The Rest of the Summerfolk Lineup

Here we are, just three weeks until Summerfolk. I am very excited about our 35th anniversary Festival and know there will be many musical highlights at concerts and workshops over the weekend.

In previous blogs, I have featured maybe half the performer lineup and yet there are many more, each deserving of an article on their own accomplishments. But time is running out, so this week, I'll give you a brief look at the additional 2010 Summerfolk performers.

Delhi 2 Dublin has created a buzz at folk festivals, last summer and this one, all across Canada. For example, this response came in from Rick Newbury of the Atlin Arts and Music Festival in northern British Columbia when I asked about the band's performance there last year: "D2D was a huge hit here and I recommend them highly. Seamless fusion of genres, traditional & new. What amazing energy and audience engagement. They will steal the show from other stages".

The five members of Vancouver-based Delhi 2 Dublin come from different backgrounds and different musical influences. Their music is an exciting melting pot that blends the traditional sounds of North India with those of Ireland. Incorporating tabla, dhol, fiddle and sitar to progressive dance rhythms and cutting edge DJ aesthetics, Delhi 2 Dublin creates a multi-cultural celebration.

Danny Brooks is well known in blues music circles. One of the most soulful singers on the circuit, Danny's strength is in his simplicity and sincerity. An excellent rhythm guitarist and harmonica player, his powerful voice compels every member of the audience to believe that he is singing to him or her alone.

At the teepee, the centerpiece of Summerfolk's First Nations Village, hosts Kathryn Edgecombe and John Somosi will offer workshops on Aboriginal cultural traditions. John is also a drum maker who readily shares his enthusiasm for drumming and singing. They will be joined by special guest Virginia Barter who is a Métis/Cree historical writer, musician, storyteller and filmmaker. Inspired by her family’s experiences in the Canadian north, Virginia weaves fascinating tales of fur trade history.

The music of Caracol is filled with emotion. This quartet is fronted by singer Carole Facal, one of Quebec's best-known young performers and whose former band, DobaCaracol, was hugely popular in that province. She transcends the language barrier for those not fluent in French with her charismatic and charming delivery. With a supporting cast of superb musicians, her music draws from American folk and Jamaican rock-steady mixed into an interesting vintage '50s style approach..

Darlene is a performer who defies description. However once you've seen her perform, you won't forget her. It has been 10 years since Darlene last appeared at Summerfolk and a return visit is long overdue. With songs that are whimsical and adventurous, and while most often accompanied by guitar, she is apt to play a tune on a child's toy accordion and on the next, accompany herself with a didgeridoo.

Always exploring new territory, Darlene has lived the life of a troubadour since 1990. Seeking inspiration from the minstrel road, she has a different sense of folk roots seasoned with styles ranging from blues, jazz, gipsy, First Nations, Mexican and American folk music. Truly unique, she is a modern day musical gypsy.

De Temps Antan, composed of Éric Beaudry, André Brunet and Pierre-Luc Dupuis, perform time-honoured melodies from the stomping grounds of Quebec’s musical past. Using instruments like fiddle, accordion, harmonica, guitar and bouzouki, these three virtuosos blend boundless energy with the unmistakable joie de vivre found only in traditional Quebec music. You can catch De Temps Antan at the dance tent, in workshops and at Sunday night's amphitheatre concert.

Performing the hauntingly beautiful music of the Andes, Eco Andino is a Montreal-based sextet that presents the musical wealth of South America on Canadian soil. Formed in 1993, the group incorporates traditional flutes (quena, quenacho and tarkas), panpipes (sikus), stringed instruments (charango, ronroco and hualaycho) and many percussion instruments unique to Peruvian and Bolivian culture.

New Hampshire's Nils Fredland is one of the busiest and most sought-after dance callers in the business. He has been making music, leading dances and bringing people together for 20 years as a teacher, singer, instrumentalist and community dance caller. He will be bringing his technical skills, friendliness and soothing voice to Summerfolk's dance tent. So get ready to kick up your heels with one of North America's top contra dance callers.

Though Grit Laskin is world-famous for the guitars he builds, he has also spent 25 years writing and performing music. He plays tenor mandolin, Northumbrian smallpipes, concertina, guitar and fiddle, and he has accompanied musicians as diverse as Raffi and Stan Rogers. Respected as a songwriter as well as a musician, Grit’s songs have been recorded by the likes of Pete Seeger and the Tannahil Weavers.

Our enthusiastic Summerfolk Choir director, Tom Leighton is a man who loves music. He has a great appreciation for every musician who plays and every singer who sings. His work can be heard on countless recordings and he's played with many notable performers including a long association with pal Mark Haines. A strong supporter and contributor to the folk scene in Canada, Tom makes The Summerfolk Choir a wonderful experience.

Colin Linden is a genuine renaissance man of roots music who needs no introduction to folk music fans. He is a singer and songwriter of great skill; an in-demand and prolific record producer i.e. Bruce Cockburn, Tom Wilson, Colin James, and a sideman to the stars as guitarist for the likes of Cockburn, Emmylou Harris and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss. He has played on 300 recordings and produced 60 albums, yet somehow finds time to pursue both a prolific solo career and perform with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings

Danny Michel is another artist who need no introduction. This uniquely gifted guitarist and songwriter is universally lauded for his lyrics. He has released six solo albums, a DVD and an entire CD devoted to covers of David Bowie songs. His creative live shows leave audiences raving about his talents.

The electrifying group Poor Angus returns this year after an impressive debut at Summerfolk in 2009. Performing both traditional and original music, Poor Angus encompasses Scottish, Irish and East Coast sounds in their fiery arrangements. Highland pipes and Irish whistles are accompanied by fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bodhran and bass guitar. Add to that, their full-voiced four part vocal harmony makes Poor Angus one of Canada's strongest acoustic bands.

Traditional songs and tunes give Ian Robb an important place in Canadian folk music. Since arriving from his native England in 1970, Ian has performed at festivals, concerts and clubs across the continent. Recipient of a Canadian Folk Music Award for best Traditional Singer in 2005, his extensive repertoire of songs and concertina instrumentals is unsurpassed.

A Summerfolk favourite, Mose Scarlett's golden rich baritone voice and intricate finger-picking guitar style takes us on a sentimental journey through the 'good old tunes'. With his entertaining blend of blues, jazz, ragtime and Tin Pan Alley treasures, Mose never fails to entertain. Grizzled yet verging on elegance, deadpan yet bordering on hilarity, he is truly one of a kind.

Sheesham & Lotus created quite a stir the last time they came to the Festival. Performing a genre few others tackle, their old-time tunes and performance style harkens back to another time. They flatfoot buck-dance and hambone hand-jive; they perform harmonica duets, minstrel show and crooked fiddle tunes, and they play instruments like the jaw-harp, fiddle, fretless and gourd banjos, spoons and bones.

I was so impressed by the songs of Rob Szabo and the way he presented himself when I saw him perform, that I knew he would be a perfect fit for Summerfolk. His songs have twists and points of interest that make you pay attention and Rob's ever-present wry smile makes you feel like you’re in on a shared secret.

Len Wallace is a folksinger and musician in the truest sense. He is a virtuoso accordionist who breathes life into his instrument and a passionate vocalist with songs that tell the tales of ordinary folk - their extraordinary lives, histories, struggles, hopes and dreams. His is music that stirs the soul, performed with integrity and conviction.

Michigan's Matt Watroba is perhaps best known as the producer and host of 'Sing Out! Radio Magazine' for XM/Sirius satellite radio. However Matt has long been a folk music aficionado building his repertoire of songs for over 25 years. With a friendly and engaging style, his voice reaches right into the heart. His goal: 'always leave the audience feeling better than they did when they came'.

So that's pretty much everyone scheduled to perform. If you're keeping track, there are 54 acts in total, soloists and groups, coming to Kelso Beach Park to play Summerfolk. I can't wait - our 35th anniversary is going to have some fabulous music!

More on Our Homegrown Talent

In last week's blog I highlighted four acts with connections to Owen Sound and area. This week I continue on that theme.

There are a number of people I count on to bring their enthusiasm and expertise to the Festival. For example, The Voice of Summerfolk, Dave Carr is back for his 26th year as Summerfolk's MC. Dave is of course, a well-known Owen Sound broadcaster. Along with hosting our evening amphitheatre concerts, Dave works on The Summerfolk Quiz and emcees the amazing Mixed Up Bands workshop on Sunday.

Bognor's Bob Dixon is another valued contributor. As is the tradition at Summerfolk, his bagpipes signal the start of the nightly amphitheatre concerts and are featured in Sunday night's Finale.

The popular JumbleJam songwriting sessions are facilitated by Owen Sounders Ken Dow and Martin Cooper. They curate fifteen volunteer players into three bands, each anchored by a Summerfolk performer. These bands create an original song during a writing session in the afternoon and then perform it on the Down by the Bay stage on Saturday evening. It is, when you think about it, quite an incredible feat and always sparked with large doses of creativity.

Taking the excitement of 'building a song from scratch' to the Children's Village, Ken and Martin are also offering a JumbleJam workshop for children on Sunday.

Vita Bowen first attended Summerfolk with her parents, pottery experts Vince Bowen and Kate McLaren, and has been a long-time attendee. Now as Vita Twirlin' Diva, she heads up the fire poi demonstration in the Summerfolk Circle on Saturday night. This is really quite a thing to see as flames at the end of chains are spun around the body in an expressive way to create beautiful patterns and visual effects. Vita also leads impromptu hula hooping sessions for children and adults, animating the site in a unique way.

Featuring some of the most creative and talented up-and-coming performers from Owen Sound and area, First Rate People includes core members Jon Lawless, Liam Sanagan, Alicia Ross and Hayden Stewart.

The idea for First Rate People was spawned in 2007. Just out of high school, this group of young musicians started creating folk-pop music and evolved into more of a collective than a band. In fact, their first recording included some 60 people.

First Rate People loves to experiment as songwriters and musicians who believe in the art of collaborating. They are a band that knows no boundaries. The online momentum and buzz about FRP is spreading rapidly. This is a group that is adapting to new mediums to promote itself but has its' roots firmly planted in the Summerfolk tree.

Samantha Martin and the Haggard is a Toronto-based roots/rock foursome who add blues and country sounds into their musical mix.

Samantha Martin began her musical career in Lion's Head on the Bruce Peninsula. In her teens she sang country, blues, bluegrass and 60's folk/rock songs, quickly becoming a crowd favourite with her exceptional voice. Now in her 20's, she manages The Dakota Tavern in Toronto and pursues her musical career with The Haggard.

Those lucky enough to hear Martin sing are left wondering how all that soulful power comes out of a five-foot frame. She recorded her debut album Back Home in 2008 with a group of session musicians. Material from that album remains a staple of her live show with The Haggard, but they really shine on material they have since worked up together.

All three members of The Haggard bring with them a wealth of musical knowledge and also perform with the country group, The Kensington Hillbillies. Samantha says of drummer Pete Lambert, guitarist Mikey McCallum and bass player Greg Sweetland, "We draw out the best parts of each other, we bring out the best in each other musically. We`re friends and becoming a really tight unit."

Randy Morrison & the Flatt River Band is a newly formed group but they are not newcomers to bluegrass music in Ontario. The band is made up of experienced players centered around Randy Morrison, an award-winning fiddle/mandolin player who first came on the scene with the band Bruce County Grass in the 1980s.

Randy is from Teeswater and traces his fiddle roots to his father Lincoln Morrison who was a well-known fiddler in Huron County. Around the time the Bruce County Grass group broke up, Randy was in many ways, mentored by Graham Townsend. Graham was without question, one of Canada's most versatile and smoothest fiddlers. In subsequent years, Randy has played with many groups including a stint with Charlie Pride.

Lead singing for The Flatt River Band is handled by guitarist Richard Dugal, formerly of the fine band Clean Sweep. Banjo player Larry Millar rounds out the band along with Martin Chapman on standup bass.

Oddville Stage Company is an umbrella for many exciting projects, including the Oddville Music Show, developed by Steven Morel and Jenny Parsons, award-winning Second City alumni.

Jenny and Steve recently moved to West Grey, in the vicinity of Allan Park between Hanover and Durham.

Jenny co-wrote and performed in six original revues for Second City, two of which received Toronto's theatre award, The Dora, for best new musical review. She performed in Martin Short's live show which toured North America and her film credits include appearances in Hairspray, Cheaper by the Dozen Two and Pushing Tin. Steve performed, produced and directed with Second City for almost 20 years and has worked with the likes of Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Colin Mochrie and Ron James.

They have created a neo-vaudevillian road-show called A Swell Chaos which toured Northern England earlier this year and a 'silent' musical feature film The Oddville Picture Show, for which they sang and played all of the instruments as accompaniment. They can also be seen on TV co-starring in the Family Channel’s new show Wingin’ It.

Together they perform original and old-timey sing-a-longs on banjo ukulele and washboard as the musical comedy duo - The Oddville Music Show. With appearances throughout the Festival weekend, they will be featured in Sunday night's The Last Laugh at Summerfolk.

Along with PEI's Chuck and Albert, Rob McLean and Terry V. Hart make up the comedic third act for The Last Laugh. Rob works regularly with Larry Jensen but he is also part of the Canadian comedy scene as musical director for the Canadian Comedy Awards and a recipient of several awards himself. His pal Terry V. Hart is a master of improvisation and alumni of the famed Second City, having spent over twenty years delighting audiences across Canada and the U.S.

The Jocelyn Pettit Band performs a high-energy fusion of original, old and new music led by fiddler Jocelyn Pettit and her youthful enthusiasm. She is just 15 years of age. With outstanding talent, unwavering determination and an excitement to explore new ideas, Jocelyn has quickly developed impressive musicianship well beyond her years.

Jocelyn resides in Squamish, British Columbia with her parents Siew Wan Khoo and Joel Pettit who also play in the band. She has attended Summerfolk on many occasions as the family makes yearly trips to visit relatives in Owen Sound during August. At last year's Festival, her fine performance on Summerfolk's Open Stage earned her a spot in our 35th anniversary lineup.

First inspired by the fiddle music of Cape Breton, Jocelyn enjoys creating her own compositions and crafting arrangements of Canadian, Scottish and Irish tunes, both traditional and contemporary.

Two fine folks who help to make Summerfolk a special place are John Somosi and Kathryn Edgecombe. They reside in Bentinck Township just outside of Hanover. I 'inherited' John and Kathryn from previous artistic director Liz Harvey Foulds who brought them to Summerfolk to create the First Nations Village; and what a fine addition they've been. They set up the centerpiece teepee and present cultural workshops based on Aboriginal traditions.

So that's a look at the Summerfolk performers with connections to the area. Celebrating the culture and talent of the region gives each of us a sense of place. They speak to us directly, and in many ways, they speak for us. Summerfolk has long been a showcase for the world-class talent that lives right next door.

Summerfolk Performers with Connections to Owen Sound and Area

In this week's blog, I would like to start highlighting the Summerfolk performers who have a connection to Owen Sound and area.

A dance music collective, world-class songwriter, puppetry group and the heart-warming story of Tom Parker's new band will be all I can fit in this piece. So as they say, 'to be continued' next time because there are many more to talk about.


Kelso Céilí Collective

Members of the Kelso Céilí Collective have in common, a great joy in the jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas and slides of Irish social dance and session music.

These Owen Sound and area musicians have played this repertoire at traditional music sessions around the Grey-Bruce region for many years. Some have also been members of contra dance bands including the Glenelg Full Moon Country Dance Band, Jump Start and Scatter the Cats.

For Summerfolk this year, and for the first time together, these players will focus on their shared enthusiasm for the traditional Irish céilí dance repertoire.

The Collective will offer their lively tunes and rhythms for social set and céilí dancing at the Summerfolk Dance area, with dance callers Wilfred Gaube and Elisa MacDonald guiding the dancers' steps. The group will also perform for diners and listeners at the Summerfolk Café of The Senses Friday evening at 5 pm, and you’ll see them throughout the weekend at whatever informal sessions they can stir up.

The Kelso Céilí Collective relies on, but, as with any collective, is not limited to the participation of Will and Lynda Henry - fiddle and concertina, Maureen Keating - piano and piano accordion, Bob Robins - guitars, banjo and mandolin, Scott Henderson - flute, whistles and border pipes, Dan McGee - flute, Frank Francalanza - mandolin, tenor banjo and percussion, Ned Vereecke - flute, whistles and bodhran.


Larry Jensen

One of the most loved and admired songwriters in the Owen Sound region, Larry Jensen has been writing, recording and performing his songs for four decades.

In 2009, he was awarded the Owen Sound Cultural Award, given in recognition of his outstanding musical contribution to his home community. He has released 14 albums of original songs and a recent tribute CD, Demons & Saints, features 19 cover versions of Jensen songs with some 50 musicians contributing to the project.

Jensen appears in concert with his band on Friday night in Summerfolk's Down by the Bay tent. The band includes some of Owen Sound's finest musicians - bassist Tyler Wagler, guitarist Joel Morelli, drummer Dave Farrar and Rob McLean on keyboards.

This year will mark Larry's 19th appearance at Summerfolk.


The Grey Bruce Friends and Neighbours Club

Designed to increase awareness of mental health issues for children, The Grey Bruce Friends and Neighbours Club uses child-sized puppets to engage children in lively and thought provoking shows they can relate to.

Jackie Ralph and her FAN Club team will be featured performers in Summerfolk's Children's Village, presenting shows on Saturday and Sunday during the day. There will be plenty of interaction and fun, with good messages that children find useful. Kids are encouraged to talk, listen and learn; then find solutions to issues.

Offered through the Grey Bruce branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association since 2003, the Friends and Neighbours Club has made presentations to thousands of children in schools and at special events.


Lickin' Good Fried

So named after a line in the Roger Miller song My Uncle Used to Love Me But She Died, Lickin’ Good Fried takes up that wacky bard's mission to balance tragedy and comedy in a 3 minute or less country song.

Lickin' Good Fried is fronted by Tom Parker who's grandfather Harry Parker was one of Owen Sound's best known fiddlers. Tom has appeared previously at Summerfolk with his band, The Backstabbers Country Stringband, in 2000 and 2001.

Lickin' Good Fried includes Tom's wife, jazz singer Alex Pangman. Nicknamed 'Canada’s sweetheart of swing', Pangman has been singing vintage songs since her early teens when she discovered the music of ’20s and ’30s. She released four CDs with her band, The Alleycats, including two produced by the late guitar great Jeff Healey, and she went on to win national awards for her work.

Tom and Alex put everything 'on hold' in 2008. Pangman had been born with cystic fibrosis and her lungs were failing. It was becoming increasingly difficult for her to sing. “Getting out of bed was a struggle" she recalled. "As soon as I sat up, I would cough for half an hour, and getting showered and dressed left me winded.” The 33-year-old singer underwent a life-saving double lung transplant at the Toronto General Hospital that fall.

"It's a miracle and gift," Pangman said of the replacement surgery. Today, her lung capacity averages about 80 percent and her voice has returned stronger than ever. “The good news is that I can sing again. It’s not like being a singer is just a job for me - it’s who I am. To have my craft slowly taken from me was hard; to have it back is pure joy!”

Pangman still fondly recalls the day she returned home from the hospital and told her husband to grab his guitar. “We sang a song by Connie Smith called Darling Are You Ever Coming Home. Before the operation it was like I was singing through a straw, and now I had a megaphone. For me, November 4 will always be a joyous anniversary, but for some family out there it’s a sad one. I won’t ever know who my donor was, but I intend to honour the gift I’ve been given. I want the donor family to know the joy their generosity has brought back into my life.”

Pangman and Parker marked the one year anniversary of her operation by releasing Say Uncle!, which was recorded with their bandmates in Lickin’ Good Fried and produced in the couple’s home a few months before Pangman’s operation.

Coming through such tragedy, the rollicking old-time country music of Lickin' Good Fried offers the couple the opportunity to enjoy making music again. Lickin' Good Fried also includes veteran stand-up bassist Sam Petite along with John Showman and Andrew Collins who, in my opinion, are two of Canada's most talented instrumentalists on fiddle and mandolin respectively.

John Showman's recent album release entitled Showman, is one of the finest recordings of fiddle music I have heard. Both John and Andrew also perform with the well-known bluegrass band Foggy Hogtown Boys and the innovative Creaking Tree String Quartet.

Todd Crowley's Musical Petting Zoo

One of the most talked about 'exhibits' at last year's Summerfolk was Todd Crowley's Musical Petting Zoo.

Festival patrons were really enamored with Todd's collection of musical instruments. In and around a tent, more than 100 were on display, set up on tables and on tarps. Representing the musical alphabet from accordion to zither, the Musical Petting Zoo is a fully interactive and hands-on activity. Not only can you examine how the instruments are made, but you are encouraged to play them.

When it came time to determine which performers should be invited to our 35th anniversary Festival, there was no question - Todd Crowley and the Musical Petting Zoo had to return.

At the Zoo, there are stringed instruments like the kantele, qanun, bouzouki, charango, dulcimer and harp; odd musical gizmos like saws and zouks; percussion instruments like the udu, djembes and other drums; flutes of all description; the didgeridoo and yidaki ...plus oodles of more familiar instruments like guitars, banjos, fiddles and autoharps.

Participants of all ages are welcomed to pick up an instrument, often for the first time, and 'pet' it. Some instruments are strummed or plucked, others bowed or plucked. Some you beat or strike, some you blow into. It is about the magic of discovery that a crafted work of wood and strings can make beautiful harmony or disharmony, and that a drum from West Africa can sound much like a Native American drum.

This spirit of discovery is the inspiration of the Zoo keeper - Todd Crowley is a patient, caring man with a true love for folk music. "My belief about folk music is that it isn’t just music to listen to from a seat in the audience. Folk music is about making music of our own, on all levels, and then passing it on to the next generation."

"The instruments have a common DNA" says Todd, "just like all human beings, from a primitive mouth bow to a Celtic harp, from a Puerto Rican Cuatro to an African Kora. The Musical Petting Zoo, with a choice of instruments from around the world, is a vivid and tangible display that we are all interconnected."

"Often I have found the Musical Petting Zoo attracts the artists as often as it attracts novices and children. At the Folk Alliance in Memphis recently I watched an accomplished professional steel guitar/harmonica/accordion player 'toy' with an Anglo concertina for over an hour. He became a child again rediscovering the joy of making sounds on an instrument totally unfamiliar to him. By the time he walked away playing Mary Had a Little Lamb you might have thought he’d have just won a Grammy."

Todd was first attracted to folk music as a youngster, listening and singing along to his sister's LP records of people like The Chad Mitchell Trio, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan.

"Early on, I also connected with the politics of folk music and the way it often brings dignity to the stories of the poor and dispossessed. Whether a Civil Rights Era Phil Ochs song or an old Irish ballad about resisting English oppression, folk songs tell a history not often found in the history books. As a folk singer I want to be part of the oral tradition that gives voice to the sacrifices men and women have made to promote peace and justice."

In 1981, Todd lived with the legendary autoharp performer Bryan Bowers. Todd was then the assistant coach for Bryan's son's varsity basketball team. At the end of their year together, Bryan gave Todd his first autoharp lesson and presented him with his first single key G 'harp. In the years since, Todd has collected over 50 autoharps.

"I have found the diatonic autoharp to be the perfect accompanying instrument for the songs I sing" says Todd. "The autoharp lets me keep the instrumental part of the song simple, so the words in story and poetry can take center stage."

"I am not a rocker or bluesman or singer-songwriter. I sing and play folk songs, old and new" Todd says of his musical career.

He believes a folk instrument is part of the folk tradition, where the sharing of one’s love and knowledge of the music, song and stories of the past help to keep the traditions alive. The instruments in the Zoo tell a story of their own, each time a child connects to the folk tradition by trying an instrument for the first time, or an adult rediscovers the joy of making music.

Todd has just opened a year-round home for his collection of instruments. Todd’s Musical Petting Zoo and Folk Life Center in North East, Pennsylvania is open during the school year for free field trips, after school drop-ins, lessons, evening jams, concerts, open mics, etc. He is hoping it becomes not just a regional attraction, but a nationally recognized folk music center.

However, for the upcoming summer season, Todd is taking the Musical Petting Zoo on the road to festivals across North America - Mariposa, Champlain Valley, Hartford, Ottawa, Delaware, Flagstaff and of course, a stop at Summerfolk August 20, 21 and 22.

Sarah Harmer at Summerfolk

Sarah Harmer has just released a new CD oh little fire, her first in five years. Touring in support of the new recording will bring her to Summerfolk along with stops at the Winnipeg, Vancouver, Regina and Edmonton Folk Festivals

The album was recorded in an east end Toronto studio and on Wolfe Island, near Kingston. As the songs for the album came together, a strong lyrical theme emerged involving embers, flames and ashes. "That's why I called the album oh little fire" explained Harmer, "because of the idea of keeping something burning and tending to a fire."

"I heat my home with wood and you can have the best materials, the driest wood, but put too big a log on it and you can bury it, and you don't give it enough air, it does not burn. I just found that was really metaphorical for relationships. You just have to gingerly care for them and tend to them."

Clearly a flame is burning in Sarah Harmer, fanning her creative process.

oh little fire is 'rockier' than her previous efforts but her forte of crafting brilliant songs is still obviously showcased. The album sounds like she has been reinvigorated and positively charged.

Blessed with one of the most natural and distinctive voices in Canadian music, this multi-talented, down-to-earth singer/songwriter sets her lyrics over roots, pop and folk rhythms. She writes catchy songs that you enjoy hearing again and again. In an industry that pumps out songs like candy from a machine, Harmer is a breath of fresh air. She is not afraid to take her time getting it right - with a confidence to experiment and let her music grow.

The youngest of six children born to farmer Clem Harmer and his school teacher wife Isabelle, Sarah grew up on a hundred-acre farm near Hamilton. It was a musical family - her brother passed down classic ‘70s albums, her sister Nancy took her to see Springsteen when she was 14 and her sisters Mary and Barb snuck the 16-year-old Sarah into clubs to see their friends in a brand new band called the Tragically Hip."We’d go to Brampton, Kincardine, Wasaga Beach, when they were playing these little bars to nobody," enthused Harmer, lighting up like the wide-eyed teenager she was in 1986. "I vividly remember going into the graffitied band room and being really shy after watching these guys on stage. I was forever changed after that."Tragically Hip front-man Gord Downie remembers the teenaged Sarah Harmer quite well. "I met Mary Harmer in my first year at Queen’s and we were inseparable. I went out to the Harmer homestead on occasion. You figure out very quickly that all the Harmers are big-hearted and fun lovin’ people, every one of them, and you want to be around that a lot. They all sang for its own sake, and still do."

At the age of 17, she was invited to join a Toronto band, The Saddletramps. For three years, she juggled playing in the band with her studies in philosophy and women's studies at Queen's University in Kingston.

After leaving The Saddletramps, Harmer put together a band of her own called Weeping Tile. The band released its first independent cassette in 1994. They signed to a major label, the cassette was re-released as an EP and they quickly became a popular draw on the rock club circuit and on campus radio with their subsequent albums.

Around this time, Sarah moved into the farmhouse at the edge of Kingston where she still currently resides. On sabbatical from Weeping Tile, Sarah recorded Songs For Clem, a collection of country and jazz favourites to give to her father as a Christmas gift. Harmer’s voice was a natural fit for such songs like 'Stormy Weather', 'Black Coffee' and 'Sentimental Journey'.

It was never intended for release, but at the insistence of her friends, she made it available to the public. Songs for Clem soon earned high-praise from a bevy of critics throughout Canada, and inspired Billboard's Larry LeBlanc to describe it as "the most intimate, personalized and tasteful roots-styled album I've heard in years."

This kick-started her solo career and Harmer quickly began working on another album. In 2000 she released You Were Here, a 'poppier', more laid-back effort than her work with Weeping Tile. You Were Here became Harmer's mainstream breakthrough, spawning the hits 'Basement Apartment' and 'Don't Get Your Back Up'. The album also appeared on many critics' year-end lists, including TIME magazine, which called it the year's best debut album. It was eventually certified platinum for sales of 100,000 copies in Canada. Almost half of the album, including both of its major hits, consisted of songs she had previously recorded with Weeping Tile or The Saddletramps.

In 2004, she released All of Our Names which included the singles 'Almost' and 'Pendulums'. Her fourth album, I'm a Mountain, was released the following year. It was nominated for the Polaris Music Prize, a jury-selected $20,000 cash prize for the Canadian Album of the Year.

This folk and bluegrass flavoured CD was also was nominated for a Juno Award - Best Adult Alternative Album, and Sarah was nominated in the Songwriter of the Year category. In a third nomination, Escarpment Blues was up for Best Music DVD.

Harmer co-founded PERL (Protecting Escarpment Rural Land), an organization which campaigned to protect the Niagara Escarpment from a proposed gravel development on the Mount Nemo Plateau. To support the organization, she and her acoustic band embarked on a tour of the escarpment, hiking the Bruce Trail and performing at theatres and community halls in towns along the way - including a couple in this neck of the woods. The Escarpment Blues DVD that documented the trip is still available.

"This was a very grass-roots tour," Harmer said of the adventure. "We used biodiesel in our van, to be easier on the air, and started at Tobermory at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. We just kept heading south. We played eight shows and received an excellent reception. They were such intimate venues and we met people all along the escarpment. The final concert was on Lake Ontario at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington - it seemed like the perfect place to end the tour."

Harmer is a prolific poet who performs an infectious country/folk blend that owes much to her imagery, and an environmental activist who uses her music to purpose. Her voice is one of the most affecting in contemporary music. With hooky melodies and insightful lyrics, she has attracted many fans to her music.

With a history of a successful recording and touring career, it will be a treat to hear Sarah Harmer Saturday night at Summerfolk.

Down East Music at Summerfolk

It wouldn't be Summerfolk without a taste of East Coast music and this year is no exception. From PEI, the fantastically fun Acadian duo Chuck & Albert and legendary songwriter Lennie Gallant. And from the Rock, Russells in the Corner for their first mainland appearance and Newfoundland's hip traditional band The Dardanelles.


Russells in the Corner

The family group Russells in the Corner come from Bell Island, Newfoundland. Featuring Dad - Kelly Russell, Mom - Tonya Kearley Russell, and daughters Naomi age 12 and Tamsyn age 9. Collectively they are skilled in Newfoundland fiddle and accordion music, folk song, storytelling and traditional dance.

Kelly Russell was an original member of landmark Newfoundland bands Figgy Duff and The Wonderful Grand Band during the 1970s and more recently, The Irish Descendants and The Plankerdown Band. He also spent 10 years working closely with Newfoundland’s late, great fiddle masters, Rufus Guinchard and Emile Benoit. Kelly has collected and transcribed into notation over 500 fiddle tunes unique to Newfoundland.

As well as furthering Newfoundland traditional music, Kelly has also been active in preserving another important Newfoundland tradition - the art of storytelling and recitation, as inspired by his late father, Ted Russell (creator of The Chronicles of Uncle Mose - Tales from Pigeon Inlet).

With wife and partner Tonya Kearley, Kelly runs music and dance events in Trinity. With the expert guidance of Tonya calling the dances, participants quickly and easily learn the basic moves for Newfoundland Set Dancing. She also plays bass guitar in the group. Kelly & Tonya's daughters are talented and seasoned performers in their own right. Both sing, Naomi plays fiddle and guitar, Tamsyn accordion and piano.

Encompassing many facets of Newfoundland's cultural heritage, having Russells in the Corner at Summerfolk will showcase time honoured traditions passed down through generations of Newfoundlanders and onto the next.


The Dardanelles

With a love of Newfoundland music and an energy found more often in punk rock bands than in 5-piece folk acts, The Dardanelles have become one of the hottest acts to come out of the province in years. They pack clubs in their native St. John's and their debut self-titled CD became one of the top 3 sellers on the 'Rock'.

The band members, all in their twenties, firmly believe Newfoundland traditional music doesn’t have to be limited to either loud, boisterous bar scenes or the solemn concert audience. Instead, the folk dance band draws from traditional Newfoundland jigs and reels, and reinvents them to make music that speaks to their own generation.

Founding band member Tom Power, who hosts the CBC Radio 2 program Deep Roots, was asked about the philosophy behind the band. "I think the whole goal is to make traditional music 'cooler'. It’s really wicked, fun, dance music. Traditional music and folk music in general are becoming more accessible - I notice in St. John’s, trios of guitars and banjos and mandolins starting to play around. I don’t think that would have happened a few years ago. It’s nice to see."

Last summer, The Dardanelles played the Mariposa Folk Festival - their first gig off the island. "We got a really good reception, which gave us even more confidence to do what we do. When we went to Mariposa we were like, 'Let's see how this goes,' and we got a tremendous ovation. We got off stage and we said, 'We can't let this die. This is obviously something more powerful than the sum of our parts.'"

Nominated for a 2010 East Coast Music Award, the rest of the world is about to catch on to what Newfoundland has known for years - The Dardanelles will change the way you think about folk music.


Chuck & Albert

Chuck and Albert Arsenault are remarkable showmen in both of Canada’s official languages: French and English - and both of Canada’s un-official languages: comedy and music.

As members of the Acadian group Barachois, a mainstay on the folk/roots touring circuit for nearly a decade, they developed their distinctive musical talents and performed roughly 2000 shows. Performing as a duo since 2004, Chuck & Albert have adapted music from the Acadian repertoire picked up from local singers, fiddlers and historians. Then they added new material in keeping with the traditional style, building everything around their strengths.

As the duo’s bass player, Albert (say Albert in French) Arsenault comes by his talent naturally and continues the fiddling legacy of his father Eddy Arsenault. A talented singer, Albert’s vocal interpretations are one of a kind. His other musical roles are as a percussionist - that is to say an Acadian percussionist: spoons, guimbarde (jaw harp), knives and forks, saw and the rhythm bones.

Chuck Arsenault plays the acoustic guitar and vocals. Chuck’s vocal abilities are well suited to handling ballads and harmonies as well as anchoring acapella arrangements. Unlike Albert, Chuck grew up in Eastern PEI where his grandparent’s language and much of their Acadian heritage had been assimilated into the larger surrounding English speaking community.

Fluently bilingual, the two offer up clever banter in English or French by way of explaining the unique charm inherent to their performance. Laughter after all 'is the best medicine'. As a natural extension of their Acadian background, Chuck & Albert skillfully and tastefully carry their penchant for humour to the concert stage with vibrant characters, stories, songs, physical comedy and one-of-a-kind dance choreographies.


Lennie Gallant

At last fall's Summerfolk Volunteer Appreciation party, I asked for suggestions of whom we should invite to perform at our 35th anniversary Festival. Lennie Gallant was hand's down, the most requested artist.

Not only is he a favourite of folk music fans, Lennie Gallant is recognized by his peers as one of Canada’s best performing songwriters. He has released nine albums (seven in English and two in French) which have won him a host of awards and nominations from both the JUNO and East Coast Music Awards.

Over 30 artists have recorded his songs, including Jimmy Buffett, who invited Gallant to perform it onstage with him. His songs have also appeared in feature films, television series, and in numerous theatrical productions.

As a performer, Gallant’s intense delivery reaches down to touch the very souls of his audience. "Like many Canadian songwriters, my music crosses boundaries and encompasses my musical history which includes folk, rock, Celtic and a touch of Cajun and country." says Lennie of his music.

He was inducted into the Order of Canada where it was said, “Gallant has garnered much respect for his hard hitting songs chronicling the lives of people dealing with tremendous adversity and serious issues. Songs like Peter’s Dream, Island Clay, Man of Steel and The Hope for Next Year, articulate the feelings of many caught up in desperate situations beyond their control, and at the same time celebrate the beauty of lifestyle and landscape with their strong poetry and stirring narratives."

Born in Rustico, PEI, he received his first guitar for Christmas when he was 13. He has come a long way since then. He has just released two new albums, one in English If We Had A Fire and one in French Le coeur hante.

The Youthful Spirit of Summerfolk

This past Sunday, the Summerfolk TuneUp concert at Owen Sound's Kelso Beach Park featured 10 of the finalists from the Georgian Bay Folk Society's youth Discoveries Showcases.

Once again I was reminded of how truly talented all of the acts were and how difficult a task it must have been for the judges to select just four for an appearance at this year's Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival. These 'kids' come from places like Ripley, Barrie, Chesley and Port Elgin as well as Owen Sound. The camaraderie amongst them was clearly evident and it was fun.

Jon Farmer, selected through the same process to appear at last year's Summerfolk, was an excellent and enthusiastic MC. He helped coordinate the 3 song jam at the end of the concert that brought everyone together in the Summerfolk spirit.

Representing this group at the Friday night Summerfolk Discoveries Concert in about two months time will be Jackie Rose Brown and Carrie Davenport who appear as Davenport Brown; brother and sister team Anne & David Beverly-Foster; along with soloists Jill Jambor and Ben Turcotte.

While not young enough to qualify in the 21 and under category, there are two groups in this year's lineup that are youthful enough (in their 20's) to attest to the boundless energy and fearlessness associated with musicians in the early part of their career.


Blue Moose & the Unbuttoned Zippers

The four members of Boston-based Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers met while studying at the Berklee College of Music. Mixing old-time Appalachian tunes and songs with Celtic and Scandinavian sounds, the band has its finger on the pulse of the new generation of folkies.

Guitarist Stash Wyslouch was asked about the band name which is an obvious place to start any talk of Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers. "The 'Moose' part comes from a general appreciation of titanic creatures." My guess is that every large creature needs a colour too - the Purple People Eater as another example.

Stash went on, "The 'Unbuttoned Zippers' part is definitely the duality-of-man idea - you can't unbutton a zipper and you can't unzipper a button." Okay I guess that's true but the name is still a mouthful. To their fans, like those who heard them two years ago at the New York State's Falcon Ridge Festival and voted them the band to bring back in 2009, 'BMUZ' covers the moniker end of things. It is all about the music after all and this band has the chops and inventiveness to make great music.

Each member of the Blue Moose crew comes from strikingly different backgrounds. Wyslouch was influenced by hip-hop and funk. Brownyn Bird plays accordion and nyckelharpa, the traditional stringed instrument of Sweden, where she lived and studied for a year. Fiddler Andy Reiner played for years with his father in the Reiner Family Band and loves the jigs and reels of Cape Breton. Mariel Vandersteel having studied the traditional music of Ireland and Norway, plays the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle.

Attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music expanded the horizons for each of them. One fateful day, all four were in the same room for an informal jam session and found chemistry together. What might seem to be a challenge turned out to be a blessing according to Reiner. "Since we have three fiddle-based instruments, we can't all just play the tune. We're forced by our instrumentation to become creative and come up with unique arrangements. Nobody plays lead for a whole song - it's always changing up."

One thing that helps to set the band apart is Brownyn Bird's 16 string nyckelharpa which is bowed like a fiddle but has keys like a hurdy-gurdy. "We were exposed to many musical styles at Berklee and it feels right for us to be doing this" she says of BMUZ's contemporary, no boundaries approach to performing. "We still try to respect traditional music but also love to do new things. That's how, I think, tradition evolves."

A Blue Moose set inspires lots of toe-tapping so it's natural that the foursome gets booked for contradances around New England. It is different than a concert, with lots of repetition as the dancers learn the steps, but band members love to see folks on their feet.

"Musically speaking, we basically play the same tune over and over again. I love rhythm and for me, it's just getting more and more inside the tune; more of a Zen thing." says Stash.

Bird agreed. "Folk music and traditional music is meant for dancing; it's meant to be enjoyed."


The Human Statues

The Human Statues is actually the name for two acts with the same two people - a musical duo that’s known for tight vocal harmonies and playful onstage antics; and motionless 'human statue' performances.

Zachary Stevenson and Jeff Byant used The Human Statues name for their act as buskers, when they would stand stock-still, slathered in metallic face paint, for hours on end. "One of the first things I did after graduating university to make a living between theatre gigs, was to perform as a human statue that I dubbed Discoman" said Stevenson. "Jeff did the same."

When Zach and Jeff perform as the musical Human Statues, they are frequently compared to other duos like Flight of the Conchords because of the fun elements of their show, and to Simon and Garfunkel because of the close-knit, two voice harmony that defines their sound.

Armed with two guitars and their voices, The Human Statues perform what are essentially catchy pop songs - well-crafted and entertaining. They leap and bounce around the stage and often choreograph their moves - but there is no pretension. The joy translates immediately as they incorporate comedic and theatrical aspects into their show.

Their lofty mission is to 'spread jubilation across the nation'. They have honed diverse skill sets through professional experience as actors, filmmakers, producers, writers, teachers, managers, bookers, buskers, circus performers, and of course, musicians.

“The theme word for us is jubilation” says Zach Stevenson. “Our music generally reflects a positive attitude and is fun. We write songs that initially hook you with a sense of amusement but upon further scrutiny you’ll find deeper ground, honesty and personality.”
The duo formed in Victoria when they mastered the harmonies in Simon and Garfunkel’s Cecilia. “We really connected over that music” said Stevenson. “Then we started jamming Beatles songs and found we have the ability to harmonize effortlessly together. That was the core of our interest."

Originally from the west coast, they are now both based in Toronto. Zachary Stevenson was raised in Parksvillle, British Columbia. He has been featured in theatrical productions across the country and has enjoyed success as a solo singer/songwriter and music producer. Jeff Bryant grew up in Victoria and has written and produced short films and stage productions.

Currently they are back in B. C. performing in a production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Zach is playing the lead role of Buddy Holly and Jeff plays The Crickets’ lead guitarist Tommy. The show runs at the Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver until July 11th. Come August, they will be a part of the exciting Summerfolk lineup.

Summerfolk - It's music...and a lot more!

The fabulous music you can hear at Summerfolk receives lots of attention. However many other components make Summerfolk the special event that it is.

Firstly, it is after all, The Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival and crafts have always played a major role at the Festival. The Artisan Village is outstanding. On Saturday there is a juried show of works created by the Summerfolk artisans and Craft Demonstration on Sunday.

Then there's the wonderful food available on site plus opportunities for all to get involved playing music or joining in the folk and multi-cultural dance sessions. For kids and families there's The Children's Village. Young and old enjoy the Summerfolk experience!

Below is more detail on these Summerfolk features.


The Artisan Village

Summerfolk's Artisan Village is a showcase of one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted work. It is the perfect spot to find a unique gift or something special for yourself.

A total of 42 vendors were chosen from nearly 100 applicants to be included in this year's Festival. The standard is high. Festival artisans sell only their own hand-crafted products. The selection process for these artisans is based on the quality of their work and a willingness to demonstrate and discuss their craft with festival goers.

During Summerfolk, tents and booths adorned with a wide array of gorgeous handmade products line the pathways at Kelso Beach Park. The artistry represented takes many forms - glasswork, jewellery, textiles, paper, instruments, wood, pottery and metal. Vendors are happy to show off their latest creations. The open-air market is a vibrant display of fine professional craft work.

Information on all the 2010 artisans can be viewed on the Summerfolk website.


The Food Village

Enjoy food from around the world and close to home all imaginatively presented in the Food Village. Sixteen different food vendors offer delicious choices such as Indian curries, pulled pork, fine local meat products, pizza, hamburgers, Chinese, Caribbean, steamed corn and potatoes.... and then specialty coffees, lemonade, yogurt, brownies, sundaes and ice cream to finish off.

Also included this year will be Food Preparation Demos with local chefs using local foods presented in cooperation with The Grey Bruce Agricultural and Culinary Association.


Summerfolk Kids Just Wantta Have Fun!

Summerfolk is a wonderful place to bring the family. The Children's Village, with its hands-on craft projects, games, playground equipment and terrific musical line-up is a place where kids will be inspired and totally entertained.

When children arrive at Summerfolk, they are assigned a number on their wristband so they, or their parents, can be identified that way instead of by name. Safety and security issues are always considered when planning the Festival. Many parents have commented that Summerfolk was the very first place they felt comfortable enough to allow their kids to be 'on their own'.

All of the activities in the Children's Village are contained within a fence and the area is well supervised. Tents provide protection from the elements, washrooms are available and the friendly crew of volunteers make sure the kids have lots to do.


Open Stage

Want to play your music at Summerfolk? Then signing up for the Open Stage is something to consider.

Open Stage slots at Summerfolk take place on the Homemade Jam Stage, Saturday and Sunday. Each spot is shared by 2 or 3 performers. You can reserve an 'Advance Sign-up' spot by contacting the Georgian Bay Folk Society office (a limited number are available) or you can sign-up on-site. 'Festival' registration for patrons and volunteers is on a first-come, first-served basis. Drop by and sign-up with the Homemade Jam crew.

One performer from the weekend's Open Stage will be booked for the performer lineup of the 2011 Summerfolk!


The Sharing Circle

Everyone is invited to bring musical instruments, songs and stories to actively join in the sessions at Summerfolk's Sharing Circle. Those wishing to leave instruments on site can store them safely at 'Stash Yer Stuff' located next to the Sharing Circle tent.


First Nations Village

Visit the teepee and learn more about First Nations cultural traditions from hosts John Somosi and Kathryn Edgecombe. Special guest Virginia Barter will also be on hand to help celebrate the 'Year of the Metis' - the 125th anniversary the Northwest Rebellion.


Fire Poi

Join Vita Twirlin' Diva and friends at the Summerfolk Circle around 11:00 pm on Saturday night to witness the wonders of Fire Poi.

Fire Poi employs two weights, either glow balls or kevlar fire wicks, on the ends of chains which are spun around the body in an expressive way to create beautiful patterns and visual effects. Poi originated from the Maori people of New Zealand and has since evolved around the world as performance art.


JumbleJam

Jam with the pros, create an original piece of music and perform it on stage at Summerfolk - all on the same day! If you sing or play an instrument and you can spare a few hours on Saturday, apply for the JumbleJam workshop.

JumbleJam workshops are about creating songs through a unique songbuilding process. The guided approach makes it possible for anyone to participate in the creation of a song, regardless of musical background.

Facilitators Ken Dow and Martin Cooper will 'curate' 15 volunteer players into three bands, each anchored by a Summerfolk performer. The bands create an original song and perform it on the Down by the Bay stage on Saturday evening. Sign-up sheets are available at the Information Booth inside Summerfolk's Main Gate.

Todd Crowley's Musical Petting Zoo


Todd's Petting Zoo was a huge hit at last year's Summerfolk and he's back! This is an opportunity to get up close and personal with more than 100 acoustic instruments covering the musical alphabet from accordion to zampoya.

Fully interactive and hands-on, this is your chance to explore the workings of the instruments and to actually play them. Along with the Musical Petting Zoo, Todd also provides an instrument play station for the Children's Village.

Red Horse - Three Gifted Songwriters Together

This year's Summerfolk offers a rare opportunity to see the emergence of a new trio that combines the talents of three truly gifted American songwriters. Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky have teamed up to form Red Horse and their appearance at the Festival is one I am eagerly anticipating.

John Gorka I've always loved. A gentlemanly figure with a calm demeanor, yet capable of delivering some of the most powerful songs ever performed at Summerfolk. Eliza Gilkyson whom I first saw showcasing at a music conference where she captured the entire room, creating an environment from which no one wanted to leave. Lucy Kaplansky whose work with the group Cry Cry Cry I have long admired.

Friends for many years, these three crossed paths on many occasions and have sung on each others' recordings. I am sure it was one of those crazy ideas musicians seem to have - "let's start a band".

“We’ll be doing a number of songs with each of us as the main singer" said Gorka of the collaboration. "I think Eliza was the one who probably suggested we do this."

"For the album, we each take the lead on 4 songs. I will sing a Lucy song, an Eliza song, the Stewart MacGregor song Coshieville plus a new one of mine. Lucy and Eliza will each be doing one of mine along with one of each other's songs and a song from outside of the group."

Lucy Kaplansky was asked how Red Horse differed from the Cry Cry Cry trio. "Well, it's a little bit different - it's a mix of originals and covers. Cry Cry Cry was virtually all other people's songs, and this one is more a mix of originals with each of us doing each other's songs, which I've never heard of anyone doing before."

The CD is in the works and will be released this summer. The artwork all ready to go - Texas singer/songwriter Tom Russell painted the cover picture.

Individually, each of these performers has achieved a high level of success and admiration in folk music circles. To see and hear them in action together as Red Horse will be an absolute delight.


Eliza Gilkyson

When you listen to Eliza Gilkyson, you are presented with a woman who is unafraid to lay her emotions on the table. Her lyrics are stories of love and loss, of political angst and a genuine concern for the planet. However the songs are not set in a plaintive, complaining tone. They are delivered with confidence and honesty, set in exquisite melodies that stay with you.

Gilkyson has become one of the most respected songwriters in roots, folk and Americana music. She has been inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame and recognized with 4 Folk Alliance Music Awards. Her 2004 release Land of Milk and Honey was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Folk Album category.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Gilkyson first recorded demos and soundtracks produced by her father, songwriter Terry Gilkyson. He penned several hits in the 1950s and early 1960s including Green Fields, Marianne and The Bare Necessities. His song Memories Are Made of This was recorded by both Johnny Cash and Dean Martin.

But Eliza had to leave California to define her own path. She spent time in New Mexico and Europe before moving to Austin, which she has called home for more than two decades. She built a respectable fan base along the way and her career hit full stride in 2000 with the release of Hard Times in Babylon.

Gilkyson's Paradise Hotel CD is one of my personal favourite recordings. If you don't own a copy, consider it one for your collection...and it's not just me who likes it. The album received rave reviews from around the world.

Over the course of 15 albums, Eliza Gilkyson has built a reputation as one of the most original and influential folk artists of our time. The job of folksingers, she has said, "is to take a simple thing and elaborate on it until it becomes a jewel."


John Gorka

One of the oldest and most venerable music institutions in eastern Pennsylvania, 'Godfrey Daniels' is a small neighborhood coffeehouse and listening room. It has long been a hangout for music lovers and aspiring musicians. In the late 1970s, one of these was a young college student named John Gorka.

Though his academic course work lay in Philosophy and History, music began to offer enticements. Soon he found himself living in the club’s basement and acting as resident M.C. and soundman; encountering legendary folk troubadours like Stan Rogers, Eric Andersen, Tom Paxton and Claudia Schmidt. Their brand of folk-inspired acoustic music inspired him, and before long he was writing and performing his own songs.

Soon he started traveling to New York City, where the legendary Fast Folk circle became a powerful source of education and encouragement. Folk meccas like Texas’ Kerrville Folk Festival, where he won the New Folk Award in 1984, and Boston followed. His soulful baritone voice and emerging songwriting began turning heads. Those who had at one time inspired him - Suzanne Vega, Bill Morrissey, Nanci Griffith, Christine Lavin, Shawn Colvin - had become his peers.

His songwriting gained increasing attention from critics and audiences across North America, as well as in Europe. Rolling Stone magazine called him “the preeminent male singer/songwriter of the new folk movement”.

John Gorka's albums and touring (over 150 nights a year at times) continue to bring new accolades for his craft. His keen ear picks up the stories of those along his path, folding them into poetry and song. Few contemporary songwriters coax language as deftly as he.

With his low tenor voice, elegant melodies and restrained instrumental accompaniment, John Gorka's sound could be considered 'easy listening' music. Indeed, with a casual first time listen, his music can easily be dismissed as just that and nothing more (and I am not suggesting that there is anything wrong with that style of music). However upon more attentive listening, a major strength in Gorka's work is revealed. That strength lies in the lyrics. Low on clichés and high on originality, he artfully constructs songs that are beautifully well-crafted.


Lucy Kaplansky

It’s always nice to have options as a struggling musician, and Lucy Kaplansky has one of the best side gigs imaginable: She’s a clinical psychologist. Amazingly, the New York-based folk singer/songwriter has managed to balance and prioritize both disciplines across long careers in both fields.

Kaplansky’s journey began in 1978, when the Chicago native chose to skip college and then carved out a niche for herself in the Greenwich Village folk scene, where she met and worked with budding stars like Shawn Colvin, Suzanne Vega and Richard Shindell. But after five years, Kaplansky decided to pursue a psychology degree, although she maintained her music career while working toward her Ph.D. A 'big fork in the road' appeared when labels expressed interest in her duo work with Colvin. Kaplansky chose to follow her other career and opened a private practice, while Colvin got signed and made a fairly big splash in the mainstream.

Kaplansky focused on her psychology practice but eventually the allure of music proved too strong and she decided to return to her creative endeavors, recording her debut The Tide in 1994 assisted by Colvin, who produced the album. The CD garnered critical acclaim and rose quickly up the new Americana radio chart. Kaplansky found herself in high demand for touring and something had to give - it was the psychology career. She became a full-time musician and has never looked back.

In 1998 Kaplansky teamed with Dar Williams and Richard Shindell to form the folk supergroup Cry Cry Cry. Their album and subsequent tour, which was one of the highest grossing musical tours of the year, greatly enhanced the popularity of all three.

"There is no question that the Cry Cry Cry tour exposed me to a much larger audience." Kaplansky admits. "And the fact that it triggered new sales in our own records was a wonderful, added perk. The tour was really good for all of us, not just the artists whose songs we covered on the album."

Kaplansky’s voice continues to remain in high demand by her peers and her most recent release Over the Hills is a fine collection of songs. The album reflects on a new turn in her life. Motherhood has not hindered her musical life but enhanced it; deepening the emotional depth of her songwriting.

The International Musical Flavours of Summerfolk

In a lineup that boasts musicians from many Canadian provinces and top-rated folk performers from the U.S., this year's Summerfolk offers the opportunity to see three unique groups from other parts of the world.

Namgar

The music of the band Namgar is based on traditional Mongolian songs. Over a blend of ancient Asian string instruments and contemporary electric rock, this seven-piece group performs a unique repertoire dating back centuries.

Lead singer Namgar Ayushievna Lhasaranova, from whom the band's name is taken, brought these songs from her Buryat family background. The Buryat tribes historically were supporters of Genghis Khan and important commanders of the Mongol Invasion. They live in the far reaches of what is now the Russian Federation where Buddhism, Shamanism and the natural beauty of South Siberia have contributed to their culture.

Separated from each other politically since the XVII century, Buryats and Mongolians still share many common traditions but many genres, dance tunes and songs that have become extinct in parts of the Mongolian world are still performed on the Russian side. These songs and dances date back to the glorious times of the Mongolian Empire.

Drawing on this traditional repertoire, Namgar first appeared in Moscow in 2001 and their international debut came at the Riddu Riddu Festival in Norway the following year.

Soon after that, their inaugural CD, Hatar (round dance) was released on the Sketis Music label which was started by a group of enthusiastic young Muscovites who loved the sound of the band and wanted to specialize in world music. It boasts a first ever collection of Buryat songs.

In 2006, the arranger and producer Leonid Vorobyev joined the group and brought modern electronic, rock and jazz elements to the authentic sound of the group. He produced their most current CD, Nomad.

Looking like characters from the ancient legends of Asia on stage, the group delivers music that is exotic yet easily accessible. They perform with traditional instruments such as the chanza, a 3-stringed Mongol lute covered in snake skin, flutes and drums. Added to that are a drum kit, keyboards, electric bass and guitar to give it a 70s heavy rock feel. It is an unusual combination that will make your jaw drop.

Their visit promises a rare glimpse into a rich and mystical tradition; delivered in a most unique way.

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Baskery

Based out of Stockholm, Baskery is composed of three Swedish sisters - Greta, Stella and Sunniva Bondesson. They describe their music as "high voltage" and use expressions like "killbilly", "banjo punk" and "mud-country" rather than traditional ones.

This is an acoustic band that rocks! Think something along the lines of a jam between Johnny Cash, an acoustic blues Led Zeppelin and the harmony singing of the Andrew Sisters. Then take it up a notch.

The sound is driven by Greta's six string distorted slide banjo while she provides kick and snare beats from a customized drum kit. Stella adds solid slap upright bass playing to guitarist Sunniva’s emotive twangy vocals. Then there is something about sibling voices that is extra special. When the three of them click in on the harmony parts, it is amazing music.

Baskery is a natural progression for the Bondesson sisters from their former band Slaptones which featured their Dad on drums. All three write songs for the band and they perform totally in the English language.

Since the debut album Fall Among Thieves was released in Sweden in 2008, Baskery has successfully toured Ireland, USA, Sweden, France, Canada, Denmark and Norway. The band recorded that CD live-off-the-floor - getting the perfect take in the studio was essential to capturing the emotional essence of the songs.

Baskery is all about playing for real, creating energy and putting on an electrifying show.

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Artisan

The harmony singing U.K. trio Artisan decided to 'retire' as a group in 2005 but a request to play the 2010 Lunenburg Folk Festival tempted them into re-uniting for a reunion tour. The word got out and now their entire summer is fully booked including a stop at Summerfolk August 20, 21 and 22.

Gestated in 1984 and birthed in 1985 as a fun thing to do, Artisan kept getting invited to play more and more gigs until finally they left their day jobs and went full time. After that they toured relentlessly throughout the UK, Canada, the USA, Europe and Australia.

When they first appeared at Summerfolk in 1994, they quickly became fan favourites and subsequently returned to the Festival several times. Artisan concerts are always lively affairs, known for their audience participation, antics and all-round fun.

During their recent hiatus from performing, Jacey Bedford has been operating a music booking agency in England - Jacey Bedford Tour Management. In fact, she was instrumental in making many of the U.K. bookings for Tanglefoot when they toured there. Her partner Brian Bedford has busied himself running a small record label and publishing company Bedspring Music with an in-house state-of-the-art recording studio. Hilary Spencer has been performing duo gigs with Grant Baynham as Quicksilver.

Their repertoire is a mixture of traditional and contemporary songs, including many penned by Brian, all performed a cappella and in close three-part harmony. Their trademark sound was developed with Hilary singing strong lead in the lower range of her three and a half octave voice, Jacey's softer vocal providing a lighter and usually higher harmony combined with Brian's top end of his bass-baritone. The end result is Hilary and Brian singing fairly close together in range, 'glued' together by Jacey's voice.

The group has been rehearsing old songs and working on new ones for a return to the stage together. A CD is being released in July to accompany the tour. Welcome back to Summerfolk - Hilary Spencer, Jacey Bedford and Brian Bedford.
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All three of these groups are scheduled for Summerfolk's amphitheatre stage on Friday night, August 20th. Along with Francophone chanteuse Caracol, Mose Scarlett, Sheesham & Lotus, Newfoundland's The Dardanelles and songwriter Danny Michel, Friday night promises to be an adventuresome musical start to the Festival.

Jack Williams

Let's take a look at what's in store lineup-wise for the upcoming Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival. I'd like to begin with one of the first acts I booked for our 35th annual Festival.

In the fall of 2009, I received a note from Ezra Idlet of Trout Fishing in America. Trout Fishing performed at Summerfolk last August and Ezra (the tall one), along with partner Keith Grimwood, make up the popular duo that is one of our long-time favourites at Summerfolk.

"I'm writing because I'd love to send you a cd of a friend of mine. I have no connection to him professionally, I just think he'd be a great addition to Summerfolk" said Erza's email.

"I don't know if you've ever heard of Jack Williams. Jack lives in Arkansas these days somewhere between Keith and I. I think he's one of the most amazing songwriters, singers, and musicians I've ever met. I think he'd add to any workshop you put him in from songwriting to instrumental. His solo work is just wonderful. Anyway, if I can send you a copy of his cd I'd sure like to".

I answered back to the affirmative and sure enough, Ezra sent me a copy of Laughing in the Face of the Blues. It didn't take long to realize that Jack Williams would be a perfect artist for Summerfolk. Exceptional guitar work, fabulous songs and heartfelt vocals; all delivered with confidence, sincerity and character.

When I started looking into his history, Jack's career has been eclectic. He played trumpet in a jazz quartet at a Seattle beatnik coffeehouse in 1959 - reading poetry to the audience during breaks. He learned banjo and mandolin to spice up folk groups in the 60's in Georgia. He played pedal-steel guitar in a country-rock band and classical guitar in a Renaissance ensemble.

"I was raised listening to everything from the Dorsey Brothers and pop tunes of the mid-40s to Brahms, Mozart and Chopin. I was fortunate to have grown up with none of the pressures of today’s corporate music-biz to lead me down a narrow path. I played folk songs on the ukelele from the time I was four, pop and classical piano from age six and jazz on the trumpet from age nine. Then I discovered the guitar at age fifteen. I would play more styles than just the rock & roll but discovered that could earn money - and eventually a living."

From 1958 through 1987, Jack was best-known as an electric guitarist working shows with John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Turner, Jerry Butler, Z.Z. Hill, Hank Ballard and many others. During that era, his bands also backed up artists such as the Shirelles, the Del-Vikings, the Coasters, the Drifters, and the Platters.

His skill with instrumental composition won him a national arts grant in 1967. That led to gigs accompanying legendary singer/songwriters like Mickey Newbury, Harry Nilsson, Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow and Steve Gillette.

After many years of travelling with rock bands, jazz combos and accompanying other performers - playing anywhere he could get paid to play music, Williams took on a solo career in folk music.

Jack is now a much sought-after artist on contemporary folk music stages. From his acclaimed appearances at the Newport, Boston, Philadelphia, Kerrville and Fox Valley folk festivals; his musicianship has established him as an inspiring and influential performer.

Williams is considered a 'musician's musician' - outstanding among a handful of artists who in skill, depth and integrity stand head and shoulders above the rest. He is noted among acoustic guitarists as one of the best. By adding a pinch of self-deprecating humor, he is instantly endearing. Having avoided the compromises of the commercial music industry during his 50+ year career, he has preferred touring 'under the radar' for the sheer love of music and performing.

Before beginning to write in 1970, Jack was inspired by the varied likes of Jesse Winchester, Josh White, Hank Williams, The Band, Procal Harum, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Johnny Mercer, and Ray Charles. When the spirit moves him today, songs from favourite writers spring readily from his lips and fingers.

“Every time I made another album of original tunes I knew I would pay homage to the artists, writers and styles that were the origins of my own music” Williams says. “Over many years, I imagined the songs which would be included, songs which had a profound impact on how I would write and perform my own music. I knew it was coming and I planned it for a long time."

Williams, who has written more than 500 songs, says it’s the emotion of a song that works for him. “I want to go somewhere when I hear music. Whether it’s Brahms, Miles Davis. John Lee Hooker or Johnny Mercer or Hoagie Carmichael ...I want to be taken somewhere and I want to feel something.”

A featured artist on many recording studio projects, Williams has produced all of his own recordings plus CDs by Mickey Newbury, Ronny Cox, Eric Schwartz, Carla Ulbrich, Jonell Mosser and The Malvinas. There isn’t a note on a Jack Williams CD that isn’t 'well crafted' in every sense of the word - emotional, musical, inspirational.

Jack Williams possesses a half-century of accumulated musical knowledge and incorporates the best of all he has learned to make music of the highest calibre.

Thanks for the tip Ezra.