Flowers Hide the Doc Watson Statue in Boone, NC

Fans show their respect and love for Doc Watson at the Doc Watson Statue in Boone, North Carolina.

Jim Hanft and Samantha Yonack Harmonize in "Run My Love"

Last night we were invited to the IOTA Club  to see Jim Hanft and partner Samantha Yonack open for Hoots & Hellmouth. Hanft is touring in support of his new CD, Weddings or Funerals which we discussed previously here.  This evening, the duo performed several songs from this release which showcases their vocal harmonies. This is what I believe differentiates Hanft from the cadre of other singer songwriters. There are many like him who can write interesting songs and handle the harp\guitar combo - but few supplement with beautiful harmonies - particularly those from Ms. Yonack. Just check out the video below of "Run My Love" to see what I mean. More videos are available at the MyJoogTV YouTube channel. 

Songwriters and Poets converge on the Black Squirrel

Starting last night and throughout June, the Black Squirrel (2427 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, US, 20009) will be hosting a stream of local musicians through the inaugural Songwriters and Poets series.The series includes several popular local artists: Justin Trawick, Ilyaimy, Ken Wenzel, Tiffany Thompson and more...Hope to see you there.

The Concept
Songwriters and Poets intention is to become an annual six week series event to showcase the talents of independent musical and spoken word artists from our region. Much like the highly vaunted SXSW in Austin Texas, it is the goal of this program to develop and expand into a multi-venue event that will attract an audience not only of listeners and tastemakers, but also industry professionals scouting for emerging talent. Each of the artists has demonstrated a dedication to their art that transcends the ordinary and represents diversity in genres from Americana to Folk, Blues, Jazz, Pop, Experimental and Voice. Each headline performer has achieved a level of personal accomplishment defined by their sacrifices, shaped by their performances and established by the support of their audiences. Each supporting artist has demonstrated the dedication to follow in their footsteps.

The Venue
The Black Squirrel has become known as a leader in Craft Beer through its extensive and ever-changing fresh seasonal menu representing artisanal brewers from every corner of the country and world. Two steps below street level in its row home splendor lies a tap room intentionally decorated in street art graffiti with an underutilized sound stage that presents an ideal guerrilla showcase for our first ever event series.

The Schedule
Multi-artist performances will occur on Tuesdays, Thursdays and some Wednesdays during the six week program. Each evening will open at 7pm with two to three supporting artists followed by the headline artist(s) from 9pm to 10:30pm then all artists will once again take the stage together to close out the evening program. All support sets and the final set are free to the public and all headline sets carry a modest $5 advance reserve and $10 at the door entry fee. All audience entry fees inure to the benefit of the artists.

Calendar
Tuesday, May 22
7pm - Emmet Williams No Cover
8pm - Dan Wolff No Cover
9pm – Harris Face $5 Advance $10 Door
10pm - The Parlor Soldiers

Thursday, May 24– Co-Bill
7pm – Bobby Waters No Cover
8pm – Jacqueline Stem $5Advance $10 Door
9pm - Christopher Mac Vittie

Tuesday, May 29 - Co-Bill
7pm – Steve Tibbets No Cover
8pm – Symphonic Refrain $5Advance $10 Door
9pm – Jeremiah “REV” Headen

Thursday, May 31 – Co-Bill
7pm – Mike Burgess No Cover
7:30pm – Paddy Kilrain No Cover
8:30pm – Justin Trawick $5Advance $10 Door
9:30pm – Ilyaimy

Tuesday June 5, 2012
7pm – Damian Anderson No Cover
7:30pm – Steve Rayment No Cover
8:30pm – Misty Boyce $5Advance $10 Door
9:30pm - Nick Africano

Thursday June7, 2012
7pm –  Special Guest  No Cover
8pm – Nikki Smith No Cover
9pm – Silky Dave $5Advance $10 Door

Tuesday, June 12
7pm – Juels Bland No Cover
8pm – Mark G. Meadows w/Stephen Synk No Cover
9pm – Christylez Bacon $5Advance $10 Door

Thursday, June 14
7pm – Tom Dews No Cover
8pm - Gina DeSimone & Pat Quinn No Cover
9pm – Laura Baron $5Advance $10 Door

Tuesday, June 19
7pm – Adrian Krygowski No Cover
7:30pm – Joe Conley No Cover
8pm – Tiffany Thompson $5Advance $10 Door
9pm – Ken Wenzel

Wednesday, June 20
7:30pm – House of Burgess No Cover
8:30pm – Steve Guyger $5Advance $10 Door
                     With Richard Ray Farrell

Thursday, June 21
7pm – Daniella Risman No Cover
7:30pm – Jim Shirey No Cover
8:30pm – Ansel Matthews $5Advance $10 Door
9:30pm – Luke Mitchem “Save Joplin”

Tuesday, June 26
6:45pm – Sarah Kinas No Cover
7:15pm - Benjamin Hofer No Cover
7:45pm – Heather Mae No Cover
8:30pm – Susan Enan $10Advance $15 Door
9:30pm – Andy Zipf

Thursday, June 28
7pm – Jean Bayou No Cover
8pm – The Harley String Band No Cover
9pm – Becky Warren and the Great Unknowns $5Advance $10 Door

Spirit Family Reunion Comes to Vienna

Last night the Spirit Family Reunion brought their old time music and gospel show to Jammin Java in support of their new CD, "No Separation".  It always amazes me when city folk, in this case Brooklyn, can accurately reflect the country porch setting. SFR succeeds brilliantly in this endeavor playing old time instruments, a cappella gospel, or foot stomping bluegrass. This is a fun band to watch. And for those on the East Coast, see if you can catch a show during this tour. We hope to see the band again soon at Floydfest.

Update: Here's the mp3 Spirit Family Reunion's "I Am Following The Sound".

MyJoogTV Artists Descend on Ocracoke Island

On June 2nd, four acts which we recorded through MyJoogTV will be performing at the 2012 Ocrafolk Festival, held in our favorite Outer Banks island - Ocracoke. Our very first MyJoogTV video featured Ocracoke natives Martin Garrish and Lou Castro of Molasses Creek live in concert here. Our friends at
The Steel Wheels have played the festival a couple times and here is the band discussing the festival and their signature brews. Finally, this year marks the first appearance by the Holy Ghost Tent Revival - and in our 2nd episode here, the band discusses touring while drinking some Flying Dog beer.  Here is the schedule for June 2nd. And below are the videos we've mentioned.

Bernie Petteway Trio 9:30 AM	Lizzy Ross Band 11:00 AM
Jacob Johnson 11:30 AM	Beleza Brasil 1:00 PM
Shana Tucker 1:30 PM	Holy Ghost Tent Revival 2:00 PM
Carolina Lightnin' 2:30 PM	The Steel Wheels 3:00 PM
Molasses Creek 5:00 PM	Aaron Caswell Band 9:00 PM
Martin Garrish 10:00 PM

Martin Garrish & Lou Castro in Ocracoke, NC


Episode 2: Holy Ghost Tent Revival at Flying Dog Brewery from MyJoogTV on Vimeo.


Episode 11: The Steel Wheels with Blue Mountain Brewery

The 17th Year of Gathering of the Vibes - 2012

Looking for a reason to visit New England this summer? Then check out the Gathering of the Vibes, the famed music festival running July 19-22nd in Bridgeport, CT. Tickets range from $40-$65 for single day or $205 for an advanced weekend pass.

"Gathering of the Vibes is an annual music, arts and camping festival now in its 17th year. Vibes has grown into a four-day festival that has featured such world-class talent as Crosby, Stills and Nash, all living members of the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers Band, James Brown, the Black Crowes, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Cliff, Primus, George Clinton and P-Funk, Bruce Hornsby, Les Claypool and many, many more big names, while continuing to showcase extraordinarily talented, young, up-and-coming bands to the 15-25 thousand people who attend each year. "

PRIMUS • PHIL LESH & FRIENDS • BOB WEIR & BRUCE HORNSBY
WITH SPECIAL GUEST BRANFORD MARSALIS
STS9 • 7 WALKERS FEATURING BILL KREUTZMANN • MICKEY HART BAND • STRANGEFOLK REUNION
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND • STEEL PULSE • ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA • THE AVETT BROTHERS
THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS • GEORGE PORTER JR. & RUNNIN’ PARDNERS • KELLER WILLIAMS • DARK STAR ORCHESTRA
MATES OF STATE • DEEP BANANA BLACKOUT • ALO • RYAN MONTBLEAU BAND • MAX CREEK • ASSEMBLY OF DUST
ZACH DEPUTY • KUNG FU • JOE PUG • TOUBAB KREWE • OUTERNATIONAL • DAVID GANS • THE MCLOVINS • PAPADOSIO
DANGERMUFFIN & YARN • DOPAPOD • COSMIC JIBAROS • TWIDDLE • BAND TOGETHER • ANDY THE MUSIC MAN • LUCID

Classic Soul from The Right Now

There are time when I receive a music sample, give a listen, and so yea, okay; and then there are times when I receive a music sample, give a listen, and immediately have that Eureka moment. That's what happened when we first listened to Gets Over You from The Right Now.  Classic 70's soul - I'm talking Aretha style - and coming from Chicago - I'm expecting the Blues Brothers to be backing. Then, with the horns, I think I'm in Memphis. Regardless, The Right Now get it done; right now; starting with front women Stefanie Berecz; then guitarists Chris Corsale and Brendan O’Connell (plus keyboard); and finally the rhythm section of Greg Nergaard (bass), John Smillie (drums), Jonathon Edwards (baritone sax), and Jim Schram (tenor sax).

Take a listen to "I Can't Speak For You". Then 'Good Man". Then "Tell Everyone The Truth". Then "'Til It Went Wrong". If you are not hooked, then something's up.  I read that their live shows are unforgettable. Need to take a road trip to the Windy City - following this band this band is on the list. 

Start Planning for Floydfest

Our favorite music festival, Floydfest, has announced its official lineup and along with the inherent beauty of the Blue Ridge parkway, pulls us in again. This year the festival runs July 26-29th and features some incredible headliners: Drive-By Truckers, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Galactic, Leftover Salmon, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Jackson Browne, Toubab Krewe. Add in some of our favorites such as Yarn, Sam Bush, Big Daddy Love, Darrell Scott, Steep Canyon Rangers, Anders Osborne, SOJA, Hoots & Hellmouth, Punch Brothers, Brandi Carlile, American Aquarium, Gary Clark Jr., David Wax Museum, Ha Ha Tonka, Dawes, Sara Watkins, and many, many more. You get the idea. And then there's the Under the Radar lineup with Justin Jones, Farm Vegas, Amber Rubarth, Bryan Elijah Smith & The Wild Hearts, Megan Jean & the KFB, Spirit Family Reunion among many other.

Tickets are extremely reasonable $60 for Sunday, $125 for Sat\Sun, $150 for Fri->Sun, and $175 for the entire four days. There's also two Beer Gardens, which includes Sierra Nevada Brewing Company this year, along with local wineries: Chateau Morrisette & Villa Appalaccia Winery. Floydfest is a party - even for families. My son still talks about his participation a few years ago.