July 5th, 2013: Drawing upon the richness of American folk music traditions, the signature power of THE STRAY BIRDS sound lies in outstanding songwriting that soars in three-part harmony. Raised on music within a few miles of farmland from each other, The Stray Birds were born of a compelling collaboration between two unique writers and vocalists-- the pure, luxurious voice of Maya de Vitry and Oliver Craven's richness of tone and depth of delivery. Grounding their sound in the unshakeable groove of bassist Charles Muench, The Stray Birds are a trio of captivating chemistry and sensitive musicality. From bustling street corners to silent halls, their performances speak to an uncompromising reverence for songs.

Accommodations: 2 rooms still needed.  If interested in helping with or providing accommodations, please call Connie Margison at 301-334-3826.

July 12th, 2013: Called a "force of nature," "the real deal," and "the genuine article," McClung recorded his first CD, Prisoner of the Blues, in 1998as a testimony to the emotionally tough events in life.  BluesWax, the world's largest virtual blues publication, addressed the authenticity of this release by saying it was "tasty blues, served up hot and intense...the kind you'd like to feast on in a hot, smoky club."

July 19th, 2013: The Mon River big Band was founded in the spring of 2004 by Mike Roberts and Mark Cappellini.  The purpose of the band was to "keep alive" the sounds of the "Big Band Era" and to provide ann opportunity for musicians to participate in a great band and have fun.  The 16 member band along with male vocalist performs music by Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Les Brown, Woody Herman, Tommy Dorsey, Buddy Rich and many others.  The members of the band are music teachers and music professors, students and retired band directors.  The program features music from the 1920's-the present.

August 2, 2013: The Boilermaker Jazz Band is an ecstatically fun band performing authentic hot jazz and swing. The group has a wide repertoire that can make an audience swing to a classic jazz standard, get sentimental over an old-time ballad, boogie to a hot jump tune, or get low-down with a gritty blues. From concert halls to dances, festivals to family parties, listeners and dancers agree — with their infectious beat and enthusiasm this band can make any crowd move! Leading the Boilermaker Jazz Band on clarinet and vocals is Paul Cosentino, a full time bandleader/performer who founded the band in 1988 at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He is constantly searching for new and original tunes to add to the band’s classic jazz repertoire — you’ll hear something different every time! Paul plays an antique Albert system clarinet giving him a wonderfully distinctive sound.
    The band also features fabulous female singer Jennie Luvv who will thrill you with her smooth and sultry vocal stylings. From bar room ballads and not-so-standard standards to hot and bubblin’ swing, Jennie’s performances add a touch of sophistication to the Boilermaker ensemble.
    The Boilermaker Jazz Band has performed at major festivals, concert halls, ballrooms, colleges, and clubs throughout the world- including Lincoln Center in New York City, The Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland, and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. See the complete list.
    Everywhere they go, they deliver the good feelings that real jumpin’ jazz can create. Paul and the Boilermakers have recorded six critically acclaimed CD’s and have received rave reviews for their excellent live performances. The Boilermakers have been featured on radio shows across the country and overseas, including a National Public Radio Jazz Series that was broadcast on over 50 stations.

August 9, 1013: KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL’S, NEWFOLK FINALISTS 2004 and 2007!!! CD, Thinking Out Loud, #12 on International Folk Charts/Folk Alley’s artist of the month in 2008.

    The fresh and soulful sounds of Scott and Michelle’s voices, combined with their high energy performance, memorable and meaningful songwriting, and instrumental finnesse, put them in a category all their own. Said to have more sound than two people should be allowed, acoustic Rock or Folk genres could very well hold them but not completely. They dip down into R&B, Jazz, roots, and Blues showing the versatility of this duo.

Accommodations provided by Ron and Peggy Rogers from Alpine Lake, WV

August 16, 2013:  Nora Jane Struthers calls her music “Classic Americana.” The singer-songwriter’s self-titled solo bow, to be issued June 22 on her own label, will be a revelation to roots music fans: overflowing with affecting, literate original compositions and featuring a complement of top Nashville players, it announces the debut of a major new talent.
    Produced by Brent Truitt (Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Dixie Chicks) at his East Nashville studio, Nora Jane Struthers features eleven elegantly crafted songs penned by Struthers, plus a rendition of the traditional “Say Darlin’ Say.” The numbers run the gamut from the stunning “Willie”  (a reconsideration of the murder ballad, sung from the victim’s point of view) and the novelistic “Evelyn” and “Greenbrier County” to “Cowgirl Yodel #3,” a romping melding of Jimmie Rodgers and Western swing, and the timely “One Notch Tighter.”
    Struthers performs her material with a voice as pretty and homespun as the vintage dresses she favors on stage. Her accompanists on the album include acclaimed singer/multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Brien, all-star fiddler Stuart Duncan, award-winning dobro player Rob Ickes, top bluegrass guitarist Bryan Sutton, banjo ace Scott Vestal, veteran bassist Dennis Crouch, and, on backing vocals, do-anything performer Shawn Lane. Truitt contributes mandolin and octave mandolin.
        “It’s not really bluegrass, it’s not really old time, it’s not folk – it’s all of these things,” Struthers says. “In my last year of teaching, we were reading Jane Austen, Shakespeare, classic English literature. The themes in those works and in the music I was listening to – Doc Watson, the Louvin Brothers, Tim O’Brien – came together for me. The universal themes that have been pervasive in storytelling started to develop in my writing. I turned to story-songs.”
    Writing in The Tennessean, esteemed critic Peter Cooper recently said, “Nora Jane Struthers has been creating quite a buzz.” Listen to her new record, and you’ll discover why.

Accommodations provided by: Bruce and Randee Tharp of Oakland, MD

August 23, 2013: The Halftime boys have entertained audiences from coast to coast with their unique blend of acoustic Americana music.  Often described as "jam grass," the band while having strong bluegrass influence, does not include the standard elements of the traditional bluegrass band (there is no fiddle or banjo in the group), and the song selection covers a wide array of musical styles.  In addition to an eclectic song selection, the band also performs a number of original compositions.

Born in 2010, The Carper Family has brought together three of Austin's most
talented young country and bluegrass singers and pickers... Melissa Carper 
[vocals, bass], Beth Chrisman [vocals, fiddle], and Jenn Miori [vocals, guitar]
each of whom grew up singing and playing music with their families. By the time
they created their new "family band", each member had already led her own band
and played with some of Austin's finest musicians. But this particular
collaboration has blended stunning three part harmonies into the finest old
country, old-time, bluegrass, and swing tunes. Their boiled-down and intimate
presentation highlights the quality of their united and solo voices, as well as
drawing out each player's abilities with her accompanying instrument. In
addition to bringing audiences their beautiful renditions of standards, the
group also writes original songs that both honor and challenge the solid country
traditions at the heart of their heart-felt sound. Already cheered on stages and
street corners from Anchorage to New Orleans, the Carper Family looks forward to
showing off their singing and playing for fans of good country music everywhere.

Accommodations: Rooms still needed for this band.  If interested in helping with or providing accommodations, please call
Connie Margison at 301-334-3826.

September 6, 2013: The final concert of the year will be the traditional "farewell to summer" concert with The Remedy.  The group has been officially together about eight years under the leadership of Monty Pagenhardt and Jim Jones.  The two played together while students at Southern High School and revived the music and built the group some years later.  Their music spans the decades of the 60's, 70's, and 80's.