The American Folk Festival is produced in Bangor by the Bangor Folk Festival, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, with partnering support from:
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performing groups sharing the traditional arts of their region, culture and heritage | |
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Virtuoso
| We are pleased to present the following 2009 American Folk Festival performers. Prepare to be WOWed! These are just the first of nearly two dozen groups who will perform on the six stages of the American Folk Festival. Check back for updates! |
Clinton Fearon, Jamaican Reggae
Seattle, WA
An original member of the Gladiators and living legend of roots reggae, this passionate singer and consummate performer delivers message music over a rock-solid groove. Read more about Clinton Fearon.
Cherish the Ladies, Irish Bronx, NY and Ireland
Led by the ebullient, irrepressible Joanie Madden, this powerhouse all-female ensemble is one of the foremost Irish groups in the world. Read more about Cherish the Ladies.
Rob Curto's Forró for All, Brazilian forró
New York City, NY & Fortaleza Brazil
Delightful, accordion-driven dance music from Northeast Brazil that melds Portuguese tunes and African rhythms with a sensibility born of New York's diverse and dynamic musical culture. Read more about Forró for All.
Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials, Chicago blues Chicago, IL
Small in stature, but a giant in the blues world -- one of the last authentic West Side Chicago bluesmen, who fills a stage with life and heat. Read more about Lil' Ed.
Mythili Prakash & the Dance Ensemble of India, Bharata Natyam Los Angeles, CA This brilliant young Indian American dancer is master of an ancient art, a rising international star carrying on a 3,000-year-old South Indian dance tradition. Read more about Mythili Prakash.
www.mythiliprakash.com
Les Charbonniers de L'enfer, Quebecois a cappella ensemble Montreal, Canada
Powerfully blending five unaccompanied male voices, the "Coalminers from Hell" celebrate Quebec's deep and rich vocal traditions with commanding artistry. Read more about Les Charbonniers de L'enfer.
www.lescharbonniersdelenfer.com
Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass, bluegrass
Delaware & Pennsylvania
Powerful, unadorned and intense traditional bluegrass from the torch-bearers of deep mountain family traditions. Read more about Danny Paisley.
The Lost Bayou Ramblers, Cajun Lafayette, LA
Passionate, uninhibited keepers of a wild Cajun spirit that infuses their live performances, this young group has retooled classic Cajun sounds for the 21st century. Read more about the Lost Bayou Ramblers.
www.lostbayouramblers.com
The Claire Lynch Band, modern bluegrass
Nashville, TN
With one of the sweetest, purest voices in country music and impressive songwriting talents to boot, this feisty Alabama gal is stepping out with a new band, creating an absolutely unique sound that is "bluegrass and beyond."
www.clairelynch.com
Gadelle, AcadianPrince Edward Island, Canada
Two former members of the Acadian supergroup Barachois have teamed up with two up-and-coming Acadian musicians to create an all-female quartet that explores the rich musical traditions of Prince Edward Island through fiddle, accordion, song and stepdance.
www.gadelle.com
Joshua Nelson, Kosher gospelEast Orange, NJ
Raised in a black Jewish community in New Jersey, this "prince of kosher gospel" blends Hebrew texts and African American gospel while seemingly channeling the vocal powers of Mahalia Jackson in a way that is utterly original and utterly electrifying. Read more about Joshua Nelson.
www.joshuanelson.com
Mighty Sam McClain, soulEpping, New Hampshire
After more than four decades, this titan of soul is finally getting the credit he deserves as a founding father of this quintessentially American music. He's got it all: style, class, charisma and a voice of astonishing power - a "secret weapon" of classic soul. Read more about Mighty Sam.
www.mightysam.com
Los Texmaniacs, conjunto tejanoSan Antonio, TX
The lively accordion-led music of the Texas/Mexico border explodes with contemporary energy as this talented young trio serves up "turbo-charged conjunto," a danceable mixture of polka, funk, country, Texas blues, and rock en español.
www.texmaniacs.com
Terry "Harmonica" Bean, delta bluesPontotoc, MS
Sounds of the juke joint and late night house party live on in the music of this third generation Mississippi bluesman, one of the few younger players devoted to the deeply traditional sound of acoustic guitar and harmonica.
www.terryharmonicabean.com
Maestro Modesto Nieves y Herencia Musical, Puerto Rican cuatro
Pride of Maine Black Bear Marching Band, University of Maine
Nikolay Kolev & Bulgarika, Bulgarian
The Paschall Brothers, African American a cappella gospel