Fifth Annual Ferdinand Folk Festival

Headlining this year’s festival is Austin, Texas, native Hayes Carll (www.hayescarll.com).

Carll’s 2008 album, Trouble in Mind, was honored by the Village Voice as one of the best of 2008. One of the singles from that album was honored by the Americana Music Association as its 2008 “Song of the Year”. His 2011 follow up album, KMAG YOYO, made American Songwriter, Spin, and Rolling Stone magazine’s Best Album of 2011 lists. The Americana Music Association named KMAG YOYO as THE best album of 2011.

He has performed at Bonnaroo, Stones Fest, South by Southwest, and North by Northeast. He has appeared on Austin City Limits and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and he and his band will headline the 2014 Ferdinand Folk Festival.

The other highlighted performers for the September 20, 2014, Ferdinand Folk Festival are:

• Miles Nielsen & the Rusted Hearts, Rockford, Illinois, www.milesnielsen.com: When your dad is the guitarist for one of the world’s most famous rock bands (Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick), do you have a choice other than to play music?Miles’s songs provide a sense of yearning and ownership. You want to have another record, another song – you want to hit rewind … you want to know more about this world created in song by Mr. Nielsen. A captivating wordsmith, instrumentalist, and creator of hooks – rare indeed, but present in the person of Miles Nielsen.
• The Leonard Washingtons, Terre Haute, Indiana, www.theleonardwashingtons.com: The Leonard Washingtons are a raw mix of hip-hop based funk, jazz harmonies, and have a tendency to reference a highly eclectic mix of influences. Mark Stalcup put it quite eloquently: “Think the solo songs of Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen meets The Roots, sung by a funkier John Mayer channeling Steve Winwood. A moment later, it’s a hoarser Jack Johnson fronting the Meters, covering a mash-up of Dave Brubeck, Isaac Hayes and Phish.The Leonard Washingtons also feature a local tie—Forest Park graduate, Eric Schatz, is the bass player.
• Andrea Davidson, Louisville, Kentucky, www.andreadavidson.com: Andrea Davidson’s sound crosses the line between the arresting vocals of Patty Griffin and the funky and sensual musical backdrop of Bill Withers. She combines loops of vocals, guitar, and percussion to create a live performance that is sweetly stunning. Her songs are passionate, honest, and hopeful.
• Wild Carrot, Cincinnati, Ohio, www.wildcarrot.net: This award-winning group has what it takes to please all types of roots music fans. With a foot in traditional American music, their repertoire branches in diverse directions: from award-winning original tunes to swing, blues and traditional songs, using guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, concertina, and vocals. Wild Carrot’s entertaining and moving performances have often been described as “honest, soothing, uplifting and fun all at the same time”, moving an audience from laughter to tears and back again in a way that makes the listener feel like they’re in a conversation with old friends.
• Wyvern, Evansville, Indiana:Wyvern is made-up of a salty ole’ troubadour musician, Randy Widick, and a talented young folk singer-songwriter, Mariah Dawn Shepherd. Randy has played across the United States, England, and the Orient in various styles of music throughout his long career. Mariah has been playing in the tri-state area around Southwestern Indiana, San Francisco, and Boulder, Colorado, honing her musical and writing skills. In getting together to form Wyvern, these two minstrels produce a unique blend of folk, rock, jazz, and blues with an energetic magical musical performance.
• Sisters of Second Avenue, Jasper, Indiana:The Sisters of Second Avenue are an indie band comprised of four sisters. The Sisters are using their lifelong experiences with music to create a sound uniquely their own. Each secret to their sound, quite honestly, is the unique voice that each brings to the mix. Together, they weave intricate harmonies that truly lift their songs to life.