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June 2021
Of Hard Times and Harmony with Windborne
Windborne is a group of vocal chameleons who specialize in close harmony singing, shifting effortlessly between drastically different styles of traditional music within the same concert. Their musical knowledge spans many continents and cultures, but they remain deeply rooted in American folk-singing traditions. Lynn Mahoney Rowan, Will Thomas Rowan, Lauren Breunig, and Jeremy Carter-Gordon share a vibrant energy onstage— their connection to each other and to the music is clearly evident. They educate as they entertain, telling stories about the music and explaining the characteristics and stylistic elements of the traditions in which they sing.
Newfoundland with Matthew Byrne
With parents who were both singers and song collectors and a strong family focus on sharing songs, Matthew Byrne has inherited a unique repertoire as well as a fascination with unearthing and reimagining traditional songs. But Byrne is also a student of history whose love of traditional music goes well beyond the words and music. For him, songs are ways of understanding people before him—their lives, work, language, and worldview.
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
Mountain Dulcimer Workshop with Sally Rogers & Claudia Schmidt
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.
https://www.claudiaschmidt.com
Afternoon Waltz with Toss the Possum
Toss the Possum has been playing contra dances as a family band since 2004. The current lineup is Laura on keyboard and Rob on fiddle, percussion, and vocals. They play with high energy and a big sound, but also create lyrical magic on smooth sets. Their goal is to give the dancers the best experience possible. You might hear some fun rock-n-roll inserts as well as a number of original waltzes. You will enjoy a lot of creativity, some humor, and great passion with this band.
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.
Appalachian Songs with Sam Gleaves & Deborah Payne
Singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Sam Gleaves is rooted in Appalachian sounds, while his original songs tell stories about love, the home place, working people, and current social issues in the mountains. His performances combine traditional Appalachian ballads, dance tunes, original songs, and the stories that surround the music. He’ll perform with Deborah Payne.
African Drum Circle with John Dickson
John Dickson of Gomni believes that African drumming is the pulse of the heartbeat. It is the African Cultural way of communication or celebration in symbolizing a sad or joyous occasion. John teaches basic fundamentals of African drumming for all ages and enjoys teaching youth.
https://www.alignable.com/ballston-spa-ny/gomni-african-drumming-john-m-dickson
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.