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June 2021
Jim Lloyd, Hunter Wilson & Sophia Pucket
An Appalachian barber, musician, storyteller, presenter, music teacher, banjo historian, and radio host, Jim Lloyd has musical roots that extend through at least four generations of fiddlers, guitar players, dancers, and singers from the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia While accomplished on many instruments, he is known especially for his skills on guitar (finger-picking style) and banjo (claw-hammer and two-finger styles). He’ll be joined by Hunter Wilson and Sophia Pucket.
Sophia Puckett is a 17 year old, old-time musician from Galax Virginia. She got her start at a local after school music program, and after 4 years of being a student, she was given a position there as the banjo instructor. She says that “it’s been an honor share the music I love with other people.” Through the program she was also able to meet Jim Lloyd and learn from him. Jim has had a great influence on her playing and almost acts as a father, or grandfather figure for her, and many of his other students. Sophia shared that playing this music with others allows her to have a whole other family outside of her own. She is very thankful that the music has been passed down through the generations and made its way to her. Sophia says that she hopes that playing this music, she will be able to teach and share the music for many generations, just as Jim has.
Hunter Wilson began learning music at age 12 and sought out instruction from Jim Lloyd at age 13. His mother’s side of the family was heavily involved with music. His mother, and his two aunts all played instruments. Hunter and his brother were the first in several generations to take up stringed instruments. Their instruction with Jim Lloyd continued for around 7 years. Since then, Hunter has learned from other local players and played in a variety of groups and genres. He cherishes the opportunity to carry on the musical traditions of his region. He has introduced his son to the music and hopes to have him learn from the skilled teachers in the region and forge his own path.
Joe Jencks
Merging conservatory training with his Irish roots and working-class upbringing, Joe Jencks delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove, and grit. He is particularly noted for his unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration. Blending well-crafted instrumentals and vivid songwriting, Joe serves it all up with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel. His performances offer musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration. https://www.joejencks.com joejencks.com
Bourque Émissaires
Bourque Émissaires are Benoit Bourqua and Antoine Pigeon-Bourque. Benoit is a versatile artist overflowing with energy and a contagious joie de vivre, who has been winning the public over more than 30 years. Charismatic, exuberant, warm, funny, limber, the band’s sparkplug are a few words to describe him. Antoine started playing piano at the age of 11 and accordion at the age of 16. He has degrees from Université de Montréal, where he studied the classical repertoire for piano-accordion, and from Collège Saint-Laurent, in Montreal, where he studied tuba and accordion.
George Wilson
A talented multi-instrumentalist and singer, George Wilson samples a wide variety of traditional and folk styles. As a fiddler, he has over 500 tunes for dancing and listening — tunes from New England, Quebec, Cape Breton, Scotland, Ireland, and Shetland. His dynamic fiddling, strongly influenced by Cape Breton and French Canadian styles, has been popular with contra dancers and concert-goers since the late 1970s. georgewilsonmusic.com
Claudia Schmidt & Sally Rogers
Sally Rogers and Claudia Schmidt have been weaving their voices, dulcimers, and guitars together for decades, creating an atmosphere of joy and musical lushness that audiences find irresistible. Their soaring harmonies (“blood harmony” was how one fan described it), their fascinating double dulcimer work, and their mix of six- and twelve-string guitars, blend with a wide choice of songs–their originals, traditional songs, and choice compositions of contemporary songwriters.
Bethany Yarrow
Bethany Yarrow sings music of power and of praise. She is a song keeper, an earth activist, and a student of the spiritual traditions of the Americas. Onstage, she is a mesmerizing, dancing spirit with a powerful voice and a living prayer for unity at the heart of her music. “Music and activism have always gone hand in hand in my life,” says Bethany, who devotes much of her time to work addressing the climate crisis and land & water protection, and to building collaborative solutions to the existential threats of our time. bethanyyarrow.com
Bing Futch
Using Appalachian mountain dulcimer, Native American flute, ukulele, and a board full of stomp-boxes, Bing Futch celebrates traditional and modern Americana music with passion, humor, and boundless energy. Known for his musical shape-shifting, Bing switches the channels on style and tone with every new song, from his roots-rock and blues originals to The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Disney covers. bingfutch.com
Jamcrackers
Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn, and Dan Duggan have combined talents to create Jamcrackers, named in honor of the river drivers who broke up log jams. Those drivers worked hard to find solutions, to get things rolling again, and they couldn’t do the job alone. These three feel the same way about their music. With guitars and dulcimer (and other instruments), the trio showcases unique arrangements and striking harmonies as they present a diverse blend of folk and blues, ballads, gospel, and dance tunes.
La Croisee D’Antan
La Croisée D’Antan is a traditional group from the province of Quebec that is a sure carrier of their heritage. The power trio impresses with its strong stage presence and its dynamic arrangements. The mates? David Lefrançois on harmonica and accordion; Jordan Bélanger on fiddle and banjo; Samuel Royer-Legault on guitar andbanjo; all three on podorhythmie (they’re Québécois!) and voice.
Magpie
For more than forty years, Magpie has brought its unique sound and breathtaking versatility to audiences everywhere. From traditional songs to vintage blues, from swing and country to folk classics to contemporary and stirring original compositions, they cover a lot of musical ground. They bring to the stage powerful voices and harmonies and excellent instrumental arrangements on guitars, mandolin, harmonica, dulcimer, and concertina. Songwriters, musical historians, and social activists, Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner promise a presentation that is highly entertaining as well as provocative and deeply moving.