From bluegrass to jazz, from blues to Dixieland, an eclectic array of music is on tap at Arthurdale Heritage’s 2011 New Deal Festival. Performing on the main Center Hall stage are: The Dan Baker Trio, The Halftime String Band, Born Old, the Jenny Wilson Trio, and the Falling Run Bluegrass Band. The New Deal Festival opens at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 9th with performances beginning at 10 a.m.
Dan Baker Trio
Returning for their second appearance at the New Deal Festival, members of the Dan Baker Trio have performed with some of music’s legends including Mel Torme and Rare Silk. Dan Baker the guitar instructor at Waynesburg University and co-founder and a board member of the Washington Jazz Society. Michael Berry is a two-time Grammy nominee for his work with Rare Silk and opened for legends including Mel Torme and Jeff Lorber. Greg Thurman has performed around the eastern United States at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall, and the West Virginia Wine and Jazz Festival.
Dan Baker Trio
The Halftime String Band
Since they began performing in 2003, The Halftime String Band has continued to diversify their sound, developing original material and borrowing from a variety of musicians and styles. Working from a bluegrass/newgrass foundation, they also like to work the edges of rock and roll, jazz, and blues. Based in Morgantown, West Virginia, The Halftime String Band has shared the stage with some of bluegrass, country, and rock’s biggest stars including Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Keller Williams, and the Del McCoury Band. The band includes musicians: Jason Jaros, Bob Spangler, Fred Crozier, and Shane Schoenadel.
The Halftime String Band
Born Old
Guests at the New Deal Festival have the chance to re-live radio’s golden days with Born Old. The duo of Paul Gartner and Doug Van Gundy has been making music together for 13 years. Born Old plays traditional old-time music from West Virginia and early AM radio country classics from the great artists of the 78 rpm era. This includes songs from legends like: The Carter Family, Charlie Poole, Uncle Dave Macon and more. Crowd favorites at the New Deal Festival, their shows feature hard-driving fiddle tunes, harmony singing, and a little cornball humor.
Born Old
Jenny Wilson Trio
The Jenny Wilson Trio is the husband, wife, and son team of Nathan and Jenny Wilson and Evan Lintz of Morgantown, West Virginia. They perform a varied jazz repertoire in the classic piano trio setting. Influenced by artists such as: Shirley Horn, Diana Krall, and Bill Evans, the trio combines jazz standards, contemporary jazz, pop tunes, and originals into a set of creative and spontaneous arrangements.
Jenny Wilson Trio
The Falling Run Bluegrass Band
A favorite at the New Deal Festival, The Falling Run Bluegrass Band is no stranger to the regional music scene. The band has played events around the region for over 15 years, including festivals, events, and West Virginia University functions. The band focuses on traditional bluegrass and features accomplished musicians who have mastered numerous playing styles from Rock-a-billy bass “slapping†to Scruggs-style banjo playing. Members of the Falling Run Bluegrass Band have also performed with other notable bluegrass groups including the Songcatchers, Uncle Earl, and Wild Hog. Band members are Ray Hicks, Tiffany Underwood, Tim Selman, Aaron Holley, Rachel Eddy, Chris Haddox, and Zach Fanok.
The Falling Run Bluegrass Band
Detailed band biographies, high-resolution images, videos, and current performance schedule are available for download at:
http://www.newdealfestival.org
