Musicians and Performers appearing at the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
Fisher Kiernan
Annie and the Hedonist
Folksy, wide range of acoustic standards, gospel, labor ballads, early jazz and blues. Annie and the Hedonists has a strong lead singer with the harmonic backup that make for a popular act.
Sundad
“Father and son play New Age and World Fusion finger picking guitar acoustic instrumental music”
The Mojo Myles Band
Led by 14-year-old Myles Mancuso. He’s been fronting his own band of adult professionals since he was nine – he’s played on some of the top stages in Manhattan; BB Kings, The Cutting Room, The Iridium Jazz Club, Madison Square Garden (Knicks Half Time show),The Red Lion, Tera Blues and many other stages around the New York City and the Hudson Valley area. He has also become a Festival Favorite playing a number of well-known festivals including Warren Haynes’ Mountain Jam Festival and the Sarasota Blues Fest.
Captain Squeeze and the Zydeco Moshers
One of the most versatile zydeco bands in the country”. Since their beginning in 1996, they have become one of the busiest zydeco bands from the Northeast performing throughout the region. Their music appeals to people of all ages and musical tastes. They work hard to involve the audiences by having extra scratch boards for “guest” appearances with the band every set. Zydeco music is infectious and this band wants to help that continue! Once their spicy music flows into your ears you’ll definitely catch “Zydecosis”. Their third dance party CD “Bayou Party Downtown” was entered in the first running for the Grammy competition in 2004. The musicians are Greg Speck (Captain Squeeze), accordion; Alek Speck, rub board; Bill Lawrence, bass; Brian Egan, drums; and Justin Cross, guitar. The band’s unique approach to playing Louisiana Bayou music keeps dancers jumpin’ all night long as they mix old-time traditional and new zydeco with a flavor all their own.
Mark Rust
Performances that showcase an impressive array of instruments, including fiddle, guitar, hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer and banjo. He writes his own songs based on personal experiences and sings about family, good feelings and home. Come enjoy a fun, interactive performance by an impressive musical talent.
One World Puppetry & Performance Art
Our magical friends will be appearing from New York’s very own garlic patch. Keep your eyes open throughout the festival grounds and at the kids tent for the Garlic Giant and his friend the Garlic Fairy. They will be wandering the festival grounds and having fun with one and all, celebrating this year’s garlic harvest.
Morris Dancers
Perform an ancient dance that was traditionally used in the Spring planting time, with the bells, whistles, and pounding sticks of the dancers driving the evil spirits from the newly plowed fields. And again the dancers will be performing their celebration of the harvest.
The Homegrown String Band
Is a 22nd century incarnation of the traditional family band. The band, which was literally home grown, consists of Georgianne and Rick Jackofsky and daughters Erica and Annalee. Utilizing unique instrumentation and varied musical influences, this quartet of acoustic musicians from Rocky Point, NY has put their own stamp on traditional American music. Their repertoire consists of traditional and original music inspired by the rural string bands that recorded during the 1920s and ‘30s, as well as all the great American roots music that followed. The family that plays together has been performing atg coffeehouses and music festivals from Maine to Missouri since 1997. At a Homegrown String Band show you will be treated to the sounds of fiddle, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, clawhammer banjo, banjo ukulele, mountain dulcimer, jawharp, and old time family style singing, as well as some percussive flatfoot dancing as The Homegrown String Band takes you on a rollicking ride through the sounds of American music, from the driving rhythms of old-time dance tunes to the mournful sounds of mountain ballads and blues.
Jules and Rick
We are a husband & wife singer-songwriter team based out of Woodstock, NY. We met in NYC in the mid 90’s when we were both doing the actor/musician thing. We started performing together and we both liked what we heard. For the next several years, we kicked around the NYC music scene, met some talented musicians who we were lucky to work with, built up a little following and had an all around great time. Well, except that the both of us were getting a little tired of city life (understatement).… and then we got pregnant. By May of 2003, all the pieces had fortuitously (and seemingly through divine intervention) come together and we moved to Woodstock. We’ve been fortunate enough to perform quite a bit since we got here, having gigged at the (Colony Café, John St Jam, various & sundry festivals, events & farmer’s markets — and of course our home away from home, Café Mezzaluna). Julie is from Delmar, NY (just 40 min north of us) and I was born in Ecuador but raised in New Orleans. We love performing together and playing for a good audience. We have two boys, 3 & 5. Somehow, the primordial energy from the birth of the universe is being channeled into their souls every single moment of the day. They are, shall we say, quite spirited. And they save our lives each and every day. Anyway, if you dig hearing REAL people play REAL music on REAL instruments, then maybe we’ll see y’all at the next gig. Peace Love and Music, baby.