2008 Folks Fest Lineup
We are excited to announce the preliminary lineup for the 18th Annual Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, August 15-17, 2008...
KT Tunstall • Amos Lee • Nanci Griffith • Greg Brown • Patty Griffin • Jakob Dylan • Missy Higgins • Todd Snider • The Waifs • Tim O'Brien • Josh Ritter • Melissa Ferrick • Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers • Great Lake Swimmers • Susan Werner • Steve Seskin • Luke Doucet • Sarah Sample • and more still to be announced...
More artists will be confirmed in the coming months, leading up to an announcement of single-day lineups in late Spring. Order your tickets now - online or 800-624-2422. Make sure to sign up for the "Notes from the Planet" email newsletter for all the latest updates.
Greg Brown's mother played electric guitar, his grandfather played banjo, and his father was a Holy Roller preacher in the Hacklebarney section of Iowa, where the Gospel and music are a way of life. Brown's first professional singing job came at age 18 in New York City, running hootenannies (folksinger get-togethers) at the legendary Gerdes Folk City. After a year, Brown moved west to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where he was a ghostwriter for Buck Ram, founder of the Platters. Tired of the fast-paced life, Brown traveled with a band for a few years, and even quit playing for a while before he moved back to Iowa and began writing songs and playing in midwestern clubs and coffeehouses. Brown's songwriting has been lauded by many, and his songs have been performed by Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Michael Johnson, Shawn Colvin, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. 
Three years ago, KT Tunstall stepped out the front door of her flat in Harlesden, north-west London. She was off to work, and to play. She didn't get to go home again until she'd recorded debut album Eye To The Telescope. Wowed the world with her one-woman blues-stomp 'Black Horse And The Cherry Tree'. Toured the world a fair few times. Outsold every other female artist in the UK in 2005. Won a Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist. Landed a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Lent her tunes to choice American films and TV shows (eg, "Suddenly I See," used in the opening scene of The Devil Wears Prada). Signed up for the GlobalCool campaign, which took her to Tony Blair's house in attempts to put pressure on the government to reduce carbon emissions. Sold almost four million copies of Eye To The Telescope, including over 1.5 million in the UK alone and over 1 million in America. In those years Tunstall had become, at least in part, that elusive music business holy grail: a word-of-mouth phenomenon. Says KT: "It's always been about getting onstage and trying to do a mindblowing show."
Singer/songwriter Amos Lee draws inspiration from such soul and folk artists of the '70s as Bill Withers, John Prine, Neil Young, and James Taylor. The Philadelphia native first became serious about performing while attending the University of South Carolina during the mid-'90s. After graduating, the English major taught elementary school before releasing his debut album in 2005. The bulk of the material on his latest album was penned either backstage, onstage at soundchecks, or in hotel rooms, as Lee and his band have spent the better part of 3 years on the road, sharing the stage with such legendary artists as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, and John Prine. After swiftly earning 3,000 new fans at the 2006 Folks Fest, we are thrilled to welcome Amos back to the Folks stage.
Whether performing her own poetically evocative material or the compositions of her influences, friends, and peers, Nanci Griffith possesses a powerful gift for inhabiting the songs she sings - for communicating unspoken intimacy and heartache through her tender voice and lilting, delicate phrasing. A self-styled "folkabilly" singer, Griffith began playing clubs around Austin, TX at the tender age of 14 and continued to perform during her college years and even while she taught kindergarten in the mid-'70s.At the outset of a career that has now spanned nearly three decades, Griffith first emerged as a writer of startling depth and subtlety, crafting sparse uncluttered vignettes that revealed a wealth of emotion in even the most humble of characters and settings. With her gifts as a songwriter lending invaluable insight, Griffith has also grown into a formidable interpreter of other people's songs, as demonstrated on such albums as the Grammy Award-winning Other Voices, Other Rooms.
"In the back of my mind, I always knew I was going to end up gravitating to songwriting," says Jakob Dyaln. Born in 1969, Jakob was the youngest child of Sara Lowndes and legendary rock poet Bob Dylan. Three years later the family moved from New York City's Greenwich Village to California. Although he grew up and attended school in Los Angeles, it's his father's birthplace of Minnesota that still holds special meaning for him. Growing up with easy access to some of the most influencial names in rock allowed Jakob a never-ending supply of musical inspiration, both live and recorded. But like most kids, he wanted to find music he could call his own. After leading his band The Wallflowers, June 2008 finds him releasing his first solo album, Seeing Things, produced by Rick Rubin at his home studio in the Hollywood Hills. Jakob's raw and dynamic performance on this primarily acoustic album reflects the continuation of Rick's spare and compelling production work.
"Some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard is when you catch somebody singing to themselves. I wanted to make music that had that feeling."
That sort of heartfelt forthrightness has won Maine-native, Patty Griffin a fiercely loyal fan base that's continued to expand, even as she's retreated from the cookie-cutter machinery of the mainstream music industry. In 2001, Griffin found a more hospitable home when fan Dave Matthews signed her to his new, artist-friendly ATO Records. Among her higher-profile admirers are the Dixie Chicks, who recorded much-loved versions of the Griffin compositions "Top of the World," "Truth No. 2" and "Let Him Fly"; Emmylou Harris, a longtime supporter who's covered several Griffin songs, and who lends her iconic harmony vocals to the Children Running Through number "Trapeze”; Solomon Burke, who covers "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)” on his latest record; and filmmaker Cameron Crowe who was so inspired by her work he personally selected her to appear in his 2005 feature film "Elizabethtown."
At just 23 year old, singer/songwriter Missy Higgins has enjoyed phenomenal success because of her timeless approach - relying on undeniable songs, unforgettable live performances, and a warm personality that is passionate, sincere, and proudly Australian. Missy was thrust into the limelight in 2001 when she won a major Australian music contest while she was still in high school. Instead of rushing into a recording studio she chose to go backpacking around Europe before coming home and releasing her debut full-length The Sound of White – which debuted at #1 on the Australian charts. That album scooped the ARIA Awards (Australian Grammy’s), adding 5 gongs (including the coveted "Album Of The Year") to the one "Scar" had earned in late 2004. All of this activity propelled The Sound Of White to nine-times platinum status in Australia for sales of over 650,000 copies, making it the biggest selling CD of 2005 and one of the most popular releases in the country's history. In many ways, Missy has grown up in the public eye and her latest CD On A Clear Night is the diary she's kept along the way. A diary which is about to capture the ears and hearts of America.
Says Kris Kristofferson: "Todd Snider is a true songwriter, with the heart and humor of John Prine, the wild unpredictability of Roger Miller, and a fresh, original spirit and freedom of imagination that's absolutely his own." For twelve years, Snider has been a satirist, class cutup and the rare artist who understands and celebrates the connections between the Stones, Dylan, Bill Hicks, John Prine, Hunter S. Thompson and Randy Newman. Snider’s records are fun even when they aren’t being funny, funny even when they’re sad, and no less truthful for the laughs. But Snider has a unique way of sidling up to a topic, spinning a yarn, making you chuckle amidst all the sinister stuff going down. There’s an edge to what he’s done over seven albums, and his latest album and his wildly popular live performances hone that edge.
For those who came in late, the road looms large and long in the Waifs' inspirational tale of self-determined international success.
It intersected for sisters Donna and Vikki and guitarist Josh in a remote corner of the Western Australian desert some 15 years ago. Their mobile cottage industry of campfire-crafted songs and independently recorded, gold-selling CDs slowly reached critical mass in Australia between '96 and '00, while their captivating on-stage chemistry spilled into a contagious festival following through Europe and North America.
The Waifs' rainswept radio smash of '02, "London Still", led to a US release deal with Compass Records and ever more touring – with Bob Dylan among others – while their aforementioned watershed album, Up All Night, stormed mainstream and alternative charts back home, and picked up ARIA Awards including Best Independent, and Best Blues And Roots Release. Says Josh, "Now that the girls have got families and the like, music is something that we do in between times, rather than all the time. It really makes you appreciate what you have and what you do."
A singer of unusual clarity and originality, a self-taught multi-instrumentalist of rare ability, and an incisive songwriter, Tim O’Brien has, during the last 20 years, made a lasting mark on what some are calling Americana music through his innate musicianship and his wide-ranging tastes. Whether it’s the reinterpretation of an old fiddle tune, a revitalized honky-tonk shuffle from the 1950s, or an original, bluegrass-inflected folk song, O’Brien’s music feels familiar and comfortable while never lapsing into the predictable. These rare talents earned him a Grammy in 2006 in the Best Traditional Folk Category for his album Fiddler’s Green.
Tim holds the esteemed honor of having played the most Planet Bluegrass Festivals - Telluride Bluegrass, RockyGrass, and the Folks Fest. After consecutive 31 years at Telluride Bluegrass, Tim took a year-long hiatus in 2007. We are thrilled to welcome him back to Telluride.
Just seconds into his current album, Idaho-native Josh Ritter leaps into rapid-fire lyrics that reference Joan of Arc, Calamity Jane and Florence Nightingale, all of whom seem to be stuck together in the belly of a whale. Those legendary heroines he name-checks were each responding to an inner voice that pushed them toward some extraordinary mission, one both noble and a little foolhardy. Over the course of six full-lengths, Josh has followed those voices - touring the world as a folk-rock troubadour, becoming a national celebrity in Ireland, winning over critics at the New York Times and Paste Magazine (who named him one of the 100 best living songwriters), writing some of the most poetic and intellectually complex songs of our young century, and winning over fans with a jubilant, warm live show that is in-the-moment, fun, and unusually sincere.
Melissa Ferrick has the kind of relationship with her audience that few artists are blessed with. Her live performance is fierce and funny, outspoken and vulnerable, passionate and real. Writes the Boston Globe: "She appeared at times to be channeling
Bruce Springsteen and Ricky Lee Jones
simultaneously. The emotional honesty of Ferrick’s first-person lyrics, the force of her vocal delivery and the disciplined fury of her musicianship connects her to her audience with confidence and grace. She’s been gaining fans since her first release at age twenty-two on Atlantic Records. Her next three recordings were released by indie label What Are Records. In 2000, Melissa launched her own label: Right On Records. Her newest album, In the Eyes of Strangers is the label’s sixth release. Always groundbreaking, Melissa achieved an industry first by setting up direct digital downloads from her website, allowing her fans to help fund the recording of her new album.
Since hearing these four musicians play for a crowd of less than 50 in a Boulder bar a couple years ago, we knew they were destined for big things. Telluride 2006 introduced them to the Festivarian nation with a song and a dance, last year they christened the Wildflower Pavilion with energy and heart, and with their most earnest collection of original material, Glassjaw Boxer, they are quickly winning new fans across the country.
On stage, these new songs add another layer to an already engaging live show that effortlessly mixes rollicking shoulder-to-shoulder singalongs, casually-spun four-part fables, and triumphant moments of musical synchronicity. With every show, the band's emotional spectrum expands, as Kellogg takes a quieter moment to share a soulful ballad or a poignant reflection. "It's that much more of a ride," says Kellogg.
Mojo Magazine calls them ""Ambient Zen Americana." For the past five years, Tony Dekker, the singer/songwriter behind the musical project Great Lake Swimmers, has been exploring the worlds of indie folk, roots music and alt-country pop, with a focus on lyrics and the craft of songwriting. They have been compared to Nick Drake, Iron and Wine, Red House Painters, and "After the Gold Rush"-era Neil Young. They were awarded the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Galaxie Rising Star Award in March 2005 and were voted Favourite Folk/Roots Artist at the 2004 Canadian Independent Music Awards.
Farm girl Susan Werner was raised in rural Iowa but began her professional music career in Philadelphia, after studying classical voice at Temple University. Inspired by a Nanci Griffith concert, Werner left behind her opera training and began performing as a singer-songwriter at coffeehouses throughout the northeast. Now with 6 albums under her belt, an active touring career throughout the U.S. and a string of accolades from the likes of The Washington Post, The Village Voice, and The Chicago Tribune, Susan Werner has become one of the defining artists of the folk music genre. Her songs effortlessly slide between folk, jazz and pop, and are delivered with a sassy wit and classic midwestern charm. Says The New Yorker: "Susan Werner, a clever songwriter and an engaging performer, brings literacy and wit back to popular song."
Steve Seskin started out in the 70’s as a street musician in San Francisco, and has steadily built an exceptionally successful career both as a songwriter and as a performer. After releasing several albums on his own label, he decided to visit Nashville to expose his songs to a wider audience. Seskin signed to a staff songwriting deal with Little Big Town Music Group, and the cuts came soon after: “She Can” was on Alabama’s 1989 platinum-selling album “Southern Star,” and Waylon Jenning’s recording of “Wrong” climbed into the top 5 on the country charts on 1990. Nearly 20 years later, the trip to Nashville has proven to be a good one; his discography includes country chart toppers by artists such as Tim McGraw ( “Grown Men Don ’t Cry ”), Colin Raye ( “I Think About You ”), Ricochet ( “Daddy ’s Money ”) and Kenny Chasey ( “All I Need To Know ”). “Don ’t Laugh at Me ” which was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary, was the impetus for the Don ’t Laugh at Me Project, a curriculum designed to teach tolerance in schools.
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, maverick Luke Doucet has the gift of masterfully effecting wonder in the familiar and familiarizing the foreign. With band, solo, and live albums under his belt and an armful of notable producer credits Luke Doucet indelibly brings his sensibilities to all projects as a visionary and the pioneer of a new movement in music. Spearheading a modern genre, country verité is Luke’s rogue angel. Fallen from tradition he walks in time, on earth, from the heart in technicolour. His latest CD Broken (and other rogue states) is his most revolutionary work yet - the hand-held camera of country music. In his music we hear none of the predictable twists and turns, nor are we sedated with needless repetition. Instead we experience the visceral unfolding of melody and backlit refrains, every song channeling the most electric moments of a day.
If you could patent a failsafe formula for a marked upswing in creativity and artistic productivity, it could certainly look a lot like this:
record a debut album (2004's Rotate); learn from its victories and not-so-victories; move from Utah to Texas to Wyoming to Seattle; live and soak in Austin, songwriting capital of the free world (just ask any Texan); cut your hair (you'd be surprised by the anti-Samson effect) - maybe even dye it; win the 2007 Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase after earning honorable mentions in 2005 and 2006. Says the Herald Journal: "Watching Sarah sing is like watching a red-orange gerbera daisy grow through time-lapse photography... thickening and lengthening before your eyes as sun and shadow flick over a slightly shifting flower."
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Many more artists will be confirmed in the coming months, leading up to an announcement of single-day lineups — and the release of single-day tickets — in late Spring.
Make sure to sign up for the "Notes from the Planet" email newsletter for all the latest updates.