South Florida Folk Festival

January 19th and 20th of 2008
Markham Park, Ft. Lauderdale


featuring:
Mason Williams
Chad & Jeremy
Freebo
Annie Wenz
Rod MacDonald
Zoe Lewis
Amy Carol Webb
4 Shilling Short
Mindy Simmons
Grant Livingston
The Kennedys
Marie Nofsinger
& more!




One of my favorite festivals in the great state of Florida, a) because they have an awsome line-up each year, b) the people are great, and c) because I had the good fortune to design the festival artwork 3 years in a row (2000-02).

The festival has been on hiatus since FEMA comandeered the fest's home Easterlin Park to help folks ravaged by those horrible hurricanes several years back.



Freebo started his career together with Bonnie Raitt, then spent a decade as a top rated session man/touring musician, working with artists ranging from John Mayall, Crosby Stills & Nash, and Ringo. His distictive bass and backing vocals stand out on the classic "Midnight at The Oasis" by Maria Muldaur...His tuba performances with Dr. John and the Spinal Tap are legendary! In the late '90's Freebo broke loose with the first of three solo CDs: 1999's "The End Of The Beginning," 2002's "Dog People" (songs about the human/canine connection), and his latest in 2006, the awesome "Before The Separation".

Last year Freebo won the prestigious South Florida Folk Festival Songwriting Competition.

Freebo - Before the separation (LIVE).mp3

FREEBO'S WEBSITE

SOUTH FLORIDA FOLK FEST HOME


MORE About the South Florida Folk Festival Later this week.......

Solo on Saturday

JOHN HALL

On some Saturdays I think I'll share with you the solo side of artists who were made popular by their bands. Starting with a friend....

Singer/songwriter John Hall had his first real success when JANIS JOPLIN cover the song "Half Moon", and THE TYMES recorded "Miss Grace", both written by John and then wife Johanna.
He then formed the Band ORLEANS in Woodstock, 1972, with Larry Hoppen & Wells Kelly. By 1975 they had their first hit with "Dance With Me", in '76 their big hit was "Still The One". After several other hits, and a few albums Hall left for a solo career & to co-found M.U.S.E. (Musicians United for Safe Energy). He carried on with the John Hall Group, and was a key figure in the (M.U.S.E.) NO NUKES Concerts Bonnie Raitt, Graham Nash, and Jackson Browne.

Fast forward a dozen years to 1999, John release his first solo CD, "Recovered", covering songs himself, that he had written and had become hits for Orleans and other artists - Janis, Linda Ronstadt, Steve Warnier, and others. That was followed by the awesome "Love doesn't Ask". On both of tours for those two records, we were lucky enough to has John perform at our coffeehouse Kool Beanz. The first time he asked if he could bring along a few friends - "sure! It's your gig!" I said. He brought along Freebo & Robbie Dupree. Too kool!















Around the time of his 2005 release "Rock me on the Water" (songs about the sea and sailing), John was seriously contemplating a career in politics. During a conversation at that time, he asked me if I thought that that was a good idea. I told him that I thought of all the people I know in music, he'd be the most qualified I could think of. Before he made his decision to run, I sent him this button mock-up!


















On November 7, 2006 Hall was elected as a Democrat to the
United States House of Representatives from the state of New York!




Half Moon from "Recovered"

Half Moon.mp3

Sails recorded Live at Kool Beanz 1-27-01 (2nd set)

Sails_at-KoolBeanz.mp3

Reach - John Hall No Nukes Central Park 6-12-82

John Hall - REACH.mp3

Congressman John Hall

Orleans

The Other Face of Rod Stewart

A few days ago Rod Stewart celebrated his 63rd Birthday...Happy bloody Birthday Rod!
OK, I know, I've heard it all. But Rod from time to time still cuts a good tune (though I'm not often crazy about his recent full length CDs) , and the last time I saw him live (1994) he was still pretty great.



BUT for me, and many others, The ideal setting for Rod was the band THE FACES! Although the Faces came after the Rolling Stones I can hear their influence on the Stones (even prior to the Stones stealing Woody). I can also hear their influence on any number of bands over the last several decades including (of course) The Black Crowes, and one of my favorite new bands out of England VAN TRAMP (more about them soon, promise!).

Last year, the kind folks over at Rhino Records sent me a copy of the amazing Faces Box Set "Five Guys Walk Into A Bar"...a labor of love produce by the band's keyboardist IAN MACLAGAN. 4 discs, chock FULL of the hits, previously unreleased material, and a terrific 60 page booklet. Many of the highlights for me are the alternate takes, and the Live/BBC recordings. Which include - Maggie May, Maybe I'm Amazed, Bad 'n' Ruin, Angel, Stay with Me, The Stealer, Love in Vain, and Flying to name a few.

Sadly, Ian lost his best bloke, (Faces bassist, vocalist) Ronnie Lane after a long battle to multiple sclerosis in 1997. "5 Guys" is dedicated to him.

Anyway, back to Rod. Do yourself a favor and get any Faces recordings, and several of the first few Rod "solo" records, which usually featured the Faces backing him up (I think that was a corporate move - although Rod didn't seem to fight it).

Titles to look for:
Faces: Long Player, A Nod is as Good as a Wink...to a Blind Horse, Ooh La La, and Coast to Coast/Overtures and Beginners (one of my all time favorite Live albums).
Rod: Every Picture Tells a Story, Never a Dull Moment, Smiler, and Atlantic Crossing.

Maybe Im Amazed - (Faces Live).mp3

Borstal Boys - (Faces Live).mp3

Aint No Lady - (Ronnie Lanes Slim Chance).mp3

Hope & Pray -(Van Tramp).mp3

Rhino Records

Ian MacLagen's Macpages

buy Ronnie Lane Slim Chance

Van Tramp's Website