AcousticMusicScene.com

by Michael Kornfeld

As in years past, this Mother’s Day weekend will be filled with lots of good music.  The Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival (SMAF) in Maryland, the Folk Project’s Backstage Festival in New Jersey, and the Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) in North Carolina all take place May 9-11.

Now in its seventh year, the Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival (SMAF) takes over the rustic and expansive grounds of the  Ramblewood Resort in Darlington, Maryland (near Havre de Grace), not far from the Susquehanna River, for a fun-filled weekend.

Featuring more emerging and lesser-known artists than some of the larger folk festivals, SMAF also attracts less attendees. SMAF organizers like it that way.  Its smaller size provides performers and fans increased opportunities to connect with each other and is a big part of the festival’s appeal.

“The secret is out!” exclaims Baltimore-based singer-songwriter SONiA, who has been to SMAF each May since its inception. “There is only one place that has green rolling hills less than an hour south of Philly and one hour north of Baltimore, where the atmosphere is not judgmental so you can wear absolutely whatever you like and you can sing and dance or play volleyball or take a walk in a serene climate or get very affordable munchies like crab cakes or espresso or adult beverages and be around some of the most talented, unknown folk-rock musicians on this side of the Atlantic … for two days and three nights… where you can stay up all night and trade songs around a campfire or huddle around a mug of homemade mushroom soup, where you can camp or just stay all day,” she says.  [An interview with SONiA from last fall appears in the Features section.]

In addition to SONiA & disappear fear, among the other featured artists slated to perform in concerts, workshops and song swaps at this year’s SMAF are Lynn Frances Anderson, Mack Bailey (Limeliters) with Rachel Levy, Liz Barnez, Deni Bonet, spoken-word artist Chris Chandler, Stephanie Corby, Dave Crossland, The Dreamsicles (Tom Prasada-Rao & Cary Cooper), Ellis, Anne Feeney, Denice Franke, Tret Fure, Kim & Reggie Harris, Christine Havrilla, Elena Higgins, Joe Jencks, Joanne Juskus, Tom Kimmel, Lenore, Terence Martin, Angie Miller, Ashland Miller, David Morreale, Someone’s Sister, Amilia K. Spicer, Native American group Spirit Wing, Dylan Visvikis (SONiA’s 14-year old nephew), Dan Warner, We’re About 9, Doug & Telisha Williams, and female roots duo Wishing Chair.  The finals of SMAF’s annual singer-songwriter contest take place on Friday.  Featured will be Janet Bates, Friction Farm, Jenny Goodspeed, David Hein, Lara Herscovitch, Hungrytown, Alicia Keister, Emily Kurn, The Milroys, and Mark Ward.  Informal late evening song circles also are on tap.

Tickets for the full festival are just $60; $80 with camping and $110 if staying in a dormitory-style cabin.  Children under 10 will be admitted free to this family-friendly festival. 

For more information, visit  www.susquehannamusicandartsfestival.com.

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With attendance limited to 250 (including performers and staff), the Folk Project’s  Backstage Festival in northwestern New Jersey is even more intimate than SMAF.  As such, it affords folks an opportunity to get to know each other while enjoying concerts up close and personal.  Concert seating is within 50 feet of the performers.

“As both a fan and an amateur performer, I thought the Folk Project weekend was about as close to folk heaven on earth as one can get,” says Gary Schoenberger of East Meadow, New York, who was a first-time attendee two years ago.  “Forget about sleeping,” he adds; “the only time I was not jamming or listening was during the meals, which, by the way, were very good.”  New Jersey-based singer-songwriter Ron Renninger, who has performed at the festival in the past, echoes those sentiments.  “It’s a wonderful experience with a lot of camaraderie and lots of jamming,” he says. 

Held at Fairview Lake, an environmental education camp near the Delaware Water Gap, the festival runs Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, May 9-11, and features several concerts, contra dances, some three dozen participatory workshops (including Songwriting with Bob Franke and Magic of the Moment with Cheryl Wheeler), pick-up jams galore and plenty of informal, impromptu music making throughout the camp.  Attendees also can avail themselves of an array of outdoor activities, including canoeing and nature walks.

The weekend’s featured performers include New England-based singer-songwriters Bob Franke and Cheryl Wheeler, and bluegrass band Straight Drive.  The Folk Project also will highlight some of its own members:  Sonas (a female trio that performs Cape Breton fiddle music), Peter Fischman and Deb O’ Hanlon (a duo who sing original songs and traditional ballads), Ken Galipeau (a collector of stories, songs and poems), and guitarists Frank (Sole) & Hank (Nerenberg). In addition, Peter Blue will be the caller for daytime and evening dances, while The Avant Gardeners, a Virginia-based band, will perform a mix of swing, trad, Celtic, Klezmer, roots music and more to get your feet moving.

According to the Folk Project’s Web site, “activities are geared both to hot musicians, not musicians and everyone in between” – meaning this could be your time to shine or shudder at the thought of performing (all in a friendly atmosphere). 

Advance registration is required.  The full weekend rate for adults is $205, which includes lodging in heated, dormitory-style cabins and meals on Saturday and Sunday.  Discounts are available for children and members of the Folk Project, the Philadelphia Folk Song Society, the NY Pinewoods Folk Music Club & Pick’n & Sing’n Gather’n (which holds its own festival in upstate New York over the Memorial Day Weekend), as well as those providing their own food and lodging. 

Visit www.folkproject.org/festivals.html for more information and to make reservations.

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The Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF), held at Camp Rockmont at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina, is a family-oriented weekend that aims to “connect cultures and create community through music and art” in the great outdoors. 

A cultural mélange of musical styles awaits visitors to this festival, which seeks to expose folks to new music and a diverse array of cultures.  African, Appalachian, blues, bluegrass, Cajun, Celtic, Texas sounds and more will emanate from four stages and a jam tent over the weekend.  Singer-songwriters Nanci Griffith and David Wilcox are likely the best known artists scheduled to perform.  Also on the weekend’s bill are Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, roots musicians Big Sandy and his Fly-Rite Boys, the bluegrass sounds of Steep Canyon Rangers, contra dance band Great Bear Trio, banjo player Akiro Satake, and many more.

Now in its 13^th year, LEAF also features healing arts workshops, folk art and juried handicrafts shows, fiddle and banjo contests, jam sessions, a poetry slam, and West African drum circles.  Mountain trail runs and hikes will afford folks an opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the area.

Tickets for the LEAF weekend must be purchased in advance.  Through April 30, tickets for three days and two nights are $120 for adults and $99 for youth ages 10-17.  Children ages 9 and under will be admitted free.  Day tickets and weekend tickets that include Thursday night also are available.  Cabins may be reserved for an additional fee. To purchase tickets and for additional information, visit www.theleaf.com.

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