Bands

There's no show like a Jim White show, former comedian, fashion model, boxer, preacher, professional surfer and New York cab driver. His live shows have been described as off-beat, blending his playlist with open discussion with the audience and anecdotes derived from his own life experiences, all of which is typically humorous and insightful. "Jim White's songs are the tales of a man who has turned his life into a story and who's life has risen to the challenge." GQ Magazine.

 ***** The Guardian, The Independent, Evening Star, What's On.**** Uncut, Mojo.

The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band is a 3-piece American roots blues band, playing original music in the style of rural blues musicians of the 1920s and 1930s.

Rev. Peyton and his Big Damn Band - which also features his wife, Washboard Breezy, and brother Jayme, on kick and snare drums - were plowing through a set at a gig in Colorado one night when the fervor created by Peyton's frenzied fingers, his wife's work on the washboard, and his little brother's bare-bone drumming had the room in a steady boil. For a woman near the stage, confined to a wheelchair, it was all she needed to hear. She got up." - Frank De Blase, Rochester City Newspaper.

"Chock-full of pure energy, Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band is vintage blues with a shot of dance music on steroids thrown in for good measure. Put it this way: if the Reverend's playing and your feet aren't shuffling around you better check your pulse." Jambase USA

Former guitarist with Sarah McLachlan and Juno award winner in Canada, Luke Doucet released his second album with The White Falcon in 2008. "Doucet is a terrific guitarist, as fluid and as melodic as Mark Knopfler back in the day; but he’s a proper songwriter, too." Nick Hornby

"Evocative and quite fearless guitar work that makes this album a country rock marvel. Four Stars." -- Toronto Star

Caroline Herring took a break from her music career to raise a family, but returned with an acclaimed new album, Lantana", in 2008. 

"When a release gets this good, words have a tendency to become superfluous. Herring's antecedents lie in bluegrass, and her vision has been termed American Gothic but neither term gives her what she's due. She's a songwriter par excellence. Lantana is forty minutes, (too damn short by half!), of unadulterated listening pleasure.

***** Freight Train Boogie

In 2007 Peter joined Danish experimental rock group Efterklang as its violinist. Earlier this year, he released his gorgeous, full-length debut, Float, comprised of string and piano compositions. But his new sophomore album, Home, takes Broderick's music in a new direction. He's given up the piano and violin on Float for soothing acoustic guitar and ethereal folk melodies.

"This is a magical album. All we have here is voice and guitar. Hearing Broderick sing and play guitar is like hearing Mark Kozelek: everything is so powerful, so artfully placed, so right, you can’t imagine where a drumbeat, say, or a bass line could possibly go. We stumble on moments that recall the magnificence of Simon & Garfunkel at their peak (Below It; With the Notes in My Ears)." 5 Stars Sunday Times.

Some people refer to Otis as a folk artist, but that is a simplistic way to describe a man who has planted over 7,000 trees, slept in hobo jungles, walked with nomadic shepherds in the Carpathian Mountains and has an FBI file. Otis has played everywhere from labor rallies in Wisconsin, to anti-war protests in Texas, Austria and the Czech Republic. Much of his work concentrates on the world that is ignored by pop culture. Otis has spent the last fifteen years traveling across America and abroad documenting this world, and has a story to share about each stop along the way.

"Gibbs is a Midwesterner with a long beard, a trucker's hat and and a bag of sharply observed country-rock songs, some far enough to the left side of the political fence to make him a spiritual descendent of Woody Guthrie and brother of Steve Earle." -Larry Katz, THE BOSTON HERALD

To The Hillbilly Casino there are the obvious masters, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Brian Setzer/Stray Cats, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins. Yet don't be surprised to hear some Social Distortion, Ramones, Hank Williams, Black Sabbath, George Jones, Jason and the Scorchers and Cheap Trick thrown in for good measure. The band consists of singer Nic Roulette (Blue Moon Boys), bassist Geoff Firebaugh (BR5-49), guitarist Ronnie Crutcher (Tobasko Kat, Brian Setzer's Nashvillians) and drummer Andrew Dickson.

Described as sounding like a car crash between Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. The 'Revue play supercharged rock'n'roll. The Jim Jones Revue strip rock'n'roll back to its essential elements and their debut album is a celebration of no holds barred full on rocking.
"If Little Richard had written this, he'd still be boasting about it today." Four Stars, MOJO Magazine.

Liz Durrett  is a gifted singer-songwriter with an unforgettable voice. This year, she released her third and most fully realized solo album to date: Outside Our Gates, a searing but gorgeous collection of spare, Southern Gothic folk songs about tortured dreams, loss and longing. It's the singer's most upbeat, hopeful and ambitious album so far.


"Durrett produces a unique blend of 1970s-inspired folk-rock with psychedelic overtones that makes for a very compelling listen indeed." Americana UK 8 out of 10

This is a lady with a sound which is actually quite diverse. She has stories to tell and messages to get across, and often that is accomplished in darker tones. Yes there are pop overtones, you can also hear elements of country, blues and even a hint or two of jazz. although lyrically it is more akin to cutting-edge folk.

The Pilgrim Sisters play the songs of Stanley Brothers, Louvin Brothers, Delmore Brothers, Patsy Cline, Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Johnny Cash as well as a sprinkling of original songs. Their new album, "Mountain Behaviour" was produced by Ray Davies. Pilgrim Sisters are twin sisters Karin Forsman and Maria Forsman Larsson on vocals, backed up by Marcus Svensson (dobro, slide guitar, fingerpicking guitar & harmony vocals) and Peter Gran (mandolin, banjo, flatpicking guitar & harmony vocals)

The Jack Grace Band, from New York, is Martini Country: honky tonk with an urban, moody edge -- a blend of Johnny Cash, Tom Waits and chicken piccata. Led by the aforementioned Jack "Martini Cowboy" Grace, the music has been touted by many scribes as "gritty, down home country the way it should be" and so authentically urban country "you can practically taste the whiskey dripping off the songs."His album, The Martini Cowboy, is a paean to the romance of urban country, with taxis, carriage rides through Central Park and pretty young ladies to win and lose.

www.myspace.com/jackgraceband

www.jackgrace.com

The Lost Brothers are Oisin Leech (of the 747s) and Mark McCausland (of The Basement ). Their debut album, Trails of the Lonely (parts 1 & 111) was recorded in the Oregon attic of Bright Eyes producer Mike Coykendale.

"Beguiling, genuine and the perfect soundtrack to a lone train ride across golden fields, 'Trails of the Lonely's' boots are timeless and worn." **** Irish Times. www.myspace.com/thelostbrothersmusic

Down & Out is a southern rockin’ blues band established by brothers Ricky & Tonnie in Athens, Greece in the year of 2003. They are a 3 piece combo who dig good ol' American southern rock 'n' roll, blues & hillbilly influenced by the psychedelic blues hangover of the late 1960s. They have a back-to-basics blues approach mixed with "chooglin'beats” and outlaw country attitude.

The River Valley Band is a five piece "mandolin rock'n'roll" band.Inspired by artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Band, and anyone who appeared in "The Last Waltz". The River Valley Band aspire to continue writing high octane music that people just can't stay still to. The River Valley Band are in pre-production for their debut album; Drunk in the Wine Cellar.

A new addition to the Irish folk/roots scene. The CPRC feature a lively mix of songs and tunes on washboard, guitar, bass, mandolin, fiddle and dobro.

Newcomers to the festival, Tupelo are a six piece, original, rhythm n' roots style band based in Dublin. The eclectic line up consists of: vocals, guitars, double bass, mandolin, sax and fiddle.