Artist Bios

www.andinarich.com  and www.myspace.com/sandyandina
Sandy Andina is a singer-songwriter-humorist who performs solo and with her bands SASS! (with Susan Urban) and Andina and Rich (with Stephen Lee Rich). Sandy plays acoustic guitar (6- and 12-string), mountain dulcimer, electric bass, autoharp, and 5-string frailing banjo. Due to her years as a rock band bassist, she thoughtfully chooses rock and other covers to add to her mostly-original solo repertoire, which still receives worldwide air- and Internet play.

www.myspace.com/laandthetimekeepers  

Laurie Akermark's story is her terrific voice. She's been deeply involved in the campaign to support survivor programs of the August 1, 2007, collapse of the 35W Bridge. “The MN Helps Bridge Disaster Fund” CD has the award-winning tribute song “Another Detour Ahead.” Laurie comes to LilFest with Brad Stoeckel, bassist, both formerly of the band, LA and The Timekeepers. Laurie placed 3rd and 4th in Women in Music MN and received an honorable mention as a songwriter in the Jazz and Popular division of ASCAP. In her songwriting was nominated for the RPM Challenge 08 compilation CD.

She loves to write about anything that tugs at the heartstrings and sometimes things that are just too funny to be ignored.

Gary Badik was born in northern Ohio, where his father played sax in a local big band. Gary took up piano at an early age and later toted his guitar around the country. His musical influences range from John Fahey and John Renbourne to the Beatles and Neil Young. His music is built around expressing the strong emotions of life; from blues, to sadness, to joy, and humor. Gary enjoys sharing songs and ideas with an enthusiastic and creative audience. His idols are the truly great performers who master their live craft as though they are channeling from beyond. The rawness and realness of live performance is the art form he loves. He’s always honing his craft, looking to provide that musical channeling experience.

Sherry Bondi is a singer-songwriter based out of Chicago, Illinois where she lives in the historic Rogers Park area on Lake Michigan. She blends beautiful finger-style playing with clever and insightful lyrics that reflect life, love, sorrow and the power that nature has on all living things. Her love for nature and the environment, and the power that it has over all of us is woven throughout her melodies and poetry. Sherry Bondi's Myspace

www.coopernelsonearly.com   and www.myspace.com/cooperandnelson

After two decades and thousands of performances, Phil Cooper and Margaret Nelson are still delighting audiences with their interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk music, the bedrock of their repertoire. Since teaming up with guitar-playing Phil in 1982, Margaret has provided lead alto and harmony vocals, percussion, and comic relief for Cooper & Nelson. A single adjective isn't enough to describe Cooper & Nelson shows; their approach to folk music is humorous, informative, heart-warming, thought-provoking, and (when they launch into one of the gloriously grim old ballads) hair-raising.

Phil Cooper grew up with folk music, opera, and Evangelical Lutheran church music. In college he was exposed to the folk-rock of Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention, which led him straight back to traditional ballads and the vigorous finger-picked guitar playing of Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, Dick Gaughan, and Bert Jansch. Phil performed in the ’70s with guitarist Brent Chilton and fiddler Kirk Chilton. Since 1982, Phil has traveled, performed, and recorded 17 albums with singer Margaret Nelson, who shares his fondness for strong stories set to beautiful tunes. Phil is also an ardent admirer of traditional Scottish fiddle music, and has recorded two CDs of his guitar settings of music from the Fraser, Skye, and Gow collections of fiddle tunes.

www.rickdrost.com 

With his striking rich and rolling vocal sound, complimented by his strong, knowledgeable, and varied guitar work, only once in awhile can you tell that the banjo was where he got his start. (!) Rick Drost writes wonderful songs with interesting word work. So wonderful, in fact, that even while being a full-time IT fellow, he garnered a finalist award at the Great Waters Folk Festival Songwriting Contest. Drost makes a rare appearance away from the vibrant New York and New England folk circuit, unless, of course, he’s appearing in the Yale Alumni Chorus in Moscow, Wales, London, St. Petersburg, Carnegie Hall or something.

www.timdugganmusic.com 

Making music for almost 30 years, Tim Duggan’s style has been described as folk, country, blues, Americana, Shakespearean bizarre, and just plain good. His pure voice, storytelling of real and imagined people, and spinning tales of heroes and antiheroes from old and new days all have captivated audiences in several states, Canada, and Europe. Dr. Tim (that’s what his students call him) is also a professor of education and director of a residential academic and arts camp for gifted youth. At camp he is known primarily for his bad jokes. His two solo recordings are Language Arts 101 and Language Arts 201.

www.markdvorak.com  and www.myspace.com/markdvorakmusic 
No one spins a yarn or sings an old timey song with more skill and respect than Mark Dvorak. He’s a builder of the folk world, in Chicago, the region and the continent. His voice and song writing bring the heart of folk music into our contemporary world with humor, authenticity, and a great warm voice. Mark Dvorak’s roots are in Chicago. But since 1981, he has been crisscrossing the country performing, teaching, and learning. His concerts and recordings have been hailed as “a refreshing portrait of the living folk tradition.” When he travels the back roads to an out-of-the-way place or little town where the songs of the American experience seem more deeply rooted, his performance is like a friendly conversation with neighbors. He has been called “a folk singer’s folk singer who follows unerringly in the footsteps of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie,” and his song writing has been called “wondrous” and “profound.” His natural style of performing can make an old song sound new and a new song sound familiar and have distinguished Mark as one of today’s important folk artists.

http://www.myspace.com/jayeinhorn

www.myspace.com/februaryskyfolk

February Sky is traditional singer and Celtic guitarist Phil Cooper with songwriter and singer Susan Urban. Although Phil and Susan have played in different bands over the years, occasionally appearing together for an on-stage song swap, in 2007 they formed the duo February Sky. In addition to singing and playing his own arrangements of traditional tunes on six-string guitar and cittern, Phil also interprets a number of carefully chosen songs from the best of modern folk song writers. Susan writes story songs and humorous “slice of life” songs, accompanying her singing with guitar, six-string banjo, mountain dulcimer, and hand percussion instruments. The new band hopes to address the widest possible range of human experience with vocal harmony, intricate instrumentation, and thoughtful stagecraft, through new arrangements of old and not-so-old songs.

www.folkbrothers.com  

When two of America’s best songwriters get together, the result could be electric, but it is not. It is acoustic. Jack Hardy and David Massengill have known each other since they both moved to New York City in the mid-70s. In an era of pop-driven acoustic music, these two have dual-handedly kept the folk tradition alive in songwriting. Jack and David together have shared many a stage, traveled, boulevardiered, played softball, and had the occasional adult beverage together. Now they play together as The Folk Brothers. Material for this project draws from their own greatest hits and covering songs of friends as well as traditional songs. Both play guitar. David also plays the dulcimer; Jack, the mandolin. Their harmonies are transcendent with a great mix of history, tradition, politics, and irreverence. They are also noted as being great tellers of tales while introducing their songs. Jack Hardy’s songwriters’ co-op (which includes David) and Fast Folk Musician Magazine galvanized songwriting starting in 1982, and alumni of his storied songwriter’s circle in Manhattan include Suzanne Vega, Lyle Lovett, and Shawn Colvin.

www.brucefoster.com  

The Lonesome Rambler. Bruce Foster... a room warming whiskey baritone voice, the soothing yet stirring vibrato woodtones of a 12 String Guitar.... 1960's style coffee house poetics forged over timeless melodies that enter your psyche and make themselves right at home. Bruce Foster is a singer-songwriter, who became totally enchanted with contemporary folk music after first hearing Eric Andersen's "'Bout Changes & Things" and Gibson & Camp's "Live at the Gate of Horn" albums. An Army Brat whose mailing addresses stretched from Hawaii to Germany, his influences come from just as far and wide.

www.myspace.com/carlfranzen 

Carl Franzén was a show-stopper at one Sunday afternoon LilFest Open Mike. (Talent, class, humor, brains, and style.) He’s been back to play at Bill’s as a headliner.   It took two years to finally get him to LilFest Festival 6, but then Carl dragooned his friends Laurie Akermark and Lonnie Knight to help CAPE (Chicago Arts Partnership in Education). Carl is a performing songwriter known by some for his charted song, “On the Road,” recorded by Michael Johnson, Bonnie Koloc, and John Denver. More recently, the American Composers Forum selected his “Ja Wohl” as one of five compositions to be performed at its 30th Anniversary.

www.bobgibsonlegacy.com

Pete Seeger and Smithsonian researchers collected a treasure trove of folk music, but it took the charismatic Bob Gibson to make this music the pop culture of the ’50s and ’60s. Through his performances, as well as his mentoring of new artists and songwriters, Bob altered the landscape of American music. His ringing tenor voice, innovative instrumental virtuosity, and captivating showmanship brought folk music into venues that had never before experienced the tradition of the traveling troubadour. The Bob Gibson Legacy concerts invoke the performance magic of this musical legend who always thought the real star of the show was the audience. Bob’s eldest daughter, Meridian Green, with veteran entertainers Rick Grumbecker and John Heller, take the audience on a musical journey through the heart of American folk music. From Greenwich Village’s Washington Square to Chicago’s Gate of Horn, from California’s Mendocino Coast to Kerrville, Texas, through songs and stories, medleys and sing-alongs, playing banjo, 12-string, 6-string, and Nashville high-strung guitars, they bring our shared musical history home.

Katie’s musical journey began with her mother’s mother taking note of her beautiful singing when she was very small. Still small, her voice is anything but.

www.meridiangreen.com

Meridian Green  grew up in Greenwich Village, enchanted by the magic of live music and songs well sung. After moving to Mendocino, she played with the Gypsy Gulch International String Band. She has recorded a solo album and two eclectic Americana duet albums with former Byrd member Gene Parsons, and toured in Europe, the U.K., and across the U.S. In addition to her musical career, Meridian was CEO of StringBender, Inc., is the co-inventor of the Parsons/Green B-Bender, a popular guitar accessory, and founder of Bob Gibson Legacy Records. Now, in addition to reissuing her father’s recordings, she is bringing his musical legacy to life on the stage.

www.dennisgruenling.com     and  www.myspace.com/gruenling  

Dennis Gruenling is “a leading light among the new generation of harp players” (Blues Revue Magazine). After spending some time in New Orleans in the early 90’s, he’s been laying down (and teaching) some of the best blues and roots harmonica on the East Coast for 15 years. Along the way, Gruenling has shared the stage with many top names in the blues world, such as Pinetop Perkins, Snooky Pryor, Homesick James, Little Sammy Davis, A.C. Reed, Mick Taylor, and Jimmy Dawkins, as well as contemporary masters such as Rod Piazza, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Wilson, Rusty Zinn, Steve Guyger, and Mark Hummel. Dennis is being awarded “Best Modern Blues Harmonica Player” three years in a row (Real Blues Magazine) and developing “a sound that promises to re-define the role of the harmonica” (HIP Magazine). He recognizes the greatest and most influential harmonica player in blues history with his new CD, “I Just Keep Lovin’ Him – A Tribute to Little Walter.” The rave reviews are pouring in: “T his is a fantastic and timely album, with honest, quality playing that is sure to make blues harp fans dizzy  .” (Living Blues) And “… tributes are ten a penny and most of them are worth about as much. This is a very welcome exception …” (Blues in Britain) 

www.bobgibsonlegacy.com 

Rick Grumbecker gave up a promising career as a major league batboy with the Chicago White Sox in order to pursue his dream of becoming a comedian. But no one understood his humor. So disguised as an earnest young folk singer, Rick has lived the life of the traveling troubadour, playing in saloons, coffeehouses, and pre-karaoke Holiday Inns throughout the United States of America and also in Texas. His extensive repertoire of contemporary and traditional material includes many of Shel Silverstein’s best and most obscure songs. Bob Gibson was a huge influence on Rick who returned the favor by introducing Bob to master guitar builder, Bozo Podunavac. Rick also created the graphics for the Bob Gibson Legacy CDs, as well as those of many other recording artists.

www.steveguyger.com  and www.myspace.com/steveguyger

Steve Guyger, one of the finest blues harmonica players and singers in the world today, still makes his home in Philadelphia, and can be seen on a regular basis at clubs in the tri-state area in addition to touring with the New Legends of the Blues All-Stars. He won the Canadian Blues Award as Top Harp Player. A long-time alumni of the legendary Jimmy Rogers Band, none other then William Clarke called Steve, “The greatest harp player I’ve ever seen.” Critics say: “As a master of traditional harp stylings, he has few equals ... but working within a tradition doesn’t have to mean repeating stale licks: Guyger always manages to find something new and surprising to play over time-tested grooves ... this only makes his subtle twists and textural nuances more interesting ... he is also a fine unaffected singer." (Blues Review Magazine) When you hear Steve play, you’ll know what they're talking about.

www.jackhardy.com  

Jack Hardy was born in Indiana; his father a musician, his mother, a painter. He has created a musical world with a strange mix of themes – from the American West to the ballads and jigs of Celtic ancestors. Hardy has toured extensively for 20 years and is an ambassador for American music. In an Italian encyclopedia of rock, Jack has a larger entry than many prominent rock stars. With a re-ignited interest in his music, he now tours regularly on both sides of the Atlantic. A teacher and mentor as well as an artist, he has hosted a weekly songwriters workshop, nurturing songwriters such as Suzanne Vega, John Gorka, Shawn Colvin, Richard Shindell, and David Massengill. Perhaps fueled by pasta and wine, these sessions are famous for their artistic and political conversations and the many remarkable songs that have emerged from them. He also founded/edited The Fast Folk Musical Magazine. This collection of over 100 compilation albums has now been taken over by the Smithsonian.

David Hartman describes his music as if Kelly Jo Phelps, Leonard Cohen, Stuart Davis, Nellie McKay, and Steve Goodman were all put in a blender. Dr. Dave, as he is called, came to Chicago 25 years ago, bringing a Pentangled and James Taylored musical style with him. Here he watched the rise and fall of places such as The Quiet Knight and Holsteins. In recent years, Dr. Dave has been a regular at Bill’s Blues, the late lamented Charlie’s, the Lake County Folk Club, and other venues around Chicagoland. He believes that good songwriting should “rip you up inside, make you laugh, or maybe both.” His songs follow the twisted and the tragicomic; with Anna Nicole cast as Cinderella (“Glass Slipper”) a good example. Dr. Dave will be recording a CD this fall. The working title is “The Suburban Book of the Dead.”

www.hawkmanmusic.com  and www.myspace.com/hawkman2007

Dave Hawkins is the singer, songwriter, and guitarist from the cities of Chicago, Tulsa, and New Orleans.  Contrary to his avian moniker, "Hawkman" is more cicada-like as he climbs onto the scene after many seasons underground.  Dave's songs come from the idea that music is a place where flesh and spirit meet, so his songs go high, deep, and wide.  An English teacher, he is inspired by his favorite authors, as well as by his favorite songwriters, Dave thoughtfully explores the range and essence of human experience through haunting melodies, soulful vocals, a strong poetic sense, intermittent injections of humor, and a variety of musical styles..

www.bobgibsonlegacy.com  and www.basilandheller.com

John Heller began his lifelong musical journey at the age of 12 after sitting on stage during a Bob Gibson concert. During his high school and college years, John played Gibson songs in a trio with multi-instrumentalist Larry Basil and funnyman Bill Murray. After Murray left the group to pursue his comedy and movie career, John and Larry took an extended hiatus. The duo of Basil and Heller reunited three years ago and are once again being warmly received by audiences throughout the Chicago area. John is a good friend of Bozo Podunavac and an aficionado of his guitars. It was this love of Bob’s music and Bozo guitars that brought the Bob Gibson Legacy into existence. John is the executive producer of the Bob Gibson Legacy CDs.

http://www.myspace.com/marshallhjertstedt

If you remember the great shows at The Earl of Old Town, Somebody Else's Troubles, and Holsteins, you won't want to miss this show. If you weren’t there in the great old days, now is the chance to make up for lost time. In Ed Holstein are the spirit of a fresh young boy, the humor of a long life with lots of behind-the-bar observations, guitar-playing, and story-telling that won’t quit.

www.halfamind.com

Bill Isles writes and records at a high pace these days; you’d never know he stopped for 25 years! It hasn’t taken him long to begin winning Minnesota Music Awards galore and touring the UK. His rich warm voice, layered lyrics, and great guitar propel him into work with many fine musicians. And the audiences bring him back again and again. He demonstrates all the qualities of a great songwriter, word-smithing skills, melody, heart, stories, rhythm, time, insight, and craftsmanship. His genuine, palpable humanity comes across any mike, magnetizing those who hear him and drawing deep loyalty out of his audience.

Kate Isles was a closet singer/songwriter, full-time wine representative, and dedicated single mom when she came to a CD release concert for Bill’s first CD, “Weightless,” after hearing a radio interview. She bought the CD and signed up on his e-mail list. (“Grounds for marriage!” quips Bill.) While Bill initially toured solo, Kate is becoming an integral part of the act, with extensive duo touring now-a-days. Their duet album, “Matching Baggage,” will include several songs that they’ve co-written. The response has been very positive, with many comments about the "perfect blend of two voices.”

Practically started at Bill's, The Jazz Explorers have been all around town now and won a regular following.. Their trademark "pick a song and we'll play it!" is a blast of congenial fun and music, whether or not you are a die-hard jazz fan. Look for the "Live Jazz Jukebox" placed near the stage. There you will find numerous cards each listing the name & style of a jazz song. Simply choose a tune from a category you like and they'll play it! The jukebox kicks in in the middle of the set. Paul Botts - piano; Glenn Lester - bass; Chris Gazso - drums; Steve Kelly - tenor sax.

www.lonnieknight.com 

Lonnie Knight has long been known as a stellar guitar player – he’s won several Minnesota Music Awards for “best guitarist” – and his playing has been likened to Richard Thompson, Patty Larkin, Bert Jansch, and Brooks Williams. “When he sings of ‘major truths in minor keys’ … we know not only what he means, but how he feels.” – critic Scott Alarik writing about Lonnie Knight. Lonnie may joke that “Legendary is just another way of saying ‘... been around a long time,’” but the lanky Minnesotan is one of those rare musicians who has truly earned the title Legendary. He got his start as a folkie, learning from the likes of Townes Van Zandt. Now his great songwriting also comes to the fore in his recent releases, and his songs reveal a gifted artist getting his second creative wind. Publishing in Nashville led him to stints playing with Wild Horses and the Nielsen-White Band. The ’90s saw Knight joining the famed Hoopsnakes, founded by Bruce McCabe. In the latter part of the decade, he signed with Aquarium Records, which released his CD “Big Shoes” in 1999 and “Cain’s Blood” in 2001. He moved to Mosquito Shoals Records in 2005, releasing “Better Days,” and that was followed in 2007 by “I Wrote My Name on You.”

www.radoslavlorkovic.com

Rad will perform his uncanny keyboard fireworks at LilFest. Expect the unexpected: boogie woogie, core blues, Iowa blues, New Orleans style piano, Tex Mex and Zydeco accordion, even Mozart opera. If we’re all lucky, he’ll sit in with others and illuminate many kinds of music with his special light. He’s fresh from the festival circuit and playing with Odetta, Jimmy LaFave, and other wonderful personae. His hard-working year generally includes appearances with Richard Shindell, Andy White, Ellis Paul, and Greg Brown in addition to his solo career. Not only the darling of LilFest, thanks to appearances at Folk Alliance in Austin, Memphis, Montreal, and South by Southwest, he’s been winning audiences around the world: Italy, Spain, Britain, Hawaii, England, Scotland, Ireland, and even the Canary Islands. Ahead? Two trips to Europe and even more Italy.

www.thelostdogs.com/main.html

The Lost Dogs are heading down Route 66, “America’s Mother Road,” in mid-September, 2008, jumping off at LilFest Festival and ending at the pier in Santa Monica, California. While visiting some of the most interesting places in America, their experiences will be captured in music and film. An emphasis will be placed on their various encounters and interviews with the uniquely fascinating people along Route 66. The end result will be an album and DVD that will be charming, whimsical, comedic, poignant, educational, and above all else, fun and entertaining.

Michael Roe, Terry Scott Taylor, Derri Daugherty, and Steve Hindalong are the Lost Dogs. They are best known for their beautiful three-part harmony, guitar expertise, and easy, down-to-earth, crowd-pleasing banter that reflects their individual, yet highly complimentary, personalities.

www.davidmassengill.com

David Massengill  , born in Tennessee, learned stories growing up by listening to friends and reading family letters and newspaper articles – a personal history that David shares with his listeners. “Basically true ... or,” he adds after a pause and a smile, “stories I made up about friends and family.” As distinctive a performer as he is a writer, David accompanies himself mainly on the Appalachian dulcimer (Dave Van Ronk said that “Massengill took the ‘dull’ out of dulcimer.”) A virtuoso on this “mountain” instrument, he draws the listener into his lyrical imagery and the close-up focus on human foibles and experience that is his best songs. Even when Massengill tackles large-scale social and political themes, he approaches them through stories about people, in the best folk tradition. With his soft-edged vocal style and offhand stage presence, he is acknowledged to be one of America’s finest songwriters. One of his best-known songs, "My Name Joe," is about an illegal immigrant restaurant worker. For some years after he began recording, Massengill himself maintained a day job as a restaurant dishwasher.

Jeff Meyer’s music style is centered around songs of passion. He lists his influences as Jackson Browne, John Prine, Lowden Wainwright, Steve Earle, Shawn Colvin, Emmy Lou Harris, and anyone whose ever picked up an acoustic guitar instead of crying or screaming.

Jeff started out studying music at the Old Town SOFM. And as a kid he found he found he wrote more "songs" than "papers" in school. Life has occasionally taken him in and out the music scene in Chicago and Colorado. But, for the last 7 years Jeff has been on a journey to rekindle the passion that smolders in all of his music. 

www.toys-n-cars.com/my_music.htm  and www.myspace.com/deanmilano

Dean Milano, a professional bass player and singer since 1966, started out with rock and roll, but over the years has played every kind of music and venue imaginable (even playing at a nudist colony). And his music style is: folk, country, rock, ballads, Latin, bluegrass, pop, and novelty songs. He has been writing his own music since 1971, finally putting together an album – his first CD - Songs About Stuff. Dean has performed with The New Seekers (Georgy Girl) and opened for some of the greats, including Paul Butterfield, Jan & Dean, Cab Calloway, the Spencer Davis Group, Bo Diddley, The Kingston Trio, and more. He doesn’t write love songs or songs about broken relationships. His are mostly songs from his time on the road and his general life experiences. These are the seeds for his “stories worth telling.”

http://coopernelsonearly.com  

Margaret Nelson sang as a child and teenager in church and school choirs. When her sisters, in the early ’60s, brought home the Vanguard Joan Baez albums and a Berea College choir recording which included the ballad “Earl O’Bran,” her vocal interests permanently shifted to the Anglo-American ballad tradition. Margaret sang with the Chicago trio Duck Duck Goose in 1980-81, while solo work, her puppetry and peace work, and variously Cooper, Nelson and Early, Cooper and Nelson, the Bittersweet Christmas Band, and art modeling have consumed her energies lately.

Albie Powers says of his music, “If you can see the song; taste it, smell it, and hear it, then it’s an Albie Powers song.” He’s a storyteller and is devoted to old-time country, Americana, blues, and ballads that will make you weep. He creates tunes from a different place and time. He writes on both guitar and piano, whichever sets the mood for the particular story he’s telling. Born in Minnesota, he says he moved to Chicago for the weather. There he started a family, went into debt, became a salesman, but always kept on writing. A collector of music, his influences run from ragtime and jazz to the sounds of the cowboy and Burt Bacharach. Oh yeah, throw in some Hank, Johnny Cash, and a sprinkle of rock and roll.

www.michimusic.com 

Michi Regier is a LilFest Festival regular now. The audience present won’t forget her ad hoc fiddling with Rad Lorkovic, Dave Moore, Bill Isles, and Bianca DeLeon. She writes, story-tells, accounts, and plays really fine, free-hand music. Huge notes drawn on butcher paper lined the first walls that Michi remembers. Michi played violin before anything else, studying longest with her mother, Sujoy Spencer, but along the way with other great teachers. Early on, Michi’s favorite places to play included: the Mesa Amphitheatre, Gammage Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, Koussevitsky Shed, and a cabin by the water in Sweden, Maine. Over 17 years of training: the usual round of competitions, symphonies, and scholarships sent her to the Tanglewood Institute. In the meantime, Michi learned to spin, weave, and busk on the streets of Renaissance festivals. The romance of reenactment kept Michi fiddling through her college years. In 2003, Michi made her way to Ukraine. At first, she was looking for gypsies. Not finding any, she came home with other treasures: an education in folklore and a passion for Ukraine. In 2004, Michi packed up her car and drove to Mexico, where the orphans of “Casa de Elisabet” were starting to learn violin. Now she returns there annually to serve this community.

www.stephenleerich.com/home.html 

After winning a talent contest at a county fair in Mariposa, California, in 1969, Stephen Lee Rich, a self-described “friendly, neighborhood, yodeling cowboy,”has kept the music, jokes, and yodels coming. Honing his craft at Chicago clubs in the ’70s, an article appeared in the Reader (1979) about him as a street musician. This inspired then-mayor Jane Byrne to put city-sponsored street musicians at strategic places around the city the following summer. It was called The Troubadour Program. In the ’80s, when the folk venues started to disappear, he began working at comedy clubs. Joining forces with a number of variety acts, Stephen Lee inaugurated the Revolving Door Revue, a touring troupe. Relocating to Madison to join The Road Band, he soon found work hosting acoustic jams and open mics, eventually finding his own venue at Speed Jump Java Joint. He has also performed on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Higher Ground with Jonathan Overby” which is heard statewide on WPR’s Ideas Network.

LilFest Festival perennial since he was 10, Sid Samberg is a totally delightful teenage kid who happens to be an avant guard piano composer, violist, and child prodigy pianist. Maybe what kept his feet on the ground was his terrific family, home schooling, and tenured membership (as a bass player!) in the Beatles Ensemble of the Old Town School of Folk Music. Return LilFest audiences have watched his growth with great interest. Lately he’s begun performing in competitions and showcases around America and Canada. We’re still watching with great interest, Sid!

www.melvintaylorblues.com

Chicago-based guitarist Melvin Taylor, who may well be the most talented new guitarist to come along since Stevie Ray Vaughan, is a star in Europe. He learned guitar from his mother’s brother, and by the time Melvin was 12, he was sitting in with his uncle and his friends at their regular jam sessions. Almost entirely self-taught, he learned slide playing, finger-picking, and flat-picking styles from his favorite recordings by B.B. King, Albert King, and Jimi Hendrix. When his ’70s pop band The Transistors broke up, he devoted his full attention to playing blues in the Windy City’s clubs. When pianist Joe Willie “Pinetop” Perkins was looking for a guitarist for a European tour, Melvin joined the Legendary Blues Band, making such an impact in Europe that he has been making regular tours of Europe since, both soloing and opening for the likes of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Santana, George Benson, and Canned Heat. He also became enamored with the jazz stylings of George Benson and Wes Montgomery, incorporating their styles into his playing. Marathon live shows at Rosa’s Lounge where he is often “in residence” and his regular appearances at Bill’s Blues when he is in Chicago expand the spiraling buzz around Melvin.

Influenced by both traditional ballads and 20th Century story song masters such as Harry Chapin, Malvina Reynolds, Stan Rogers, and Steve Goodman, Susan Urban’s songwriting is sometimes funny, sometimes heart-wrenching, and sometimes inspiring. Her performances weave a tapestry of humor, passion, and reflection as rich and varied as life itself. Her clear, deep voice has been described as “like fire!” Susan plays six- and twelve- string guitar in varied tunings, six-string banjo, mountain dulcimer, Native American and African Drum, and (on one song) kazoo.