Robbi K's concerts are joyous and exhilarating, with a focus on amusing and edifying the entire family, from parents to grandparents, toddlers to teens. Everybody participates with voices, hands, feet and hearts, with an emphasis on jazz, pop, and world music for kids.
Robbi K’s powerful lyric soprano has graced TV commercials for the likes of Coca Cola, Lincoln Mercury, and GE, while also establishing an active career as a back-up singer for such superstars as Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Jewel, Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, Daniel Rodriquez, Mary J. Blige, and Harry Belafonte. With these stars, Robbi has appeared on Oprah, 60 Minutes, Rosie, Live with Regis & Kathy Lee, The View, VH1 Storytellers, The Today Show, and The Late Show with David Letterman.
Woodlands Folk Festival … a community celebration of music
Caleb Hawley
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Now Playing - Other Side of It All by Caleb Hawley
Congratulations to Caleb Hawley for winning the Best Song contest at the prestigious Rocky Mountain Folk Festival in August!
There were nearly 600 entries and 10 finalists. Caleb says, "I received a brand new custom Taylor guitar (picture below) as well as my own slot on the main stage next August. This is extra exciting for me because I have been going to this festival since I was 11 years old, and have imagined what I would do with this opportunity since then."
Caleb Hawley is well-known to fans as local as those of the Grounds and Sounds Café, where he is thought of as one of the most musical people on the planet, and to fans as national as those of American Idol, who were wowed by his incredible audition that had Steven Tyler bopping and singing along. Caleb's performances on the show made him a huge favorite. “Music just pours out of him!” one fan gushes, a result of the fact that Caleb is one of those rare performers who is as much a virtuoso on the guitar as he is with his voice. Add to that the fact that he has won songwriting prizes from the New York Songwriters Circle Contest, the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the Telluride Festival and the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and you have one of the most complete young talents on both the local and national folk music scene.
If you've never seen Caleb perform his unique "Folk-infused Rock 'n' Soul" before, you’ll find yourself wondering how soon you can see him again.
“While lyrically influenced by observational writers such as Randy Newman and Tom Waits, Hawley is also well known for his outstanding vocal capacity and range. The humble performer captivates audiences with soothing folk tunes in the same manner as James Taylor, and with the next breath blows them away with his powerhouse of soul, likened to that of Stevie Wonder. Audiences leave a Caleb Hawley show with a permanent grin, a heart full of laughter, and a tune to hum the whole way home.”Christina Morelli, NYC Art Scene
Woodlands Folk Festival … a community celebration of music
2011 Woodlands Headliner - Maria Muldaur
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Now Playing I'll Be Glad from Maria Muldaur's soon to be released CD Steady Love
Woodlands 2011 is the kick-off of Maria's national tour to promote her new CD Steady Love. Advance reviews of the CD are calling it her best in a long time.
“On Steady Love, her 39th album release, Mill Valley native Maria Muldaur has created a soulful, spiritual, positive and encouraging recording that totally shines from start to finish.” (Mike Hyland, Sonoma Music)
“This release is very musically strong with mostly upbeat Elvin Bishop/Little Feat/Gospel, slinky, funky tunes. Instrumentation is tight and Maria keeps the music flowing from beginning to end. Her best in years.” (AmericanBluesBlog.com)
“Muldaur says she loves New Orleans because it has the same sultry climate as her ancestral village in Italy. On Steady Love, she's never sounded more at home.” (Paul Liberatore, Marin Independent Journal)
The Woodlands Folk Festival is proud to announce that six-time GRAMMY Award nominee Maria Muldaur has agreed to headline our family-friendly festival for 2011. Maria is often called “America’s First Lady of Roots Music.” Best known to the pop world for her 1974 mega-hit Midnight at the Oasis, Maria has since recorded more than 35 albums spanning a wide range of genres including jazz, pop, gospel, rhythm and blues, folk, and every possible combination of American musical styles. She shows no sign of slowing down, and has received three Grammy nominations in the last ten years, most recently receiving a “Best Traditional Folk Album” nomination for her 2009 album, Garden of Joy. After nearly 40 years of performing and recording, she has been described as a “national treasure” of American music. The Woodlands Folk Festival is the anchor to her support tour for her latest recording to be released this September.
Woodlands Folk Festival … a community celebration of music
Miles to Dayton
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Now Playing - Pass it On by Miles to Dayton
Miles to Dayton is a band that wants to get to know you. With a well-crafted mix of folk, rock, classical and funk, this Long Island based ensemble brings an honest message of love, life and laughter to each performance. The M2D recipe is simple: four-part vocal harmony textures, solid songwriting, improvisational violin and cello, and an infectious rhythm section that stirs up the creative stew. The family chemistry adds to the onstage fun, while the unique instrumentation truly delivers an eclectic sound portrait, with a comfortable, down-home vibe in all of the songs and presentation. Miles to Dayton will leave a lasting impression on your ears, relying on quality musicianship and a melody that will carry you back to the next show.
The band features the talents of vocalist Krista (March) Preddice, often compared to the likes of Natalie Merchant and Dolores O'Riordan. Accomplished songwriter Jonathan Preddice also shares lead vocal duty, and plays guitar and cello in the band. Dave March adds to the package by delivering pocket bass lines and heartfelt vocals. Violinist Leanne (Preddice) Strom wields her violin with extreme presence and maturity, using her classical upbringing to add many interesting colors and textures to the m2d ensemble. Newcomer drummer Brian Kroll has only elevated this family band to new heights, providing an exciting and funky edge to the overall sound, while lifting the songs up on a pedestal for all to enjoy. With the successful release of two independent full length albums in the past five years, A long way back (2005) and Rise (2007), Miles to Dayton has developed a strong regional following.
The band has just released its third album: Pass it On, which has gained critical acclaim.
“Miles to Dayton has the ability to blend folk, rock and progressive rock into a distinct sound that, while intricate in its form, seems effortless in the execution of its parts. It is this trademark infusion of acoustic and electric instruments that keeps their music full of contrasts and energy.” David Dircks, Host of AcousticLongIsland.com
"Miles to Dayton crosses a lot of musical boundaries from folk to rock and appeals to a broad audience that spans several generations. We took a big step in scheduling the Rise CD-Release Party here, an evening with Miles to Dayton on the main stage. The result was a show that was an artistic and financial success for the group and for PTPA. It was without exaggeration one of the best performances I have seen at the Patchogue Theatre, and I am not the only one who said that.” Christopher Capobianco, member/Board of Directors of the Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts
Woodlands Folk Festival … a community celebration of music
Johnny Cuomo
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Now Playing - Try by Johnny Cuomo
Johnny Cuomo, is a folk-flavored acoustic roots artist, with influences in rock and traditional Irish music. His "Dylanesque" voice follows the tradition of Roger McGuinn and Tom Petty, in capturing the essential emotion of the American musical spirit from its core beginnings to present. From his rock band, Voice of the Turtle, in the 90's, to his immersion into the Irish music scene, up to present, Johnny's musical style has flourished into one that fuses modern folk rock with an innovative Irish twist. Johnny's most current release, American Idle, can be found on the Paradiddle Records label.
Known far and wide as a "beloved pied piper of children," Johnny will also be one of the featured performers on the Woodlands Family Stage.
“Johnny’s exact expressive voice, strong lyrics and an amazing rootsy/folky sound, are in the best tradition of, let’s say, the early Steve Forbet.”Ray Pieters, Radio MILO, Belgium
"[Cuomo] has a unique style as he fuses modern folk with an innovative Irish twist to create a sound all his own."Liffey Champion, Ireland
"Cuomo has the rare ability to take the simplest terms and create beautifully complex metaphors."Rambles.NET review by C. Nathan Coyle
"Johnny Cuomo is a talented guy. He could probably make a living emulating Bob Dylan, and on the occasional track, he does, but mimicking an artist, even a great, is just not in his makeup. True, on occasion, his voice is quite Dylan-like, but it is the exception rather than the rule. Slightly rough around the edges, it can deliver the soft ballad and the light acoustic rocker with equal ease." Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange by Frank Gutch Jr.
Woodlands Folk Festival … a community celebration of music
Little Feat All-Star Tribute
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Woodlands 2011 will feature a Little Feat All-Star Tribute marking the one year anniversary of the passing of the band’s amazing drummer, Richie Hayward.
Guest vocalists for this event include Caleb Hawley, Kerry Kearney and Annie Marks, with the band core comprised of the Claudia Jacobs Band, drummer Tom Ryan, slide guitar player Mike Bilfulco, bassist Steve Kaplan and percussionist Roman Brygider. This special Little Feat Tribute set is the love child of long time Little Feat fans Claudia Jacobs and Tom Ryan.
Ryan is a founding member of both the popular Long Island group Los Blaggards and the New York Roots Music Association (NYRMA). NYRMA’s mission is to recreate and share influential and beloved music from the past 50 decades. Ryan has also been the radio host on 90.3 WHPC-FM for the past 15 years and is the author of American Hit Radio (a standard on many radio station shelves) and other books.
He explains why he felt compelled to offer this tribute to Little Feat at Woodlands. “Little Feat is the first band I ever heard that managed to merge genres without losing its roots. There was an integrity to what they did that made me believe that I would always love their music. I was right about that. And now, learning the songs, I realize just how much work went into writing those tunes. There's nothing else like them anywhere - by anybody.”
Don't miss this rare and special opportunity to hear the songs of Little Feat live.
Woodlands Folk Festival … a community celebration of music
Beginning of the Day (Jim Dexter and Rich Stein)
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Now Playing - Beginning of the Day
Beginning Of The Day (Jim Dexter and Rich Stein) is an acoustic guitar duo that blends a lifetime of folk, rock and new age influences through a common lens to produce a sound that is fresh, unique and engaging and, first and foremost, is an effort by two talented and versatile musicians who share a passion for the acoustic guitar. Though they met in 1997, Jim and Rich could have just as easily been lifelong friends, judging from their uncannily similar childhood record collections, toy boxes and favorite TV shows. Jim’s Long Island upbringing and Rich’s Michigan/Missouri history share far more commonalities than differences. Graduating high school in 1980, both players explored the wide variety of new sounds available to electric guitarists of the era while keeping their love for the acoustic instrument alive. By the time they met, both Jim and Rich had placed the bulk of their creative energies in the acoustic guitar and its sonic possibilities as a solo instrument. Over the past dozen years Jim and Rich have performed alongside one another in bands, shared gigs as soloists and appeared on recordings by fellow Long Island artists. Jim’s band The Road Home and Rich’s Counterclockwise Ensemble provide both guitarists the opportunity to delve thoroughly into their highly skilled compositional interests; Beginning Of The Day exists with the opposite in mind ... a sonic space both musicians can enter with limited preconceptions and "roadmapping." Their self-titled debut CD was released this summer.
Woodlands Folk Festival … a community celebration of music
Claudia Jacobs Band
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Now Playing - Whichever Way You Go by Claudia Jacobs Band
Described as one of Long Island's most soulful singers and talented songwriters, Claudia Jacobs, who combines folky blues with elements of jazz, soul and Americana, has opened for such folk luminaries as Richie Havens, Judy Collins, Susan Werner and John Gorka. The power and energy of her voice makes her shows an unforgettable experience. After hearing Claudia ride a wave from low-down bluesy to sweet and sassy, one of her fans branded her “a Hardcore Angel.” Claudia is always very comfortable on stage and her audience knows she's happy to be there with them. Her influences run from David Bromberg to the Talking Heads, Stephen Stills and Joni Mitchell to The Weavers and the Red Clay Ramblers. She began her career in Greenwich Village and the famous Speakeasy folk club and has played Folk City, My Father’s Place, Patchogue Theatre for the Arts and the Huntington Summer Arts Festival.
Claudia's band includes Greg Galluccio, author of “Project Studio Blueprint” and owner of NY's Soundsurfr Studios, on electric and slide guitars, and Dr. Dan Weymouth, Composer and Professor of music, on organ and piano. Claudia's long awaited full-length CD will be released this year.
Woodlands Folk Festival … a community celebration of music
Sonny Meadows
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The Woodlands Folk Festival is honored to welcome Long Island classic Sonny Meadows, who will perform a mix of traditional folk and blues tunes along with original material with Drivin’ Wheel, his band with Bob Westcott and Robert Langley.
Sonny is famous for his tributes to Woodie Guthrie, and his timely, politically potent and sharply humorous original songs. Sonny's music has been featured on Long Island radio stations such as WFUV and WUSB, and his powerful song I Haven't Cried Yet, written in the wake of 9/11, appeared in the soundtrack of the documentary Ride On Brother aired on PBS during the first anniversary of 9/11.
In recent years, Sonny has released Let the Light Shine - Songs Celebrating Human Light and Confronting The Dogma, a CD celebrating the ideals of the Humanist philosophy, How Does a Patriot Act, an album of songs challenging the policies of the George W. Bush administration, and I Never Thought I'd Miss Richard Nixon.
Woodlands Folk Festival … a community celebration of music
Artists
2011 Woodlands Artists
execution of its parts. It is this trademark infusion of acoustic and electric instruments that keeps their music full of contrasts and energy.” David Dircks, Host of AcousticLongIsland.com
Claudia's band includes Greg Galluccio, author of “Project Studio Blueprint” and owner of NY's Soundsurfr Studios, on electric and slide guitars, and Dr. Dan Weymouth, Composer and Professor of music, on organ and piano. Claudia's long awaited full-length CD will be released this year.
The Woodlands Folk Festival is honored to welcome Long Island classic Sonny Meadows, who will perform a mix of traditional folk and blues tunes along with original material with Drivin’ Wheel, his band with Bob Westcott and Robert Langley.