Sunday, June 03, 2007

Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival 2007

The Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival is coming up on June 22 and 23, 2007. Enjoy two evenings chock full of great music by artists from as far away as New Brunswick Canada and as close by as right here in Seldovia. All of this of year’s performers are top notch, and many are professional musicians. It’s a rare treat to hear this much talent in a venue that puts you so up close and personal!

Headliners:
‘Dynamic’, ‘captivating’, ‘intense’, ‘absolutely entertaining’ are all words used to describe Canadian Matt Andersen. Blues, roots, and rock sung in a soulful voice and delivered with larger-than-life showmanship have earned him a fervent grass roots following. Oregonian Lauren Sheehan has been playing guitar, singing and collecting piedmont, mountain and country dance tunes for nearly 35 years. With a clear lyrical voice, Lauren weaves music, stories and the history of her music. Her CDs include ‘Two Wings’, Independent Music Awards Album of the Year finalist.

Plus:
Joel Tepp has played concerts and festivals all over the country, regularly adding his slide guitar, harmonica and clarinet to the music of Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, Danny O'Keefe and a host of others. Joel comes to the festival as sideman to Lauren Sheehan. Antje Duvekot has a great voice, uplifting melodic lines and charming stage presence, but she is best known for her songwriting abilities. She has won innumerable awards, including 2006 Kerrville ‘Best New Folk’ songwriter. Bass and tuba player, singer songwriter Freebo’s music ranges from blues to reggae to rock n roll. Known for playing in Bonnie Raitt's band, he has also recorded and performed with Ringo Starr, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Crosby Stills and Nash, Maria Muldaur and many more. Don’t miss Boston poet Tim Mason, world-folk artist Irina Rivkin, or our returning favorites the Terry Holder Band and Seldovia’s own Billy Goat. Alex Weed, Back Alley Banned, Seldovia Fiddlers, and the sultry Simone de Bibliotech round out the program. Then close the festival by dancing to the Irish bluegrass music of Muskeg Sally.

The Lineup:

Friday June 22
Simone de Bibliotech
Alex Weed
Lia Zito & David McCormick
Tim Mason
Antje Duvekot
Matt Andersen
Lauren Sheehan
Back Alley Banned
Irina Rivkin

Saturday June 23
Seldovia Fiddlers
Terry Holder Band
Freebo
Antje Duvekot
Billy Goat
Lauren Sheehan
Matt Andersen
Muskeg Sally

And there will be some great workshops… Learn guitar from Matt Anderson and Lauren Sheehan, songwriting from Antje Duvekot, or fiddle from Lia Zito. Learn ‘playing well with others’ with Freebo or ‘making music with anything’ with Joel Tepp. Or learn about the music business with Tim Mason. There will be contra dancing and harmonica workshops, and workshops just for kids. Saturday workshops run from 1 to 4 pm.

Nuts and bolts: Festival performances begin at 7pm and run until 11pm, at the Susan B. English School in Seldovia. Tickets will be available at the door for $25 per performance and $10 for all workshops, or buy one ticket for the whole festival for $39. Prices for children (K-12) are $10 per performance, $5 for a workshop pass, or $20 for the whole festival. This unique festival offers the Alaskan coastal experience too – rugged mountain fjord scenery, coastal wildlife, great outdoor recreation, and a historic town. Hiking, kayaking, fishing or touring the historic boardwalk, there are plenty of activities for all. Come have some fun!

For Festival information: www.xyz.net/~seldarts
Festival Chair Susan Mumma: (907)234-7614 or rowing@ptialaska.net
For Seldovia information: www.seldovia.com

Seldovia Arts Council press release, June 2007