Community / Calendar

Live Music: Folk

Sunday, November 15, 2009 2:00 p.m.

Harry Smith Festival, 2:00 pm to 8:00 p.m.
Second Annual Harry Smith Festival benefiting the Penns Valley Hope Fund.
To understate, Harry Smith was a collector and archivist of traditional American music.
This benefit features eight bands performing songs from the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music, a multi-volume compilation of folk, blues, country and uncategorized authentic recordings that were originally issued from 1927 to 1932 but continue to serve as inspiration to everyone from Steve Earle to Lucinda Williams. The Penns Valley Hope Fund provides emergency assistance to residents of Penns Valley who are experiencing a medical or personal crisis.
For more information on the Hope Fund visit http://www.pennsvalleyhopefund.com.
Food + refreshment, art, great music and a great cause.

The lineup of musicians (in order of performance):

Brush Mountain Band (http://www.brushmountainband.com/) is a dynamic local up and coming bluegrass/gospel outfit. We wanted to get them last year, but the slots filled up too quickly and it didn't happen, but we're delighted they can join us this time around.

The Pearly Snaps (http://www.myspace.com/thepearlysnaps) is Rosie Newton on fiddle, voice, spoons, and banjo, and Stephanie Jenkins on banjo, voice, ukulele, and guitar. Based in Ithaca, we have heard about these guys for a few years, but have never had a chance to see them. However, they're buddies with Evil City Stringband and they come highly recommended, they're from Ithaca, and that, frankly, is more than good enough for us.

Eric Athey (http://www.myspace.com/ericathey) is a roots rock musician based out of Lancaster, PA, and has put on some great shows at Elk Creek. His earlier (& highly acclaimed) CD, Open House, was recorded at Electric Wilburland in Ithaca, NY along with members of Whiskeytown and Son Volt.

Andy Tolins (http://www.porkchopmoney.com/andytolins/AndyTolins.html) is State College's homegrown treasure, a virtuoso musician thoroughly conversant in a ridiculous number of musical genres (and instruments), from bluegrass to blues, to Celtic, folk and swing. Andy's legendary Triple A Blues Band won the Billboard/Musician Magazine's Best Unsigned Band Competition for their album High Water. We're really happy to have Andy on board with us.

The Wringers (http://www.myspace.com/thewringers) are, along with Eric Athey, from the Lancaster area and they appear for the second time at the Harry Smith Festival. They were a duo, are now a trio, and have been lurking in the shadows, just at the edge of the firelight, reveling in all that is unreconstitutedly old, weird and American. They are 21st Century throwbacks and direct pals of the Carters and Charlie Poole. The tunes posted on their myspace page are extraordinary.

Rusty Gun Revival (http://www.myspace.com/rustygunrevival) is another act that played Harry Smith last year, based out of Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Marc Prave heads up Rusty Gun and has a virtual cult following throughout Central PA and beyond. High octane rural rock and roll. Oddly enough, one of their recent gigs was opening for Keith Urban at State College's Bryce Jordan Center. If it's good enough for Nicole Kidman it’s good enough for the 2009 Harry Smith Festival.

Evil City Stringband (http://www.myspace.com/evilcitystringband) comes from Ithaca, NY and will be making their debut at the Elk Creek Cafe the night before the Harry Smith Festival. Evil City includes Richie Stearns on banjo, Steve Selin on fiddle, Pat Burke on guitars, and Ben Gould on bass. These guys all play in multiple bands in the Ithaca area, and Richie has made it down to Elk Creek several times now, playing with the fabulous Horseflies and TiTi Chickapea. Evil City is one of Ithaca's tip-top string bands in a place that literally crawls with tip-top string bands, and we're really pleased to have these folks join us.

Chicken Tractor Deluxe ( http://www.myspace.com/thechickentractor ) for the second year, host band to the Harry Smith Festival, playing American Rural Music, and putting our queer shoulders to the wheel of 21st Century End Time.


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Details

COST: Cover Charge
BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks
WEBSITE: http://www.elkcreekcafe.net