ARTS
The Michigan Daily
Friday, January 29, 1988
Pog~t7
. . . .. .. .. ... .. ..
Festival
brings
home
the
Folk
By Timothy Huet
The biggest event on Ann Ar-
bor's music calendar occurs this
weekend. No, R.E.M. is not return-
ing. Tomorrow will mark the 11th
occurence of the Ann Arbor Folk
Festival, when some of folk music's
premeir artists gather to do a benefit
for The Ark, our local folk mecca.
The upcoming Festival does not
boast a performer with popular name
recognition like last year's headline
act Donovan, but it more than com-
pensates with a line-up deep in talent
and performing experience. This
year's event features at least three
acts which possess the status to
"headline" a folk festival: Holly Near
and Ronnie Gilbert, David
Bromberg, and Tom Paxton.
The duet of Holly Near and Ron-
nie Gilbert combines two genera-
tions of musical growth and two
strong voices for social justice. Near
grew up listening to the Weavers, a
group including Gilbert and and Pete
Seeger. During the late '40s and
early '50s, the Weavers spun such
classics as "Goodnight Irene" and
"On Top of Old Smokey." But the
group, suffering from McCarthyite
blacklisting for their championing of
progressive causes, eventually dis-
banded.
Yet Gilbert and other Weaver
members, who later reunited, never
lost their commitment or musical
enthusiasm. Gilbert's career would
later take a turn for the better when
she teamed up with Near, a femi-
nist/gay rights activist and singer.
The two join moving words and
powerful voices.
Another person who matured un-
der the inspiration of the Weavers is
David Bromberg. Bromberg, a multi-
talented musician and consumate
fiddler, embraces a diverse range of
musical styles including blues,
country, jazz, folk, and classical. His
talent and range is indicated by a
short list of the people he has
worked with: Bob Dylan, Ringo
Starr, Chubby Checker, and Tom
Paxton.
Who is Tom Paxton? Well, to
begin with, he's John Denver's fa-
vorite songwriter. If you're not a
John Denver fan, don't let his opin-
ion deter you. Paxton counts among
his admirers many singers and folk
afficionados worldwide. His songs
have been sung by performers rang-
ing from Arlo Guthrie to Neil Dia-
mond, Joan Baez to Dolly Parton.
Paxton is best known for his witty
and topical numbers. He is familiar
to many as the "singing correspon-
dent" for National Public Radio
news.
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from Lansing and hometown fa-
vorites the RFD Boys.
Despite the imposing list of vet-
eran and international talent, the
performer that may elicit the greatest
audience reaction is the relative
newcomer from New York, Chris-
tine Lavin. Although Lavin has been
at her craft for a number of years and
has three albums to her credit, she
has only recently begun to establish
a national reputation. That reputa-
tion has been made by a repertoire of
outrageously funny songs and
observations on everyday life. That
repertoire includes a devastating par-
ody of Suzanne Vega, a friend of
Lavin's. She "does" a song with ba-
tons that, well, simply has to be
seen to believe (which I have heard
from good sources'will be performed
at the Festival).
In addition to music, the Festival
will offer the storytelling of Jackie
Torrence. Torrence tells a collection
of ghost stories, Appalachian lore,
and Afro-American tales. She.is
touted as the best of her resurgent
art.
Ken Whiteley, as emcee, has the
formidable task of welding these di-
verse elements together. A folk mu-
sician himself, Whiteley will play
during "set changes" as well as in-
troducing the performers. He will
have quite a challenge following up
so many great acts.
THE 11Th ANN ARBOR FOLK
FESTIVAL begins tomorrow night
at 6 p.m. at hill Auditorium. Tick-
ets are on sale for $14.50 and $16 at
the Michigan Union Ticket Office
and all TicketMaster outlets.
Garnet Rogers (left) and Archie Fisher will be among many of the talented acts featured in the line-up of the
11th Annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival at Hill Auditorium. All proceeds go to benefit the Ark, the year-round
site to catch the finest in folk music.
Immediate Occupancy
For Winter Term
All apartments located on central campus
Flexable Terms -
Maximum Space for Minimum Price
Lots of Parking
st, Ann Arbor We Pay Heat
-- A..l..--(313)l
Two other songwriting veterans
included on the Folk Festival line-up
are Jonathan Edwards and Archie
Fisher. Edwards first burst upon the
scene in 1971 with his million-sell-
ing hit "Sunshine." Although his
sensitive music is now considered
unfashionable, he still entertains
those audiences with which quality
never goes out of style. Archie
Fisher, accompanied by Garnet
Rogers, is a Scottish singer with a
voice unsurpassed in richness and
tonal depth.
Fisher's neighbor from Ireland,
Maura O'Connell, will be appearing
with her band. O'Connell's voice,
matches Fisher's in ability to capti-
vate. O'Connell was voted top fe-
male vocalist by her fellow coun-
trypeople and readers of Hot Press
magazine. And getting closer to
home, there will be Kitty Donohoe
721 S. Fore
"Af 14 -.33
791 _1 23
700 Geddes, Ann Arbor
1215 Hill, Ann Arbor
and others...RM
543 Church Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
El The University of Michigan
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Sun.,
Jan. 31
The Piano Sonatas of Franz Schubert,
Part IM
Eckart Sellheim, piano
Recital Hall, School of Music, 8:00 p.m.
FREE.
For up-to-date programinformation on School of Music
events call the 24-Hour Music Hotline, 7634726
1' --
Irish singer Maura
Festival tomorrow
vocalist in Ireland.
O'Connell will be joined by her band at the
night. O'Connell has been voted top female
Di
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