Greetings music fans.

4.03.03

Minnesota Resophonic Guitar Festival

1.19.03

Cam Waters CD release

Cam Waters has release his latest CD, and an official CD release concert will take place at the Cedar Cultural Center on February, 1 - 2003 at 8pm. For more information, go to the Cedar's website or call 612.338.2674

11.28.02


Folk-blues legend Dave Ray dies at 59
StarTribune Article

At 6:15 this AM Dave Ray passed away at home in his sleep. As most of you know, he was diagnosed with lung cancer last spring.

He continued performing up to the end. It seems fitting that his last gig was last Friday night in Princeton University with K,R&G. The circle was complete.

MJ has asked to please hold your calls and visits for the time being.
Nomemorial service is planned at this time- instead the KR&G gig scheduled for Dec 13 at First Avenue will probably become a celebration of Dave`s life and music with many of his friends and musical cohorts.

We will all miss him.


10.18.02

The Minnesota music community suffered a great loss with the passing to Josiah A. McHale, known to friends as Jay, McHale was most widely recognized as the volunteer coordinator of the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, and as the saxophonist of the local experimental band 2i, as well as the Irish mind behind the area's pre-eminent Scandinavian music festival, was found dead Friday, October 18. He was 44. Jay was
a very special person, and he will be sadly missed.

Several articles about Jay are available at the following links.

The Cedar Cultural Center
The Eulogy for Jay by Randy Hope


10.13.02

Lis Harvey, the Madison, Wisconsin based singer songwriter completed her Guinness World Record Tour with her last show of the tour at Ginkgo Coffeehouse in St. Paul on Sunday, Oct 13th. Working with Lis was a great time. The audience was really into the show, and a good time was had by all. Find out more about Lis and this tour by checking the links below. I hope to see Lis back here soon.

Read about the final days of the tour and the show at Ginkgo's
Read the CNN Headline News web article


10.10.02

Pluck & Strum II - Fingerstyle Guitar Series. The popular Pluck and Strum concerts of June inspired a second set, with this series focusing attention on three great double-bills featuring some of Minnesota's best fingerstyle guitarists. Nov. 26 Dakota Dave Hull and Cam WatersDec. 3 Tim Sparks and Pat Donohue Dec. 10 Phil Heywood and Dave Ray.


08.22.02

Well, where does one start when attempting to delve into the news in the Minnesota "Acoustic" music scene? I'm sure you'll find plenty to read throughout the area, whether in print on paper or online. How many of these articles will give time and space to "acoustic" music? Probably not enough. Musicians who are primarily acoustic players will be the focus of this page.

So, I will begin with musicians I have the most familiarity with. Let's start with Phil Heywood. Phil has been doing his thing for quite some time. He achieved fingerstyle guitar status when he won the 1986 National Fingerpicking Champion, and the 1987 American Fingerstyle Guitar Festival Competition. Phil has three solo CDs and a Christmas compilation with local guitarists Dan Neal and Pat Donohue.

Pat Donohue is another National Champion, heard most often as a member of the All-Star Shoe Band on the Prairie Home Companion radio show, on NPR/MPR, produced here in the Twin Cities with that guy that likes to sing, Garrison Keillor. Prairie Home Companion is the place to find many of the finest local musicians doing their thing.

One such artist is Peter Ostroushko, known widely for both his mandolin and fiddle talent. While Peter is known are a "A" list supporting musician, he has been recording many CDs of his own as well. A recent recording with Norman Blake has been getting lots of good press.

Now, early Prairie Home Companion guitarist and local musician Dakota Dave Hull, known for his musical partnerships through the better part of the last 30 years, has recently released his first solo CD in a far too long a time. Sheridan Square Rag is indeed a nice piece of work. Look for Dave Hull performances locally in the coming months. Also, look for a new website soon.

Iowa transplant Cam Waters is another fine guitarist we are fortunate to have in our area. With vintage Gibson and National Resophonic guitars ins hand, Cam will impress his audience with both traditional and original songs. Cam's next CD is currently in progress on Dave Hull's Arabica Records.


Now, although I would not have considered the accordion a folk instrument when I was a kid, I sure have changed my mind in recent years. Every group from Celtic to Tex-Mex, to the French Cafe style music being performed so well by local accordionist extraordinaire Dan Newton aka "Daddy Squeeze", with groups that includes the popular Cafe Accordion Orchestra. Dan Newton is another frequent guest on Prairie Home Companion, and plays regularly around the Twin Cities area as well as around the country.


Have some news you would like posted here? Let me know.......

because of so much junk email, I've removed the hyperlink to my email address, so please copy and paste the email address below into your email program........

bob@folkrocks.com

Stay tuned, more to come.............................................

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