The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series

A full weekend of concerts workshops, jamming, and relaxing for musicians and non-musicians alike. Featuring Brother Sun, Tom Chapin, Cliff Eberhardt, Jacob Johnson, and many more. Takes place at a beautiful camp in the Hackettstown, NJ area. Food and lodging available onsite. Attendance limited to 150, and by pre-registration only. Visit http://www.folkproject.org/festival/Festivals.shtml for more details.

When Saskatoon native Suzie Vinnick takes the stage, she takes it from footlights to rafters and owns it. She can belt out a blues or croon a ballad with equal deftness. Her guitar work is effortlessly commanding and supremely tasteful. But it is mostly her powerful presence that leaves a lasting impression. This lady is a force of nature with a six-string guitar. Ya gotta experience her to understand.

Opening act Cold Chocolate is a young Old Timey band from the Boston area which includes Folk Project member Kirsten Lamb (bass), along with Ethan Robbins (guitar), James McIver (banjo), and Ariel Bernstein (drums). They put 3-part vocal harmony to old fiddle tunes, blues, and some original music in the traditional style.

When The Folk Goddesses opened for Rich Deans at the Minstrel in February 2012, the universal reaction was "Get these ladies back for a headline set!" John Platt of WFUV referred to them as "Modern Man on Estrogen". All veterans of other collaborations, Hillary Foxsong (Gathering Time), Martha Trachtenberg (Buffalo Gals), and Judith Zweiman (Strike the Bell). combine great voices, rich harmonies, good songwriting, and a wicked sense of humor in this new combination.

Christopher Mark Jones’ long musical itinerary includes busking in Paris, the English folk club circuit, tours of Denmark and Holland, the Bristol and Rotterdam festivals, BBC and Capitol radio appearances in London, electric clubs in Boston and showcase clubs, house concerts and coffeehouses in Pittsburgh. His stock in trade is really well-written songs sung with feeling and accompanied by skillful and tasty guitar work.

This is an opportunity for all acoustic musicians to perform a 15-minute set on our stage, and for the audience to be treated to a diverse collection of acoustic musicians. We’ve often seen previews of our regular scheduled acts for the first time at Open Stage. For information on how to secure a performance slot, call 973-335-9489, or visit www.FolkProject.org/Minstrel/OpenStage.

It's no surprise that Louise Mosrie was voted "Most Wanted" at the 2011 Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist showcase. This Nashville singer-songwriter backs up some prodigious writing skills with a great voice, emotional delivery, and an engaging stage presence.

Opening act The Twangtown Paramours also hail from Nashville, although with some Austin influences. These hotbeds of acoustic Americana suffuse the music of MaryBeth Zamer and Mike Lewis with great vocals, heartfelt lyrics, and soaring harmonies. Their music has been awarded honors at Kerrville New Folk, the Wildflower Arts Music Festival, and showcases at several regional Folk Alliance Conventions.

Those who saw Andrew Dunn's opening set in January will be delighted to know that he is back for a featured night of his own. His thoughtful and measured view of life is translated into beautiful and powerful song, simply and effectively delivered. He presents a sympathetic and endearing stage personna that is more than a personna. It is Andy himself, out there for the world to enjoy and love.

Rich Baron and Mike Montemurro first played together in the '70's. Their music mixes country, R&B,and jazz influences. Michael is an accomplished lead Guitarist, who's smoky gritty voice blends well with Rich's clear tone, and high range. Rich is a past winner of the American Song Festival award.

Every year the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival does an audience poll to determine their "Most Wanted" for a return appearance. And the winners tour the country the following spring in the Falcon Ridge Most Wanted Tour. In 2012 the winners were Gathering Time, The YaYas, and Honor Finnegan. These three premier songwriting acts will go round-robin through the evening, and probably support each other with harmonies and instrumental accompaniment for some songs.

This is an opportunity for all acoustic musicians to perform a 15-minute set on our stage, and for the audience to be treated to a diverse collection of acoustic musicians. We’ve often seen previews of our regular scheduled acts for the first time at Open Stage. For information on how to secure a performance slot, call 973-335-9489, or visit www.FolkProject.org/Minstrel/OpenStage.

The Blues Revue summed it up neatly. Toby Walker is "...a brilliant remarkable guitarist. A pinch of Piedmont, a dash of Delta, a solid Chicago undercurrent minus the amplification, but not the electricity." At home with both wooden and steel guitars, Toby plays the classics as well as his own songs with an open style and a dash of humor. And as an extra bonus for us, he's recently moved to Morris County, and become a Folk Project member.

Tom Picard is a Folk Project member songwriter with a good way with words. He accompanies himeself in a nifty blues-oriented guitar style.

Our annual Birthday Show celebrates not only the Minstrel's first show back in 1975, but the membership of the Folk Project, which presents this concert series. The Project's membership has always included many musicians and singers. And tonight we present around 40 of those member-musicians, brought together in randomly-chosen groups to celebrate our anniversary. It's an evening of community music, which has always been the core of this organization.

“Making the kind of music you'd only hear on the west coast of Ireland”, Finvarra's Wren plays with a tightness and effortlessness that comes only to a family band that grew up playing together. They are the Perkins family: centering on Alison's fiddle and Asher's accordion and concertina, they blaze through the jigs and reels, backed by Jim's guitar and Cheryl's bodhran and dulcimer. In 3-part harmony, they add the traditional and modern songs of Ireland as well.

Our opener Rachel Streich is a familiar figure amongst local contra dance bands and old-timey jams. She's a fine fiddler / guitarist / mandolinist. And less known she has a beautifully sweet voice when coaxed to sing. She sings mostly traditional songs. She will undoubtedly gather round her other Folk Project member musicians for a fine old session.

This is an opportunity for all acoustic musicians to perform a 15-minute set on our stage, and for the audience to be treated to a diverse collection of acoustic musicians. We’ve often seen previews of our regular scheduled acts for the first time at Open Stage. For information on how to secure a performance slot, call 973-335-9489, or visit www.FolkProject.org/Minstrel/OpenStage.

We saw Dave Rimelis as our "Designated Lead Player" for our Birthday Show in July. As a multi-instrumental talent on guitar, fiddle, and mandolin, he's a sought-after side man making other acts sound great. And he opened for and played with Hub Hollow back in February. Now in his first Minstrel headline spot, Dave gets to display not only his instrumental prowess, but his fine collection of entertaining and engaging songs.

Pat Guadagno is living proof that being a "cover artist" is still an art. He takes the songs of the best of contemporary songwriters in the folk and Americana genres, and presents them in a new light. He remains true to the spirit of such writers as Townes Van Zandt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tom Waits, David Buskin, and Shel Silverstien without slavishly copying the originals. Great soulful voice, good solid guitar work, and an engaging presentation make him a pleasure to hear.

Songwriter David Massengill's rural Tennessee roots are still evident in his speech even after almost 40 years in the heart of the Greenwich Village NYC folk scene. Both of these environments shape his performances. They show up in the gritty and touching reality of his classic "My Name Joe" and "Great American Dream", and in the homespun stories of his country upbringing. David plays guitar and dulcimer as well as your heartstrings.

Mark the date. The Folk Project is hatching a plan for a 2-day ukulele event featuring concerts and workshops for the evening of Friday, August 30 and all day Saturday August 31. Watch this space for further details.

Frank Vignola is well recognized among the world's greatest gypsy jazz guitarists. When he played the Minstrel in January 2010, they set the all-time record for attendance since we've been at our current venue, with some audience members squeezed into seats on the wings of the stage itself. Frank's playing is brilliant, innovative, tasty, and unbelievable in its virtuosity. His fellow-guitarast Vinny Raniolo gathers no dust either, and is in perfect synch with him. Frank draws his influence from the likes of Django Reinhardt and Bucky Pizzarelli, to such non-jazz icons as Frank Zappa, Les Paul, and Eddie Van Halen. He's played with the likes of David Grisman Donald Fagan, Madonna, and Ringo Starr. And tonight he comes to the Minstrel. Don't miss him.

Is it a Celtic band? Is it an old-timey band? Is it a chamber orchestra? Is it a girl-group? Yes! err...No! err..Some, all, and none of the above. It's Harpeth Rising, a truly unique contemporary folk band with traces of all those genres, but creating a completely new uncategorizable category.

This is an opportunity for all acoustic musicians to perform a 15-minute set on our stage, and for the audience to be treated to a diverse collection of acoustic musicians. We’ve often seen previews of our regular scheduled acts for the first time at Open Stage. For information on how to secure a performance slot, call 973-335-9489, or visit www.FolkProject.org/Minstrel/OpenStage.

Mara Levine & Caroline Cutroneo's strong suit is their voices: rich and vibrant and blended in gorgeous harmonies. They sing original, traditional and contemporary folk with a dash of blues. Mara has been a welcome recent addition to the Folk Project scene. Audience members so inclined will find plenty of opportunity to add their own voices to their choruses and find harmonies of their own. They will be joined on stage by others in their circle of musical friends for a grand evening of beautiful music.

From the day that 14-year old Ian Hicks showed up at a Minstrel Open Stage in September of 2012, he turned heads and opened eyes of all who saw him perform. The aplomb of his performance, the sophistication of his songwriting, the confidence of his voice all belied his youth. As an attendee at the Fall 2012 FP Festival he was voted most wanted to return as a scheduled act in Spring 2013. This kid has a lot going for him, and you may be able to say you saw him when...

Heralded as "a living landmark" (Berkeley Express), "a national treasure" (Guitar Extra), and "one of the greatest living acoustic blues artists" (Blues Revue), Rory Block has committed her life and her career to preserving the Delta blues tradition and bringing it to life anew. A traditionalist and an innovator at the same time, she wields a fiery and haunting guitar and vocal style that redefines the boundaries of acoustic blues and folk. The New York Times declared: "Her playing is perfect, her singing otherworldly as she wrestles with ghosts, shadows and legends."

Joni Mitchell's iconic Blue Album performed in sequence by Chicks with Dip, an all-woman's performing cooperative based in Westchester County, NY. For this Folk Project Special Concert only, tickets will be available in advance. More details as they are available.

No Open Stage this month.

David Buskin (guitar, keyboard) and Robin Batteau (fiddle, guitar) first played together as Tom Rush's backup band. The combination was too good to remain in the background. Not only were they brilliant musicians and singers, they were both superb songwriters. (David Buskin is well known as one third of the hilarious Modern Man). They toured into the 90s to great acclaim before going their separate ways, and their loyal fans still remember. Buskin & Batteau are back together again and coming to the Minstrel.

Annie Donahue and Erik Balkey are The Copper Ponies, a singer-songwriter duo from New Jersey. With a focus on lyrics, melody and harmony their music is lean in, edge-of-your-seat compelling. The Ponies' sound blends an authentic mix of roots influence with contemporary perspectives navigating the line of roadworn and hopeful.

Mulebone is the acoustic blues duo of guitarist Hugh Pool and floutist John Ragusa. What? Did he say blues flute?? Yes, flutes in all different sizes and variants. Think Jethro Tull. Combined with Hugh's kick-ass guitar, harmonica, and vocals, they rock out with both old school blues from the American South and original songs in the same styles. These guys are exciting and entertaining whether you're a blues afficianado or not.

Rick Ilowite is a fingerstyle blues guitarist who has been called "traditional without puritanical binders". He's at home with the Piedmont style of his mentor Jorma Kaukonen (of Jefferson Airplane), but, like Jorma can strap on a Strat and wail as well. Rick, a past president of the Folk Project, returns to the Minstrel after an absence of almost 15 years.

For decades Jim Hurst was known in the bluegrass and country music world as the go-to guy when you needed a blazing hot guitarist as a side man or in the studio. He is one of those rare finger-pickers who can carry a lead line alongside the best of the flat pickers. But after a successful career as a support musician, and two IBMA Guitarist of the Year awards, he's broken out as an exciting solo artist, showing that he can sing and write as well as he picks.

Jake Klar is an appealing young singer-songwriter with a good grounding in traditional folk and blues. His writing often has a bluesy feel to it, but is not the sum total of his repertoire. His stage persona projects good energy, and he is most engaging with the audience.

This is an opportunity for all acoustic musicians to perform a 15-minute set on our stage, and for the audience to be treated to a diverse collection of acoustic musicians. We’ve often seen previews of our regular scheduled acts for the first time at Open Stage. For information on how to secure a performance slot, call 973-335-9489, or visit www.FolkProject.org/Minstrel/OpenStage.

John Forster obviously fell asleep one too many times as a child to the sound of his Tom Lehrer albums. This is evidenced by his twisted sense of humor, his delightfully skewed view of the human condition, and his prodigious skills as a pianist. His songs have a knack for taking the plausible but improbable, and leading that to its implausible but ineveitable conclusion by way of unlikely rhymes, horrible puns, and ironic satire. John is a very funny man.

Opening for John is Honor Finnegan. We saw Honor back in July as one of the "Falcon Ridge Most Wanted Tour". She has been making a splash on the regional folk scene with her original songs, which employ elements of musical theatre, humor, traditional folk, and poetry. She accompanies herself on ukulele.

This is an opportunity for all acoustic musicians to perform a 15-minute set on our stage, and for the audience to be treated to a diverse collection of acoustic musicians. We’ve often seen previews of our regular scheduled acts for the first time at Open Stage. For information on how to secure a performance slot, call 973-335-9489, or visit www.FolkProject.org/Minstrel/OpenStage.

John Flynn was just too good a songwriter for Nashville. In the early 90's he left his comfortable staff songwriter position at a major Music Row publishing house to pursue the music that simply didn't fit in the commercial Country Music World, and never looked back. The result was a stream of brilliant songs, brilliantly delivered, touching all aspects of contemporary life, personal and social.

Reggie Harris is best known as half of the veteran duo with his wife Kim. He combines a strong folk and gospel legacy with a solid background in classical, rock, jazz, and pop music. His shining voice rides high over his strong guitar work to deliver a powerful and emotional performance.

This is an opportunity for all acoustic musicians to perform a 15-minute set on our stage, and for the audience to be treated to a diverse collection of acoustic musicians. We’ve often seen previews of our regular scheduled acts for the first time at Open Stage. For information on how to secure a performance slot, call 973-335-9489, or visit www.FolkProject.org/Minstrel/OpenStage.

Long time Minstrel favorites, Cindy Mangsen & Steve Gillette might be considered the bellwether of the type of act that graces our stage. Relaxed, informal, and folksy, they nonetheless present a performance with great professionalism and skill. Their material ranges from traditional ballads to original songs, to covers from anybody from the Beatles to the Berrymans. They are both great singers and guitarists, and also play banjo, dulcimer, concertina and fiddle.

Note: No Open Stage this month

Since forever, ANDY COHEN has been a serious student, preserver, and performer of the acoustic country blues traditions from the '20's to the '40's. The fact that he is a kick-ass fingerstyle guitarist and stride piano player hasn't hurt that effort. In addition to the standard 6-string flat-top, he also plays resophonic guitar, banjo, and the Dolceola (a zither-based keyboard instrument). He combines his performance skills and knowledge base to present a a show that is at once highly entertaining and informative.