Green River Festival, Bap Kenney, Tom Rozum, The Kennedys, Robby Baier
(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., July 16, 1998)
Every year around this time, music festivals proliferate around the
region like weeds in the garden. That's no reflection on their value,
but simply a testament to their persistence and variety.
Like weeds, festivals have their drawbacks. They are subject to the
vagaries of the weather (that can actually be a plus if you wind up
with a gorgeous weekend like last weekend), they offer less-than-ideal
listening environments, and it's easy to succumb to festival overload -
- too much music in too short a time.
But in the end, the pluses far outweigh the minuses. Their obvious
strengths include the chance to sample a host of different acts all at
once and for one ticket price -- a lot less risky a venture than taking
a chance on just one or two headliners. And at least in this
neighborhood, festivals tend to showcase only top-notch performers,
some known, some relatively unknown.
The thrill of discovery is perhaps the greatest aspect of festivals.
Only a few summers ago, for example, Ani DiFranco was just another
folksinger -- not even a headliner -- among the dozens featured at the
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. I hadn't even planned to catch her set.
Fortunately, I chanced upon her performance, and stood transfixed for
45 minutes or so, witnessing something virtually unprecedented. Now, of
course, DiFranco draws more fans to her own concerts at summer sheds
than the entire audience at Falcon Ridge.
That doesn't happen every year at every festival, but here are a few
festivals and performers -- some familiar, some perhaps not -- worth
checking out this weekend:
Keep your eyes and ears out, however, for a couple of country-
oriented singer-songwriters who share producer and label-head Steve
Earle. We've been touting Stockbridge native Cheri Knight since the
winter release of her CD, "The Northeast Kingdom," a haunting work of
multi-textured, folk-rock bliss. When we spoke with Knight a few months
back, she was raving about Bap Kennedy's CD, "Domestic Blues" (E-
Squared). Knight wasn't steering us wrong. "Domestic Blues" introduces
an incredible singer-songwriter. Imagine Bob Dylan coming of age in
Belfast, Northern Ireland, while the Pogues are the reigning band on
the club scene, and then going to Nashville to record with Earle, and
you'll get some approximation of what Kennedy sounds like. He's a
brilliant, twisted, engaging singer and writer, and Earle pairs him
with a top-notch band of Nashville all-stars, including Peter Rowan,
Jerry Douglas, Nanci Griffith and Nancy Blake.
For more info on the Green River Festival, which takes place at
Greenfield Community Colege, call 413- 773-5463, or visit
www.co.franklin.ma.us on the Internet.
Hartland Folk Festival, East Hartland, Conn., Saturday. The annual
Hartland festival is a low-key, small-town, one-day event -- in
contrast with Falcon Ridge, a huge, three-day, camping and dancing
affair that takes place next weekend -- but one that doesn't stint on
talent. This year's event boasts Bill Morrissey, Cheryl Wheeler, Garnet
Rogers, Cormac McCarthy, Eddie From Ohio, Bruce Pratt, Kate McDonnell,
Anni Clark, Jeremy Wallace, Aubrey Atwater and the Strange Rangers.
Those who have been there previously report that the best-kept secret
of the Hartland festival is the annual sale of homemade pies made by
townsfolk. For more info call 860-653-5577, or visit
hartlandfolkfest.com on the Internet.
Winterhawk, Ancramdale, N.Y., Thursday-Sunday. Now in its 16th
summer, the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival is rated one of the top of
its kind in the nation. Boasting children's and workshop stages, a
dance pavilion and a talent search, this summer Winterhawk presents
such legendary and contemporary bluegrass talents as Sam Bush, Del
McCoury, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, Tim
O'Brien, Ralph Stanley, Darol Anger, Tony Trischka, the Fox Family and
Bill Keith.
There'll be lots of fingers flying the whole weekend, but be sure to
check out those on Tom Rozum, who plays mandolin with Laurie Lewis.
Rozum -- who will also perform with Lewis at the Iron Horse in
Northampton next Wednesday, July 22, at 7 -- steps into the spotlight
on his forthcoming solo debut, "Jubilee" (Signature Sounds), on which
his mandolin, guitar and vocal talents are applied to a great selection
of classic bluegrass, old-time and western-swing tunes by the likes of
Merle Haggard, the Louvin Brothers and Bill Monroe alongside some
contemporary tunes.
Call 888-946-8495 for more info, or check out
www.winterhawkbluegrass.com on the Internet.
And keep in mind that next weekend brings the Noppet Hill Bluegrass
Festival to Lanesboro, featuring the Nashville Bluegrass Band and the
Del McCoury Band, and the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, featuring all the
top names in the new-folk world.
Live Kennedys
John and Yoko, Richard and Linda, Dave and Annie, move over. Make
room for Pete and Maura.
The Kennedys -- Pete and Maura Kennedy, that is -- are the latest in
a long, great tradition of husband-and-wife acts.
In this case the duo, both of whom write, play guitar and sing,
marries a classic, '60s-pop approach -- heavily influenced by the three
B's: Buddy (Holly), The Beatles and The Byrds -- to a '90s new-folk
sensibility. They call the result "coffeehouse pop," as apt a name as
any for the intelligent, musically astute songs found on the Kennedy's
two CDs, "River of Fallen Stars" and "Life Is Large." They'll be
playing favorites from those two albums, as well as previewing a few
tracks from their upcoming, all-acoustic, folk-pop CD, "Angel Fire"
(Rounder/Philo), at the Manic Stage in North Adams as part of the Music
on Main Street series this Friday, July 17, at 8.
Also coming to the series are critically-acclaimed songwriters Tom
Kimmel and John Smith, next Wednesday, July 22, at 7.
For more info, call 888-936-4862, or visit members.aol.com/dcnent on
the Internet.
The Berkshire-bred singer-songwriter Robby Baier's new CD, "Soul Tube"
(SoulTube), is a remarkable debut -- a dark, haunting collection of
original, acoustic soul music, as good as anything you're likely to
find on a major label this or any year. Consisting mostly of stark,
introspective ballads and slow, soft rockers, the album is a journey
through a hazy, late night lanscape of addiction, street life and
romantic longing and disappointment, made beautiful through Baier's
gift for melody and his soulful, aching vocals. Just back from a
European tour opening for rock group Creedence Clearwater Revisited,
the former Pearls at Swine leader celebrates the release of his solo
debut this coming Sunday, July 19, at Dream Away Lodge in Becket at
7:30 -- call (413) 623-8725 for more info. You can also catch Baier
soultube.com next Wednesday, July 22, at 6:30, performing with Meg
Hutchinson in the Frank Controy Pavilion at Burbank Park on Lake Onota
in Pittsfield, as part of the Substance Free Concert Series.
Seth Rogovoy rogovoy@berkshire.net music news, interviews, reviews, et al.
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