[Classifieds] [classifieds] Oct 3: Folk trio Finest Kind opens Woods Hole Folk Music Society season

Tue Sep 21 11:30:51 EDT 2010

Reply to : "Marty Tulloch" <martin.tulloch at verizon.net> 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PRESS CONTACTS: 
Martin Tulloch, martin.tulloch at verizon.net , 508 563-2327 
Jan Elliott, mailto:elifordjan at aol.com , 508-540-0865 

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CONCERT SUMMARY 

Date/time: Sunday, October 3, 7:30 PM. Doors open at 7 PM. 
Performer: Finest Kind, vocal/instrumental trio performing songs from all over the English-speaking pub, dancehall, and sea music world. 
Sponsor: Woods Hole Folk Music Society 
Location: Community Hall, 68 Water Street, Woods Hole, Mass. 
Admission: $15, discounts for members, seniors, youth and children 
Contact: 508-540-0320 or http://www.arts-cape.com/whfolkmusic . 
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Finest Kind Trio Opens Woods Hole Folk Music Society's 39th Season 

The 39th season of the Woods Hole Folk Music Society will begin October 3 with a concert by Canadian vocal trio, Finest Kind. The concert takes place at 7:30 PM in Community Hall, 68 Water Street in Woods Hole. 

Finest Kind was formed in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1991 when Ian Robb, Ann Downey and Shelley Posen began singing together at informal gatherings and discovered that their voices created an unusually pure harmonic blend. They nurtured that focus on a unified sound, creating a repertoire of favorite folk songs and gradually adding new and original material. Traditionally based but with starkly modern harmonies, they sing a cappella or supported by a variety of instruments. 

The three performers came together via diverse routes. Ann Downey spent most of her life in the Southwestern U.S., learning blues, jazz and old-time cowboy music along with klezmer and swing. In addition to playing guitar, banjo and bass, Ms. Downey creates many of the group's vocal arrangements. Her alto line, according to Ian Robb, is the crucial element blending the lower voices into a seamless trio sound. 

Shelley Posen, a Toronto folklorist, brought knowledge of a wide range of musical traditions to the group, from shaped-note hymns and Irish songs to banjo and guitar accompaniment styles. He spent many years in Newfoundland, where "there were Irish, bluegrass and country scenes ... and no restrictions. If you played for a dance or a club, people wanted to hear a wide variety of things." Mr. Posen's bass vocal harmonies are described as "familiar but in no way predictable," shifting subtly to create surprising dissonances. His original contributions often have a humorous theme; the latest, "John Barleycorn Deconstructed," is a blow-by-blow description, in song, of how they have arranged the song. 

The group's founder, Ian Robb, is originally from London, England. He is a seasoned performer of British folksong known for his fluid tenor voice, complex harmonies on English concertina, and composition of classic-sounding modern songs. Having performed traditional English music for so long, he has welcomed the opportunity to expand his repertoire with Finest Kind. However, he remains at the "ethical center" of the group, according to Mr. Posen, insisting on clarity of intonation and attention to melodic lines. The result is what one reviewer calls "molecular bonding ... any closer and they wouldn't be allowed to do it in public." 

In Finest Kind's concerts and on their award-winning recordings, traditional British, American, Canadian and Irish ballads mix with gospel rousers, drinking songs, sea shanties and pop classics. Works of the Carter Family, the Copper Family, Rudyard Kipling and Hank Williams mingle with originals by Mr. Robb and Mr. Posen. Unencumbered by allegiances to any one style, Finest Kind presents a startling variety of songs, and keeps audiences wondering just what they might hear next. 

The concert begins at 7:30 PM. Doors open at 7 PM. Admission is $15, with discounts for members, seniors, youth and children; further discounts are available with season tickets. Community Hall is handicapped accessible. There is no charge for street parking after 6 PM. 

Upcoming performers include: 
Oct 3: Finest Kind Canadian vocal trio; Oct 17: fiddler & singer Lissa Schneckenburger with Bethany Waickman, guitar; Nov 7: Geoff Muldaur & Jim Kweskin of '60s Jug Band fame; Nov 21: The Sky Blue Boys, old-time "brother duo"; Jan 16: Claudia Schmidt & Sally Rogers, folk, jazz & children's songs; Jan 30: New England Cowboy Bill Staines; Mar 6: Lee Murdock, songs of the Great Lakes; Mar 20: Tim Eriksen, ancient ballads and gospel; Apr 3: Canadian singer-songwriter James Keelaghan. 

The Woods Hole Folk Music Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering enjoyment of folk music in all its forms. Concerts are generally held on the first and third Sunday of each month from October to May. They are made possible by support from its members, season subscribers, volunteers, and performers. More information is available at www.arts-cape.com/whfolkmusic or by calling 508-540-0320. 

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The following concerts are scheduled for the balance of the season 

Oct 3: Finest Kind Canadian vocal trio 
Oct 17: fiddler & singer Lissa Schneckenburger with Bethany Waickman, guitar 
Nov 7: Geoff Muldaur & Jim Kweskin of '60s Jug Band fame 
Nov 21: The Sky Blue Boys, old-time "brother duo" 
Jan 16: Claudia Schmidt & Sally Rogers, folk, jazz & children's songs 
Jan 30: New England Cowboy Bill Staines 
Mar 6: Lee Murdock, songs of the Great Lakes 
Mar 20: Tim Eriksen, ancient ballads and gospel classics 
Apr 3: Canadian singer-songwriter James Keelaghan. 

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