T
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.)
To see our profile
about Mary Sue, click here
V
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)
Y
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.)