Takoma Park Folk Festival

1999 Performers & Emcees Index

This index is listed alphabetically by first word in a group's name, by last name of an individual performer, or by last name of the first person listed in a duo/trio. (Please note that all information listed below was current at the time of original publication; phone numbers, emails and the like may have changed since.)

Terri Allard
with Gary Green
Nationally touring singer/songwriter Terri Allard has become a popular performer in the Washington area. Nominee for several Wammie awards, Terri’s music always sparkles—but never more than when she’s with World Champion Harmonica Player and 1997 Wammie award nominee Gary Green. (Booking: 804-823-7726, or email: recklessTA@aol.com.)

Anansegromma
Anansegromma offers an exhilarating and memorable introduction to West African dance, drumming, folk songs, and games. With extensive backgrounds as teachers and performers, Kofi Dennis and Kwame Ansah Brew have developed programs that engage, entertain, and educate. (Bookings through Class Acts, Ilene White, 301-588-7525; email: anansegro@aol.com.)

Nery Arevalo
Nery explores world rhythms and encourages children and adults to "bring your shakers, rattles anddrums and join us in our musical village of sounds, an interactive percussion demonstration!" He will come supplied with congas, djembe, baliphone, native flutes, udu drums—and much more. (Bookings through Class Acts, Ilene White, 301-588-7525.)

Arte Flamenco
Flamenco, an intricate and complex dance, was born of a fusion of many cultures which inhabited the Spanish peninsula for over 1,000 years. Arte Flamenco’s company of dancers, singers, and musicians reflect the way that Flamenco requires unique, individual talents that are melded into a whole display of vibrant, percussive dance and sound. (Booking: 301-617-0694; email: jasdance@gateway.net.)

Balkanto
Music, International Dance Workshop
Balkanto plays music of the peoples of Central Eastern Europe, including Romanian, Hungarian, Romany (Gypsy), South Slavic and Yiddish music and songs. Balkanto members playing today are Craig Packard, Alex Gakner, Tom Armstrong, Larry Robinson, and Larry Hiemenz. They will be playing a variety of instruments including mandolin, bass, cello, and violin. (Booking: 301-656-1365)

BeloSonga
BeloSonga, "Beautiful Dream," is a world village of percussion—nationally-known percussionists led by Nery Arevalo move from one station of drums to another, blending percussive sounds from all over the world. Starting with the rhythm of the heartbeat, they take the audience deep into the heart of percussion. (Bookings through Class Acts, Ilene White, 301-588-7525.)

Bottomland
Bottomland’s drum-driven R&B funk opens the Field Stage with a pulse that’s been called "street and sweet." Take percussionists—Saleem Waters, Anderson Allen, Anton Kellner, Ekendra Das—add vocals and instruments of Amikaeyla Gaston, Matt Jones and Wendy Lanxner, plus Clifton Brockington’s trumpet and Franz Kellner’s ultra funky bass, and you’ve got the joyfull earthy new addition to Takoma’s own diverse music scene. (Booking: Wendy Lanxner 301-587-1198; email: bottomland@hotmail.com; website: www.bottomland.org.)

Dennis and Angela Botzer
Music, Irish Step Dance Workshop
Dennis and Angela Botzer (half of the Band Sodabread) have played together for dances, weddings, and festivals for 19 years. They can be found playing for New England Contra dances around the metropolitan area, hosting the monthly Sunday Irish music session at the Royal Mile Pub in Wheaton, or sitting in on the Monday night session at Nanny O’Brien’s Pub in Washington. (Booking: 301-422-6550)

Linda Brooks and Ross Schipper
Leaders, Scandinavian Dance Workshop
Linda and Ross are the leaders and teachers of Scandia, DC, a Scandinavian dance and music group. They give many workshops throughout the year to bring new dancers to vibrant Scandinavian-style dancing. (Booking: 202-333-2826; email: lbrookslb@aol.com; Web site: www.erols.com/s5261)

Cabaret Sauvignon
Music, Contra Dance Workshop
An eclectic band sure to surprise dancers and listeners, Cabaret Sauvignon creates contradance melodies in styles that range from Brazil to Brahms. Karen Ashbrook (hammered dulcimer and wooden flute), Andrea Hoag (fiddle), and Dave Wiesler (piano and guitar) make up this talented trio. (Booking: 301-565-2777; e-mail: abhoag@aol.com)

Frank Cassel
Frank Cassel performs at festivals during the summer from New York to Georgia. He also performs folk and bluegrass music regularly, weather permitting, at the Takoma Park Farmers’ Market on Sunday mornings. He has just released a new CD, “Banjo Man, for Children of All Ages.” (Booking: 301-933-9190).

Mary Cliff
Mary Cliff produces and hosts the popular Saturday night folk music program, Traditions, broadcast on WETA FM 90.9. The four-hour program is known for celebrating many traditions —traditional folk, revival, singer-songerwriters, ethnic, and world music—while supporting artists and performances in the Washington, DC, area.

Sean Culkin
Leader, Irish Stop Dance Workshop
Sean Culkin is the Director of the Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance. Today, Sean will teach a workshop in Irish Step Dance, concentrating on jig steps. (Booking: 301-593-9600)

Lee Michael Demsey
Lee Michael Demsey has been a part of the D.C. folk and bluegrass scene for more than 20 years, hosting shows on WAMU, WHFS, and WMZQ. Presently, Lee is working for Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and and WAMU, as well as compiling the bluegrass "Top 30" charts for Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine.

Dilletantes
The Dilettantes, a Baltimore trio, play jazz, swing, folk, blues, and rock. Jennifer Agner sings her original songs which reflect nature, work, and relationships as well as affectionate tributes to such icons as Elvis Presley. Eric Agner, raised on punk, soul and rock, accompanies on upright bass. Guitar solos with a strong jazz influence are played by Greg Schlimm. (Booking: 410-889-6482)

El Trio Chontaduro
This folk trio plays South American music from Colombia and neighboring countries on a wide variety of string instruments, including harp, tiple, guitar, cuatro, and bandurria (folk mandolin). Clara Hoyos, Francisco Hoyos, and Ernesto Africano shift easily between the many different rhythmic traditions of the region. (Booking: 301-469-7469; email: eafricano@pol.net.)

Ellen Engle and Marc Shepanek
Leaders, Swing Dance Workshop
Ellen and Marc teach lindy hop, jitterbug, St Louis shag, and Argentine tango at Glen Echo Park and around the area. They have been teaching and performing here for over 10 years. Check out their dance instructional TV show, "Dance Toujour," on Montgomery Cable. (Booking: 301-299-8728; email: flyfeet@erols.com; Web site: www.erols.com/flyfeet)

Frieda Enoch and the Capital Klezmers
Tap your feet to the beat and the uplifting, heartfelt music of the Capital Klezmers. Frieda Enoch (vocals and guitar), Vladimir Gamarnik (violin), Daniel Roses (clarinet and sax), Scott Bradley (trumpet), Mira Yemini (accordion), and Bart Weissman (drums) bring songs that echo the weddings and celebrations of Eastern European Jewish life and the Yiddish theater. (Booking: 301-279-8929.)

Erinhead
This group of teenage Irish musicians is already going places—Potomac Celtic Festival, the Common Ground Festival, Ireland’s Four Provinces, and the White House on St. Patrick’s Day. Arjuna Balaranjan (Irish concert flute and dulcimer), Graham DeZarn (fiddle and bodhran), Sean McComiskey (button accordion), Jeremy Bass (guitar), and Bridget Highet (piano and harp) will conjure up Eire in a flash. The group would also like to thank Folk Festival favorite Bill Jenkins for helping them obtain their earliest bookings. (Booking: 301-270-4627)

Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer
After a hiatus of a couple of years, Takoma Park’s own world travelers Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer return to the Festival with their eclectic brand of bluegrass, contemporary folk, Western swing, and traditional string music. They will dazzle you with their wit as well as their expert work on guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and hammered dulcimer. (Booking: 301-891-1228; Web site: www.cathymarcy.com.)

5 Foot 2 Productions
Ever wonder how the animals ended up in the zoo, and what a moose would do if he were in charge? This musical puppet extravaganza created by Johanna Smith and Elena Velasco is a hilarious lesson about the differences between animals, plants, and minerals and what animals need to be safe and healthy in captivity. (Booking: 202-387-5806; email: johanner@earthlink.net)

Free Waltz
One hour of free waltzing for your dancing pleasure by Alan Oresky, Larry Robinson, and Theo Stone. You’ll be surprised at the breadth of music coming from waltzes of many traditions. (Booking: 301-589-3717)

Fritete
Kwame Ansah Brew and Kofi Dennis are the backbone of this 5-member drum ensemble that introduces audiences to the ancient traditional Royal Rythms of West Africa’s Ghana including chants and movements. (Kofi and Kwame will also perform later in the afternoon on the Grassy Nook Stage as Anansegromma.) (Booking: through Class Acts, 301-588-7525)

Steven Gellman
Billboard magazine describes Steven Gellman’s current album, "Photo Book," as "intensely sensitive and impressively intelligent at the same time." Steven’s homespun stories and caring attitude are the perfect way to start your Festival day. Steven’s thoughtfully phrased vocals will be supported by Doris Justis (harmony vocals) and Norm Thorne (conga drums). (Booking: 301-428-0313; email: hiddenpoet@aol.com; Web site: www.hiddenpoet.com.)

Joe Hickerson
Joe brings an incredibly wide knowledge of folk music and folk styles, built from more than 45 years as a performer. Known as "The Folksinger’s Folksinger," Joe can entertain audiences with a repertoire of occupational and labor songs, children’s songs, parodies, Irish-American songs, sea songs, and chorus songs. Recently retired from the Library of Congress Folk Archive, Joe is truly a national treasury of folk music. (Booking: 301-270-1107; email: jhic@loc.gov.)

Ben Hole
Leader, International Dance Workshop
Ben Hole has been involved in teaching and participating in Israeli and international folk dancing for over 30 years. He will teach newcomers simple dances from a variety of cultures, including Greek, Polish, Israeli, Yugoslav, and Russian. (Booking: 301-441-8213; email: hol@aol.com)

Hollyfield & Spruill
Lynn Hollyfield and Nina Spruill are known for lush, "sometimes sensuous" harmonies accompanied by crisp guitar, alto flute, and mandolin. Their repertoire ranges from upbeat contemporary originals to traditional blues/folk arrrangements and strong ballads. Their song, "Warm Summer Rain," has been chosen for the OASIS CD sampler. (Booking: 301-292-1139; email: hollyfield@radix.net; Web site: www.hollyfield-spruill.com.)

Loretta Kelley
Music, Scandinavian Dance Workshop
A Takoma Park resident, Loretta Kelley is the premiere American player of the hardingfele (Hardanger fiddle), an instrument unique to Norway. A gifted storyteller as well as musician, Loretta may tell tales about the tunes she performs and also explain the origins and history of this several-hundred-year-old instrument and its unusual, "sympathetic" sound. (Booking: 301-270-4925; email: loretta.kelley@ibm.net)

Cletus Kennelly
Bethesda-based singer/songwriter Cletus Kennelly blends contemporary folk with elements of pop and alternative rock, accompanied by both the power and delicacy of his 12-string guitar. His songs create vivid character portraits. (Booking: 301-654-8820.)

Kids Irish Jam Session
Since January 1998 on the second Monday of every month, kids take over the backroom at Nanny O’Brien’s in Cleveland Park from 7-8:30 p.m. to play Irish music together. Come recreate this happy-go- lucky event in Takoma Park. (Contact Karen Ashbrook at 301-592-0101)

Last Train Home
Last Train Home builds its sound on that All-American image: the locomotive. Eric Brace (vocals and acoustic guitar) leads a talented combo in fast-moving music that explores the roots of many of today’s popular sounds. Alan Brace (harmonica and mandolin), Bill Williams (guitar), Jim Carson Gray (bass), Martin Lynds (drums and more), and Alan Enderson (keyboards) will generate lots of action to close out the day at the Field Stage. (Booking: 703-812-8326; Web site: www.lasttrainhome.com.)

Laya
Laya, which means "heritage" in the languages of indigenous peoples of Bolivia, combines traditional instruments and modern percussion to create a new sound with genuine roots. The trio (Franco Arteaga, Angel Penaranda, and Rene Quisbert) often perform on the street, where they feel they "can form more personal relationships with their audience." (Booking: 703-933-0493; email: laya.bolivia@mindspring.com)

Lea
Lea’s muse must have visited with Tracy Chapman. At 21, she is one of Montgomery College’s brightest lights in music and drama, and credits her uncle, the late "Chip" Jones, for her foundation in soul, R&B, and gospel. (Booking: 301-384-1761; email: solidmuse2@aol.com)

Liz Lerman’s Dance Exchange: Teen Initiative
Liz Lerman’s teen troup will perform its original dance work, "In Praise of Young People and What They Have to Say," reflecting their budding artistic talents and self-understanding. Lerman’s Dance Exchange was recently chosen to represent Maryland at the national Continental Harmony project celebrating performing arts in the year 2000. The Teen Initiative is open to young people ages 13 to 17. (Contact: 301-270-0516; Web site: www.danceexchange.org.)

Lena & Sanford Markley
With their debut album earlier this year, "Shadows on the Light," Lena and Sanford Markley press the case for more peace, love, and understanding in the world. Their serious, politically passionate lyrics are illuminated by tight harmonies. (Booking: 301-933-3359; email: sanford@boo.net; Web site: www.lena-and-sanford.com.)

Vicki Moss
Leader, Cajun Dance Workshop
Vicki Moss has taught Cajun and Zydeco dance, clogging, and tap at festivals, camps, and studios for nearly 20 years.

The Nicolo Whimsey Show
Providing a glimpse back to the days of traveling minstrels, Nick Newlin and Joanne Flynn present an engaging Renassance-style show that combines remarkable (and hilarious) feats of juggling, music, pantomime, poetry, music, character-acting, and creative wordplay. It’s a variety show for all ages. (Booking: 301-888-1281; email: nnewlin@erols.com)

Oklahoma Twisters
Music, Swing Dance Workshop
The Oklahoma Twisters formed in 1995 to bring Western Swing to the Washington area. Their colorful and entertaining performance, professionalism, and joyful music have attracted a large and loyal following. Dancers will enjoy their infectious mix of swing, two-step, waltz, and polkas. The band features fiery fiddle, swinging steel guitar, smooth vocals, and twin fiddle and instrumental harmony arrangements inspired by the Big Band era. (Booking: 703-644-0551; Web site: www.pressroom.com/~okt.)

Bill Parsons
Imagine a train wreck between David Wilcox and Elvis Costello. Or a talk show hosted by Dr. Scott Peck and Bill Maher. You come close to the irreverent spirituality, enlivening metaphor, and blunt illumination that is Bill Parsons. The Folk Festival again welcomes Bill for an hour of his "acoustic music for a post-politically correct world." (Booking: 202-986-2387; email bill@songs.com; Web site: www.songs.com/bill)

Al Petteway & Amy White
Since 1994, this musical partnership has been built on the mandolin- and guitar-playing talents of Amy and the "fingerstyle" guitar playing of Al. Their music ranges from arrangements of Celtic and other traditional tunes to original songs that show pop, classical, and jazz influences. Both Amy and Al have won numerous Wammie awards. (Booking: 303-855-1319; email: music@fairewood.com; Website: www.fairewood.com.)

Ritchie Porter
This actor, storyteller, and physical comedian brings traditional folk tales to life through an original program, titled, "Tales from the Magic Box." Ritchie will introduce your child to "The Frog Prince," "Anansi the Drummer," and the Japanese tale, "The Stonecutter." (Booking: 301-587-1198.)

Tom Prasada-Rao & Family
Since the release of his critically acclaimed debut album, "Incoming," Tom Prasada-Rao has received several Wammies and other awards. He blends his finely crafted lyrics around a unique international sound built on pop melodies with R&B rhythms from Africa, India, and the U.S. We can’t wait to find out who will join Tom on stage to again create a musical and visual extravaganza. (Booking: 301-431-1088, email: ahimsa-tom@juno.com.)

Robert Lighthouse Band
Described by one colleague as "looking like a page out of a blues storybook," Robert Lighthouse is a classic juke-joint guitar bluesman with lightning-quick fingers. His band will get you dancing, even in the September heat! (Booking: 202-328-6243.)

Garth Ross
Garth Ross brings his warm, witty songs to the Festival during the Songwriter Showcase. (Booking: 202-244-5379.)

Robbin Schaffer
Caller, Contra Dance Workshop
A well-known mid-Atlantic contra dance caller, Robbin has served on staff at dance weeks for CDSS (Pinewoods), the Lloyd Shaw Foundation, the Victoria’s Revenge Cape May Weekend, and the American Buffalo weekend at Buffalo Gap. (Booking: 410-466-1195)

Side by Side
with Bill Danoff
Doris Justis (vocals and guitar) and Sean McGhee (vocals and guitar) create the close harmonies of Side by Side. This folk duo will charm you with warm and intimate songs that range from original contemporary sounds to classics from the 1960s. Brought together by the music of John Denver, it’s appropriate that Side by Side will be accompanied at the Folk Festival by Bill Danoff, a long-time performer and supporter of the Festival, as well as a writer of Denver’s hit, "Take Me Home Country Roads." (Booking: 202-686-9210; email: justis@huskynet.com.)

Dick Spottswood
Archivist, producer, radio host, and author, Dick Spottswood can be heard on WAMU on Saturday evenings. He’s an acknowledged national expert on traditional folk music and ethnic music.

Squeeze Bayou
Music, Cajun Dance Workshop
Squeeze Bayou returns to the Festival to display their exciting Cajun dance music. Built on a style popularized in Southwestern Louisiana, Squeeze Bayou blends in country, blues, and Creole. The band includes Kevin Bell (accordion), Karen Collins (fiddle and vocals), Fred Feinstein (guitar), Kevin Enoch (bass), and Wes Crawford (drums). Their recent CD earned a prestigious award from the Cajun French Music Association in Louisiana for best recording by an out-of-state artist. (Booking: 301-270-2586.)

Taylor & Taggart
Taylor and Taggart write and perform original music rooted in the traditions of blues, country, folk, pop, and mountain music. Singer-songwriters Dulcie Taylor and Franklin Taggart are joined for this show by Tony Grasso on mandolin and guitar. (Booking: 301-649-3652; email: frantag@aol.com.)

Tommy Lepson & The Lazy Boys
One of the most popular R&B bands in the Mid-Atlantic, Tommy Lepson & The Lazy Boys bring energy and funk to original tunes and classics from a wide array of national artists. The band excels "live" and has drawn raves for its live album, "Live and Durty," recorded at Bethesda hot-house Durty Nelly’s in 1994. An evening with Tommy Lepson and the Lazy Boys is not for the lazy: dancers will thrill and twirl to original songs, as well as songs from James Brown, John Hiatt, Wilson Pickett, Bonnie Raitt, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. (Booking: 301-864-7910; email:lazyboys@thelazyboys.com; Web site: www.thelazyboys.com)

Sue Trainor
Sue Trainor’s energy and enthusiasm capture kids’ attention—and her down-to-earth approach keeps it. Her first children’s recording, "Under Tables, Out Back Doors," was released this year to accolades such as: "This album is a winner...no one will be able to resist singing along." With Christina Muir and Jennifer Agner, Trainor also comprises Hot Soup, a trio that performs a wide variety of folk and folk-influenced songs. (Booking: 410-268-8232; email: suetrainor@aol.com; Web site: www.hotsouptrio.com/.)

Mary Sue Twohy
A long-time organizer of the Folk Festival, Mary Sue this year steps onto the stage to celebrate her well-regarded debut album, "Training Butterflies." Accompanied by guitarist Frank Taggart, Mary Sue’s lovely voice and uncluttered phrasing will bring out the humor and tenderness in her songs. (Booking: 301-270-6832; email: twohies@aol.com; Web site: www.marysuetwohy.com.)

Venus Rising
Venus Rising shows the strength of diversity, as this trio blends its talents to create lush harmonies, interesting arrangements, and creative instrumentation. The group’s contemporary folk sound is influenced by rock, folk, R&B, pop, and alternative music. Susan Waldrip, Margaret Wolfe, and Nancy Magill won a 1997 Wammie for "Best New Artist" and have released their first album, "Venus Rising." (Booking: 301-593-8053; email: venusrsng@aol.com; Web site: http://members.aol.com/venusrsng.)

Vintage Blend
Using the traditional combination of guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and acoustic bass, Vintage Blend captures the high lonesome sound of traditional bluegrass. Founders Ron Welch and Bill Johnston, Jr., combine with Dave Goldman, Chris Athey, and Kip Martin to create rich vocal harmonies, driving rhythms, and a spontaneous interplay between instruments and vocals. (Booking: 301-460-2634; Web site: www.vintageblend.com)

Yellow River Art Ensemble
The Yellow River Art Ensemble returns to the Festival to perform traditional Chinese dance and folk songs, accompanied by traditional instruments, including the zhang, pipe, and bamboo flute. (Booking: 301-365-7528 or 703-968-7458; email: zhu@digene.com.)