Folk-A-Rama

(Photo of Dan Tyminski by Mark Harvell)

This news broke last week -- an impressive first set of performers for the Richmond Folk Festival. The new event -- which is emerging from the National Folk Festival that was hosted by Richmond for a few years -- is certainly getting off on the right foot. Here's the press release:

"May 28, 2008 (Richmond, Va.) – The Richmond Folk Festival is excited to announce its first six performing groups for the 2008 inaugural festival taking place October 10-12, 2008, on downtown Richmond’s riverfront. In an exact likeness to the National Folk Festival held in Richmond, Virginia, from 2005 -2007, the Richmond Folk Festival will feature the best musicians in American Traditional Music.

Coming to the festival from Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the top bluegrass bands in America, The Dan Tyminski Band. Tyminski, a "Union Station" veteran has put together what people say is the hottest band in the land. Hailing from Lafayette, Louisiana, the performing group BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, brings one of America’s premier Cajun bands and the leading ambassador of Cajun music.

From across the pond in Galway, Limerick and Dublin, Ireland, six young music masters, known as Líadan, who all happen to be women, will perform traditional Irish music. These women are a must see having everything it takes to become the next major global force in Irish traditional music. And from across the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, two of the Islands’ most respected players of the slack-key and 12-string guitar, Ledward Ka’apana & Mike Kaawa, will join forces to grace this year’s festival with traditional Hawaiian music and song.

Howard Tate, a celebrated singer from the “golden age” of soul music, has caused quite a sensation by returning to the stage after a 30-year absence. This Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, native will perform Soul and R&B for audiences at this year’s Richmond Folk Festival. The festival will also feature original honky-tonk country. From Austin, Texas, comes the reigning "king" of uncompromising, deep country, Dale Watson."

I'm not familiar with Liadan, but the rest of this crew is positively first class. If the festival's goal was to grab attention with this initial sextet, they've done it.