Starting at approximately 1:00 pm

Starting at approximately 2:00 pm

June 7

Peter Mulvey
 

(Peter Mulvey will play both sets)

June 14

Ken Lonnquist
Ken Lonnquist brings laughter and song to audiences of all ages, singing about nature, Wisconsin, and current events. His kid’s songs are simply terrific --- they’ve been the soundtrack of childhood for a generation of Madisonians! 

Round the Bend
Based in Madison, Wisconsin since 2000, Round the Bend blends Bluegrass, Old-Timey, and Western Swing in captivating versions of traditional songs that evoke nostalgia, love lost and found, and barn-dancing fun.  Spirited vocals, tight harmonies, inventive instrumentals and down-home humor have delighted audiences of all ages in many settings.  Released in September, 2007, their CD, Round the Bend, was reviewed by Country Music Historian, Bill Malone, who concluded, “The diversity of styles is one of the most appealing aspects of the music heard here…original pieces, old-time hoedowns, bluegrass standards, vintage blues and jazz tunes….You’re going to love what you hear.” 

June 21

Allison Downey w/ John Austin
Allison has been described as a “masterful performer with a commanding, yet genuine and open, stage presence.” With an MFA in Theatre, Allison is a natural storyteller who creates scenes on stage. Since 2004, Allison has been performing with her partner in music and life, John Austin. Allison’s “Midwestern Urban Folk” originals are complimented by the dynamic grooves of John’s six-string bass. Songs from Allison’s newest recording, Across the Sea (2008), have already produced accolades for Allison. Her  debut CD, Wind at Your Back (2002), produced by Christine Albert & Chris Gage, has been heard on radio around the country.

Bob Westfall
"Part jazzer, part folkie, part “newgrass” picker, Bob Westfall is anything but a typical singer-songwriter. Where many of his peers fiddle about with down-on-the-farm humor and familiar folk-rock progressions, Westfall has set his sites squarely on the adult acoustic market. His tunes about love, regret and life altering reflection are warm enough for mature romantics, and his musicianship allows him to tweak the hook-obsessed consciousness of Triple A programmers."
--Tom Laskin, The Isthmus

June 28

Robert ’"One Man" Johnson
Robert "One-Man" Johnson sings and plays guitar, harmonica, cymbal and a home-made foot piano...simultaneously.  Mixing original folk-blues-oriented material with respectful reworkings of classics, Johnson's songs have a mid-western humor and flavor in spite of his living overseas for the past 25 years.  Finally returning to his current Iowa City home, Robert hopes to rediscover his mid-western roots while enlivening the concert and club scene with stories and songs of life in China, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Turkey as viewed through the eyes of a guy from Rhinelander, Wisconsin. 

Lou and Peter Berryman
With great wordplay, gentle, self-deceprecating, socially relevant, humorous songwriting Lou & Peter Berryman invite comparisons to Tom Lehrer and the Smothers Brothers, Jacques Brel and Gilbert and Sullivan. Their unique style and energetic and friendly performances on 12-string guitar and accordion have earned them legions of fans and regular appearances at top venues around the country, including NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion. 

July 5

Lee Murdock
Noted as a fluent instrumentalist on the six and twelve string guitars, Lee Murdock combines ragtime, Irish, blues and folk styles with his flair for storytelling in songs.  His musical influences span fifteen generations.  Murdock began his folk career in the Chicago area in the mid 1970’s, expanding his repertoire of blues and popular music as his interest in folk music and the maritime tradition grew.  Today Lee is best-known as the Midwest's premier interpreter of Great Lakes maritime music, traditional and original. He has released 15 CDs since 1980. 

Patchouli
Famous for that smiling voice that instantly turns a bad day into a good one, Julie Patchouli’s down-to-earth, hopeful, vibrant songwriting is new American folk music, inspired by worldwide folk styles. Copupled with Bruce Hecksel's blazing flamenco style guitar Patchouli performs inspiring power folk mantras.  Tireless touring troubadours, Bruce and Julie have performed over 1600 times covering enough ground on the road to equal over 6 times around the earth. Patchouli's energy and chemistry on stage leaves the audience uniquely uplifted and transformed.

July 12

Matt Watroba
What would you call a person who is on a first name basis with almost all of the major folk musicians in the North American continent, who has an astounding grasp of the folk music genre both past and present, who manages to be a husband, father, teacher, writer, and excellent folk music performer? The answer, of course, is Matt Watroba. Matt brings a very special set of talents to the stage whenever he appears as a folk musician. His excellent guitar playing, mellow voice, friendship with his audience, and knowledge of his presentations is impressive. Add to that Matt’s own special brand of humor and you are in for a most entertaining and enlightening evening. You will feel his obvious love of folk music, both traditional and contemporary. Matt is the host of the national radio program Sing Out! Radio Magazine, an hour-long magazine format show featuring interviews as well as live and recorded music. The program may be heard on many public radio stations, on XM Satellite Radio in The Village, and it is streamed online at FolkAlley.com.

Tret Fure
Tret Fure’s career spans 4 decades.  She began her professional work at the age of 16, singing in coffeehouses and campuses in the Midwest.  At 19, she moved to LA to pursue a songwriting and musical career and within a year was performing as guitarist and vocalist for Spencer Davis, touring with him and penning the single for his album “Mousetrap.”  She went on to record her own album in 1973 on MCA/Uni Records, with the late Lowell George of Little Feat as producer.  She opened for such bands as Yes, Poco, and the J Geils Band.  Tret also became interested in sound engineering and became one of the first women engineers in LA. She has engineered and produced countless recordings by a variety of artists, including her own work. In the early '80s, Tret discovered the blossoming genre known as Women’s Music.  She has been a major player in that field ever since.  Now after 4 acoustic releases on her own label, Tomboy girl Records, she has re-established herself in the folk world winning the 2004 South Florida Folk Festival Singer/Songwriter Competition in 2 out of 3 categories.  2004 also saw her being awarded the Jane Schliessman Award for Outstanding Contributions to Women’s Music.  Beyond releasing 11 recordings since the mid '70s, Fure also markets of her own line of clothing named after her popular song “Tomboy girl.”

July 19

Randall Williams
Randall is as much at home in a Bangkok slum or a Senegalese village, at the Kennedy Center in D.C. or the Fine Arts Palace in Brussels sandwiched between a twitchy orchestra and a full house, or shoeless on the floor of your living room. Randall has sung in a dozen languages in over 35 countries. 
 Lynne Andrews says: "When Randall left the confines of classical music largely behind, they lost a great talent, but the world gained a good friend - a friend who will tell its stories with grace, compassion, humility and humor." 

William (Chico) Schwall
Folksinger, multi-instrumentalist and songpoet Chico Schwall believes there IS enough to go around and we CAN figure this mess out if we try.  He has played for political rallies, theatre productions, folksong camps for kids, contra dances, union events and released two CD's of original music. Traditional folksongs from a variety of cultures, thoughtful and literate original songs and spiffy instrumentals from the Oregon rain forest. 

July 26

Tim Grimm
Tim Grimm is a nationally touring singer-songwriter and actor from southern Indiana. He has released several highly-acclaimed cds in the past several years, including his brand-new, "Holding Up The World." As an actor he has appeared in 10 major motion pictures, including "Clear and Present Danger" opposite Harrison Ford. He has also worked extensively in television and theatre-- where he also composes music. 

LJ Booth
LJ is right in the middle of working on songs for his 4th CD, which he will be recording live at his home town gig: Tomorrow River Concerts, in his home town of Amherst, WI, on October 3rd and 4th. 

Aug. 2

Tracy Jane Comer, Michael Bryant & Randy Green
These diverse, award-winning musicians will offer collaborative acoustic performances covering a variety of styles, using harmonies and varied instrumentation (guitars, cello, keyboard, bass, mandolin).  
One of Madison's most notable singer-songwriters and multi- instrumentalists, Tracy Jane Comer has been called "North Carolina's gift to Wisconsin" and is often likened to greats such as Joan Baez, Patty Larkin and Joni Mitchell. She was named Instrumentalist of the  Year at this year's MAMAs.
Michael Bryant, known previously in Madison as the front man of acoustic trio Sticky Fingers, has been writing and performing and producing music in various capacities for more than 30 years. Michael combines an effortless, smooth baritone with memorable, engaging songs.
Randy Green is most known these days as proprietor of the renowned Randy's Recording studio (est. 1985) and as sideman/collaborator with Tracy, but Randy has also been writing and performing music himself in various entities for almost 40 years. His song "Home Movies," recorded/released by Robert J, won Folk/Americana Song of the Year at this year's MAMAs.

Small Potatoes
Sixteen years ago, Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso, the Chicago-area duo known as Small Potatoes, decided to hit the road.  "In one year, we quit our jobs, bought a house, bought a car, and became full-time folk singers. Not exactly the best combination, financially speaking.  It wasn't the best business plan, we didn't exactly throw darts at a map, but we might as well have."  What they did have were great songs and musicianship, and the ability to put on a show.  Sixteen years, a million miles, 3000 shows, and four Dodge Caravans later, they are listed as a "favorite act" by many coffeehouses, clubs and house concerts across the U.S. They have made repeat appearances at major folk festivals, including the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Walnut Valley Folk Festival, and Philadelphia Folk Festival. 

Aug. 9

Tracy Beck w/Rick Kubly
“Tracy’s music is about true meaning , life, and the spirit.”
(Gary Goldberg, host of WPRI radio N.Y.)  
“Big string rhythm guitar chops on a vintage martin along with a combination of gritty and romantically lush songwriting, and a voice that echoes hints of ricky lee jones.”
(Ed & Joes, Tinley Park IL)  

Jason Wilber
In addition to pleasing audiences in the United States and Europe with the alternately witty and insightful songs featured on his 5 solo CDs, Jason Wilber has played lead guitar for notable folk, rock, and country artists John Prine, Hal Ketchum, Greg Brown, Iris DeMent, Todd Snider, and Carrie Newcomer. Highlights of Jason's work with John Prine include two Grammy nominated albums: Live On Tour and In Spite of Ourselves (which spent 32 weeks on the Billboard Country Charts) and the 2006 Grammy Award winning album Fair & Square. Jason Wilber's TV and radio appearances include Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Sessions At West 54th Street, Austin City Limits, Live with Regis and Kathy Lee, CNN's Entertainment Week, The Road, Mountain Stage, E-Town, and The Grand Ole Opry 

Aug. 16

Dave Stoddard
With six full length releases and countless other projects, he's gathered kudos as a veteran of the Midwest's music and theater scenes.  He's known widely for getting to the point, lyrically, and has been compared to Loudon Wainwright III and Randy Newman.  Never self obsessed or even self-conscious, Dave creates a community from the stage with an energy that's infectious, and that's hard to find among today's crop of singer/songwriters. Whether playing guitar or piano, Dave's attention to economy and showmanship has been respected by his peers for many years.  His unique shows are filled with the warmth and energy of someone who is earnestly devoted to his audience.  His wide-ranging performances are not to be missed.  He is the present and future of the American singer/songwriter.

April Verch Band
An April Verch show is like hopping a train in northern Ontario, crossing the open prairie, through the Appalachians, down the Mississippi to the Louisiana Bayou, crossing the sea to Brazil, France, the Scottish Highlands and back. April is a world-class fiddler, an electrifying stepdancer, and an expressive vocalist.  

Aug. 23

Ben Bedford
After only three and a half years as a full time musician, Bedford has already gained praise from acclaimed singer songwriter Diana Jones, played Izzy Young's famed Folklore Centrum in Stockholm, Sweden and seen his debut album reach the top ten of the Folk-DJ charts. Calling himself an “American Portrait Songwriter” after his photographic style of writing, he is currently finishing work on his second release, due out tentatively at the beginning of 2009. 

Jack Williams
".... his artistry... is nothing short of amazing. Dazzling picking, expressive voice, unique and interesting songs. He is a showman in the best sense of the word and just wowed our audience. I think they would have followed him anywhere."
-Rich Warren, WFMT "Midnight Special", Chicago IL
"If there is anyone not familiar with Jack's incredible songwriting and prodigious performance skills, my sympathies to you. A Jack Williams show is a slam-dunk win-win-win for all. One of the most enlightened and entertaining performers I've ever encountered."
- Dave Humpreys, Two Way Street Coffeehouse in Downers Grove IL 
 

Aug. 30

Macyn Taylor
Macyn Taylor, a young teen with lots of talent, has been playing guitar since age 7, performing in nursing homes, churches, festivals, farmer’s markets, coffee shops, fund raisers, charity events, memorial dedications, and even on State Street in Madison where she earned the nickname “Sidewalk Superstar.” She now is enrolled at UW Milwaukee studying fingerstyle guitar. There she has met and worked with some of the top finger-style players in the world.

Jeremy Goodman w/John Fabke
(Jeremy is one of the 2007 Mad Folk Scholarship winners!)

We hope to have a photo and bio of Jeremy soon...