Folk Alley: Live From Folk Alley

Punch Brothers

Former Nickel Creeker and mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile has reinvented himself and his sound with the help of some like-minded, instrument-toting pals. The boys of the Punch Brothers backed Thile on his most recent solo album, and have together released an album of their own, Punch. Thile and his Punch Brothers wowed folks with everything from Bach to Radiohead at the Kent Stage in April 2008.

Bill Evans' Soulgrass

Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist Bill Evans has gone out of his way to explore new musical connections in his 20 years as a solo artist. His latest experiment is Soulgrass, coming the improvisational rhythms of jazz and bluegrass. In January 2008, Evans was joined at the Kent Stage by Newgrass king Sam Bush and a band of virtuosic musicians to create an energy-rich sound that brought the audience to its feet.

The Infamous Stringdusters

The future of bluegrass was on stage as The Infamous Stringdusters visited the Happy Days Lodge for a concert in January, 2008. A group of talented solo artists who have backed many of the best in the music business, the 2008 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Emerging Artist of the Year joins together top individuals to form one of the fastest-rising groups in roots music.

Malinky

Most of the Folk Alley staff followed a day-long planning retreat with a trip to Happy Days Lodge (formerly visitors center) for a rollicking concert by Scottish trad-band Malinky. The talented quintet offered up a variety of reels, jigs, murder ballads - along with some unexpected choices for the Celtic-centered ensemble - recorded live on Jan. 18, 2008.

Elana James

Even though they were nearly late for their own concert and the upright bass went missing, fiddler Elana James presented a stellar evening of jazzy western swing at Happy Days Visitor Center in Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Peninsula, Ohio on October 19, 2007. Joined by her Hot Club of Cowtown co-founder, Whit Smith, on guitar and bass-master Beau Sample, James brought the audience to its feet with an energetic collection of tunes that could have stepped right out of a '30s Paris jazz club.

Arlo Guthrie

Arlo Guthrie has been a staple on the touring circle since he first hit the road in the late '60s behind his debut release Alice's Restaurant, an album so unusual (with one side taken up with the title song/monologue) that it's extremely unlikely it would find a distributor today. Although it could be said that Guthrie followed in the footsteps of his father, folk revival legend Woody Guthrie, his career and his original music have been undeniably his own. After recent tours accompanied by his musical children (including daughter Sarah Lee and her husband Johnny Irion), Guthrie came alone to Cain Park's Evans Amphitheatre in near-by Cleveland Heights, Ohio on July 21, 2007, as part of his "Summer Solo Reunion Tour."

Nickel Creek

Mandolinist Chris Thile, fiddler Sara Watkins and her brother, guitar player Sean Watkins formed the California-based bluegrass band Nickel Creek while they were still pre-teens. As they toured and recorded hit CDs, their fanbase increased even as the band's sound grew more experimental and diverse. When they announced the imminent break-up of the band, it did not come as a total surprise - each of the group's members had been working on other projects as solo artists and with other ensembles for some time. Nickel Creek's stop at Cain Park's Evans Amphitheatre on July 18, 2007 as part of their extended "Farewell For Now" tour was a high-energy performance for a sold-out, enthusiastic audience. Frequent collaborator Glen Phillips (formerly of Toad the Wet Sprocket) joined them onstage.

The Duhks

Even though they only have recorded a handful of albums, the Duhks are one of the most notable young groups on the North American roots music scene. With a mix of influences - including bluegrass, French language Quebecoise, Celtic, Brazilian and folk - banjo-playing bandleader Leonard Podolak and his fellow Canadians have already caught the attention of U.S. audiences, earning a Grammy nomination in 2006. Podolak is joined by Jordan McConnell on guitar, Tania Elizabeth on fiddle, Scott Senior on a variety of percussion, and newcomer Sarah Dugas on vocals. The Duhks stopped by the Kent Stage in Kent, Ohio on Sept. 7, 2007 early in a U.S. tour.

John Cowan Band

John Cowan is a musician who thrives on innovation. As one quarter - along with Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, and Pat Flynn - of the groundbreaking New Grass Revival, Cowan reinterpreted and reinvigorated traditional American music. Not only did New Grass give bluegrass a new spin for another generation, they turned attention back to the originals, guaranteeing that the grass would keep on growing. Cowan came to Northeast Ohio's Kent Stage on July 6 with his new bandmates (Jeff Autry-guitar, Shad Cobb-fiddle and Tony Wray-banjo) in support of their recent release, New Tattoo.

Carrie Rodriguez

Singer/Songwriter/Fiddler Carrie Rodriguez lived the country music version of the Hollywood story - she was "discovered" while backing up a local band in a record store in her home town. Of course, it didn't hurt that her home town was Austin, Texas and that she is extremely talented. After her break-out collaboration with veteran songwriter Chip Taylor, Rodriguez is touring with her own trio. Her concert at the Kent Stage with opener Tim Easton was recorded live on June 22, 2007.

The Greencards

Although it sounds like the start of a joke, when two Aussies and a Brit went into an Austin recording studio, what emerged was a first-class bluegrass trio. Eamon McLoughlin, Kym Warner and Carol Young had been raised on country sounds in far away lands and it took a chance meeting in of one of America's musical capitols for alchemy to happen. In four short years, the band has gone from playing in bars and on street corners to opening for legends like Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. Listen to The Greencards perform live at Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom in a concert recorded May 4, 2007.

Antje Duvekot

Antje Duvekot is a soulful singer/songwriter who found a way to express her emotions through songs that are powerful and engaging. Already drawing attention from the generation of artists that inspired her (including John Gorka, Ellis Paul and Solas' Seamus Egan), Duvekot continues to capture new fans with her depth of talent and personal observations. Listen to Duvekot perform her work in a concert recorded live on March 28, 2007 at Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom.

Robin & Linda Williams

Long before the word “Americana” was dubbed, Robin & Linda William were creating and performing their own “robust blend of bluegrass, folk, old-time and acoustic country that combines wryly observant lyrics with a wide-ranging melodicism." After hearing the duo perform live, it’s no mystery to why they’ve become a favorite guest on Garrison Keillor’s weekly radio show, "A Prairie Home Companion." Listen to Red House Record’s recording artists, Robin & Linda Williams and Their Fine Group from their concert performed at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio.

Eric Bibb

Eric Bibb is the product of a musician and an educator so it's only natural that his life's work has taken both roads, building a name for himself as a talented blues singer/songwriter/guitarist and as an artist who understands the role social history plays in the music. While on tour in support of his critically praised CD Diamond Days, Bibb performed as part of the Heritage Series at Happy Days Visitor Center in Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Peninsula, Ohio.

Iris Dement

Experiencing Singer/songwriter Iris DeMent live on stage is something like seeing a shooting star - it's rare and delightful. DeMent's Arkansas-born voice is distinctive and has spurred fanatical devotion among her many fans - folk lovers drawn both to artist and her songs, which are not at all afraid to take a political or social stand. In January 2007, she visited Northeast Ohio, touring with members of John Prine's band as able back-up (DeMent, who didn't start writing songs until she was 25, collaborated with Prine on 1999's "In Spite of Ourselves") for a performance at Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom.

Abigail Washburn's Sparrow Quartet

The Sparrow Quartet is a band formed more around an ideal than a style of music. Uncle Earl member Abigail Washburn gathered three gifted performers and took them to Asia for a cultural get-together. The four met and played with Chinese musicians – offering banjo licks for traditional tunes from literally halfway 'round the world. Washburn and her trad music posse – Bela Fleck on banjo, Casey Driessen on fiddle and Ben Sollee on cello – had only just returned from their voyage of discovery when they took the stage at the Kent State University Ballroom as part of the 40th Kent State Folk Festival.

Vienna Teng

Vienna Teng is an unusual folk performer, mostly because she rarely plays an instrument she's familiar with. On the road, pianist Teng takes a seat behind the best a venue can manage. Not that it matters – the beauty of her songs (performed with back-up violin and cello, how many folk artists can say that?), with soaring lyrics and soulful melodies, made her debut album, Waking Hour an instant hit. She's an artist you may not have heard of, but once you take a chance, you'll just want more. Listen to her performance at Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom and judge for yourself.

Wildflower! Festival

In performances recorded live at the 2006 Wildflower! arts & music festival in Richardson, Texas, Albert & Gage, Sara Hickman, Slaid Cleaves and Ruthie Foster prove that everything really is bigger in Texas, including the musical talent.

Ditty Bops

When Abby and Amanda formed the Ditty Bops, they merged together a theatrical sensibility with a love for music from the '20s and '30s – and new, quirky music that only sounds like it was born on the Vaudeville stage. In summer 2006, the ladies grew bored of California, grabbed some power bars and spandex shorts and made off for the East Coast by bicycle. Listen to their performance at the Beachland Ballroom, the Ditty Bops' Bicycle Tour stop in Cleveland. The standing-room-only crowd was treated to dancing skeletons, one confused young man and a number performed entirely on helium.

The Wailin' Jennys

When The Wailin' Jennys brought together three solo singer/songwriters, their limited series of performances turned into a JUNO Award-winning career change. Now Canadians Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta and recently added Annabelle Chvostek are touring America, where their rich vocal harmonies have made them favorites with audiences, critics and Garrison Keillor, who has featured them on A Prairie Home Companion numerous times. Listen to their performance live from the Evans Amphitheatre in Cain Park, deep in the heart of Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Kasey Chambers

When Kasey Chambers was still an infant, her parents bundled her and her bother Nash up and headed out to the Australian wilderness. The close-knit clan often harmonized together by singing campsongs around the fire and as Kasey reached into her teens, she began testing the boundaries of being one of the most recognizable female country singers. Since the release of The Captain in 1999, Chambers has risen to the top of the Australian country music charts and made serious inroads into the North American market. Listen to Kasey Chambers live, recorded at Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom.

Rodney Crowell

Although for many Rodney Crowell may be known as just one of the many male singer/songwriters to define the "new country" genre, Crowell's desires have always leaned more towards his songwriting than his performing. Hear singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell sing real stories of hard living and getting by live at the Kent Stage.

Darol Anger

Fiddler Darol Anger first burst onto the tradition-centered music scene when he joined the David Grisman Quintet in the mid-'70s. This Live from Folk Alley features Anger, pioneering folk guitarist Scott Nygaard and Tristan Clarridge on cello, who are joined by guest fiddler Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek for an hour that stretches the bounds of string music.

Richard Shindell

An expatriate New Yorker now living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Richard Shindell is a meticulous craftsman of song whose five studio albums and one live recording have been revered by critics and fans alike. Innovative, original and occasionally spiritual, Shindell's songs weave tales that interchangeably champion the downtrodden, exalt the disaffected or wax empathetic to those lost to society's fringes. From his first record, Sparrow's Point (1992) to the newest album Vuelta (2004), Shindell has demonstrated a penchant for songwriting at once passionate and profound. His songs are often slowly and painstakingly crafted until honed to perfection. Conversely, he is also capable of writing tunes that are simply clever and amusing.

Tim O'Brien

Listen on-demand to Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and confessed song sponge, Tim O'Brien - Live From Folk Alley - recorded direct from the Kent Stage in Kent, Ohio on April 8th, 2006.

Solas

Since the band's birth in 1996, Solas has been loudly proclaimed the most popular, influential and exciting Celtic band to ever emerge from the United States. Even before the release of their self-titled debut The Boston Herald trumpeted Solas as "the first truly great Irish band to arise from America." The Irish Echo ranked Solas among "the most exciting bands anywhere in the world." Since its inception the band has continually pushed the envelope and charted new territory for Celtic music and wholly established themselves as the most pioneering Celtic band of their time. And in the past ten years their infectious energy and sound has caught the attention of listeners and fans worldwide.

Old School Freight Train

For everyone who thinks that young people aren't involved in the folk scene, Folk Alley presented Old School Freight Train, Live from Folk Alley, on Saturday, Feb. 18. Using bluegrass instrumentation, OSFT takes the best from folk, traditional, rock, pop and jazz to create an award-winning sound that is uniquely theirs. "Discovered" by David Grisman, OSFT's latest CD, Run, was recorded in Grisman's Dawg Studios for his Acoustic Disc label. Live from Folk Alley with Old School Freight Train was broadcast direct from Happy Days Visitor Center in Northeast Ohio's scenic Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

A Nod to Bob

When Red House Records founder Bob Feldman died unexpectedly in January, the folk music community lost one of its most ardent supporters. In honor of Bob's legacy, a number of artists will gather in Austin during the Folk Alliance conference with A Nod to Bob, a tribute to his lasting efforts to promote folk. Participating artists include Eliza Gilkyson, Jimmy LaFave, Lynn Miles, Rosalie Sorrels, Eric Peltoniemi and others.

Folk Alley presented "A Nod to Bob" live on Sunday, Febuary 12th. Click here to listen.

Guy Davis & Ann Rabson

Folk Alley presents a night of the blues with Guy Davis & Ann Rabson, recorded live from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Happy Day’s Visitors Center in Peninsula, Ohio.

John Gorka & David Francey

Listen to singer/songwriters David Francey and John Gorka direct from the Kent Stage in Kent, Ohio on the first night of the 39th Kent State Folk Festival. Opener Francey is a Scottish-born Canadian who writes songs that reach right down and grab the human experience. Headliner Gorka is one of America’s most-loved folk musicians who has made his reputation by honing the Philadelphia/Boston sound.

Eliza Gilkyson

Hosted by our very own Jim Blum - Live from Folk Alley presents Red House Records recording artist Eliza Gilkyson, recorded Tuesday, September 20th at Cleveland's home for folk and roots music, the Beachland Ballroom.

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