Folk Alley 'Round Town was last night! I'm having some technical difficulties with the blog, i.e. the pictures aren't uploading, but be sure to check back for a photo-soaked entry later today! Also, check out any of the free workshops today on the third floor of the Kent State Student Center, and of course Dr. John, David Bromberg and the Angel Band at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Kent State Ballroom.

- leslie

Joey Allcorn strikes a chord.


Don Helms! This guy rocked. He played with Hank Williams! And check out his sweet bolo tie!


Wayne "the train" Hancock.

photos by leslie cusano.

We don't usually have Sunday night Folk Fest concerts. The worry is that most people don't really want to venture out for a show the night before they have to go back to work on Monday. But, Mountain Heart and Tim O'Brien were available, Monday is a holiday for many - so we went for it. And so did many of you, because the Kent Stage was hopping last night.

And the music was hot! Even though Tim O'Brien is the Grammy winner and probably has higher name recognition, he was the late addition to the bill and opened the show. He told me before the show that he has a new CD in the works (it's a solo CD, without a backing band). O'Brien is so versatile, playing old and new songs, moving between Celtic, folk, blue and newgrass. He sold most of his CD stack out during the interval.

Mountain Heart was an exciting surprise. One of their first trips to the area meant that most of the audience was discovering their live show. These guys are so good (and energetic and young)! Clay is a flatpicking guitar genius, you have to see Barry play banjo to believe it, Adam Steffey is a multiple winner for IBMA mandolin player, Jim VanCleve is a rising fiddle player, Josh played a sweet standing bass solo, and Josh adds real variety (from blues to bluegrass to rock) to the band's vocals. High energy and hot - who could ask for more?
















-photos by leslie cusano

Dan Hick and the Hot Licks have visited Northeast Ohio fairly often over the last few years, and they alway put on a great concert. Great music, dry wit, and the feeling they really know how to put on a show. Tonight's concert at the Kent Stage will be a different treat. Hicks has put together a special tribute to the early folk musicians who got his attention. Folks such as The Kingston Trio, the Limelighters,Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul & Mary.

But tonight's show will include some Hicks favorites. And speaking of faves - it's hard to top "I Scare Myself."

Melanie is about to go onstage and we're waiting for the intermission onslaught. They're handing out slips of paper that give a web address for people to sign an online petition to put Melanie on the ballot for the Rock Hall. She was at Woodstock, so why not? Click http://www.PetitionOnline.com/mssrrhot/petition.com for details. Go Melanie!

Jim Blum has just introduced the first act of the 41st Kent State Folk Festival - Steve Forbert. We have our T-shirt table sandwiched in between the merchandise tables for Steve and Melanie, tonight's headliner. Ashley from Continental Airlines (one of the sponsors for this year's festival) is here having people sign up for the OnePass club. We really value our sponsors, without them, it would be much more difficult to do what we do.

It's hard to believe it's Folk Fest time again. It all starts tonight at the Kent Stage, with Melanie and Steve Forbert. Good seats will be available at the door.

Check out some of the great press on the Festival:
The Plain Dealer
The Akron Beacon Journal
Canton Repository - Steve Forbert
Canton Repository- Mountain Heart
Cleveland Free Times

In honor of tonight's concert - here is a great video of Melanie doing "Brand New Key." I don't know the year - but it must be from around the time the song was a hit.