All shades of bluegrass
Friday, November 10, 2000
bergen.com
MUSIC PREVIEW
BIG APPLE BLUEGRASS 2000: 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday. Westbeth Theatre, 151 Bank St., Manhattan. (212)
307-4100. Call for prices. Also: 3 to 11 p.m. Sunday. The Baggot Inn, 82 W. Third St., Manhattan.
By JIM McGUINNESS
Special to The Record
Getting bluegrass fans to agree on how their music should be presented can be as difficult as getting Republicans
and Democrats to reach an accord in Congress.
In one camp are those who consider themselves traditionalists. They prefer the music to be played on stringed,
acoustic instruments, and in a style that strictly adheres to its Appalachian roots.
On the other side are those who favor experimentation. Outside musical influences are OK, as is the occasional use
of electric instruments.
Tom Hanway sees merit in both points of view. A banjo player in the Manhattan-based combo Burnt Toast,
Hanway is in his third year as coordinator of the Big Apple Bluegrass Festival, which takes place Saturday and
Sunday at the Westbeth Theatre and The Baggot Inn, respectively.
Although he respects the music's roots and tradition, Hanway also believes there's room to widen its parameters.
"People have come to believe that certain styles of music are very different and can't get along," Hanway said. "I
think that's bad thinking. The festival will still have a bluegrass orientation, but it's not going to be limited to
bluegrass. I look at bluegrass as a metaphor for a combination of different musical styles."
To emphasize his point, Hanway has expanded this year's festival lineup to include a wider array of bands and
musical styles. Among the bigger names on the bill are Peter Rowan, whose career has included stints playing with
Bill Monroe and Jerry Garcia, and Valerie Smith, a 1999 International Bluegrass Music Association nominee for
best emerging artist.
"Peter represents exactly what we're trying to do with the festival," Hanway said. "He comes from a bluegrass
background, yet there's another side to what he does musically. The same is true with Valerie. She has her bluegrass
audience, but she also sings country music."
Among the more bluegrass-oriented acts scheduled are Brooklyn's Orrin Star & the Sultans of String, gospel
quintet Stained Glass Window, and banjo innovator Bill Keith. Other acts include Celtic fiddler Kenny Kosek,
alternative-country outfit Train Wreck (which features radio personality Meg Griffin), and Greg Garing, who will
perform a set of bluegrass and rockabilly.
For further variety, Hanway has booked Zen Tricksters and the Electrix from the Grateful Dead-inspired jam band
circuit, as well as steel-guitar wizard Buddy Cage from New Riders of the Purple Sage.
"With the Dead not being around and Phish having broken up, fans of these bands need something new," Hanway
reasoned. "Jerry Garcia was a great banjo player and a true friend to bluegrass. So I saw a bluegrass connection for
these bands."
* * *
Hanway founded the festival with his wife, Kathleen, in 1998.
Besides live music, there will also be instructional sessions on Sunday in banjo, mandolin, fiddle, harmonica, and
guitar. The workshops are $20. For more information or to preregister, call (718) 884-7521.
The live music schedule:
Saturday (Westbeth Theatre) -- Train Wreck featuring Meg Griffin (5 p.m.); Burnt Toast with Kenny Kosek
(5:55 p.m.); Peter Rowan (6:50 p.m.); Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike (7:45 p.m.); Burnt Toast (8:40 p.m.); Peter
Rowan and friends (9:35 p.m.); The Electric with Buddy Cage (10:30 p.m.); Zen Tricksters (11:30).
Sunday (Baggot Inn) -- Jennifer Markard (3 p.m.); Keith, Kosek, McCabe & Collins (3:45 p.m.); Stained Glass
Window (4:30 p.m.); Daughters of Bluegrass (5:15 p.m.); Tony DeMarco & Eamon O'Leary (6:05 p.m.); The
Wheel Hoss featuring Jen Larson (6:55 p.m.); Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike (7:45 p.m.); Orrin Star & the Sultans
of String (8:45 p.m.); Greg Garing & friends (9:45 p.m.); Rusty String Band, Michael Falzarano, and Buddy Cage
(10:45 p.m.). |
