- For half a century, Sleepy LaBeef has lived his life on stages, in honky-tonks, and on the road.  He has released records in six different decades and has had chart success as far back as the sixties and as recently as the year 2000.  Sleepy LaBeef has shared bills with practically every great in music history: Elvis Presley, George Jones, Roy Orbison, Wanda Jackson, Carl Perkins, has numbered in his band over five hundred people (including the likes of Doug Kershaw, Kenny Rogers, Glen Campbell, D.J. Fontana, and Grady Martin), and has been an admitted influence to such a variety of people as Brian Setzer, Bruce Springsteen, and the Beatles.

- Peter Stampfel remains best known for his records “Holy Model Rounders I & II”, featuring his collaborator/tormentor Steve Weber, from 1963-64.  The HMR started out as an absurdist beatnik take on such academic folk revivalists as The New Lost City Ramblers.  At one point, HMR had director/actor Sam Shepard as their drummer.  Stampfel’s song, “If You Want to be a Bird?” was featured in a memorable sequence in the 1969 film classic “Easy Rider”.  Before the wheels fell off all together, with Weber in West Coast exile, Stampfel managed to snatch one more masterpiece from the Jaws of entropy, 1975’s “Have Moicy!”, a cooperative effort with Michael Hurley and Jeffrey Fredricks & The Clamtones.  After years of thwarted ambitions, Stampfel made another bold grasp for the stars, when he assembled a crack rock/pop unit, The Bottlecaps, which released records in 1986 and 1989.  The New Your Music Critics christened their first album the Best New Independent Record of the Year.  Mr. Stampfel has also obligingly appeared on records by Bongwater, Yo La Tengo, They Might Be Giants, and a Rutles tribute album.  Of his many collaborations, he has noted, “I’m the world’s only human who has played with Buckminster Fuller, Bob Dylan, and Mississippi John Hurt.” Currently, Mr. Stampfel lives in quiet domestic bliss in Lower Manhattan.  He has formed a new group, The Du-Tels with Gary Lucas (formerly of Captain Beefheart’s Band and lately John Osborne).  He holds down a day job as a science fiction editor, raises a family and continually attempts to find a label to release a hefty backlog of recorded music.

Clarence Spady @ Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

- As one of this new generation of post-Muddy bluesmen, Clarence Spady from Scranton, PA is creating his own modern hybrid of R&B-tinged vocals, adventurous guitar work and contemporary lyrics.  His blues credentials have been forged in the fire of his own experiences as a hard-living man and a hard-working musician.  Spady's distinctively raspy, soulful vocals reflect not just his formative lessons from family members, but his years of 'testifying' in church choirs.  His wailing, funky guitar style has been evolving ever since he got his first axe at age four.  In the '80's he spent most of his time as lead guitarist and musical arranger for a band that toured the country opening for the Temptations, the Four Tops, and the Spinners.  In 1996, his album “Nature of the Beast” was released on the Evidence Music label.  Soon, the accolades began pouring in.  “Spady’s ‘Beast’ a beauty” – Washington Post.  Spady was nominated for the 1997 W.C. Handy Awards “Best New Artist” and received the 1998 France Blues Trophy as “Best New International Blues Act of the Year”.   "Spady has a sly snarling vocal style that gives him street credibility and his guitar chops are no joke" - Jazz Times

Frog Holler @ Joclyn's

- "Put stringed instruments in their hands and they bare their souls as if it's their last night on earth", extolled
No Depression Magazine of frogholler in 2001 after the release of the band's third record, "Idiots".  "Idiots" debuted on the Americana Charts at #34 and the band was subsequently featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Post, and on NPR's news magazine, "Here & Now".  A tour of The Netherlands followed, while back in the States the band was gaining a reputation as a "live act to be reckoned with." It's been a long, slow climb from tiny Shoemakersville, Pa, where the band started as a bluegrass trio in 1996, but 2003 saw the band ready to tackle it's "these guys should be huge" label with the release of their fourth and most accomplished record, Railings.

Rachael Davis @ The Plumstead Inn (return engagement)

- Singing on stage since she was two years old.  In the span of her twenty-two years, Rachael has literally shared the stage with Boston based singer/songwriter Vance Gilbert, folk divas Claudia Schmidt and Sally Rogers, Prairie Home Companion regulars Robin and Linda Williams, jazz legends Marcus Belgrave and Winston Walls -- amongst others.  She has opened for Dar Williams, David Lindley, Garnet Rogers, Chris Smither, Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer, Richard Shindell, Susan Werner, Peter Mulvey, Eddie From Ohio, Nerissa and Katryna Nields, The Kennedys, Clive Gregson, Hugh Blumenfeld, David LaMotte and many more.  In September of 2001, Rachael moved from Michigan to Boston and within the span of seven months was awarded a Boston Music Award for Best New Singer-Songwriter.  In 2002, Rachael contributed "Lonely When You're Gone" to the Respond II compilation, which also includes such luminaries as Joan Baez, Dolly Parton, Ani DiFranco, Eryka Badu.  Her influences range from the jazz stylings of Ella Fitzgerald to the soulful pop vocals of Patty Griffin -- with many more in between.  She is a contemporary songwriter but is equally at home singing anything from traditional ballads to Cole Porter to Joe Henry.  In April, 2001, she released her debut CD, Minor League Deities, a collection of original songs featuring performances by many of the people whose musical and personal paths she has crossed throughout her life, including Claudia Schmidt.

Planète Folle @ New Orleans Café (9:30 pm)
- When Vic Sadot jump starts his "Pointe Noir" 10 button accordion into a hot Cajun/ Zydeco song like
"Makin' Love in the Chicken Coop"…or when the whole band suddenly puts on those bizarre Mardi Gras masks
…Get ready for a stunning and memorable show!

Tom Gillam Trio @ Stephen’s Prime (9:00 pm)

- As the Americana genre enters 2001 with a full head of steam, Gillam throws his hat into the ring with his national debut—Dallas (in stores Feb.  6, 2001)—on Gotham Records.  Dallas was recorded with the help of his touring band Tractor Pull, and was produced and engineered by the band’s guitar/mandolin player—Joe Carroll—at his home studio in Philadelphia.  Gillam’s fiery brand of slide guitar is uncommon today’s era, and it stands out in the genre.  His original sound stems from the ability to weave his guitar playing into the fabric of his music, leaving no part without a strong emotional pull.  Each song offers a new perspective on the world and creates a stirring snapshot of life.  His lyrics tell the emotional stories of the many characters he has encountered in his travels.  Either solo, or with Tractor Pull, Gillam performs regularly throughout the East and Midwest.  He has shared bills with artists such as The Dave Matthews Band, Tom Petty, Son Volt, and Garth Brooks.  He has also performed live on Billy Block and the Western Beat, and has gotten spins on commercial and independent radio stations from Kansas to Canada

Psych-A-Billy @ John's Grille
- Psych-A-Billy, the breathtaking-in-its-primitive-splendor, Hillbilly Band.  And, if you're reading this,
it means that Cousin Skidmark's plan to hook the hard drive up to the back wheel of Daddy's Dodge
truck and make'em both spin like a clothes-dryer full of raccoons is actually working . . .

Joe Hillman & Friends @ West End Saloon
- Bluegrass

Young Werewolves @ Bootlegger Buck's
- Clawing their way out of Transylvania, errr...Pennsylvania, The Young Werewolves have unfolded
the true roots of Rock 'n' Roll.  Playing their own brand of Psycho Pop Rock 'n' Roll-a-Billy,
this three piece rocker band will call out the creature in all who dare to infect their ears.
By mixing the styles of classic hot rod Rock 'n' Roll to outlaw punk rock, The Young Werewolves
have created a timeless sound guaranteed to make you howl along and strut your stuff.

Amantes Del Ritmo @ The Towne House
- Latin Rhythm

John Flynn @ 20/20 Fusion Café (First Set: Children’s Show 8 pm)

- Flynn strayed from country music in the 90’s.  His songwriting broadened, as it grew more assured and introspective.  He supported his family by working the cover-bar circuit around his hometown of Philadelphia.  His self-released CDs From the Hard Box of Time (out of print) and Haunted By the Ghost of a Chance began to be receive airplay by AAA radio giant WXPN, and a standing ovation followed his first main stage appearance at the 1995 Philadelphia Folk Festival, cementing John’s growing reputation as a dynamic and original contemporary folk artist.  During these years songs written to and for his four young children became the basis of two highly acclaimed family CDs, Love Takes a Whole Box of Crayons and A Manatee Sneezed on Me, garnering Flynn repeat appearances on the Peabody Award-winning children’s radio program "Kid’s Corner" and the American Library Association’s Notable Recording Award.  A self titled release on Sliced Bread Records was produced by Grammy winner Ben Wisch and yielded John critical acclaim and a national top-fifteen slot on Gavin Magazine’s Americana charts.  "I WILL NOT FEAR" represented a turning point in John's music.  Alarmed by current events and trends, Flynn has begun to speak out and write on topical themes and social justice issues.  His forthcoming Metta Four Records release, Dragon, documents this transformation as the former political science major addresses many of the issues he sees adversely affecting the kind of world our children will one day inherit.  Dragon is John Flynn’s second pairing with producer / Grammy winner Ben Wisch.  Studio legends Shawn Pelton, Duke Levine, and Stephanie Winters head an all star cast of musicians, with Jane Kelly Williams and legendary songwriter/actor Kris Kristofferson, providing backing vocals.
                  "John Flynn is as close as we come these days to a live Phil Ochs" - SingOut! Magazine

Brother Ray & Monica McIntyre @ White Birch Gallery (FREE!)
- Funk/Jazz/Spoken Word

John Lionarons & Kathy McMearty @ Pinocchio's
- Original songs and folk faves from around the world

Roots Ramblers: • Mike Davis • The Man in Black • Rob Birch • They'll be Ramblin' Around

 

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