Harpeth Rising
Since its inception, the festival has been a combination of a music fest, family reunion, community gathering, and weekend musical retreat, according to the festival’s organizers. In addition to the festival’s headliners, a number of Florida-based musicians and other national touring acts are slated to perform. These include Alan Bradford, Jon Brooks, Ellen Bukstel, Carlos and Carlos, Steve Chizmadia, Brad Cole, Freebo, Friction Farm, Marci Geller, Jennifer Hajj, Matt Harlan & Rachel Jones, Kiya Heartwood, Laura Heintz, Lara Herscovitch, Jennings and Keller, Josh Joffen, Eileen Kozloff, Mara Levine, Rod MacDonald, Elaine Mahon, Jed Marum and Rickey Pittman, Paddy Mills, Moors & McCumber, Zoe Mulford, Shane Myers, Marie Nofsinger, Murray Palmetto’s South Florida Swamp Show, Heather Pierson, Pinkslip Duo, Jefferson Ross, Dave Rowe, Spirit Wing, 2 Guys (former members of The Highwaymen), Mare Wakefield and Nomad, and James Welton. Some of the performing artists also will lead workshops, while there also will be a jam area for those who enjoy playing traditional folk and other acoustic styles of music. Campfires also are planned for both evenings after 8 p.m.
12 Artists, Duos Featured in Singer-Songwriter Competition
Kicking-off the weekend’s musical festivities on Saturday, Jan. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will be the 12 finalists in the 2015 South Florida Folk Festival’s singer-songwriter competition, each of whom will perform two songs. They are Marc Douglas Berardo, Adam Burrows, John Butler, Kate Callahan, Robin Greenstein, Christopher Mark Jones, The Levins, Nicole Noel & Chance Meyer, Jan Seides, Martin Swinger, Debbie Tassone & Gary Frost, and Dan Weber. Three winners selected by a panel of judges will each receive the Vic Heyman Songwriting Award – a cash prize and an invitation to perform at next year’s festival. In addition, winners and runners-up may be afforded the opportunity to play ‘in-the-round’ during the festival’s second day on Sunday, Jan. 18.
The songwriting competition is co-presented by Reba Heyman. Along with her late husband, Vic, Reba has been an integral part of the folk community in South Florida and nationally for many years. The couple has been known for decades for their generous financial backing of folk festivals and artists. They formerly ran a concert series in Rockville, Maryland known as Vic’s Music Corner, have established a scholarship fund for artists, and served on the boards of several music festivals.
For more information on the festival, which is co-sponsored by Sea Turtle Oversight Protection (STOP), and to order tickets in advance, visit www.southfloridafolkfest.com.
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