The Kruger Brothers – Picking, Plucking and Strumming
Posted onHere’s a great video to pick you up – The Kruger Brothers picking, plucking and strumming through some of their beautiful compositions and arrangements. Formed in Europe by Swiss brothers, Jens and Uwe Krugerformed, the group has been U.S. based for over a decade, and they’re a big deal on the American roots music scene. Listen to this, and you’ll understand why. They’re performing a concert set on Mariposa’s Saturday Evening Main Stage, and will appear in workshops as well. Still looking for a Father’s Day gift? Mariposa Folk Festival tickets are a great option. Purchase online then print or email them to your Dad.
Mariposa Folk Festival is a volunteer-driven event. Without hundreds of people donating their time, there would be no festival.
Here is the dynamic creative design of the promotional materials for Mariposa Folk Festival 2013. This look, created by Effigy Design, appears on the poster, rack cards, print advertisements, and souvenir program. Aspects of it are also carried through to Mariposa’s online presence, and to the t-shirts, compilation CD and other Mariposa merchandise that will be available for purchase in the Emporium at the festival. The ‘look’ of the volunteer t-shirts will also be inspired by this design.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Richard Flohil and a Man Called Wrycaft are two absolutely silly buggers whose Folk Quiz is chock full of laughter, crazy improvisations, ridiculous trivia, some of the world’s worst music, and insane antics. Two teams of folk musicians assemble on the stage, and the audience forms a third team. Obscure knowledge of folk music is tested, songs are composed on the spot, alliances are formed, and judges are bribed, all through howls of laughter. Richard Flohil and Michael Wrycraft are well known figures in music industry circles, and there’s almost no limit to what they can get an artist to do for laughs.
Congratulations to our May Ticket Contest Winners. Meredith Buchanan won the Blogger Contest for two weekend passes. Patti Agapi won the Twitter Contest for two weekend passes.
Bidiniband explores Canadian themes, so it is only natural that the group would lead a tribute to the late Stompin’ Tom Connors, himself a quintessential Canadian musician. Stompin’ Tom was a prolific and well-known country and folk singer and songwriter who expressed his dedication to Canada through music. He wrote more than 300 songs, released four dozen albums, played innumerable shows, and is immortalized by songs that are part of the Canadian cultural landscape such as Sudbury Saturday Night, Bud the Spud and The Hockey Song. Bidiniband will be joined by guest artists in honouring the memory of Stompin’ Tom.
Children’s entertainer, Dickie Bird, has an ample supply of up-beat music, a suitcase full of magic tricks, and amazing gizmos like his bubble machine. His performances are fast-paced fun with singalongs, action songs, magic tricks, the Everybody Joins In Jug Band, and many opportunities for audience participation. His puppet pal, Doug the Wug, also makes an appearance. Dickie Bird’s show has been described by critics as “Personable, enthusiastic, talented, appealing” and “The perfect combination of music, magic and fun!” Dickie Bird is also known as Richard Knechtel. You can see him perform in that incarnation at the festival as half of the duo, Knechtel & McLean.
Some musical acts get long in the tooth. Some are famous for their break-ups. Some are corporate automatons churning out the ‘hits’. Some are awkward pairings in duets conjured by record company executives. Others, like Knechtel and McLean, are the real deal. Richard Knechtel is a former festival artistic director and respected singer songwriter. Rob McLean is a music director and writer/producer. Two talented guys pondering their next move, they could have banded together to rob liquor stores. Instead, they chose the honest path of working musicians. Between them, these guys have thousands of hours of stage time, countless songs and two jokes. It all adds up to a truly wonderful audience experience.
Tammy Frederick is a creative maven and generous nurturer of talent. She opened her own studio, developing the voices of hundreds singers. She hosts open mics, leads singing workshops, and has produced many concerts exploring various genres and themes with titles such as Rock Spirit Revival, Something Celtic and Broadway: A Musical Theatre Cabaret. On top of all that, she’s a contributing columnist for Canadian Musician magazine, and an actor in leading roles including Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Hedy La Rue in How to Succeed in Business, Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Sally Brown in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.
Ever pluck a harp or drum on a djembe? Ever womp-womp on a didgeridoo or buzz into a shofar? Ever strum a mountain dulcimer or frail a banjo? All of these traditional folk instruments and about 100 more are part of Todd Crowley’s Musical Petting Zoo. It is a fully interactive, hands-on exhibition for musicians, young and old, novice to professional. The instruments tell a story of their own each time a child connects to the folk tradition by trying an instrument for the first time, or an adult rediscovers the joy of making music. Check it out – you will be surprised how much fun it is.
Traditional morris dancing is usually associated with seasonal celebrations such as the arrival of spring or the turn of the year. Its origins are believed to date before 1400’s, although its precise history is not known in the absence of documentation of the pastimes of common folk. The Toronto Morris Men has been presenting this exuberant and visually exciting dance form since 1985. They see their dance as an expression of the joy of being alive, of being here now. They also love to sing, and have a repertoire that reflects a zest for good company and good sustenance.
On May 22nd, our headliner for Mariposa Folk Festival 2013, singer, songwriter and phenomenal guitarist, Randy Bachman, was named an Honorary Fellow of The Royal Conservatory in recognition of his important contributions to Canadian music.
After he moved on from a ten-year stint as the front man of a touring rock band, Nicholas Keays spent time writing and stockpiling a bunch of great songs for a rainy day. When it came time to make his next move, he went in a new direction, joining Justin Rich and Jason Turner to form Nicholas Keays and the North River. The trio has crafted a stripped down, harmony filled, sound that is gracefully carried by a standup bass, acoustic guitar, banjo, and a kick drum fashioned out of an old suitcase. They play tunes of home and family that are hook-filled, simple, and of the foot stompin’ variety.