MUSIC Forum at canaaninstitute.org

[Mike_L]

Red Molly

Glorious vocal harmonies from one of folk music's best-loved Americana roots band

Friday, May 20, 2011. 8:00 p.m.

$15

May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 East Genesee St, Syracuse, N.Y.

Presented by the Folkus Project. Info at www.folkus.org.
Tickets available online, via PayPal.
For full details, see http://www.folkus.org/wilcox_molly_tickets.htm.


More about Red Molly:

The Folkus Project wraps up its 2011 spring season with Red Molly, a dynamic female trio with stunning three-part harmonies, crisp musicianship and a warm, engaging stage presence. Their music is an eclectic mix of original and traditional songs, including folk, gospel, Western swing, and blues. High lonesome harmonies, catchy bluegrass-inspired songwriting and incisive acoustic arrangements are complemented by the delightful chemistry among the three. Laurie MacAllister (bass, banjo), Abbie Gardner (dobro, guitar) and Molly Venter (guitar) bring a warm authenticity and an undeniable charm to their concerts.

In July 2006, Red Molly released their first full length CD "Never Been to Vegas," but it was their first studio release, "Love and Other Tragedies" in 2008, that established Red Molly as one of the fastest-rising folk/bluegrass bands in the acoustic music scene. "Love and Other Tragedies" spent ten weeks in the Top 15 on the Americana Top 40 and entered the Folk DJ Top Albums chart at #1. MacAllister's "Beaumont Rest Stop" and Gardner's "Honey on My Grave" were both featured in Sing Out! Magazine. Solebello's "Summertime" was the #1 song on the Folk DJ chart in July 2008, and Gardner's "The Mind of a Soldier" won the 2008 John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Folk). On their most recent CD, "James," they capture what their fans love about the band; they can be dark and heart-wrenching one moment, soulful and uplifting the next. "James" peaked at #4 on the Americana Top 40 and was Folk DJ’s #1 Album for two months in a row.


More info at: www.redmolly.com/


Press quotes:

"Red Molly is really easy to like a lot. They just keep getting better each time." -- Sing Out

"Red Molly may be from New York, but their bluegrass and old-time gospel sounds and buoyant three-part harmonies are so down-home it's as if their notes are carried to you on the crisp air of the Ozarks." -- The Boston Globe

"Red Molly makes music that is both modern and timeless, making old songs sparkle with new life and new ones sound like they were seasoned through generations.” -- Dirty Linen

The Folkus Project is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their web page at www.folkus.org.

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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Folkus Project Announces Fall 2011 Season

Jonathan Edwards highlights an adventurous schedule that includes a high percentage of first-ever appearances — by artists whose folk/acoustic stylings range from old-time traditional to introspective singer-songwriter to ragtime finger-picking blues.

Following its most successful season ever, the Folkus Project has announced a fall 2011 slate that is heavy on artists never before appearing in the series — and, though varied, still centered around the contemporary folk, singer-songwriters for which Folkus is best known.

"Measured by the stature of acts, the size of audiences, and by general enthusiasm, 2010-2011 was the Folkus Project's best year," said Dana Cooke, president of the all-volunteer, non-profit organization, which stages close to 20 folk-acoustic concerts every year, September through May. "In the coming year, we seek to build on that momentum by presenting a few acts whose prominence and popularity again raise our sights, while also continuing to present the very best of regional and national singer-songwriter acts." In the first category this fall, Cooke said, are Jonathan Edwards, folk-rock radio star of the 1970s; and NPR traditional-music fixture Peter Ostroushko.

And in the latter category is this fall's season opener, Antje Duvekot (who also happens to be one of the first-timers in the fall schedule). Duvekot, who appears September 9, is one of contemporary folk's up-and-coming stars, well-known to regular attendees of the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and other devotees of the New England songwriter scene. Her angelic voice is simply beautiful and her lyrics are astonishing. She brings fresh imagery to the timeless subjects of longing, loss, love, loneliness, and vulnerability. Poetic and inventive, her songs are sweet and moving.

If you are of an age, you remember the ’70s pop hit “Sunshine” and FM radio sensation “Shanty.” The 1970s are long gone, but Jonathan Edwards is going strong, selling out clubs and small theaters throughout New England. The folk/rock legend makes his Folkus debut on September 23. Four decades into a stellar career of uncompromising musical integrity, the man simply delivers, night after night – songs of passion, songs of insight, songs of humor, all rendered in that pure and powerful tenor which, like fine wine, has only grown sweeter with age.

Back by popular demand after a too-long Folkus absence, Anais Mitchell returns on October 7. What separates Mitchell from other singer/songwriters with political leanings is that she delivers the message without compromising the song -- everything fits together naturally and her thoughts are expressed in lyrical and subtle ways.

On October 21, Syracuse-born and bred (and now Boston-based) singer/songwriter Ryan Fitzsimmons brings his impassioned vocals and innovative guitar work back to his hometown. Known for his high-octane performances, he paints moving, moody portraits buoyed by exciting and intelligent guitar arrangements. (Later this summer, Folkus will announce a second locally based, young-gun songwriter to share the evening with Fitzsimmons.)

Peter Ostroushko, a major star of the traditional music scene appears on November 4. Well-known from A Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, Austin City Limits, and other such NPR/PBS outlets, Ostroushko is one of the finest mandolin and fiddle players in acoustic music and has earned an international reputation as a versatile and dazzling master of instrumentation and composition.

Chris Pureka is another Folkus first-timer, and a Folkus Project imperative. (Trust us on this one!) With her introspective, Appalachian-tinged tunes, virtuosic guitar, and hypnotic vocals, Pureka performs on November 18. Pureka is a rising artist of substance, armed with a sharp eye for oft-missed details and an emotional intelligence that can switch from withering to compelling with a subtle inflection.
Bursting with energetic fun, Toby Walker is one of the hottest blues, rags, and country fingerpickers anywhere. His passion for the blues and other traditional American music sent him into the deep south where he tracked down old time musicians of an earlier era, learning directly at the feet of Etta Baker, Jack Owens and many others. He brings his diverse styles and hilarious stories on December 2.

Closing out the fall season on December 16, Sloan Wainwright, the big-throated and deep-souled folk diva who has been a Syracuse favorite since her well-remembered Happy Endings shows in the late 1990s, brings her band for a special holiday-themed show. Defying standard categorization, she consistently demonstrates her easy command of a variety of American musical styles -- pop, folk, jazz and blues -- held together by the melodious tone of her rich contralto. A highly original singer, her musical style melds the best of pop, folk, jazz, and blues to create a soulful hybrid.

All shows above take place at May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, starting at 8 p.m. For information about all the Folkus series, and to reserve tickets, please see the Folkus website at: www.folkus.org.

Second Saturday Series

The affiliated Second Saturday concert series, based at the Westcott Community Center (corner of Westcott St. and Euclid Avenues), begins Saturday, Oct. 8, with Tenor Madness. They present classic, swinging American music in an unusual configuration: two tenor guitars, upright bass and vocals.
Annie & the Hedonists, a band that knows no musical boundaries, appear on November 12. This eclectic group from the Albany area offers something for everyone. Anchored by the incomparable voice of band namesake Annie Rosen, this diverse ensemble gives audiences everything from jazz, swing, torchy blues, standards, bluegrass, gospel, and folk, with a sampling of honky tonk country thrown in for good measure. Each of their concerts is almost like a lesson in American roots music history.

On December, 10 John Cadley and Cathy Wenthen perform, with opening act Larry Hoyt & Eileen Rose. Cadley and Wenthen have each been playing music in the Syracuse area for many years, and recently combined their talents into a duo featuring smooth duet harmonies supported by guitars, mandolin, and banjo.

Their music includes everything from bluegrass standard such as "Blue and Lonesome," classic folk songs like “The Water Is Wide,” to the new acoustic sounds of Alison Krauss, Nancy Griffith, Leonard Cohen, Emmylou Harris, all the way to fresh, original versions of Beatles tunes like “Yesterday” and “I Will.” Together, they present a highly enjoyable listening experience for audiences of all ages.

For information about the Second Saturday series, visit www.folkus.org or the Westcott Center website at www.westcottcc.org

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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Antje Duvekot

The Folkus Project's concert season debuts with one of contemporary folk's up-and-coming stars.

Friday, September 9, 2011. 8:00 p.m.

$15

May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 East Genesee St, Syracuse, N.Y.

Presented by the Folkus Project. Info at www.folkus.org.
For reservations, email tickets@folkus.org.

More about the artist:

The Folkus Project's 2011 concert season begins with Antje Duvekot, a compelling performer and gifted songwriter.

Renowned for her live shows, Duvekot brings an intense innocence to her performances. Her angelic voice is simply beautiful and her lyrics are astonishing. She brings fresh imagery to the timeless subjects of longing, loss, love, loneliness, and vulnerability. Poetic and inventive, her songs are sweet and moving.

Duvekot has solidified her reputation as one of Boston's top singer/songwriters with the release of her third album, "Antje Duvekot LIVE From All Over the Place," a delicious mix of covers and original songs covers by Townes van Zandt, Gershwin and Queen. Her debut CD, "Big Dream Boulevard," voted No. 1 Folk Release of 2006 by the Boston Globe and was named to the Top 10 Releases of the Year by National Public Radio's Folk Alley. Her follow up album, "The Near Demise of the Highwire Dancer" was voted the No. 1 album of the year 2009 by WUMB in Boston.

Duvekot holds three top songwriting awards, including the Grand Prize in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Competition, the Kerrville Folk Festival "Best New Folk Award," and the Boston Music Award for "Outstanding Folk Act." Her fast-growing fan base, the viral spreading of her music, and a track record of sold-out shows are testaments to her growing popularity. She has been invited to play some of the top festivals including the Newport Folk Festival, Mountain Stage, and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Internationally, she's headlined the Celtic Connections Festival in Scotland and the Tonder Festival in Denmark.

More info at: www.antjeduvekot.com

Press quotes:

"When I first heard Antje I knew I was witnessing something very special. She creates an entire, detailed world in verse, and takes you there with beautiful and understated melody. Her songs are stunning paintings of color and shade and always generate the heat and light that real art should. In an unpoetic and 'in your face' world, she is lyrical and subtle." -- Sting

This ("Big Dream Boulevard") is a brilliant, brilliant album. I have had this reaction once in the last 10 years and that was the first time I heard Patty Griffin." -- former Rolling Stone music editor Dave Marsh

"Duvekot has gotten hotter, faster than any local songwriter in recent memory. Her songs feel at once fresh faced and firmly rooted, driven by the whispery sensuality of her voice. She believes in the redemptive power of the shared secret; and is utterly unafraid to mine the darkest corners of her life for songs that turn fear into resilience and isolation into community". The Boston Globe

"Big Dream Boulevard" is the most refreshing, lyrically impacting record I've heard in ages. A stunning debut." --
Maverick Magazine (UK)

The Folkus Project is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their web page at www.folkus.org

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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Jonathan Edwards

Folk/rock legend makes his Folkus debut with songs of passion, insight, and humor

Friday, September 23, 2011. 8:00 p.m.

$20

May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 East Genesee St, Syracuse, N.Y.

Presented by the Folkus Project. Info at www.folkus.org.
Advance sale tickets are available via PayPal or by mail (personal check); advance ticket holders receive preferential seating. For details, see the Folkus Project website at www.folkus.org.

More about the artist:

If you are of an age, you remember the ’70s pop hit “Sunshine” and FM radio sensation “Shanty.” The 1970s are long gone, but Jonathan Edwards is going strong. The folk/rock legend makes his Folkus debut on September 23. Four decades into a stellar career of uncompromising musical integrity, the man simply delivers, night after night – songs of passion, songs of insight, songs of humor, all rendered in that pure and powerful tenor which, like fine wine, has only grown sweeter with age.

Edwards is forever known for the energetic, upbeat "Sunshine," his million-selling Vietnam War-era protest song. A fierce proclamation of independence set to deceptively upbeat music, it resonated with the thousands of frustrated and angry young men and women of the day. Today, the song continues to be embraced by faithful followers and new fans alike.

But Edwards brings more than just "Sunshine'' to his audiences. This is one veteran performer who is neither grizzled nor nostalgic. Even though he's been mostly out of the spotlight, he never stopped recording. He has 15 CDs to his credit and has collaborated with artists like Emmylou Harris, Maura O'Connell, Jimmy Buffett, Christine Lavin, and Cheryl Wheeler. A vital and relevant artist in today’s folk scene, his is much more likely to be found looking forward rather than back.


More info at: jonathanedwards.net


Press quotes:

"Edwards' voice is so naturally malleable that all he really needs is a song with a strong melodic hook and he's home free." -- Washington Post

"His throaty tenor, one of the most distinctive voices on record, has always had a natural, unadulturated, undiluted quality." -- Music City News

"An Edwards performance is an unforgettable roller-coaster ride which combines his remarkable singing, storytelling, and wit." -- Martha's Vineyard Times

"The perfect remedy for depression." -- Cashbox

The Folkus Project is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their web page at www.folkus.org.
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

We've just received word: When Jonathan Edwards makes his debut Folkus Project appearance next Friday, September 23, he's bringing his band. And what a band it is:

- Mandolinist Joe Walsh, who, since 2008, has been the regular mandolinist for the Gibson Brothers, one of bluegrass music's top national acts. http://www.myspace.com/minnesotajoseph

- Guitarist Moondi Klein, who has played and recorded with The Seldom Scene's Mike Auldridge and T. Michael Coleman (in a band called Chesapeake), among many other projects. http://www.jimmyandmoondi.com/index.php?biography

- Keyboardist Tony Snow, a Berklee trained jazz pianist ubiquitous throughout New England. http://www.tomsnow.com

No hyperbole here: This will be one of the very best bands ever to grace a Folkus Project stage, contributing to one of the most exciting acts we have ever brought it. If you are interested in this show, we strongly encourage you purchase tickets today; see how at http://www.folkus.org. Ticket sales are starting to pick up.

Thanks.

- The Folkus Team
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Anais Mitchell

Writing and singing with redemptive energy about the challenges of our times.

Friday, October 7, 2011. 8:00 p.m.

$15

May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 East Genesee St, Syracuse, N.Y.

Presented by the Folkus Project. Info at www.folkus.org.
Advance sale tickets are available via PayPal or by mail (personal check); advance ticket holders receive preferential seating. For details, see the Folkus Project website at www.folkus.org.

About the artist:

Listening to Anais Mitchell perform her meticulously written songs, fervently singing them her distinctive voice, you’d think it was her life's mission to rouse the hearts and minds of her listeners. The atmosphere she creates with her musical aura is mesmerizing and she sings with a worldly, sensitive voice that holds a quiet ferocity.

Mitchell makes small-sounding, big-thinking folk songs that sound like front porch serenades. Her lyrics tackle both the personal and political, often blurring the lines between the two. What separates her from other singer/songwriters with political leanings is that she delivers the message without compromising the song -- everything fits together naturally and her thoughts are expressed in lyrical and subtle ways.

Each of her finely crafted songs is a small poem -- delicate, meaningful, and personal. The raw, sweet timbre of her voice and serene picking style draw you in, and her dazzling lyrics keep you there. Her music is powerful but she is always gentle with her statements, whether exploring the connections between friends and lovers, religion and violence, or prosperity and pain.

More info at: www.anaismitchell.com


Press quotes:

“An expressiveness that reflects and goes beyond her years. Mitchell is an original.” – The Boston Herald

“Anais Mitchell may be the best under-30-year-old singer-songwriter performing today." – The Midnight Special

"A songwriter of startling clarity and depth, equally skilled at turning a melody or lyrical phrase into what you didn't know you needed until you heard it." – Acoustic Guitar

“Simple acoustic tunes made full with intricate, poetic lyrics sung with a voice that’s simultaneously innocent and just a little wounded.” —Burlington Free Press

The Folkus Project is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their web page at www.folkus.org.
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Tenor Madness

Two tenor guitars, one upright bass, and pure, sweet vocals; classic, swinging, American music!

Saturday, October 8, 2011. 8:00 p.m.

$15, $12 for WCC members

Westcott Community Center, 826 Euclid Avenue, Syracuse, N.Y.
East of SU at the intersection of Euclid Ave and Westcott Street

Presented by Second Saturday Concert Series and the Folkus Project.
Info at www.folkus.org.
For reservations, call the Westcott Community Center at (315) 478-8634.

About Tenor Madness:

Internationally renowned jazz musicians Hanna Richardson and Phil Flanigan have joined with Jared Mulcahy to create an exciting new trio, Tenor Madness. Flanigan and Richardson team up on tenor guitars, while Mulcahy anchors the group on the upright bass. Richardson's easy, graceful way with a lyric and her engagingly sunny vocals round out the fresh sound of this unique ensemble.

The group sound has the intimacy, delicacy, and fullness of chamber music. And that indefinable thing called ‘swing’ is at the root of everything they do. Superb musicianship, combined with an intuitive sense of what material best fits their style, makes this timeless music come alive. Their musical mode is warm and inviting, with a little humor mixed in, resulting in a friendly, relaxed, onstage demeanor.
Flanigan and Richardson met when both were in elementary school in Geneva, NY. After continually running into each other and sitting in on each other’s sessions for thirty-six years, they decided to wed in 2001. This collaboration has been a fruitful one, netting three SAMMY awards for best jazz recording, numerous performances at Jazz Parties such as Chautauqua, the Arbors “March of Jazz”, the Jersey Jazz Party, and three recordings. Flanigan is a veteran of Benny Goodman’s band and a founding member of the Scott Hamilton Quintet.

More info at: www.hannaphil.com

Press quotes:

“One of the best chamber-jazz ensembles you’ll ever hear.” -- Jazz Lives

“This great combination of fine jazz singing and playing is not to be missed…if your taste is for straight ahead real jazz. Hanna has total command of her lyrics and the music and an obvious respect for melody…best of all, she swings!” -- Martin Richards, Jazz Journal International

“What beautiful relaxed, witty, trenchant, swinging, smart, irresistible singing! -- Fred Allen, American Heritage Magazine

The Second Saturday Concert Series at the Westcott Community Center is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

The Folkus Project is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their web page at www.folkus.org.

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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Ryan Fitzsimmons
With special guest Scott Danger Bravo

Syracuse-bred songwriter returns home with a new CD

Friday, October 21, 2011. 8:00 p.m.

$10

May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 East Genesee St, Syracuse, N.Y.

Presented by the Folkus Project. Info at www.folkus.org.
Advance sale tickets are available via PayPal or by mail (personal check); advance ticket holders receive preferential seating. For details, see the Folkus Project website at www.folkus.org.

About the artist:

Boston-based Ryan Fitzsimmons has established a reputation as one of the most original and promising young songwriters on the scene today. Now this Syracuse native returns to his hometown to celebrate the release of his latest CD. The new recording, "Cold Sky," was released in September and brings together seven years worth of songs from this innovative artist.

Known for his high octane performances, Fitzsimmons has a flair for the dramatic and the ability to turn power chords into melody lines. His impassioned vocals and innovative guitar work are matched by the richness of his lyrics. Drawing from a wide range of influences, from Peter Mulvey to Richard Thompson to Johnny Cash, Fitzsimmons paints moving, moody portraits buoyed by exciting and intelligent guitar arrangements. His songs are rich in imagery and emotion, running the emotional gambit with gentle, poetic details and the in-your-face realism of a bar fight.

Fitzsimmons was a standout performer on the Syracuse acoustic scene. He first gained attention at age fourteen playing lead guitar in an alternative rock band called Anodyne which was nominated for a Syracuse Area Music Award (SAMMY). After performing in a number of electric bands, he gave up the amplifiers to see what he could do with just wood and steel and voice. What he discovered in performing solo with an acoustic guitar was an intimacy and nuance that was instantly inspiring. The Providence Phoenix voted him Best Male Vocalist in 2007 and he performed at the Newport Folk Festival in 2008. At the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, he was selected to perform as part of the Emerging Artist Showcase on the Main Stage and was a semifinalist in the Starbucks Music Makers Competition.


More info at: www.ryanfitzsimmons.com

Scott Danger Bravo picked up the guitar at age fifteen and has never put it down. Getting his start in rock bands he switched to all instrumental/acoustic in 2003 and has never looked back. He has released four albums and is currently taking time off the road to work on his fifth. He has shared stages with many musicians and bands from Boston to Julia Othmer and is well-versed in many styles of music.

Press quotes for Ryan Fitzsimmons:

"Genuine, talented, and charismatic." -- Dar Williams

"As one of the new breed of young New England singer/songwriters, Ryan Fitzsimmons is the real deal." -- Barnes Newberry, WUMB, Boston, MA

"Part storyteller, part poet, part melodicist, his best tunes recall the work of folk icons like John Gorka and Suzanne Vega.” -- Bob Gulla, Providence Phoenix

The Folkus Project is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their web page at www.folkus.org.

“I dug his deal, he gets better every time I see him.” -- Peter Mulvey; singer-songwriter

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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Peter Ostroushko

Prairie Home Companion veteran and star of the traditional music scene is a dazzling master of instrumentation and composition

Friday, November 4, 2011. 8:00 p.m.

$15

May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 East Genesee St, Syracuse, N.Y.

Presented by the Folkus Project. Info at www.folkus.org.
Advance sale tickets are available via PayPal or by mail (personal check); advance ticket holders receive preferential seating. For details, see the Folkus Project website at www.folkus.org.

About the artist:

Peter Ostroushko has come to be regarded as one of the finest mandolin and fiddle players in acoustic music, as well as one of the most accomplished instrumentalists and gifted composers of his generation. For more than 25 years, he has been a frequent performer on A Prairie Home Companion. His tours have taken him to the stages of clubs, performing arts centers, music festivals and theatres across North America and Europe, and he has earned an international reputation as a versatile and dazzling master of instrumentation and composition.

Ostroushko's music is a rich ethnic mix, fusing the musical traditions of his Ukrainian heritage with an aural reflection of America's Midwest. He calls his gumbo of musical styles “sluz duz,” a phrase borrowed from his mother meaning, roughly, “over the edge” or “off his rocker.” His musical palette runs the gamut from folk to bluegrass, jazz, classical, and even rock.

His resume is dizzying in size and scope. He has 13 solo albums to his credit and has recorded on over 100 other records. He has appeared on Mountain Stage, Austin City Limits, Late Night with David Letterman, and even Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. He’s played lead ukulele with the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Sir Neville Mariner. He’s also performed with Jethro Burns, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Chet Atkins, Robin & Linda Williams, Taj Mahal, and Norman Blake.

“One of the finest musicians on the planet.” -- Rhythm Music Magazine

“A player of miraculous adaptability.” -- Billboard Magazine

“Ostroushko is one of a group of virtuoso musicians capable of defying boundaries…as both a composer and a player, Peter Ostroushko deserves a prominent place in the front rank of today’s acoustic music scene.” -- Sing Out!

“An acoustic music fan’s delight.” -- Dirty Linen

“One of the finest and possibly the most versatile of the current crop of multiinstrumentalists.” -- The Boston Globe

“Peter Ostroushko can play anything! And usually does!” -- Maine Sunday Telegram

The Folkus Project is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their web page at www.folkus.org.
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Chris Pureka

This much-discussed singer songwriter offers passionate, politically driven folk-rock in a style that evokes Neil Young and Gillian Welch.

Friday, November 18, 2011. 8:00 p.m.

$15

May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 East Genesee St, Syracuse, N.Y.

Presented by the Folkus Project. Info at www.folkus.org.
Advance sale tickets are available via PayPal or by mail (personal check); advance ticket holders receive preferential seating. For details, see the Folkus Project website at www.folkus.org.


About the artist:

Chris Pureka is a breath of fresh air in an age of fleeting success and temporary notions. In a style that is often sparse and rooted in Americana, she is an artist armed with a sharp eye for oft-missed details and an emotional intelligence that can switch from withering to compelling with a subtle inflection. Her songs cover a "landscape is akin to Neil Young's Harvest," says the AllMusic Guide.

Fans and critics alike are drawn to her signature voice, which can make heartbreak sound desirable, as well as to her acute attention to lyrical detail and aptitude for crafting guitar parts that speak for themselves. Beautiful melodies, stunning vocals, and distinctive guitar work shine through her songs.

With her 2004 debut LP, "Driving North," Pureka started her career as a touring troubadour and began building an impressive fan base from the ground up: a cult following that started in her native New England and steadily grew to a national level. Following the release of her second album, "Dryland," her musical career took off. In 2007, she was a member of the New American Songwriter Tour and was nominated for the Outstanding Folk Act by the Boston Music Awards. Her composition, "Swann Song" won 1st Place in the Acoustic competition on the independent music site OurStage.com. Because of her excellent performance there, she won a spot to perform at the Virgin Music Festival.

Her latest release, "How I Learned To See In The Dark," marks a new stage in Pureka's musical evolution. There is a newfound edginess, coupled with a more abstract sound and a musical depth and complexity, all the while maintaining the creative instrumentation for which she is known. It has taken years for Pureka to arrive here, and each step has been as purposeful, as precise, and as unwavering as the music she makes.


More info at: www.chrispureka.com


Press quotes:

"A New England folkie with a parched, wounded voice and a mean way with an acoustic guitar, Pureka makes romantic depression seem, somehow, invigorating." -- LA Daily News
"Folky sorrowful songs of loneliness and hurt, longing to reunite. Her tunes have the grave Appalachian flavor of Neil Young and Gillian Welch; her guitar playing is subdued but quietly virtuosic. And her voice can be a desolate whisper or a bitter accusation." -- John Pareles, The New York TImes

"For a woman who frequently performs solo and whose compositions are more quiet than clanging, Chris Pureka is making a lot of noise." -- Billboard Magazine
“She is such a gifted guitar player and singer that you have to listen to each song twice, once for her guitar playing and again for her passionate lyrics." --The Boston Globe


The Folkus Project is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their web page at www.folkus.org.

===
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

===

[Mike_L]

Annie & the Hedonists

Folk-blues band with a honey-voiced lead singer

Saturday, November 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Westcott Community Center, 826 Euclid Avenue, Syracuse, N.Y.
East of SU at the intersection of Euclid Ave and Westcott Street

$15 ($12 for WCC members)

Presented by Second Saturday Concert Series and the Folkus Project.
Info at www.folkus.org.
For reservations, call the Westcott Community Center at (315) 478-8634.

Artist’s website: jonny.aberman.org/hedonist/

More about : Annie & the Hedonists

Annie & the Hedonists is a band that knows no musical boundaries. This eclectic group from the Albany area offers something for everyone. Anchored by the incomparable voice of band namesake Annie Rosen, this diverse ensemble gives audiences everything from jazz, swing, torchy blues, standards, bluegrass, gospel, and folk, with a sampling of honky tonk country thrown in for good measure. Each of their concerts is almost like a lesson in American roots music history.

The powerful sound is pulled into a cohesive whole by arrangements and interpretations that are distinctly theirs. Along with tight musicianship, there is a thread of dry humor running through their music. It swings with a wink. Annie's blues-tinged singing and the pure backup harmonies are framed by a variety of knockout lead instruments. The band is made up of two couples. Annie sings lead vocals and her husband, Jonny Rosen, plays guitar and sings. Steve Fry is on mandolin, trumpet, guitar, keyboard, and vocals while partner Betsy Fry rounds out the combo on bass and harmony vocals. Also appearing with the Hedonists at this show will be frequent collaborator Peter Davis, who plays guitar, clarinet, sax and piano.

They met fifteen years ago at an old fashioned a capella sing at a friend's house. They found they shared a love of a variety of music, especially songs with strong rhythm, emotion, soulful singing and harmony. The four Baby Boomers called themselves Annie & the Hedonists after an episode at a banquet when, the silverware having been removed, they ate Baked Alaska with their fingers.

Press quotes:

"Annie & the Hedonists blew the place away!" -- Ralph Hunt, Heartland Music

“This quartet swings with style, energy and respect for the great old tunes.” -- Sing Out!

"Uncommon joy-de-vivre" -- Don Wilcock, Troy Record

The Second Saturday Concert Series at the Westcott Community Center is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

The Folkus Project is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their web page at www.folkus.org.
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Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Toby Walker

An exciting blues master and storyteller who mixes humor and heart with fantastic guitar work
Friday, December 2, 2011. 8:00 p.m.

$15

May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 East Genesee St, Syracuse, N.Y.

Presented by the Folkus Project. Info at www.folkus.org.
Advance sale tickets are available via PayPal or by mail (personal check); advance ticket holders receive preferential seating. For details, see the Folkus Project website at www.folkus.org.


About the artist:

Bursting with energetic fun, Toby Walker is one of the hottest blues, rags, and country fingerpickers anywhere. He covers the entire spectrum - rags, blues, traditional, roots, slide - no holds barred. One of the foremost purveyors of American Roots music, he delivers an authentic, down-home feel, capturing the sound of Piedmont and Delta blues with perfection. An accomplished fingerstyle virtuoso, Walker has a high-energy style playing that is lightning-quick when it needs to be but remarkably subtle when required.

Walker is also a skilled singer and songwriter who draws inspiration from traditional and contemporary music. His passion for the blues sent him into the deep south where he tracked down old-time musicians of an earlier era, learning at the feet of Etta Baker, Jack Owens, Eugene Powell, James "Son" Thomas, and many others. The talent, passion, and soul of a Toby Walker performance reflects these travels. He takes that musical foundation and creates something uniquely his own, with the right amount of reverence for the material and just enough originality to give it a fresh sound. Whether he's telling the humorous, heartwarming tales of other masters, talking about his inspirations, or astounding you with his mastery, his performances are a feast for the senses.


More info at: www.littletobywalker.com


Press quotes:

"Flat out... you have to hear this great musician... I'm blown away."-- Jorma Kaukonen - Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee

"A real killer with fantastic technique. He just knocks me out." -- John Hammond, blues musician

"An acoustic gem" -- London Sunday Times

"Excellent performer, talented picker, top-notch songwriter. Somebody raised that boy right." -- Ricky Stevens, The Blues Foundation

"You haven't lived until you've seen Toby Walker in concert. He's not just a master guitarist, but a consummate entertainer." -- John Platt, WFUV

"Walker's guitar work is inspired. His fingerpicking is as intricate as any linen finery... A brilliant, remarkable guitarist." --Brian Beatty, Blues Revue

The Folkus Project is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their web page at www.folkus.org.
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Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

On behalf of the larger Folkus Project community, we are writing to make sure you've heard this very sad news. Linda Mortimer, the proprietor and chef of Sparky Town restaurant, died this morning, unexpectedly.

Linda was a very, very good friend of the Folkus Project. If you've attended a Folkus show within the past two years, you've probably heard us announce that Sparky provided food to all the visiting performers. This is just the most obvious evidence of how very close to and supportive of the local music scene Sparky was — especially, we like to think, the local folk/acoustic scene. Sparky loved music and just about everyone and everything involved with it.

News of her passing can be found here: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/syracuse_restaurateur_linda_sp.html

We are told that word of upcoming services will be posted on Facebook, here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1335282335

We know you share our sadness at this unbelievable news. Our thoughts are with Lauren and everyone else at Sparky Town.

The Folkus Team

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Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

John Cadley and Cathy Wenthen

With guests Larry Hoyt and Eileen Rose
Central New York's most celebrated traditional-form songwriter and bluegrass front man joins forces with a singer noted for her subtle, pure emotion.


Saturday, December 10, 2011. 8:00 p.m.

$12 ($10 for WCC members)

Westcott Community Center, 826 Euclid Avenue, Syracuse, N.Y.
East of SU at the intersection of Euclid Ave and Westcott Street

Presented by Second Saturday Concert Series and the Folkus Project.
Info at www.folkus.org. For reservations, call the Westcott Community Center at (315) 478-8634.

More about the artists:

John Cadley and Cathy Wenthen have each been playing music in the Syracuse area for many years, and have recently combined their talents into a "new acoustic" duo featuring smooth duet harmonies supported by guitars, mandolin, and banjo.

The music of Cadley and Wenthen includes a heavy dose of Cadley originals well-known on the local bluegrass and country-folk scene, supplemented by a tasty selection of country, folk, and pop cover tunes. Included in the latter category is everything from classic folk songs like “The Water Is Wide,” to the new acoustic sounds of Alison Krauss, Nancy Griffith, Leonard Cohen, Emmylou Harris. Thrown in for good measure are fresh, original versions of Beatles tunes like “Yesterday” and “I Will,” along wide an ethereal version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" that everyone should hear at least once.

Cadley is also the leader of John Cadley and the Lost Boys, voted Best Bluegrass Group of 2009 by the Syracuse New Times Readers’ Poll, with two SAMMY-winning CDs of Cadley's original material. He is also the writer of “Time,” a #1 hit on the national bluegrass charts as recorded by Lou Reid and Carolina. Wenthen was a music director at the Immaculate Conception Church in Fayetteville, N.Y., with many years of experience of playing, singing, arranging, and conducting. Under her leadership, the IC Folk Group has a reputation as one of the finest in the area. Together since 2009, Cadley and Wenthen are a classic case of a sum greater than its parts.

Artists' web sites: www.cadleyandwenthen.com/

Press quotes:

"Cadley’s considerable chops give the duo an effortless, tight sound. Wenthen’s voice has a purity that conveys heartache without ever forcing the issue.” -- Syracuse New Times



About Hoyt and Rose: Larry Hoyt and Eileen Rose will open the evening's entertainment. Hoyt is well known to local audiences as the host of the weekly folk and acoustic music show, Common Threads, on WAER-FM, Syracuse, a world inhabited by performers such as Tom Paxton, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, John Sebastian, and the late Phil Ochs. It's from such legends that Hoyt formed his current musical tastes, an eclectic, entertaining mix of folk, old-time country, pop and oldies. His debut CD, "Folksinger/Songwriter," was a finalist for a 2005 Syracuse Area Music Award (SAMMY) in the Folk/Bluegrass category. Rose is a talented vocalist who can add sweet harmonies or ably carry the melody on her own. She is also an accomplished Appalachian dulcimer and performs with five different local ensembles.


Press quotes:

"Hoyt has carved quite a comfortable niche with his country-folk hybrid." -- Mark Bialczak, Syracuse Post Standard



The Second Saturday Concert Series at the Westcott Community Center is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

The Folkus Project is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their web page at www.folkus.org.
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Sloan Wainwright

A long-time popular Syracuse favorite returns with a full band to present songs of the holiday season.

Friday, December 16, 2011. 8:00 p.m.

$15

May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 East Genesee St, Syracuse, N.Y.

Presented by the Folkus Project. Info at www.folkus.org.
Advance sale tickets are available via PayPal or by mail (personal check); advance ticket holders receive preferential seating. For details, see the Folkus Project website at www.folkus.org.


Make merry this holiday with one of folk music's most passionate singers, as Sloan Wainwright brings her festive seasonal show,"A Holiday Evening with Sloan Wainwright," to Syracuse. The evening will be a jubilant, uplifting celebration of the season and the upcoming new year. There will be laughs and good spirits, reflections and inspirations, all held together by Wainwright's distinctive music style and rich contralto.

Wainwright will put her own interpretations on well known contemporary holiday hits and touch the spiritual side with her originals, such as "Search the Sky" and "I Believe" from her CD, "On a Night Before Christmas." In "Search the Sky" she pens a lovely, contemplative lyric; "And all that joy shall easily be restored, we've traveled such a long way, we had forgotten what for." The uplifting message of "I Believe" qualifies it as a holiday pleaser; "There above us, a brilliant evening sky, let spirit fly with the constellations, lift up our voices in prayerful harmony, join together in jubilation."

For this concert, she'll be joined by her working companion of 15 years, Stephen Murphy on guitars, along with Cadence Carroll on percussion, and Doug Wray on bass. The evening promises something for everyone - a stirring, joyous gala sure to move our sprits and capture our hearts.


More info at: sloanwainwright.com


Press quotes:

"The way her voice rumbles like thunder on a mountaintop will make you a believer." -- The Boston Globe

"She is one of those singers whose performance is a force of nature." -- Sing Out Magazine

" An earth mother voice that she pours into unexpectedly sensitive blends of folk, jazz, blues and funk." -- The New York Times

"A lot of singer-songwriters are whitebread. Sloan is whole grain." -- WFMT Radio, Rich Warren


The Folkus Project is a nonprofit organization that fosters and promotes traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music in Syracuse and Central New York. To learn more about Folkus and the upcoming concerts, visit their web page at www.folkus.org.

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_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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