Falcon Ridge ‘Most Wanted’ Artists Named

Scott Cook, Zoe Mulford and South for Winter have been invited to participate in the Most Wanted Song Swap at this summer’s Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. They were chosen in balloting by 2019 festival attendees from among 24 artists/bands who performed in last year’s Falcon Ridge/Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase.

Scott Cook, a Canadian prairie roots balladeer, was the top choice “with an amazing 49% of voters in his corner,” according to Anne Saunders, the festival’s artistic director. An internationally touring Edmonton, Alberta-based troubadour, Cook has been playing an average of more than 150 shows and a dozen festivals annually since 2007. His sixth album, Further Down the Line (2017), is packaged in a 132-page softcover book that features a look back, in words and pictures, on his first decade of near-incessant rambling. A straight-talking, keenly observant singer-songwriter, Cook delves in folk, roots, blues, soul and country, and accompanies himself on fingerstyle guitar and clawhammer banjo.

Here’s a link to a video by JB Nuttle of Cook performing “Fellas Get Out The Way”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q3iGNvkPM8praie

Zoe Mulford, a transatlantic singer-songwriter, is, perhaps, best-known as the writer of “The President Sang Amazing Grace,” which was covered by Joan Baez on her 2018 album Whistle Down the Wind and was named Song of the Year in the 2018 International Folk Music Awards presented by Folk Alliance International. Baez’s recording was the most-played song on folk radio during March 2018, while Mulford’s own rendition of it appears on her 2017 release Small Brown Birds that was the most-played album on folk radio in February of that year, according to the Folk DJ Charts.

Here’s a link to view a video by JB Nuttle of Zoe Mulford performing the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qdB1EypJFU

Mulford, who originally hails from Pennsylvania, has released five albums on the cooperative Azalea City Recordings label. She now lives in the North of England and tours on both sides of the Atlantic.

South for Winter is a genre-bending Nashville, Tennessee-based trio whose music fuses folk, blues, classical, jazz and rock elements. Band members cite The Civil Wars and The Lone Bellow among their influences. Initially a duo featuring Colorado singer-songwriter Dani Cichon and New Zealand musician Nick Stone who met while doing volunteer work in Peru in 2014, South for Winter became a trio with the addition of Michigan cellist Alex Stradal in 2017. The group released its debut EP in January 2018 and a follow-up EP that August before embarking on its first national tour. The band has since toured Canada as well.

Here’s a link to view the official video for South for Winter’s song “All We Have”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnjwe7k6Mp4

Popular Festival is Set for July 31-August 2, 2020

Among the Northeast’s most popular festivals, the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, now in its 32nd year, takes place July 31 to August 2, 2020 at Dodds Farm on route 7D in Hillsdale, New York, located in the foothills of the Berkshires near the tri-sate corner of NY, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The festival features dozens of artists performing on several stages (including a dance tent), children’s music and activities, and a wide array of crafts, food and other vendors. The three-day community of folk music and dance is preceded by a pre-fest day of activities on Thursday, July 30 — including a farmers market and tastings in the Family Stage Tent during the afternoon and live music curated by Tribal Mischief Productions from 5-11 p.m. at The Lounge Stage.

Although many of the festival’s participating artists are still to be announced, its popular Friday Night Summer’s Eve Song Swap will feature Vance Gilbert, Matt Nakoa, Susan Werner and one more TBA. Longtime festival favorites Katryna and Nerissa Nields and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams also have been confirmed for the weekend.

Apply Now for Falcon Ridge/Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase

Applications also are now being accepted for this year’s Falcon Ridge/Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase. From among all entries received by May 10, 24 artists/acts will be selected for two song/10-minute spots on the main stage on Friday afternoon, July 31, during the festival.

An opportunity to be seen and heard in a large amphitheater setting, with hundreds of folk fans, presenters, agents, media and other music industry professionals in attendance, the showcase is open to all performing artists who have not previously showcased their talents at Falcon Ridge in the last two years and who will not be appearing on its stages in any other capacity this year. In evaluating submissions, a panel of three judges will look for high-quality performances of interesting, well-crafted, acoustic-based material that need not be original.

Selected artists, to be notified by June 15, will be assisted by a stage and sound crew and may have their mailing lists, CDs and other merchandise available in the festival’s sales tent. Their names will also appear in the festival program book. Although there is no compensation for showcasing artists, each will receive full admission, on-site camping and meals for the festival, plus one guest pass per act. There is a $20 showcase application fee. Artists may submit materials online via Submittable: https://showcasefalconridgefolkfestival.submittable.com.