
The Unusual Suspects take a blend of folk and country music, and add a
hint of jazz and blues and lots of character to create a unique sound.
Their passion for music comes across whether they are playing a classic
country tune, a jazz standard, a 1950s pop tune, or one of their moving
originals. Utilizing creative arrangements and sweet harmonies, they'll
please your mind, your ear, and your heart.
Kim Capps (vocalist, guitar) writes much of the music performed by the Unusual Suspects. Her vocal training includes classical, jazz and rock. Kim finds inspiration in the black gospel and blues she heard growing up in the Southeast.
Richard Seidel (bass, harmony, guitar, keyboard) also plays bass in other D.C.-area bands including Klezcentricity and the Potomac Jazz Trio. He has performed at the Washington Folk Festival, Takoma Park Folk Festival and the Kennedy Center, and often performs for contra dances at Glen Echo.
T.J. O'Malley (guitar, vocals) In addition to playing rhythm and lead guitar for the Unusual Suspects, T.J. is an accomplished country-ragtime fingerpicking guitarist and has performed at the Washington Folk Festival, and with popular local bands Silver Creek and Honey Run.
Andy Wallace (Abbott
Stage)
Andy Wallace has been involved with traditional music and culture for
the past 40 years. He spent 15 years directing the National Folk Festival,
5 years with the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and has organized
numerous other festivals and tours. Andy was a founding member of the
Folklore Society of Greater Washington. An active performer on the folk-music
scene during the 1960s and '70s, Andy worked with Jonathan Eberhart and
Mike Rivers in the Ringshouters, with Pete Seeger as a member of the original
crew of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, and as a solo artist. He has
recorded with Jonathan Eberhart, Helen Schneyer, Louis Killen and Pete
Seeger, among others, and has appeared on NPR and public television. Andy's
repertoire reflects his broad musical tastes and includes ballads, sea
chanties, Southern and New England dance tunes, cowboy songs, and Cajun
and Quebecois songs and tunes, with some Gilbert and Sullivan thrown in
for good measure. His "day job" is Public Events Coordinator
at the American Folklife Center, of the Library of Congress. awallace@loc.gov
Ron Warren (World
Stage)
Ron Warren's music often reflects his sensitivity to the sounds and energies
of the natural world. In addition to the "pensively evocative"
music of the Native American flutes you will hear at the Festival, Ron
has a busy career as a composer and arranger. ronwarren.net
Wayfarers (Field
Stage)
The Baltimore-based group, consisting of Brad Dunnells, Jason Tinney and
Laura Cosner, spans the broad range of country, folk and blues. The trio
was formed in 2000 as an offshoot of the Irish American group Donegal
X-Press and produced a self-titled album in 2001.
Larry Weiner (Lenore
Robinson Dance Stage)
Larry Weiner has been involved with Balkan traditional music and dance
since the early 1960s. Principally a dance researcher, he has made numerous
trips to Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Hungary to study traditional
dance in its native setting. Larry has taught Balkan-dance workshops throughout
North America and has directed various Balkan music and dance camps for
over 30 years. In addition to his strong background in traditional dance,
Larry plays tupan (big drum) and tarabuka (small hand
drum) and currently serves as Lyuti Chushki’s manager.
weiner.larry@comcast.net
Doug Alan Wilcox (7th
Heaven Stage)
A somewhat unassuming guy walks on stage and begins to play. When the
tune is through, he relates a quick, humorous story before beginning again.
By now you're hooked with his easy persona and casual command of the stage
and find yourself along for the ride ... Doug Alan Wilcox creates mini-movies—glimpses
of life with all its various shadings—in words and music, in a style
perhaps best described as "Americana-meets-pop" or "modern
rustic"—a happy collision of rootsy genres. Frequently employing
non-standard guitar tunings and alternate chord voicings, he manages to
present songs that are complex but immediately listenable. Doug's strong
belief in a grass-roots approach to performing finds him reaching his
listeners one by one, just as easily plying his trade at the corner coffeeshop
as the regional concert venue. Based not far outside the D.C. Capital
Beltway, Doug Alan Wilcox brings his smart folk/pop with a twang to fans
up and down the East Coast and beyond. www.dougalanwilcox.com
Winds of the World
(World Stage)
Native American flutes and the rare fujara from Slovakia, played by Ron
Warren and Bob Rychlik. Look for their individual
bios.
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2004, Takoma Park Folk Festival, Inc.
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