Past Concerts:

Tom Prasada-Rao
Tom was nominated for "The Spirit of Kerrville" award by the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival

Tom has won the Washington DC "Wammie" award for musician of the year.

Tom won "Best Independent CD of the Year"

...and many other honors as well.

Born in Ethiopia to Indian parents, Tom Prasada-Rao grew up in the D.C. area. He started violin lessons at age seven--upon his parents' insistence---followed by piano lessons. It was in high school that he picked up the guitar and it became a way for the shy teenager to come into his own. "Music was a way of making friends, of becoming a person," he says. Tom spent several years in college in England and India, and after returning to the States was in two local bands -- Mantle and Traveler's Crossroads. Since those early days, Tom has developed a fluid, rhythmic guitar style that dazzles all those within earshot. Since being a 1993 Kerrville New Folk Award Winner, Tom's career has skyrocketed. Not only was he asked to headline the 1994 festival, but he has also performed at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, Christine Lavin's Martha's Vineyard Retreat, and the Bottom Line. In addition, he was awarded a "Wammie" for the 1993 Folk-Contemporary Male Vocalist by the Washington Area Musician's Association.

Tom's views on tolerance and accepting others is not only prevalent in his songs, but in his life. For the past three years he has helped raise money through his performances for organizations like the Community for Creative Non-Violence, Art With A Heart, and Midwest Flood Victim Relief. He was also involved with a memorial service for Mitch Snyder, the late homeless activist for whom Tom wrote the beautiful "Ashes of Love".

Tom Prasada-Rao will be around for a long time, and no doubt, his music much longer......

http://www.songs.com/tpr/

Barton & Sweeney
 Saturday, May 1, 1999

Barton&Sweeney

Since their reunion as a duo Barton & Sweeney have gained considerable recognition as performing songwriters, showcasing at Crossroads in Memphis and South by Southwest in Austin. Sweeney was chosen as a Kerrville New Folk finalist in 1994 and 1995. The release of their debut album, River Red, on TinderBox Records in 1996 led directly to a return to the Kerrville Folk Festival as mainstage performers (returning in 1999). Invitations to showcase at the Napa Valley Music Festival, The Falcon Ridge Festival, and Northeast Regional Folk Alliance followed. The result of this attention has been the natural expansion of their touring from a regional to a national scale.

Tight and powerful vocals, penetrating lyrics, and exceptional musicianship presented with wit and humor are the hallmarks of Barton & Sweeney's live and recorded performance.

http://www.bartonandsweeney.com

L. J. Booth
 Sunday, March 22, 1998

When L.J. Booth came out of the woodwork, in 1987, with his self-produced cassette of originals, few outside the songwriting community felt the ripple. But amongst fellow songwriters, YARNS was passed along and the word went out. SING OUT described this quiet debut as "simply, great music", and added, "I don't know how far he has strayed from Wisconsin thus far, but L.J. Booth is one hell of a Yarnspinner and singer...".

Newcomers to L.J.'s live performance quickly learn to expect the unexpected. One New England reviewer wrote, "An uncanny ability to improvise lyrics .... nay, entire narratives .... must be heard to be believed". Fans have come to anticipate his onstage creation of a "song of the day----a kind of lyrical diary entry --- that finds its way into his sets".

Rod Kennedy 1989 Kerrville Folk Festival: "The surprise hit of our opening night..."

Tom Pease - Peaseblossom Concerts, Amherst, WI: "He's one of the Midwest' finest songwriter/performers. What a shame that it's such a damn good secret. Booth's storytelling and music are superb."

Shawn Phillips
 Saturday, February 21, 1998

Shawn Phillips is celebrating his 25th anniversary as a recording artist. Over these years, he has released 17 albums, selling an estimated nine million records worldwide.

Phillips was born a touring musician in Fort Worth, Texas on February 3, 1943. By the time he had picked up the guitar at age six, he had lived with his journalist/novelist father James Atlee Phillips in every state in the U.S.A., Mexico, Canary Islands, Tahiti, England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Africa and Italy.

At age 20, Phillips recorded his first folk record, First Impressions, in 1963 England for Capitol records. A year later, Phillips made another record for Capitol, called My Favorite Things. Barely selling 10,000 records, the struggling artist was dropped from the label. During the next six years, Phillips showed Joni Mitchell how to play the guitar, co-wrote Donovan's Sunshine Superman album, roomed with Tim Hardin, starred in a movie called, Run With The Wind and became the original lead singer for the Broadway musical, Jesus Christ Superstar.

Phillips made the Billboard charts with songs like Woman, We, Bright White and the theme song for the movie, Lost Horizon. His music is eclectic, ranging from symphonic overtures to stripped down solo guitar, part rock, folk, jazz and experimental. Phillips is also known for his unique usage of the voice and compassion for the human condition. Many of Phillips' techniques were firsts.

Phillips has an extraordinarily loyal audience, as evidenced by his recent, sold out tours in South Africa and Quebec.

Today, Phillips volunteers his time to an Austin, Texas fire department. He has survived a triple decade, roller coaster ride career and triple bypass heart surgery. Wherever the wheel of fortune may stop, the man of health, love and clarity has no regrets. His music still touches the hearts of millions and has left him a legacy of loving and dedicated fans worldwide. Phillips is a warrior and it's not likely we're going to hear the last note from him anytime soon. Having a new anthology released this year, Another Contribution, there is no end in sight to Phillips' prolific music.

http://www.shawnphillips.com/newhome.htm

Ruthie Foster
Friday, December 5, 1997
The Blues Queen
of the Brazos Valley:

Ruthie Foster has become synonymous with the local College Station entertainment scene. As a mainstay at the 3rd Floor Cantina, Sweet Eugene's House of Java, Chelsea Street Pub and othe venues, Foster has built a strong local following with her blend of blues, folk and soul.

Beginning her musical career as a young girl singing in her church choir, Ruthie has studied music theory at McClennan Community College in Waco. In 1986 she joined the Navy, performing in the Navy band and the Navy Commodores, the most elite band in the Navy.


We are very proud to have this opportunity to showcase one of our own.

Emily Kaitz & Mike Sumler
 Saturday, November 22, 1997

Emily Kaitz

Mike Sumler

Texas Beat Magazine: "Excellent tongue-in cheek humor laced with a dose of realism... recommended for those who enjoy thinking and laughing."

Austin American Statesman: "There's a golden mean somewhere between humor and sentimentality that can produce a great song. Few songwriters have the ability to achieve that balance, but Emily Kaitz often makes it seem effortless... she juxtaposes the clever with the sincere, giving the laughs a chance to sink below the surface."

Emily's songs have been recorded by:

Trout Fishing in America
The Austin Lounge Lizards
The Therapy Sisters
Dave Pomeroy
The Cow Pattys
Vicki Fowler
Nancy Scott
1997 winner of the Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk Award.

Currently a finalist in the 1997 Napa Valley Folk Festival's songwriter competition.

1997 nominee for best Folk/Acoustic Performer in the Houston Press Music Awards, he was also nominated in the Best Songwriter category in the Public News Reader's Poll.

The Houston Press: "Mike Sumler is one of Houston's finest songwriters."

The Houston Chronicle: "A terrific, bluesy songwriter."

Peter Tooker: "This is musical narrative at it's finest."

http://www.songs.com/noma/ek http://www.westerndesert.com

Marilyn Rucker & (The Return of) Steve Brooks
 Saturday, October 11, 1997

Steve Brooks

Marilyn Rucker

Ellis Paul: "Steve Brooks writes with the kind of dry wit that makes you chuckle and spit sand, yet he has the same sense of commentary and observation that made the likes of Woody Guthrie a national hero."

Austin Chronicle: "Steve Brooks may very well be the quintessential country singer."

David Amram, composer: "Steve Brooks has made an important contribution to the Texas tradition of the singer-poet-musician, saying those things we think and dream about, but never get to hear expressed."

Bob Brooks: "Steve Brooks writes about what he knows... the feelings common to most of us; feelings of love, rejection & laughter as well as a fascination with life so often lost on adults... but common to all children."

Steve Brooks: "Former Therapy Sister Marilyn is the wicked wit of the West, feminism's answer to Tom Lehrer and one of the funniest players ever to tickle the ivories."

Emily Kaitz: "There are not many performers in this town who I would describe as "even more strangely entertaining than me", but Marilyn Rucker is one of them (and possibly the Cow Pattys too, but we're not talking about them). I first got to know Marilyn when she was a member of the Therapy Sisters, and her songs and antics with that group are legendary (not to mention her costumes). Now that's she's branching out on her own, I have no doubt that whatever it is she does will be delightfully quirky and amusing."

http://www.stevebrooks.net/ http://www.marilynrucker.com

Lui Collins
 Thursday, September 11, 1997
"Nominated in 1991 for Boston Music Awards' Outstanding Folk Act"

"Winner of a 1995 Parents' Choice Honor for her album North of Mars"

The Boston Herald: "Folksinger of Our Times"

The Hartford Courant:"Collin's voice is clear and pure, and her sound is reminiscent of another songwriter, Nanci Griffith"

"Children were among Lui Collins' most avid fans even before she began giving children's concerts. Along with the genuiness of her presentation, the beauty and magic of her music seem to entrance people of all ages."

http://www.luicollins.com/

Women in the Round !
 Friday, July 18, 1997
Linda Lowe
Ann Armstrong Darcie Deville

http://www.hsound.com/witr/

Ed Miller
 Saturday, June 14, 1997
"One of the finest singers to come out of the Scottish Folksong Revival"
Ed is a product of the 1960's folk revival in Scotland, having progressed from sessions in Edinburgh pubs, to the Edinburgh University Folksong Society, to appearances at folk clubs throughout Scottland. Ed's repertoire is representative of the breadth of the Scottish folk revival, including ageless ballads and the songs of Robert Burns, as well as recent songs which are entering the folk repetoire and keeping it fresh.
Bill Brooks: "Ed Miller is hearty, rich, and as stout as any good Scotch Whiskey (and just as much fun to partake of.) Thanks so much Ed, for traveling the world collecting folk songs so you could bring the best to us. It was a delightful evening which never let up. The wonderful stories in the songs were all woven together with a delightful banter in between."

Vince Bell
 Saturday, May 17, 1997
Rolling Stone: "...Bell has returned with the album of a lifetime in Phoenix."
Nanci Grifith: "From all of us who were beating paths around Texas in the 70's, I always felt Vince was the best."
Lyle Lovett: "He writes songs about his life, and when I listen to Vince's songs, I would want to know more about the person singing the songs. I think that's what great songs do."
Townes Van Zandt: "Vince is a poet."
http://www.cleaf.com/~marq/vblnkdx.html
http://www.lnstar.com/vincebell/index.html

Steve Brooks
 Friday, March 21, 1997
Ellis Paul: "Steve Brooks writes with the kind of dry wit that makes you chuckle and spit sand, yet he has the same sense of commentary and observation that made the likes of Woody Guthrie a national hero,"
Austin Chronicle: "Steve Brooks may very well be the quintessential country singer."
Bob Brooks: "Steve Brooks writes about what he knows... the feelings common to most of us; feelings of love, rejection & laughter as well as a fascination with life so often lost on adults... but common to all children. Matched with the incomparable voice of Jackie Kemmy the duo project a synergy that grabs an audience, starting their toes a tapping... And, they are just Good Folks !"

http://www.stevebrooks.net/

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