MUSIC: New Bedford Folk Festival Brings The Heat
Monday, July 08, 2013
"Bluegrass Pink Floyd" with a driving beat--The Grand Slambovians rocked the New Bedford Folk Festival this weekend.
The Grand Slambovians
You know you’re in for a treat when Grand Slambovians lead singer Gandolf Murphy (a.k.a. Joziah Longo), opens the set by announcing “Well, Good Luck Everybody.” The Slambovians, hailing from some mythical kingdom along the Hudson River, are anything but traditional folk. They claim to play “Blugrass Pink Floyd,” which includes a driving beat, slide mandolin solos, and jam band guitar work. Their “psychedelic folk” sound came through nicely on Bob Dylan’s “Song to Woody.” A highlight is Sharkey McEwen’s slide mandolin work, which adds a really sweet vibe on songs like “Translambovian Bi-Polar Express.”
Expressing their concern about playing before the folk purists, the Slambovians clearly hit a home run with those assembled. Their psychedelic mountain music really rocked the Zeiterion Theatre and got a standing ovation. They tour the US and Europe frequently; check them out next month at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.
Workshops
The New Bedford Festival is known for its thematic workshops, designed by festival Director Alan Korolenko. A great example was a session hosted by John Gorka, called “My Musical Origins.” The workshops put together a panel of artists who wouldn’t normally play together. There is no setlist, the artists listen and influence each other. The interaction can be magical.
In the “Origins” workshop, Gorka was joined by the legendary bluesman Roy Bookbinder, country-folk “writer for the stars” Lori McKenna, and Georgia native, UK transplant Brooks Williams. Gorka’s affectionate wit comes through when reminiscing about growing up in New Jersey. He hits home on songs like Italian Girl; “And they possessed the world’s delights; espresso mornings and lasagna nights.” McKenna, a nationally renowned songwriter for country stars Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Mandy Moore, sang about her hometown of Stoughton, Massachusetts. Her poignant lyrics in “Buy This Town,” paint a compelling picture of life in small town America. “If I could buy this town, I’d keep it small and rough, Full of 3rd shift dreamers, And high school love...”
Another workshop, “Music I Should Play More Often,” featured Quebec Accordion master Benoit Bourque, traditional multi-instrumentalist Jeff Davis, fiddler Jeremy Kittel, New England veteran’s Susie Burke and David Surrette, and up and comers Anais Mitchell with Jefferson Hamer.
From Davis’s interpretation of Doc Boggs “Sugar Baby” to Mitchell and Hamer’s lovely rendition of the Jethro Tull classic “Skating Away,” you never know what to expect. Duke Ellington himself would have been proud of Kittel’s violin clinic on “In a Sentimental Mood.” And the conversation is the definition of lively, with artists sharing memories of meeting Pete Seeger (it seems everyone has a story), and what it feels like to be 8 months pregnant with a baby kicking the guitar during a concert, a memory shared by Burke and Mitchell.
The only problem with the Festival is that it really should be extended over a three day weekend, or better yet, a full week. There are far too many artists and workshops to see in two days. New Bedford Folk is a nice urban festival that avoids the huge crowds and high prices found at others events such as the famed Newport Folk Festival. Families and kids of all ages are welcome here, you've got (air conditioned) indoor and outdoor venues, and its downtown, with restaurants, bars, and local businesses nearby. Put this one on your calendar for next summer!
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