Headliners for Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival Alex DePue&Miguel DeHoyos, Danny Schmidt& Carrie Elkin

Individually, Alex DePue and Miguel DeHoyos have wowed the world—from Depue performing at Carnegie Hall at the age of 14 and touring with rock guitarist Steve Vai in 2007 to DeHoyos entertaining government officials and diplomats in Mexico and performing in Romania by invitation from the Romanian government. Together, they produce an unparalleled sound—music that can speak to anyone’s soul. “There’s really no other way to describe the fiddling of Alex DePue — it stings.” – Andrew McGinn, Springfield News-Sun “I’ve seen the great guitar players up close and in person: Santana, Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan… Miguel De Hoyos is among these greats…” – Steve Dryden, Baja Breeze – B.C.N., MX DePue/DeHoyos have performed throughout North America, opening for the Philadelphia Orchestra at Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall, performing a solo spot with the Ocean City Pops (Ocean City, NJ), and appearing on international television for the Mrs. World Pageant (Tijuana, B.C.S., MX). They were featured at the International Film Festival and Art Walk (Imperial City, CA), and headlined the Clark State University Artist Series. In 2007, the pair presented a standout concert at the Stranahan Theater (Toledo, OH). “The two perform an engaging and often virtuosic combination of classical-tinted takes on popular songs and original compositions, their cohesion and chops often remarkable.” – Todd Clouser, Gringo Gazette – B.C.S., MX In 2009, the duo was at the National Oldtime Fiddling Championship in Weiser (ID) as instructors, and later that year, appeared as the featured act at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Grand Master Fiddler Championship in Nashville. DePue/DeHoyos have appeared at Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo (Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., MX), and have performed throughout Mexico for Mexican diplomats and government officials. DePue/DeHoyos did a radio show with George Varga, Music Critic for the San Diego Union-Tribune. “What results is a heady mix of virtuosity and sophistication that is even more impressive live”. – George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune The duo currently has two recordings available, “Underground Whispers” and “Twisted Strings”. Alex Depue and Miguel De Hoyos have only been playing together a short time but it seems like they have been playing together for decades. Their new CD titled “Underground Whispers” is due out on June 13th, 2008 and is sure to turn some heads. Rock-N-Roll on the fiddle and guitar featuring “Dust In The Wind” by Kansas, “Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, and “All I Ask” from The Phantom Of The Opera to name a few.

Danny Schmidt with Carrie Elkin

Austin, TX-based singer/songwriter, Danny Schmidt has been building an enthusiastic (nearly cult-like) following while simultaneously inspiring the admiration of his fellow artists and critical acclaim from industry professionals. He is the real deal, an authentic timeless troubadour in the tradition of Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Dave Carter, who delivers his craft with a quiet power, a level of complexity, and an underlying humanity that is truly rare in this age of sound bite marketeering.

It’s his songwriting which won him the prestigous Kerrville New Folk award, but it’s his intense live performances that leave listeners with a sense that each of his songs is necessary, plain and simple. His guitar work is effortless and sparkling, his arrangements are fresh and unpredictable, his voice ageless. Stylistically and musically, Danny’s writing spans an impressively diverse reach, from deeply-rooted Appalachian mountain gospel to haunted English balladry, from syncopated Piedmont country blues to vagabond 60’s protest folk-stumpery.

He tackles universal themes of love, loss, and longing . . . restless discontent and grateful joy. And he captures both the sorrow and the beauty inherent in our everyday lives with the wisdom of a perceptive, compassionate elder and with the innocent awe and tenderness of a child.

In the words of Sing Out Magazine: “He is perhaps the best new songwriter we’ve heard in the last 15 years.” And in the words of Texas Monthly: “With seductive simplicity, his music simply demands your attention.”

Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival Applications are now open

Name of Act:

Band Members:
Describe a Workshop you would like to teach…:

Stage Requirements Mikes, stands, chairs etc.

Housing Requirements  (Can you share a room etc.
Transportation requirements (How do you plan to come to Seldovia?)

Biography of group for program.. Recommendations
Send applications (postmarked April 15)Susan Mumma Festival DirectorSeldovia Arts CouncilBox 41 Seldovia Alaska

OR   Please send applications via email to seldovia.festival.gmail.com

Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival 2010

June  18 and 19 will be the main stage dates for the 2010 festival… Don’t forget the ferry jam on the 17th too!!

This YEAR!!!!Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival 2009

“A sharing of gold is but brief, but a sharing of song lasts long.” – Gaelic Proverb

Headlining this year’s Festival will be Mary Jane Lamond Gaelic Singer and Wendy MacIsaac,  Cape Breton Fiddler and Patrick Gillis, guitarist, also from Cape Breton Island.

Mary Jane Lamond is a sharer of songs, stories and spirit. This sharing has garnered Mary Jane

numerous Juno and East Coast Music Award nominations, critical acclaim and a worldwide

audience. Mary Jane’s latest recording ” Storas” (Gaelic meaning “a treasure”), is a beautiful

interpretation of some of the Scottish Gaelic songs that have become part of Nova

Scotia’s Gaelic tradition. Her use of modern instrumentation and arrangements\

provides a respectful and beautiful framework for these Gaelic treasures but it is Mary

Jane’s spell binding vocal performance and heartfelt delivery that makes these

selections truly come alive for the listener.

Mary Jane Lamond is a sharer of songs, stories and spirit. This sharing has garnered Mary Jane numerous Juno and East Coast Music Award nominations, critical acclaim and a worldwide audience. Mary Jane’s latest recording ” Storas” (Gaelic meaning “a treasure”), is a beautiful

interpretation of some of the Scottish Gaelic songs that have become part of Nova Scotia’s Gaelic tradition. Her use of modern instrumentation and arrangements provides a respectful and beautiful framework for these Gaelic treasures but it is Mary Jane’s spell binding vocal performance and heartfelt delivery that makes these selections truly come alive for the listener.

Also heading this year’s festival is commedian Robert Post. The zany gentleman will act as master of ceremonies and treat us to some

very funny dramatic pieces as well.

Adding spice to the mix will be a wide variety of local and Alaskan acts, such asfavorite singer -songwriters, Robin Hopper and Eric Braendel and jazz dance bands like theDan Mac Trio. We will also be hosting professional touring artists from across the United States and Canada. Jaime Michaels and Emily Kurn will be new the festival. Returning boogie woogie pianistRadoslav Lorkovic will be creating a special collaboration of artists and teaching piano workshops for the festival ,a great surprise for everyone concerned! Popular Anchorage bluegrass group Town Creekand jazz group Hot Club of Nunaka are hoping that you will bring your dancing shoes. Celtic artists, Faolanand Back Alley Banned will add to the Celtic celebration. Seldovian artists, Tim Davis, Rob Rurka’ s Red Moutain Ramblers , Betsy Scott, Simone de Biblioteque and Billy Goat will be featured as well. World music will step in time with Relatively Famous.

A special ferry jam on the “Tusty” will preceed the festival on Thursday. Shows will take place on Friday and Saturday Evenings beginning at  6:30 .We have added a Friday  Morning songwriting seminar featuring the skills of Alaskan Robin Hopper.  Saturday morning there will be song circles and jamming around town. Workshops, such as song writing, Irish flute, piano, drumming, singing and harmonizing and more will fill out Saturday afternoon beginning at 1 pm.

Last Year’s Festival was a rousing success!!!

The Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival, June 20 and 21, is headlined by two very accomplished musicians. Midwesterner Ralston Bowles has a smart catchy style with roots in both folk music and Rock and Roll that puts him somewhere between Lyle Lovett and Bob Dylan. Ralston has opened for T-Bone Burnett and performed with a long list of musical luminaries including Shawn Colvin, Hothouse Flowers, Chuck Brodsky and Peter Mulvey. Ralston just released his new CD ‘Rally at the Texas Hotel’ (2008) on Judy Collin’s ‘Wildflower’ label. Ralston brings with him Drew Howard, aka Captain Midnight, a master on the steel guitar. Joe Craven is a San Francisco musician, actor, storyteller, educator, visual artist, former museum curator, motivational speaker, and festival emcee. He plays the fiddle, the mandolin, the mug, the martini shaker … even a bedpan and a credit card. His stage set may look like your neighbor’s yard sale, but make no mistake, Joe is an extremely accomplished musician who played for almost 17 years with the David Grisman Quintet. Joe is going to help emcee this year’s festival, so you know that there’s going to be a lot of fun mixed in with all the great music.

The headliners will be joined by Roots/Americana artist Marion Walsh, coming to the festival from Vancouver BC. Marion made a name for herself by playing the clubs, coffeehouses and on radio shows of Boston and in Portland Oregon. ‘Marion sings with so much conviction she should be convicted for affecting the hearts of all whom listen to this new music’ (Roots Music Review). Seattle singer songwriter Wes Weddell spent 63 days In 2001 traveling the state of Washington, picking up stories about the people he met and turning those stories into song. The project ultimately fueled several CDs, featuring everything from playful tunes and ballads to rockabilly romps, one of which won Wes the 2006 Tumbleweed Music Festival songwriting contest.

Many of this year’s festival artists are Alaskans. Anchorage singer/songwriter Tom Begich returns to the festival with his insightful storytelling with blues rhythms and an easy picking style. Talkeetna’s Esther Golton is a singer/songwriter with a mountain dulcimer and a flute. It sounds traditional enough, but not when you perch the dulcimer on a home-made stand, coax out jazzy chord progressions, cross genres from gentle folk to pop to blues and jazz, and add insightful, often humorous lyrics. Returning to the festival is Anchorage pianist and jazzman extraordinaire Dan McElrath and his band, Shawn Zuke and renowned bassist Milo Matthews, plus many other musicians from around the state, including our own Seldovia talent.

Friday and Saturday performances begin at 6:30pm. The headliners and many of the other artists will host Saturday afternoon workshops, a great way for everyone to participate in the festival and to learn some new skills. There will be workshops just for children too. Festival events are held at Susan B. English School in Seldovia, where tickets will be available at the door. Prices for adults are $25 per performance and $10 for all workshops, or buy one ticket for the whole festival (performances plus workshops) for $39. Prices for children (K-12) are $10 per performance plus $5 for a workshop pass, or $20 for the whole festival. Check the festival webpage www.seldoviamusicfestival.wordpress.com for all the details.