Footloose Festival 1998 Artists

Alphabetical List

• Michelle Belanger (USA)
• Broken Ankles
• Cajun Aces
• Coalesce
• Kerry Fletcher
• Highly Corrosive
• Julie James
• The Kitchen Girls
• The King-Earl Boogie Band
• The Konnarock Critters (USA)
• Phil Hodson and Barbara Coppock
• Same Train Different Teapot
• Six Foot Three
• Stömp
• Tantamount
• Tim O'Brien and Darrell Scott (USA)
• Tracy Schwarz Cajun Trio (USA)
• Dave Wright
• Zydeco Active

Dancing

The Konnarock Critters

From the mountains of Southwest Virginia, the award-winning Konnarock Critters, an old-time string band, will bust onto the stage with a distinct energetic sound that threatens to bring audiences to their feet with the irrepressible urge to dance. From hot fiddle tunes to ballads the Critters' show travels through a repertoire of traditional Appalachian mountain tunes with a few newer compositions in the old-time style and traditional mountain ballads. The Konnarock Critters bring with them the strains of music and culture that is endemic to the Appalachians. The Critters are:

• Brian Grim - Brian's distinct style of fiddling powers the Critters' performances.
• Debbie Grim - Debbie, who still lives in Konnarock, Virginia, has a distinct melodic clawhammer banjo style. Together with her brother Brian, they perform beautiful harmonies that are the hallmark of the Critters' show.
• Jim Lloyd - Driving the band with a solid rhythm is guitarist Jim. A previous performer at the festival, Jim will lighten the show with humorous anecdotes and on-the-spot witticisms that keep the audience in stitches between tunes.
• Al Firth - Left handed bass player Al will leave no part of the fingerboard unexplored.

The Konnarock Critters are the resident band for the whole festival weekend.

Broken Ankles

One of the first, and certainly one of the best Appalachian dance teams in Britain. Brighton based Broken Ankles bring their class performance and exuberance for Appalachian dance to the festival once more.

Zydeco Active

Gavin Lewry is back once again to the festival with his new supergroup drivin' hard, raw, and mean into the night. Zydeco Active brings together some of the UK's finest musicians to create the country's first zydeco supergroup to spearhead the current zydeco trend taking Europe by storm. They blend the high energy Afro-Caribbean rhythms and French lyrics of zydeco's traditional origins with a driving edge which is definitely nineties. Zydeco Active are:

• Tommy Mills - bass and backing vocals
• Gavin Lewery - accordion and lead vocals
• Chilli Watkins - guitar and backing vocals
• Micky Jones - drums and backing vocals
• Sam Murray - rubboard and vocals

Cajun Aces

The Cajun Aces have a powerful sound that excites all audiences. They play Cajun tunes with passion, skill, and soul.

The King-Earl Boogie Band

After Mungo Jerry collapsed, Paul King and Colin Earl formed the King-Earl Boogie Band. Now they are one of the most exciting blues jug bands in England. A refreshing blend of classic and original boogie woogie jug band rhythm and blues, especially recommended for the 5 to 105 age group. The King-Earl Boogie Band are:

• Colin Earl
• Colin "Lounge Lizard" Pattenson
• Ian Campbell
• Magic Mal
• Dave Peabody

Six Foot Three

Six Foot Three is a dynamic new group of four young English musicians. Rob plays concertina and guitar alongside Tamsin Austin (fiddle) and fabulous foot-percussionists Jane Pollitt and Carys Reckless. The group composes and arranges tracks which use the percussive effect of North-West clog dancing alongside the melodic counterpoint of Robert and Tamsin's playing - hence the term "foot percussion".

Stömp with Chris Pitt

Stömp is a tight, energetic rock-based English Country Dance Band. Unusual traditional material from the British Isles, Europe and Scandinavia is combined with highly original self-penned tunes underpinned by driving dance rhythms, producing a brash, vital sound.

Tracy Schwarz Cajun Trio (USA)

Old Time Cajun Music - Louisiana at its very best! Adastra says,

"Formerly a member of the New Lost City Ramblers, Tracy Schwarz is the "ultimate backdoor Cajun" having spent years with the legendary Cajun fiddler Dewey Balfa. His trio with Matt Haney (fiddle) and Lee Blackwell (guitar) has been feeding hungry audiences their wholesome brand of Cajun music since 1990. "Tracy's music has a rare down to earth quality and a high lonesome intensity that lets you know that he means everything he sings and plays." Mike Seeger. Winners in 1996 of the Cajun French Music Association "Prix dehors de nous"."

Phil Hodson and Barbara Coppock

Renowned experts at Cajun and Zydeco workshops, they could even teach a herd of elephants to dance the Louisiana way.

Julie James

Founder of Feet First , Little Big Feet, and other dance teams. A regular workshop instructor, she returns this year to teach Irish Hard Shoe.

Coalesce

The young band from Highfields School, the venue of the Footloose Festivals. They were a great hit in 1997 and are even better in 1998.

Tantamount

Another young band from Highfields School, the venue of the Footloose Festivals.

Kerry Fletcher

watch this space

Michelle Belanger (USA)

Michelle Belanger, the accomplished step dancers, comes over from the USA with The Konnarock Critters.

In Concert

The Konnarock Critters (USA)

See The Konnarock Critters above.

The Kitchen Girls

Also known as 6 Assorted Tarts (the title of their first album). Six wonderful musicians playing traditional and original American music at its best. First here in 1996 with dance music from Mexico to Canada The Kitchen Girls return for a concert spot.

• Tanera Dawkins - cello
• Linda Game - fiddle
• Fiona Larcombe - fiddle/vocals - Used to be a regular member of the Feet First band.
• Carol Levi - guitar/vocals
• Jackie Rawlinson - fiddle - and creator of DanceAV.
• Judi Wright - fiddle/vocals

Tim O'Brien and Darrell Scott (USA)

Stunning vocals and fluency on mandolin, fillde, and guitar. Adastra says,

"The Nashville King of Bluegrass and Country with his usual harmonious blend of old-time fiddling, sway-along vocals and hot-licken' finger pickin' will be touring in the Spring with his new side-kick Darrell Scott to promote his latest solo album "When No One's Around". Darrell is also a top flight singer/songwriter who has recently taken the Nashville music scene by storm with his latest album "Aloha". This promises to be a stunning combination - unmissable!"

More information on Tim O'Brien.

Same Train Different Teapot

This band produces one of the most distinctive sounds in Old Time music on either side of the Atlantic using a Mountain Dulcimer in place of the usual guitar. Visit their Web site.

Highly Corrosive

This former four piece band has now increased to a five piece bringing a multinational repetoire with an Irish flavour. Highly Corrosive won the prestigious "young performers" competition at 1997 Fylde Folk Festival.

Dave Wright

watch this space

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