Amber Waves Band
From under spacious skies and in the shadow of the purple mountain majesties, the Amber Waves Band provides a glimpse into the world of acoustic music, family style!
Andina & Rich
Two Guitars, A Dulcimer, and an Attitude
Recipe: mix Sandy Andina (Chicago's resident singing/guitar-and-dulcimer-slinging smart aleck) with Stephen Lee Rich (Madison, WI's friendly neighborhood yodeling cowboy), add harmony and humor, then shake and stir. Result: Andina and Rich!
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Barb Ryman
A natural storyteller with a deep compassion for the lost and forgotten voices of our culture, Barb Ryman expects music to be more than entertaining. With a crystalline voice and skillfully played guitar, Barb delivers a rich mosaic of contemporary folk, drawing from country blues, Celtic balladry, and old-time gospel/bluegrass.
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Bettman & Halpin
Joyful Acoustic Americana
Stephanies music is new and catchy; an engaging mixture of folk, roots, bluegrass and jazz with memorable lyrics and killer instrumentation. Joined by masterful multi-instrumentalist Luke Halpin, the two of them raise the roof with their soaring harmonies and foot tapping fiddles.
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Brian Rohr
Brian Rohr is a Storyteller, Writer, Poet and Healing Arts Practitioner who resides in the Pacific Northwest - a land of constant rain, Evergreen trees, mountains and the waters of the Pacific Ocean. In 2007, Brian left his hometown of Chicago and moved to Port Townsend, WA to study with Mythologist and Master Storyteller Daniel Deardorff.
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Castlebay
Castlebay has been musically weaving together the heritage of New England and the Celtic lands since 1987. Members Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee blend history, legend and experience into their personable performance style. Their concerts feature poignant ballads sung in Lane's ethereal soprano and Gosbee's rich baritone interspersed with joyous dance tunes played on Celtic harp, guitar, fiddle, Irish flute and tin whistle. They also incorporate accompanied storytelling into many of their programs. Castlebay treats the audience to a musical journey through time and across the Atlantic.
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Charles Kiernan
Mark Twain
Storyteller Charles Kiernan, now retired from gainful employment, performs at theaters, listening clubs, schools, libraries, and arts festivals. He has, of late, been fobbing himself off as Mark Twain with some success.
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Charlie Mosbrook
The Strength to Rise To Our Feet
Songwriter Charlie Mosbrook, a two time Ironman triathlon finisher now living with a spinal cord injury, tells his story from the finish line of the worlds toughest endurance race to the first few steps out of a wheel chair.
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Claudia Hommel
Your Ticket to Paris.....and Beyond
One of America's favorite singers of French song, Claudia Hommel brings her cabaret magic to concert halls, clubs and schools. She'll transport you to "Paris" with a song and escort you to the real place with her Cabaret Intourludes to France.
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Dave Ehlert
Branson Superstars - Mark Twain to Elvis!
Dave "Elvis" Ehlert has been performing as the "King" since 1967, that's 10 years BEFORE Elvis died. His voice has been considered the closest to Elvis by even Presidents of Elvis Fan Clubs. In recent years Dave has taken on a new character, Mark Twain. He dedicates this show to his Dad who always said, "Nobody likes a smartass!" Well Dad, actually they do. Dave has made it a goal to perform his version of Mark Twain to libraries across the country and to date has performed as America's Favorite Storyteller in 22 states.
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David Nigel Lloyd
Non-traditional traditionalist specializing in fingerstyle guitar, octar, Ballads & sung poetry
Sometimes he sings traditional songs as he finds them. Often, he overlays them with new but related lyrics. The olde British pantheon of demon knights, faerie queens and divine drunkards often find themselves wandering the deserts, mountains and boom towns of Southern California where DNL lived for 35 years. He still composes and sings the sort of song poetry that distinguished Dark Ages so many years ago. “A strongly individual musical and poetic mind is at work here.” (beGlad, UK)
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Debra Cowan
Debra Cowan Sings Great Songs Written By Other People
With a voice that blends Celtic and Appalachian styles, Debra Cowan performs a cappella and with guitar, interpreting a wide range of traditional and contemporary folk songs. After relocating to New England from Northern California in 1998, she began touring, singing in folk clubs and at festivals in the US, Canada and UK. Debra’s performances impress audiences with her clarity, warmth, agility, and respect for the words and melodies she offers. A proud Union member, she is currently serving a one year term as Vice president of AFM Local 1000.
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Denis Gessing
Denis Gessing is a world class storyteller, bringing to life tales of the old west, and traditional tales of the irish. His personas bring unique charm to his performance, no matter the topic.
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Dr. Cory Hills
Percussive Storytelling
Storytelling is a method of communication that has spanned the ages. Whether the stories serve as oral histories, religious doctrines, or simple bedtime entertainment, they have become an important staple of mankind. Many of these stories are percussive; either in the rhythmic structure of the iambs, or in the onomatopoeia of the words. Dr. Cory Hills brings this to life.
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Dr. Mary Kleinsorge
classical guitarist / singer / songwriter
"Dr. Mary" Kleinsorge combines her life experiences in a journey through music and her classical guitar. You'll learn about the beginnings of guitar and how it relates to country, bluegrass, traditional classical and folk. You'll smile and sing along with songs that you remember and you'll love the original pieces that she's written for guitar and for her love of life and the people in it.
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Dr. Robert E Pyatt
Dr. Robert Pyatt is an Assistant Director of the Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics Laboratories at Nationwide Children's Hospital and an Assistant Professor at Ohio State University. For the past 10 years he has been presenting science workshops around the eastern half of the United States.
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Driftwood Fire
Pop-tastically Pleasing!
Driftwood Fire is constantly bridging the gap between traditional roots music and contemporary pop. They are the First Place winner of the 2007 International Narrative Song Competition's category for original Historical music as well as a VH-1 Suggested Artist.
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Ed Pettersen
Songwriter and producer Ed Pettersen was presented with a unique challenge to engage childrens interest in the history of our country through song, by then Attorney General Janet Reno. To craft a compelling story of universal appeal Pettersen collaborated with Dr. Deane Root, Director of the Center for American Music at the University of Pittsburgh, and carefully selected popular songs that were part of the social fabric of each era and which described or alluded to a specific historical event, cultural or social movement
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Eddie Boggs
A Performance Free of Profanity, Vulgarity, and Sexual Innuendos: Given his strong moral background, and desire to present shows that are suitable for children, adults, and seniors, Eddie is truly an entertainer for the entire family.
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Elaine Romanelli
Elaine Romanelli's clear voice, sassy spirit, and earthy song-writing meld in songs about doubt, love, and keeping going. Her singing is direct, like Alison Krauss and Ingrid Michaelson, and her songwriting heartfelt, like Dar Williams and Joni Mitchell. Music blog Lucid Culture hails Elaine as a ’tremendous singer’, and raves about 'Real Deal', calling it “vivid, aphoristic, often metaphorically charged”. At live shows she gets high marks for her funny stories and high-energy performing.
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Geraldine Buckley
The shortest distance between two hearts is a story...
Whether they are tall tales or true tales, ancient or modern, stories have a way of bonding listeners together as they become fellow travelers on a magic carpet ride to the land of long ago and far away. Perhaps our global village would be less fraught, peace more prevalent, if politicians and diplomats remembered the truth that we all knew as children – that the shortest distance between two hearts is a story.
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Hans York
This German-born, award-winning, internationally acclaimed performing songwriter got his musical roots from being born into an occupied Germany and fed a rich diet of American music. His potpourri of influences include Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Peter Gabriel, The Beatles, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Debussy, Earth Wind & Fire, and Eric Clapton, to name a few.
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Harper and The Minstrel
Celtic Harps, Flutes, Recorders, Penny Whistles, Bowed Psaltery, Epinette de Jambe, Guitar and beautiful vocal harmonies will transport you to another place and time!
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John Batdorf
west coast acoustic folk rock
Some may ask, what is it about the qualities of John Batdorf that set him apart from other excellent singer-songwriters… It’s his vulnerability: his complete opening the door to his heart. John invites the listener into his soul and shares a couple hours, open and trusting as he sings of love and hope: transforming despair to hope, hate to love and fear/ignorance to tolerance/acceptance.
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Joshua Safford
Trickster Tales & Magic
Joshua Safford makes learning mythology fun through a fusion of storytelling, audience participation and magic. Joshua creates live special effects that bring new sparkle to old folklore that teaches cultural diversity and empowers children.
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Kathleen Finnegan
Celtic Harpist
Kathleen Finnegans family hails from County Armagh in Northern Ireland. Through her harp she brings the history and culture of Ireland and other areas of the Celtic world to a variety of venues.
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Ken O'Malley
In this captivating show, the Dublin born singer-songwriter will transport his audience to his beloved Ireland with his rich, resonant voice and engaging stage presence accompanied by his remarkable talent on guitar and mandolin.
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Ken Waldman
Alaska's Fiddling Poet
Ken Waldman has drawn on his 25 years in Alaska to produce poems, stories, and fiddle tunes that combine into a performance uniquely his own.
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Kerry Grombacher
Western troubadour, singer, storyteller
In the spirit of the troubadours of old, he paints vivid portraits and tells fascinating stories that are set in the landscape where hes worked and toured, from his home on New Orleans Bayou St. John to the desert Southwest, and up to Montana and the Northwest forests.
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Kerry Patrick Clark
A Musical Norman Rockwell
Kerry Patrick Clark is a musical Norman Rockwell. His palette is a simple 12-note scale, a 6-string guitar and one voice that seeks to sing hope into the human experience. His songs are the compass that points the heart home.
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Linda Goodman
Author, Storyteller, Playwright
Author/Storyteller/Playwright Linda Goodman, an Appalachian Mountain native of Melungeon descent, draws on her roots to create a magic world where fantasy and ordinary heroes come together to both entertain and inspire. She also tells traditional tales using a wide array of voices to make characters come to life.
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Marc Black
Mr. Black has brought his creative genius together in a presentation that features live performance of his original songs, a documentary film, and finally, a time for questions and sharing of experience.
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Matthew Gurnsey
The Kilted Man
"Like Early Clancy Brothers, hale and hearty!" Matthew breathes new life into a music that will never die. "Through his music you can feel the green shamrocks underfoot, catch the aroma of a distant salt sea, and taste the highland rain upon your lips!"
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Oba William King
Oba William King is founder of JUSTUS Arts Programs for Youth. He has produced, performed in, and directed countless presentations and educational workshops designed to introduce students to the power of the spoken word and the magic of literature. His interactive performances, storytelling, drama workshops and lectures involve participants in a stimulating variety of self-image, self-esteem building activities. Programs are designed to celebrate diversity.
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Sonny & Perley
Themed concerts from International and Great American Songwriters
Our programs are designed for Black History month ( Feb ) and Womens History month,( March ) as well as many other theme programs. We presently offer 19 Theme Programs that are each based on different aspects of the Great American Songbook and International Cabaret. All of the programs are educational, engaging, musical, entertaining, and are designed specifically for Libraries.
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Spook Handy
Spook has been playing alongside Pete Seeger, swapping songs and singing harmonies at several festivals and concerts each year since 2003. As a result, Spook has learned how to engage audiences, write songs, sing old favorites and share the stories and histories behind them in much the same way Pete does. Named "Best Folk Artist" by About.com, Gannet Newspapers, The East Coast Rocker, Aquarian Magizine, The Home News (of NJ), The Currier News (of NJ), Spook has written for film and theater and tours most of the US and parts of Canada. The spirit, passion and purpose of Folk Music is alive and well at a Spook Handy concert. Spook also offers workshops in Guitar, Songwriting and Performance. Discounts are available for block bookings and multiple bookings. Spook has plenty of programs appropriate to this year's SUMMER READING PROGRAM.
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Steve Brooks
Cross two famous guys named Brooks - Garth and Mel - and you get Austin folksinger Steve Brooks. He's got a song for every occasion, from the sublime to the ridiculous and back. His tunes range from comic commentary and crackerbarrel philosophy to lyrical love ballads and sharp-edged snapshots of Texas and the world.
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Steve Eulberg
Award-winning multi-instrumentalist and singer
From fun-loving smile-inducing folkgrass, to soaring John Denver-style country folk to a kicked back feet teetering on Jimmy Buffett in Appalachia.
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Susie Glaze & the Hilonesome Duo
In their tribute to the great American folk music pioneer Jean Ritchie, they share with audiences the great, rich traditional music that came to this country along with the first immigrants from England, Ireland and Scotland.
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TR Ritchie
Songwriter & Performer
Published poet, award-winning songwriter, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist and touring musician TR Ritchie was <i>Indie</i> before Indie was in. He writes, plays and sings with heart and conviction and an innocence that you wouldn’t expect from someone who’s been around a few rough and competitive blocks. His wry wit and lyric sensibility are well-served by the traditional folk, swing, country and ragtime roots of his music, prompting <b>Dirty Linen</b> magazine to dub Ritchie “a classic folk troubadour.”
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Terra Taylor Knudson
Terra is a storyteller/playwright based in the Los Angeles area that has performed at numerous schools & theaters.
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The Gypsy Cowbell
Whether she's building a banjo, riding the Divide, singing around a campfire, floating the Grand or hitchhiking across America, this little gal is doing her best to seize Life's Rich Pageant.
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The Rambling Sailors
Bringing the High-Seas to you!
The Rambling Sailors deliver their songs the way they were meant to be heard, with strong harmony and rhythm, accented with concertina and guitar. Don't be surprised to find yourself and the entire crew clapping and singing along
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Tribal Vision Dance
Native Dance & Singing Workshops
Tribal Vision offers a multimedia dance performance that is great for all grade levels and meets Ontario Curriculum requirements. Workshops are available for students to experience for themselves the beauty and fun of First Nations dance and music.
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Walter Strauss
If you havent heard Walter Strauss play, then youve never heard music like this before. This California guitar maestro's songs are full of the groove and fire of an African dance party, the dynamics and textures of a string orchestra, and the back-porch soul of American roots music. Its out of this world music.
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