[NEohioPAL] Long Road & Kent State Folk Festival

Thu Nov 1 10:13:34 PDT 2007

10/31/07
News from The Kent Stage
  330-677-5005
  www.kentstage.org

  Update
  Long Road Nov. 4
  41st Kent State Folk Festival Nov. 8-16

    LONG ROAD
CAN’T HELP BUT WONDER WHERE I’M BOUND:
A 1967 COFFEEHOUSE CONCERT 
  Saturday, November 3 -- 8:00 PM
  Long Road is: David Budin, Julia Mell, Kevin Richards, Ray DeForest and Bob Sandham. Julia and David handle most of the singing, with Bob joining in on harmony. The group produces some amazing three-guitar arrangements, grounded by Ray’s acoustic bass, with Kevin trading the guitar for mandolin on many songs. 
  In the middle and late 1960s, you could go to any folk club or coffeehouse in the country and hear performers singing all the same songs – songs by Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, Tim Hardin, Eric Andersen, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Leonard Cohen, Tim Buckley, Bob Gibson and others. 
  But, for the most part, this music has not been played since around 1970 – partly because, as a result of this original singer-songwriter movement, most performers began writing their own songs, and also because new genres took over, including folk-rock, psychedelic rock, electric blues, and others. 
  So there are dozens of wonderful songs that are not being played anymore. In this concert, Long Road performs the best of those late-‘60s songs, played with all acoustic instruments. There’s nothing you’ll hear that you would have heard after 1967. And David, who is also a former comedian, provides lots of humor, along with some historical perspective on the music and the times.
  Advance discount tickets: $10.00
Day of Show: $12.00

_______________________________________________________________________________
            MELANIE with
STEVE FORBERT 
  Thursday, November 8 -- 8:00 PM
  With guitar in hand and a talent that combined amazing vocal equipment, disarming humor, and a vibrant engagement with life, she was booked as the first solo pop/rock artist ever to appear at Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera House, the Sydney Opera House, and in the General Assembly of the United Nations, where delegates greeted her performances with standing ovations. The top television hosts of the time -- Ed Sullivan, Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett -- battled to book her. (After her stunning performance on his show, Sullivan goggled that he had not seen such a "dedicated and responsive audience since Elvis Presley.") 
  Accolades rolled in, from critics ("Melanie's cult has long been famous, but it's a cult that's responding to something genuine and powerful -- which is maybe another way of saying that this writer counts himself as part of the cult too," wrote John Rockwell in The New York Times) as well as peers ("Melanie," insisted jazz piano virtuoso Roger Kellaway, "is extraordinary to the point that she could be sitting in front of us in this room and sing something like 'Momma Momma' right to us, and it would just go right through your entire being.") 
  In the years that followed Melanie continued to record, continued to tour. UNICEF made her its spokesperson; Jimi Hendrix's father introduced her to the multitude assembled for the twentieth anniversary of Woodstock. Her records continued to sell -- more than eighty million to date. She's had her songs covered by singers as diverse as Cher, Dolly Parton, and Macy Gray. She's raised a family, won an Emmy, opened a restaurant, written a musical about Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane

  She has, in short, lived a rare life. But all of it was just a prelude to what's about to come.

  Steve Forbert 
Nearly 28 years since breaking into pop consciousness with his second album Jackrabbit Slim and its infectious Top Ten single “Romeo’s Tune,” Steve Forbert remains a master of songs offering clear-eyed insight and plain-spoken, heartfelt eloquence. On his 429 Records/SLG debut, the well-traveled Nashville-based troubadour—who maintains a busy touring schedule of over 100 dates a year — explores his ongoing fascination for Strange Names & New Sensations with characteristic wit, a sense of social consciousness and the ever-present romantic optimism that has endeared him to two generations of folk/rock fans.
  Beyond launching an exciting relationship with a new label, the vibrant collection finds Forbert in the midst of a true career renaissance at the wonderful age of 52—a time in his life he reflects upon wistfully on the sly narrative of the uptempo, horn driven tune “Middle Age.” 

  Tickets: $20.00

---------------------------------
        DAN HICKS and
THE HOT LICKS 
  Friday, November 9 -- 8:00 PM
  Throughout his decades-long career, Dan Hicks stood as one of contemporary music's true eccentrics. While steeped in folk, his acoustic sound knew few musical boundaries, drawing on country, call-and-response vocals, jazz phrasing, and no small amount of humor to create a distinctive, albeit sporadic, body of work which earned him a devoted cult following. Hicks was born December 9, 1941, to a military family then living in Arkansas, and grew up in California, where he was a drummer in a number of high-school bands. He attended college in San Francisco, where he switched to guitar and began playing folk music. He returned to the drums, however, when he joined the Charlatans, one of the Bay City's first psychedelic bands. Although the Charlatans were short-lived -- they issued only one single during their existence -- they proved influential throughout the San Francisco musical community and were one of the first acts to play the legendary Family Dog. Hicks had formed the
 acoustic group Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks in 1968 as an opener for the Charlatans, but soon the new band became his primary project. After adding a pair of female backing vocalists -- "the Lickettes" -- the group issued its debut LP, Original Recordings, in 1969. After a pair of 1971 records, Where's the Money? and Striking It Rich, they issued 1973's Last Train to Hicksville, which proved to be the Hot Licks' most successful album yet. At the peak of the group's popularity, however, Hicks dissolved the band and did not resurface until 1978, releasing the solo LP It Happened One Bite, the soundtrack to an uncompleted feature by animator Ralph Bakshi. He then phased in and out of the music industry for more than a decade and did not issue another major recording until 1994's Shootin' Straight, a live recording cut with a new band, the Acoustic Warriors. In 2000, over two decades after the group's dissolution, Hicks re-formed the Hot Licks and issued Beatin' the Heat. Alive
 and Lickin' arrived a year later.
  Dan's irresistible sense of rhythm, hip lyrical styling, laid-back vocalizing, and infamous on-stage wit will make most who listen fans for life. He's a snappy dresser, too.

  Tickets: $20.00

---------------------------------
        MOUNTAIN HEART and TIM O’BRIEN 
  Sunday, November 11 -- 7:00 PM
  Mountain Heart is the band that has been fearlessly revolutionizing the way acoustic music can be presented and played. Widely known throughout the music industry for constantly redefining the cutting edge, the band has gained legions of fans both as a result of their superlative musicianship, and more notably, their incomparably exciting live performances. Mountain Heart's name has been synonymous with cutting-edge excellence since their creation in 1998. As one of the most highly awarded ensembles ever assembled, Mountain Heart, or members of the band, have won numerous Grammys, ACM, CMA, and IBMA Awards. They have appeared on the revered stage of the Grand Ole Opry in excess of 100 times and have shared the stage with everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Montgomery Gentry, Merle Haggard, and Brad Paisley, to Alison Krauss, Yonder Mountain Stringband, LeAnn Rimes, and Patty Loveless.
  Now, with the introduction of their phenomenally talented young lead singer, the band is poised to take their success to an even higher level. As the group leading the charge in taking acoustic music to the masses, Mountain Heart deftly combines elements of rock, jamband, blues, jazz, and bluegrass into a high-energy sound that is at once fresh, accessible, and unmistakeable. 

  Born in March, 1954, in Wheeling, West Virginia, Tim O'Brien grew up listening to big band and jazz music. His earliest musical memories included listening to Benny Goodman and Lawrence Welk.
  When still in his teens, he started listening to a local country music show that was recorded live at a local theater. He began attending tapings of the show, and there he saw performers liks Merle Haggard and Roger Miller. Soon, O'Brien began learning Scruggs' Style banjo from one of his girlfriend's psychiatrist father's patients. The patient was Roger Bland, a former member of Lester Flatt's band.
  He then restrung his father's old mandolin and began teaching himself how to play that instrument.
  He attended Colby College in Maine for one year, before moving first to Wyoming, then to Colorado. There, he formed the groundbreaking bluegrass group Hot Rize. While performing with Hot Rize, O'Brien met country singer Kathy Mattea, who later had hits with her versions of his songs.
  Soon after, O'Brien left Hot Rize to pursue a career as a solo singer/songwriter. After a failed attempt at recording an album for RCA, O'Brien eventually signed a deal with Sugar Hill Records in Nashville. His debut solo album, Odd Man was released in 1991.
  Hot Rize had a brief reunion in 1996, and have re-merged a few times since then. O'Brien has released 13 albums on Sugar Hill Records, and has received Grammy Awards and IBMA Awards for his incredible work.
  Tim has been nominated for 2007 IBMA Vocalist of the Year!

  Tickets: $18.00

---------------------------------
        HONKY TONK NIGHT
Hank Williams Style
"Wayne the Train" Hancock and Joey Allcorn — with special guest Don Helms from Hank's original
  band 

  Wednesday, November 14 -- 8:00 PM

  Wayne Hancock has been called "The King of Juke Joint swing," a "Roots Renaissance Man," a "Country Singer's Country Singer" and "Hank Williams meets Gershwin." But the phrase most frequently echoed throughout his career is "Wayne Hancock is the real deal." Joe Ely said it, Hank Williams III said it, Bobby Koefer from the Texas Playboys said it, as have countless music fans and writers when referring to Hancock's authentic and original blend of honky tonk, western swing, blues and big band that he calls "juke joint swing!"
  Authenticity and sincerity have been the cornerstones of Hancock's writing and music since the start of his career. His refusal to compromise his vision and sell out his music has earned him a fiercely loyal underground following.

  In case some of you have not heard the name Joey Allcorn, don't wait another minute to become acquainted with this up-and-coming, extremely talented artist. At 26 years of age, Allcorn has already been recording and playing real country music for eight years. Yes, real country music. If you are looking for the sounds you'll find on today's country radio, don't bother showing up for an Allcorn show. In fact, stay far, far away. This is because he delivers the real thing. His sound reflects country's golden age when steel guitar and fiddle were still the signature sound of the genre, and when the lyrics actually moved its listeners. Allcorn does not sing soccer-mom fluff&ldots; he does those old school cheatin-heart-honky-tonk-blues for fans that long for the real deal. So, even though he dons the cowboy hat and suit garb that Opry stars sported in the 1950s, Allcorn channels his wide variety of musical influences to ensure that his take on the Drifting Cowboys is
 up-to-date and original.
  He has shared the stage with many legendary musicians, including members of Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys, Ernest Tubbs' Texas Troubadours, and Waylon Jennings' Waymore Blues Band.

  Advance discount tickets: $15.00
Day of Show: $20.00

---------------------------------
        JAM BAND NIGHT
Blue Sky Mission Club,
Waterband, and 
People of Earth

  Thursday, November 15 -- 8:00 PM
  This night is all about that simplest of musical impulses: playing music that just makes people love to dance. Blue Sky Mission Club combines soul, country, zydeco and rock traditions with pointed social commentary and jumping-zydeco-pop beats. Their three-part vocal harmonies, combined with powerful lap steel guitar, roaring accordion and old-time fiddle, provide music that shakes, bumps and makes you want to two step all night long.
  Waterband was founded by David McDougald, inspired by a higher calling and deep desire to send sincere positive vibrations into the universe through both expressive musical improvisation and thoughtful musical and lyrical composition. Waterband's form is ever changing, yet ever flowing... Waterband's sonic depth and changing forms allow them to perform as a dynamic acoustic ensemble or as a full-blown electric aural assault! 
  They’re joined by People of Earth, a western Pennsylvania-based quartet that combines creative instrumentation and genre-transcending arrangements and melodies with elements of funk, jazz, disco, bluegrass and improvisation. Their original lyrics are thought-provoking, if you can stop dancing that long.
  Tickets: $15.00

---------------------------------
        Folk Alley Around Town night
  Two concerts!
  Dale Glagozy & Woodsy's School of Folk Students (Folk 49)
Friday, November 16 -- 5 to 8PM in the lobby
FREE -- FREE -- FREE 
  __________________________________________________

  STEPPIN' IN IT
Friday, November 16 -- 9:00 PM
  Celebrating American roots music, Steppin' In It is an acoustic quartet with hearts based in tradition and minds ever moving in creative directions. The combination of multi-instrumentalists Andy and Joe Wilson, upright bassist Dominic Suchyta and singer-songwriter Joshua Davis is a rootsy roller coaster ride of original and traditional music. Playing everything from blues to bluegrass, calypso to cajun, woeful waltzes to western swing. Steppin' In It has become one of Michigan's most sought after live acts. This excellent roots oriented Michigan quartet has become a staple of folk societies and festivals, and their acoustic renditions of bluegrass, old-timey country, blues, cajun dance tunes and Texas swing are chock full of poignant work on dobro, harmonica, guitar and fiddle. Their energy level never lacks.
  Tickets: $15.00
_____________________________________________________________

    Upcoming Events

  London Wainwright III with Lucy Roche: Nov 29
  Over The Rhine: Nov 30
  Woodchopper's Ball: Dec 1
  Annie: Dec. 7-9
  A Christmas Carol: Dec 14 & 15
  NYE PARTY: 15/60/75, The Twist-offs, The Bizzaros Dec 31

  The Kent Stage is located at 175 East Main Street in downtown Kent, Ohio.  There is FREE parking behind the theater and on all city streets.  Advance tickets are available at Woodsy's Music and Spin-More Records in Kent, at www.kentstage.org or at 330-677-5005.  Tickets will also be available at the door.  Doors open one hour before concert.  If you have any questions please email us at info at kentstage.org or call 330-677-5005.  For more information: www.kentstage.org.

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