Calling all musicians!
We're now accepting applications for performers for this year's festival. Apply today!
2023 Folk Festival Line Up
American Nomad
About
American Nomad is an award-winning blues-Americana quartet from the Washington, DC area that grooves. Smart songwriting, strong musicianship, and a danceable live show have earned American Nomad the reputation of a “foot-stomping” musical act that can intrigue audiences with a wide variety of music tastes. Their music draws inspiration from the spirit of travel and authentic life experience. The band features Hassan El-Tayyab on lead vocals and guitar, Eric Lawry on drums, Johnny Seilkaly on bass, and Eugene Mironovich Iosilevich on keys.
American Nomad is an experienced act that has performed at some of the country’s finest acoustic venues and festivals including the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, the Fairbanks Folk Festival, and the Grass Valley Bluegrass Festival. They have appeared on the radio several times including interviews with Dave Iverson from KQED Forum, KPFA’s America’s Back 40 with Mary Tilson, and KPFA’s Music of the World with Joanna Manqueros. They have been featured in American Songwriter Magazine, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and NPR’s Folk Alley. American Nomad’s critically acclaimed album Country Mile was produced by Grammy-nominated producer and IBMA winner Laurie Lewis.
Hassan El-Tayyab is an award-winning singer-songwriter in his own right. He was honored as a finalist in the 2017 Telluride Troubadour Song Competition, for best vocal performance in the 2013 Berkeley Old Time Music Competition, as a finalist in the 2011 International songwriting competition, and was recognized in the 2013 and 2011 Rocky Mountain Folk Festival Songwriter
Competition.
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Flo Anito
About
Having graced some of DC's biggest stages: Strathmore, Wolf Trap, Merriweather Post Pavilion, the Birchmere, Blues Alley, the Fillmore, Hamilton Live, and Bethesda Blues & Jazz - Flo Anito recently embarked on her first European tour, performing solo in the UK, Switzerland, Germany and Spain! A quirky, clever songwriter with a great big voice, that is in turn, sweet, sultry, powerful, and emotive, Flo's stage presence is undeniable. Classically trained in Voice, Piano, and Cello, raised on the stages of Summer stock musical theatre, and studying Music under Anthony Braxton and Alvin Lucier at Wesleyan University, Flo's sound is a rare hybrid. A Grand Prize winner on Ourstage, with multiple Wammy nominations for Best Pop/Rock Vocalist, Best Jazz Song, Best Jazz Group, Best Country/ Americana Group and Best Folk Group, come see why Flo Anito is wowing audiences internationally.
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Jay Byrd
About
Jay Byrd has been a professional guitarist, singer, and songwriter since his late teens. After moving to the Washington, DC area in 2001 from North Carolina, Jason began crafting songs with a decidedly Americana bent. An award-winning songwriter (NewSong, Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest, Bernard-Ebb Finalist), Jay continues to write and perform original folk, rock, and roots-influenced music. Jay’s latest album, "At Home Again," was released in August of 2022.
www.jaybyrdmusic.com
Nelson Cade III
About
Nelson has jammed with Stevie Wonder, was the first 4-chair turn and finalist on John Legend's Team on The Voice (2020), completed two nationwide tours, released Freedom and Point B and his unreleased single, CeeCee's Song, was just placed in the #1 Netflix series, Love is Blind [season 4, Ep 12]!
Watching Nelson's right hand on his guitar is magical! It's like watching his fingers while he plays piano (yes, he's classically trained!) But he turned ALL 4-chairs on the hit TV show The Voice for a reason. His raspy, baritone voice reaches straight to your heart whether he croons with a smooth, silky sound or rocks out with a grungy twang ~ John Legend called it "Honey Dipped". Blake Shelton said "[He] can go the gamut from Led Belly [blues] to ZZ Top [rock] and everything in between! He further compliments Nelson’s guitar playing- “That was such an amazing guitar part... I would be proud to be your coach.”
His repertoire is extensive and transverses generations and genres, hence he is known for being multi-generational and multi-genre-ational! His acoustic shows sample unique, looper mash-ups and covers from the 60s - 2000s and beyond: Nirvana, John Meyer, The Turtles, Stevie Wonder, 21 Pilots, Nine Inch Nails, Weezer, John Bellion, The Beatles, Outkast, White Stripes, Hozier and Lenny Kravitz just to name a few. Plus, his singles, Freedom and Point B, along with several unreleased originals… trust it’s a real vibe!
Nelson Cade III is truly an experience!
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Callithump
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About
Callithump is a dynamic folk band that has been shaking up the music scene with their eclectic sound and electrifying live performances. Callithump brings a unique blend of British and American folk, and their own compositions. The group was formed in the early 2000s by Glyn Collinson, a masterful bouzouki player and stomp board extraordinaire, and Andrew Marcus, one of the Contra scenes most accoladed accordion players. Together, the duo began writing and performing their own unique style of music that combines traditional folk styles with elements of rock, jazz, and more. In 2017, the group was joined by Abe Joyner Meyers, Takoma Park born virtuoso fiddler whose lightning-fast runs and soulful solos added a new dimension to Callithump's
music. Over the years, Callithump has continued to evolve and grow, but one thing has remained constant: their commitment to delivering a truly unforgettable live experience. With their infectious energy and irresistible rhythms, Callithump is a band that's impossible not to love.
https://www.facebook.com/thecallithump?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Marcy Cochran
About
Best known for fiddling in the Americana band Dead Men's Hollow for 14 years, Marcy has, in the four years since the end of DMH, been enjoying getting to play side-woman, playing intermittently with Jeff Smith, Sunny at Midnight and the Human Wilderness String Band, The Kindly Ones, and a number of individual songwriters including Jillian Matundan, Michelle Swan, Kathleen Huber, and Valeria Stewart. She is now taking an opportunity to step out as a solo instrumentalist and do a combination of sharing her original compositions and paying tribute to her early fiddle mentors and influences along the way that have shaped her fiddling and songwriting journey of 23 years now.
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Crooked Sparrow
About
Crooked Sparrow is the combination of award-winning singer songwriters Valeria Stewart and Kevin Dudley, with fiddler Jenny Smith. Valeria is originally from Argentina and her songs have a blend of Latin, folk, jazz, and Americana. Kevin hails from Texas and brings a mix of western swing, blues, and deep soul. Jenny’s fiddle adds depth and beautiful tone to the trio’s sound; a gumbo of roots music from both Americas... North and South... and in between.
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Steven Cutts
About
Steven Cutts has been writing and performing in the DC area for over thirty years and before that "apprenticed" by singing and playing beginning in his teens. Coming of age in the folk revival/revolution of the late 1960s and '70s, he's been inclined toward the acoustic singer-songwriter model, but Steve is more than happy to extend to a country sound, to a little blues -- to complaining about political and ecological wrong-doing or to joking about life as we know it in a novelty song. During the pandemic, he reached out to friends and fans via five well-received online (YouTube) concerts. Steve frequents local open mics (including the venerable Folk Club of Reston/Herndon), has appeared on the Shab Row stage in Frederick, and last fall joined the festivities of Tenleytown's Art All Night. He's had the great good fortune to record many of his songs with engineer (and bassist) Jim Robeson and with some of the region's great players acting as studios musicians. He posts recordings for streaming and downloading on his The Prime Cutts website (ThePrimeCutts.com) and on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Soundcloud.
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D.C. Sing-Along
About
The D.C. Sing-Along is a hootenanny for the digital age. After learning the magic of group singing through decades of family sing-alongs, founder Josh Korr created the D.C. Sing-Along so others could experience the magic, too. Combining the communal spirit of '60s hootenannies with a modern songbook, a rawk 'tude, and an aversion to noodling, the D.C. Sing-Along is the most heartwarming and cathartic time you'll have all year!
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Brad Engler
About
Singer/songwriter Brad Engler performs vocal-centric, sometimes-political, original and classic acoustic folk. His influences range from Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan, to classic blues, to modern folk and rock acts like The Tallest Man on Earth and Ben Harper.
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https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KIbMonEkiGoiBogMu1iWv?si=qg4pN6UARM-d81QS5VduuQ&nd=1
Friends and Amigos
About
Friends and Amigos is a four-piece genre-nonconforming band based in the DMV. Formerly known as "Gabrielle Zwi and Friends," the band features singer-songwriter Gabrielle Zwi, guitarist Levi Hebeisen, bassist Avi Ali, and drummer Spencer Marcotte. Coming together from Rockville, Silver Spring, Boyds, and Baltimore, they are super excited to perform for you at Takoma Park Folk Festival! Until then, you can find them at www.friendsandamigos.com
Miles Gannett Band
About
Miles Gannett doesn’t sit still creatively. The Louisiana native, who now calls Maryland home, hears the seamless character of all music, blending and balancing strains of bluegrass with psychedelic folk textures, classic country phrasing with the propulsive notes of acid rock, and earthy blues with spectral ambience. His inventive lyrics marry the probing meditations of Jason Isbell with the story-song style of Townes Van Zandt and John Prine and the lilting rhythms of Willie Nelson.
Gannett’s songwriting grows out of a lifetime of listening to and playing a broad variety of music. “My dad was a guitarist and a songwriter, and he’s had a huge influence on me,” says Gannett. His father bought him an “old, junker guitar” when Gannett was 7. “I’d already been walking around the neighborhood singing ‘La Bamba’ at the top of my lungs,” he laughs. With that first guitar, Gannett learned one chord at a time, and once he learned one chord, he would write a one-chord song, he recalls. By the time he was 12, he asked his father for an electric guitar: “he told me he would buy me one when I learned to play the lead guitar parts of ‘Purple Haze’ and ‘Johnny B. Goode,’ and the rhythm intro to ‘Pinball Wizard,’” he laughs.
Gannett got his electric guitar, and he eventually started playing in bands and writing and recording his own songs. He put together a group called Fractal Cat in early 2011, recording three albums of original music with them and building a reputation on Baltimore’s airwaves and live music scene. After meeting up with recording engineer/producer Frank Marchand (Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, We Banjo 3) to record Fractal Cat’s third album The Tower, Gannett started working on his “first countryish album,” which reflects his deep love of progressive bluegrass and classic country.
The result is Meridian, a dazzling debut solo effort featuring members of the Seldom Scene dobroist Fred Travers and banjoist and mandolin player Ron Stewart. Gannett’s warm vocals carry listeners on shimmering waves of pedal steel through various musical landscapes. Today, Gannett’s music honors the contours of traditional music even as he continues to innovate freely and ingeniously within those contours. “I’m always adding elements that might be considered irreverent or blasphemous. I always try to build on old music, but I’m not making museum music.”
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Drew Gibson
About
Drew Gibson’s music drifts on influence from the American days of country-blues and the singer-songwriters of the recent past. Since releasing his debut album “Letterbox” in 2007, the self-taught finger-style guitarist has garnered attention from USA Today, The Washington Post, RVA Magazine, and No Depression. With his intensely personal songs and an expert stagecraft as a live performing story-teller, Drew has graced stages across the country at revered venues such as The Ark in Ann Arbor, Michigan,
and The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia.
In 2015 Gibson released his third effort entitled “1532.” The album was born from a healing journey on which he embarked after the loss of his father on the Fourth of July in 2012. "Fifteen Thirty-Two" traces stories of Gibson’s family from its roots in Scotland to the branches across Canada and the United States and was considered one of the top releases in 2015 by No Depression. In 2016, Drew began recording his fourth album, “Shipbuilder.” After many years in the making, the album was released in April of 2019. “Shipbuilder” navigated songs about the ups and downs of life and how to float above the constant changing tides, while keeping dreams alive as we continue to grow. Gibson is currently recording his 5th studio album, due to be released in 2023.
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Groupo Rompe Cajon
About
Grupo Rompe Cajón is a musical ensemble specializing in Afro-Peruvian folkloric music, based in the Washington, D.C. area. Formed in 2018, the group's mission is to share the rich folkloric traditions of Peru's coast to people of all backgrounds. We showcase a variety of genres, such as the Festejo, Landó, Panalivio and Zamacueca, and bring to life songs about celebration as well as the struggle for Afro-Peruvian freedom before slavery and equality since. We do this through music, dance, and education. Audiences leave our performances appreciating the diversity of Afro-Peruvian music, understanding the cultural and historical context, and, we hope, some songs to sing, rhythms to play, and steps to dance. We play a variety of Peruvian percussion instruments, including the cajón (box drum), the cajita (small box), quijada de burro (donkey jawbone), checo (large gourd), conga, bongo, cowbell, guitar, and violin.
Our members include professional musicians young and old, starting at the age of 10. Robin Ghertner is our musical director of Grupo Rompe Cajón. He has studied and performed percussion traditions from around the world including in Peru, Cuba, Korea, and India. Visit robinaxel.com for more info on Robin.
Havin’ Fun
Havin' Fun is a group made up of friends Frances Moyer, Sue Straney and Debbie Annen. Frances and Sue have been playing and singing together since 1998, and Havin' Fun began when Debbie joined us in 2006. We play whatever strikes our fancy - country, folk, old rock & roll, standards, gospel - and we have built a song list as diverse as we are. With guitar, fiddle, ukulele or bass, and sweet three part harmony, whenever we get together we are always Havin' Fun.
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Grace Heinlein
About
Grace Heinlein is a singer/songwriter from the Maryland area. Writing in the Indie Folk genre, she has released several projects this past year that marked a close to her time in college. She’s hoping her songs impact listeners as much as they did her while she was writing them.
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https://open.spotify.com/artist/2N77d5thw0UsOgZRCojYT6?si=HAWJIDQVTK6n_gCuvuLUdw
Monir Hossain
About
Monir Hossain, hails from a musical family, grandson of researcher and performer of well-known Ustad Kader Buksh of Murshidabad, West Bengal, India. Born in Bangladesh, and migrated to US with his family at a very early age, Monir was musically influenced at an early age by his father, vocalist Ustad Hafiz Hossain, a regular classical vocalist at All India Radio in Calcutta. His long term guru is Pandit Samar Saha of Sangeet Research Academy, Calcutta. Though trained in Benaras style, Monir expanded to other styles and also received brief but extensive talim from tabla stalwarts such as Pandit Nayan Ghosh, Pandit Anup Ghosh, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee as well as (late) Ustad Shawkat Ali Khan. Monir played tabla and appeared in person in Hollywood film American Chai and has been performing since his teen years. He has released CDs with sarod maestro late Pt.Budhadev Das Gupta, Pt. Debojyoti Bose and sitar maestro Ustad Shahid Parvez. Monir is the creator of unique Indian Classical Music (ICM) app called Saathsangeet that is now used world wide. Monir continues to explore creative ways to infuse his traditional training with his evolving style of accompaniment. He is a Radar Systems Architect, a private pilot, a painter and travels widely and actively educates the audience on the beauty of Tabla performance.
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Peter and Steve Jones
Peter and Steve Jones are singer/songwriters celebrating almost four decades of making music together. They started their musical collaboration when they were both boycott organizers for the United Farm Workers of America. Their music has lifted the plight of those who had little or no voice. Peter’s song “Kilkelly,” chronicling Irish folklore, has resonated with listeners throughout the world. Steve’s original works for musical theatre, “Forgotten” and “Love Songs from the Liberation Wars,” have put the spotlight on issues of fairness and equality in the workplace.
KAotik
Amaechi Unaegbu is an eager and aspiring artist who is prospering in the Hip Hop genre of music. He is known by the name Kaotik but also gose by the moniker Bruce Reignn. Born in Washington D.C., He has a background derived from the Nigerian nationality. Kaotik has moved around from cities like Silver Spring in the state of Maryland to his current residence in Laurel,MD. He first began to pursue music in his junior year of high school. He eventually began to grow in his craft through his years in college and so forth. Kaotik describes his style as being fresh, innovative and says he puts emphasis on lyrical content of his music. He also says his style can vary from time to time. He says people can relate to his music because he's a regular person that try's not to stray too far from who he really is. Some of Kaotik's influences range from KRS One, Rakim and Big Daddy Kane, to others such as Black Thought, Last Emperor, Inspectah Deck and Keith Murray just to name a few. At the moment Kaotik is distributing his music independently through his own label Vintage Note. He says there are various accomplishments he'd like to achieve through hip hop and music in general. Kaotik feels like he's just getting started and there's ways to go. He sees every step in music as a chance to learn, develop and gain new experiences.
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Karpouzi Trio
About
Karpouzi Trio plays music on traditional instruments from the Greek mainland and islands, and Asia Minor. The band loves to play for dance parties and community celebrations, and they are proud to have had the honor of playing at past Takoma Park Folk Festivals as well as under sponsorship and at such distinguished venues as The Embassy of Greece, The Embassy of Cyprus, The Delegation of the European Union, The Library of Congress, The Hill Center, Ossian Hall Park, Saint Theodore Greek Orthodox Church, The Washington Cathedral and Lisner Auditorium with Christmas Revels, The FSGW Washington Folk Festival and for dance parties and celebrations for individuals and groups too numerous to mention. Always, even in concerts, the band invites the audience out of their seats and onto the dance floor! Karpouzi Trio members are Spyros Koliavasilis (vocals, oud, laouto, kemane), Margaret Loomis (santouri) and Len Newman (laouto)
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Susanna Laird
About
Susanna Laird is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist from Frederick Maryland. Passionate about writing songs that are poetic, intimate and authentic, she has a musical style that is a little bit folk, a little bit gospel, stirred together with rock-n-roll and poured out in soulful vocals that will leave you feeling every word.
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Juliet Lloyd
About
Juliet Lloyd is an acclaimed DC-based singer/songwriter who has garnered comparisons to Patty Griffin, Carole King and Chris Stapleton for her signature blend of soulful, roots-infused pop. Across her 20-year career as a writer and artist, Juliet has released three studio albums, garnering placements on television shows on MTV and VH1 and airplay on more than 175 radio stations across the country. Her 2022 EP High Road, hailed as a "top-tier singer/songwriter album" by reviewers, features songs that earned Juliet top honors in the 2022 Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards and Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, four “Sammie” finalist nods, and several other prestigious national songwriter awards in 2023. Both solo and with her band, Juliet has performed 150+ shows a year since the pandemic, including headliner and supporting spots at regional festivals and a growing number of listening rooms across the northeast.
www.julietlloyd.com
Deidra Love
About
Love is a charismatic, versatile singer-songwriter whose talents encompass many styles and genres. With more than 20 years of performance experience, her voice has been described as a flirty breath of fresh air that encapsulates your senses as she serves up a musical gumbo of jazz, classical, gospel and R&B. A warm four-octave soprano who can glide effortlessly from a full belt to an angelic whisper or demanding operatic heights, you’ll be captivated watching Love become the physical embodiment of the music itself.
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Cameron Mae
About
Cameron Mae is a Nonbinary, Queer artist with Indie folk singer/songwriter roots. They're based in Annapolis, MD. Inspirations include Lizzy McAlpine, Alanis Morissette, Dodie, Leo and Cygnus and more. They are currently working on their full length album, but you can stream their debut EP “Come To My Funeral” anywhere you find your music online.
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Lydia Sylvia Martin
Lydia Sylvia Martin plays banjo and sings traditional old time and original songs. She is the recipient of a 2023 Maryland State Arts Council Folklife Apprenticeship Award for teaching traditional banjo styles, songs, and history. Her 2016 album Chasing the Ghost was nationally recognized on the folk DJ charts. She is a regular instructor at Common Ground on the Hill and has performed in the U.S. and Ireland with her family, The Martin Family Band, since 1995.
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Mrs. Toretsky’s Nightmare
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Mrs. Toretsky's Nightmare formed out of a dream that began 25 years ago when Jeff, Howard, Rachel, and others who have moved on, created the Adat Shalom Klezmer Workshop. The group morphed many times as our kids went from playpens to the bandstand and now off to other cities forming their own klezmer ensembles. Through many visits to Klezkamp, Klezkanada, and Yiddish New York, this band expanded and polished repertoire. Our goal is to share the culture of Eastern European Jewish Folk music both in authentic and creative new ways. We want to create community around the music and encourage awareness of this music for celebrations, in particular weddings. Ask us about the name...
Nordensong
Drawing on the history of Scandinavian, Celtic, and American folk music, Nordensong’s rich musical world breathes new life into these ancient traditions. Composer/guitarist Karl Lundeberg has written two albums worth of music featuring his own 12-string guitar, as well as GRAMMY-nominated Loretta Kelley on Norwegian Hardanger fiddle and Laura Hummel on Swedish nyckelharpa, resulting in Nordensong’s bold, exciting sound that is a completely new re-imagination of musical eras and genres.
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Petrichord
About
Petrichord is a dynamic contra dance trio based in the Washington, DC area, weaving together a number of influences to create an eminently danceable, engaging experience. Colleen Holroyd (fiddle, feet) brings her passion for Québécois, Cape Breton, and Scottish fiddle tunes to the band. Sophie Chang (cello) injects a grounding of classical training into Petrichord’s sound, along with experience gained from playing for English country dances. Rounding out the trio is Bobby LaRose (piano, mandolin), adding his love of old time and Irish music.
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Rock Creek Ramblers
About
The Rock Creek Ramblers (Sean Franco, Simon Glenn-Gregg, and Ezra Deutsch-Feldman) play the tunes and songs of the Appalachian Mountains on banjo, fiddle, and guitar. They bring a modern energy to their music, but stick to the traditional style and repertoire as much as possible. You may have seen them around the area at jams and festivals, and they look forward to sharing this great music with you!
Mar Rose
About
Mar Rose is a singer/songwriter from the DMV. A trained guitarist and vocalist, Mar weaves together distinct rhythms, catchy melodies, and expressive lyrics to immerse the audience in an emotional experience. One listener describes Mar's music as, "familiar, yet fresh." With a basis in indie folk rock, some of Mar's music gives classic and nostalgic vibes. At the same time, Mar plays and writes everything from reggae to pop, from hip hop to electronic, and even some country and bluegrass. Mar gives it all a special flare that becomes unquestionably their own unique style.
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https://open.spotify.com/artist/6PbyDkEUObHzFPRhjL6K5y?si=BcywkYtZQW2yL6qUoj9Z7g
Potecasi Slade
About
Potecasi Slade is a DMV based indie contemporary blues singer-songwriter artist, which performances includes roots blues with a cool groove, and originals that provide a window to the soul. This is where DC Funk meets Rock!
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Slaveya Women’s Vocal Ensemble
About
Slaveya is a women’s a capella ensemble that performs the traditional folk songs of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, characterized by tight vocal harmonies and exotic rhythms.
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Miles Spicer
Miles Spicer has been a part of the Washington area acoustic blues scene since the 1990’s. As principle guitarist of M.S.G. Acoustic Blues Trio for over 20 years, he’s played venues from house concerts to National Festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival
Annie Stokes
If experience is the best teacher, then Annie Stokes can honestly say she's taken every course twice.
And she has the songs to prove it.
Raised on the seam of urban and rural living in the foothills of the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains, Annie grew up performing for others. It wasn't until she taught herself guitar at age 21 that she finally blended her loves of storytelling and singing. From there, her budding notion that she was born to share her art with others led her on a meandering journey through the Shenandoah Valley, the evangelical towns of central Virginia, the labyrinth of damp green rooms in DC, sunbaked music festivals, and dozens of rental cars and hotels on the state highways that vein from the Carolinas to Boston.
Her mesmerizing lyrics and crystalline voice (described by one fan as "Alison Krauss meets Nick Cave") eventually culminated in an EP (2014) and three albums (2015, 2017, and 2021). Her most recent LP, "The One That Gets Away", was awarded "Best Americana/Country Album" at the 2022 Wammies, Washington DC's prestigious music awards ceremony. Annie's music combines traditional country and folk song structure with modern lyrical sensibilities, and her live shows invite audiences into a front-porch conversation about life. Her fifth studio project, "Wild Rose EP" -- cowritten and produced with Grammy member Austin Bello -- was released in March 2023.
She co-writes with her husband, bass player Will Berger. When they aren't making music, they are raising two girls and lots of hell.
Tornado Rose
About
The name Tornado Rose perfectly suits the sound created by this amazing 4-piece band--a sexy but sweet mix of folk, bluegrass and serenity. Brooke Bell’s voice shines with a crystalline power and clarity, backed by Ryan Davidson’s melodic mandolin, Kyle Jacob’s soulful banjo and Joshua G. Bell holding down the low end on double bass.
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Justin Trawick and the Common Good
About
Justin Trawick has been performing in the Washington DC area and along the East Coast since 2006, citing musical influences like Bob Schneider, Greensky Bluegrass, The Tallest Man on Earth, G. Love, Old Crow Medicine Show, and David Gray. In February of 2014, Trawick won “Song of the Year” at the Washington Area Music Awards for his solo recording of “All the Places That I’ve Been," which can be downloaded on iTunes as a single along with his five other solo records and EPs. In June of 2015, Trawick released his first single, “Goodbye,” under the band name "Justin Trawick and the Common Good,”written about the search for direction and belonging in a world that always feels one step ahead of you. In January of 2018, “Justin Trawick and The Common Good” released their first EP, “The Riverwash EP,” which features Norah Jones’ guitarist Adam Levy. In 2020 the band released the single “Back of the Line” during the coronavirus quarantine and was featured on Reuters, CNN, Al Jazeera, Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, Parade Magazine, American Songwriter Magazine, Voice of America and Virginia Living Magazine for Trawick’s livestream series and secret backyard concert series created during the pandemic. On August 27th, 2021 Trawick released the single “I’m Doing Alright”, whose chorus he’d been singing as a theme song on Facebook Live and his secret backyard shows throughout the entirety of the pandemic. Starting January 11th, 2023 the band has released a new single every eight weeks including “These Days”, “Life in the Middle”, and “Standing on the Edge”. The debut full album from Justin Trawick and The Common Good is planned for the beginning of 2024.
Trawick and the band have performed for DelFest, Charm City Bluegrass Festival, Kingman Island Bluegrass Festival, Appaloosa Roots Music Festival, Floyd Yoga Jam, NHL Stadium Series Game in Raleigh NC at Carter Finley Stadium, TedxEast in NYC at the City Winery, and TedxPennsylvaniaAvenue in DC at the Newseum. Additionally, Trawick has opened for over 30 national acts, including Suzanne Vega, Wyclef Jean, Brett Dennen, Blues Traveler, Enter The Haggis, Bob Schneider, and Edwin McCain, and shared bills with Dr. Dogg and The Avett Brothers. As the founder of the nationally touring show “The 9 Songwriter Series” and co-founder of “The Circus Life Podcast" with guests such as Kevin Eubanks, Chris Thomas King, Ernie Halter, Yarn, and Snuffy Walden, Trawick has built a brand that extends far beyond his home base in DC. For more information, please visit:
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Joe Uehlein & the ULiNERS
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About
The U-Liners play a wide variety of music in the roots-rock and Americana genres including folk, folk-rock, country, country rock, bluegrass, rock’n roll, swing, blues, rhythm & blues, soul, and more. The U-Liners have a deep and eclectic repertoire ideal for dancing or listening. The U-Liners have performed at the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in Cleveland, the Knitting Factory and the Mercury Ballroom in NYC, Bally’s in Las Vegas, at the AFL-CIO, SEIU, and all of DC’s finest venues, including The Birchmere with Pete Seeger, Strathmore, The Black Cat, the Silver Theater, and Jammin’ Java with Tom Morello and Boots Riley, The IOTA Club, Madams Organ, the State theater, the Mansion on O St., the Millennium Arts Center (w/ Lester Chambers), the old Half Moon BBQ, and many others. A rare specialty of this group includes songs of hope, peace, justice, the environment, and worker’s rights; and come from the band’s belief that we can make the world a better place.
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Eli Waltz
About
Eli Waltz is a world traveler and folk-rock musician who focuses the sum of his experiences on the road into a soulful, singular sound. His music is eclectic, drawing from the musical traditions of American Blues, “rock ‘n’ roll”, Chinese Guqin and European Baroque music; his lyrics draw upon the poetic traditions of the Beat Generation.
He is heralded for his whimsical, philosophical lyricism, unconventional chord progressions and gut-punching harmonica solos.He weaves in traditional Chinese music–inspired by months and years living in Beijing and Yunnan as a working musician–and classical music to create his signature folk rock sound.
His sound has many influences, earning him comparisons to musicians ranging from Ray Lamontagne to Pink Floyd to Shakey Graves to Gregory Alan Isakov. He aims to build upon and honor the legacies of his all-time favorites: Townes Van Zandt, John Lee Hooker, John Fahey, Beethoven and Guan Pinghu.
Waltz has shared the stage with nationally-recognized artists including Willie Carlise and Andrew Combs. He is part of a newwave of up-and-coming American Blues and Folk artists residing in Washington, D.C., home of historic folk label Takoma Records, Skip James and many artists from whom he draws inspiration in his songwriting and performances.
Washington Qinqiang Opera Club
Qinqiang opera, also known as Shaanxi opera, is the most important opera in Northwest China. Of all the Chinese operas, Qinqiang has the longest history and is therefore known as the ancestor of all Chinese operas. Washington Qinqiang Opera Club (WQOC) is made up of a group of Qinqiang lovers living in Washington DC and nearby areas. We have entertained the local communities in the Greater Washington Area with Qinqiang at various cultural events such as Asian Festival and the annual New Year Gala of the Northwestern Chinese American Association of Greater Washington (NCAAGW). Of course, we also entertained ourselves. We are having a lot of fun together. We welcome all to join us.
Qiyuan Pan is a PhD statistician. He grew up in a village in Northwest China where Qinqiang was the primary entertainment. He helped to establish Washington Qinqiang Opera Club, a subordinate unit of the Northwest-Chinese Americans Association of Greater Washington (NCAAGW). He taught himself the Banhu instrument that is an essential instrument for Qinqiang opera.
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Annette Wasilik
About
Love & Fire is a masterpiece." ~ Tom Prasada-Rao
Annette's performances are marked by her compelling alto and moving songs that "touch you to the bone". In the tradition of the poet songwriter, with rich tones reminiscent of Linda Thompson or Natalie Merchant, she weaves a spell both startling in its intimacy and expansive in its vision. Her songwriting influences include Jane Siberry, Lucinda Williams and John Prine to mention just a few. Both down to earth and deeply atmospheric, Annette’s songs are explorations into longing, love, loss, God, home, homesickness and hope.
"I found my first guitar in an old tin wardrobe in my basement. Its bridge was broken but it was love at first sight, as if I found a buried treasure in my backyard. The room spun and everything. I glued the bridge back on and never looked back." On songwriting Annette says, "It feels like diving for pearls. I sink down and don't know what's going to happen. Usually a combination of emotion, melody and phrasing opens the way for the lyrics."
In her late teens and twenties. Annette was performing in local cafes, small venues and eventually festivals. When her daughter was small, Annette took a break from performing to attend her family and grow her healing practice. Now she is out performing again and becoming known in the DC area and nationally as a powerful songwriter and performer. Annette's debut CD, Songs from the Talking House, was awarded Contemporary Folk Recording of the Year by the Washington Area Music Association in April 2016. She also won Honorable Mention for her song Don't Look Down in the 2016 MidAtlantic Song Contest. Her January 2020 release, Love & Fire, is her first album on the Azalea City Cooperative label. On release, it landed at #6 on FAI Folk DJ chart and #1 on the NACC chart and ended up #40 for the year.
In 2019, Annette created a new concert series, Local Cream, to showcase the best local and regional songwriters and co-hosts a popular monthly songwriting circle. In the spring of 2022, her song "Almost" was a finalist in The Great American Song Contest and won "Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting" Award.
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Doug Alan Wilcox
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About
Doug Alan Wilcox delivers music that will stick in your head - as well as your heart.
Over the years, Wilcox has provided support for or shared a stage with a diverse cross-section of musical including Peter Mayer, Tom Prasado-Rao, Jen Chapin, L.J. Booth, Stacey Earle, Pierce Pettis, and Peter Case.
“Passionate and insightful....”
“Funky, folky....”
"Doug Alan Wilcox has the soul of a poet and the songs to prove it. He immediately became a favorite guest on the Acoustic Highway.”
- Barry Graham, Folk music producer / WHRV FM
"I was drawn to your authentic soul-filled sound and the lyrics caught me by surprise."
- KD Morris, gallery owner
“Wilcox's honey soaked vocals can exhibit swagger and occasionally a sadness.....”
- Brian Tucker, Bootleg magazine
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Wild Whispers
About
At some point during their online message exchange, lifelong musicians Eli Lev and Megan Leigh came to
realize their wildly varied backgrounds made them perfect bandmates.
The pair met on Instagram in 2017 when Meg was poking around online in search of local artists and
reached out to Eli. Since then, they have come together to create songs that feature empyrean vocal
harmonies with a folk-pop feel, centered around ear-worm melodies, acoustic guitar, and adventurous
sounds and textures.
Eli is an award-winning folk musician who grew up in a diverse suburb of Maryland. He loves Native
American flute music as much as he loves electronic beats.Megan is a rising solo artist who grew up in the country on a dairy farm and fine-tuned her pristine lead vocals and harmonies through singing in church and choirs.
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The Western Maryland duo has garnered favorable comparisons to The Civil Wars, Of Monsters and Men,
Simon & Garfunkel, and has been celebrated as a modern-day Fleetwood Mac. The pair’s songs center on
strong male and female vocals, acoustic fingerstyle guitar, and booming percussion while staying true to
classic folk and pop framework. Their masterful nine-song debut album, self-titled Wild Whispers,
showcases evocative, poetic, and thought-provoking lyrics. Composed of three conceptual trilogies, Wild
Whispers explores themes of nature, Greek mythology, as well as self-reflection.
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2022 Folk Festival Lineup
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D.C. Labor Chorus • Sambarta Rakshit • Badger Crossing Band
Celtic Songs Showcase • John Pfieffer
Shenandoah Run • Silver Strings • Washington Revels Maritime Voices
Brian Weber/Two Man Trio • Susan Rowe • Mandy Shaw
Alaska's Angels • Damion Wolfe • Juels Bland
Cody Summit • Djangolaya • The Rigatoni Quartet
Quiet the Mountain • The Jokers • Cherith Yuly
Favorite Child • No Part of Nothin’ • Burt the Dirt
Sol Roots • Project Locrea • Leslie Fontaine & Tabi Terusiak
Michelle Swan • Jillian Matundan • Ruthie and the Wranglers
Music Pilgrim Trio • Holly Montgomery • Lynn Hollyfield
Conor and the Wild Hunt • Karen Jonas
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