Anchorage Folk Festival, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, member-supported, volunteer organization supporting folk arts in the community.

PERFORMER PROFILES- 2011

(updated - 01/19/2012 4:45 pm)

Thursday Evening 7:00 pm; January 19, 2012
Emcee: JOHN TRACY

Alaska Flute Circle - shares the haunting sounds of the Native American Flute … magical, mystical & moving. Jerry George, Chris Floyd, David Kroto, Ken Baehr, Liu Hsiu & Neal Martin

Whistlepig - old-timey tunes from Southcentral Alaska. Brendan Bonnett, Meg O'Mullane & Karen & Mike Loso

That One Band - a high school jazz-rock fusion trio. Luke Brickwell, Norberto DeJesus Jr. & Ryan Gale

Robbie Beebe & Friends - country/folk/blues.

Steve Durr - a Talkeetna songwriter specializing in Alaskan themes.

Westchester Collective - a loosely formed group of musicians performing originals & indie-folk cover songs. Michael Howard, Matt Eley Heather Stewart, Greg Spore & Spencer Boyles

Paul Paslay - sings several songs & plays guitar.

Robin Hopper - PERFORMANCE CANCELED

Raggedy Banjos - romp with Ken “The Flash” & Cheri “The Songbird” as they blast through some traditional & contemporary Dixieland style tunes. Ken Olmstead & Cheri Spink

Sourdough Biscuits - sing along as the Biscuits, once again, bring their musical recipes to the stage. Bob Fairchild, Matt & Michael Faubion, Tom Torvie & Kelly Leseman

Borealis Dancers - perform folk & fun dances!

Hurricane Dave - sings about a newcomer’s experiences in Alaska. Acoustic country delivered with a guitar, a harmonica & a smile!

60/40 - perform fine old tunes from the 40’s to the 60’s & beyond. And you thought the name had something to do with age… Hank Roesing, Michael Faubion, Howard Okland & Tom Torvie

Slack Jaws - the C3PO & R2D2 of folk rock! Russell Ariel & Andrew Manwiller

Friday Evening 7:00 pm; January 20, 2012
Emcees: PEGGY MONAGHAN and G.W. KEYL

Board Band - - brings the Festival's board members to the stage to welcome one & all to the 2012 Anchorage Folk Festival Marianne See, Brett Jokela, Trista Koenig, Jenny Koenig, George Knight, Mary Schallert, Ken Brown, Kenny Powers, Elliot Barske, John Gillis & Garren Volper

Full Sail - bluegrass outside the box. Bill Yeagle, Doug Shutte, Travis Dennison & Tony Elder

MikeO Cox, storyteller - “How I Got Big Feet: An Autobiographical Tall Tale.”

Kray Van Kirk - music without borders, music without cost.

Esther Golton - daring dulcimer ditties sung as smooth as silk.

Philip Price - performs traditional Irish ballads

Bootleg Brown - the best Alaskan progressive bluegrass band in their price range. Dave Mannheimer, Lowell Webb, Suzanne Little, Paul Paslay & Chuck Dunnagan

Spenard Road String Quartet - playing New Acoustic music. Andrew March, Nate May, Garren Volper & Amanda Kerr

GUEST ARTISTS: Hanneke Cassel Trio - Anchorage welcomes this talented group of East Coast artists known for their expert musicianship & blending Celtic & traditional North American styles to create their own infectious sound. Hanneke Cassel - fiddle, Ariel Friedman - cello, Keith Murphy - guitar

LATE NIGHT JAM with the Hanneke Cassel Trio - Spenard Roadhouse, 1049 W. Northern Lights Blvd., Anchorage 11:00 pm - 2:00 am

Saturday Afternoon 12:30 pm; January 21, 2012
Emcee: WADE HAMPTON MILLER

Guido’s Paddleboat Jam - country-folk-pop mix with a boat-full of musicians.

KG on the Sax - plays melodious miscellaneous music. Katherine Goins

Aunt Rhody’s All-Stars - Kevin Cassity’s Suzuki guitar students play folk, blues & fiddle tunes & a pirate song.

Barbara Wish - PERFORMANCE CANCELLED -

Sentimental Journey - a musical mixture of folksy blues melodies. Kathy Hughes, Rorey Landers, Barbara Burg & Maren Chadwick

Ingrid Nixon - tells personal stories & folk tales.

Rant & Raven Morris Dancers - stickin’ around the Folk Festival for more than 15 years...Dawn & Chris Berg, Serena & Dan Coons, Karin Gustafson, Lyn Lemon, Donna Levesque & Joanne Teague

Jim Kerr - a man of gravity is serious about juggling.

Down Home Easy - fun-filled, foot stompin’ Red Dirt country-folk music that will get you dancin' in the aisles. Jake Wilson, John Lars Lindberg & Kat Moore

Brubaker Family - family bluegrass music. Carter, Neena, Maya, Ryan & Michael Brubaker (in chronological order)

Henry Duffel - performs original country music.

AS Band - 4th grade classmates play with family. Anya Otterson, Sevrin Persson, Stefan Otterson, Hanna Persson & Lloyd Persson

Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda - well now they're gonna! Tight harmonies, good friends & fun acoustic folk music. Robin Hopper, Caiti Hopper, Rick Miller & Esther Golton

John Cook Trio - playing original songs that combine tight acoustic guitar parts with a bluesy edge. All songs are available on their cds. John Cook, Ken Sease & Allison Ingram Merrow

GUEST ARTISTS: Hanneke Cassel Trio - enjoy this short set from our amazing guest artists … then plan to join them for their final main stage appearance Sunday evening. Hanneke Cassel - fiddle, Ariel Friedman - cello, Keith Murphy - guitar

Saturday Evening 7:00 pm; January 21, 2012
Emcee: MARTI BECKWITH

Rogues & Wenches - patrons of an Elizabethan alehouse sing for one another’s mutual entertainment. Hear drinking songs, sea shanties & pirate fare salted with sad love ballads & happy war songs. Benjamin James, Erin Wells, Robert, Lucia & Hunter Woofter & Covenant Faithfulness

Hopper Family Band - the family that plays together, stays together. Robin, Bruce, Grady & Caiti Hopper

Dan “dirty d” Pascucci - "Dirty d" is back again for another memorable performance. Remember what he did last time? Okay, so maybe not THAT memorable.

Wings to Fly - with lively harmonies & fun songs. Shonti Elder, Elsa Aegerter, Karl Wilhelmi, Marianne See & Ben Saylor

Alaska Button Box Gang - playing a variety of music & rhythms from around the world, especially Middle & Eastern European countries. Marge Ford, Patti Gersich, Mike & Theresa Pajot, Eddie Johnston, Ida Johnston, Nancy Baum, Mary Lu Harle, Susan Klein, Trudy Knutson, Flo Pearson, Bob Szewc, Roger Weinfurter & Mary Lou Catron

Nuther Brothers - perform swingin' folk & original tunes. They look like brothers. They sound like brothers. But one of them is better looking. Michael Fabion & Tom Torvie

Kathleen Bielawski - plays piano & performs original music & one arrangement of two George Harrison songs.

Hot Sauce - these guys have bluegrass at their fingertips, rock & roll in their souls & harmony in their hearts. Matt Fabion, Ian Wahl & Bob Fairchild

Jubilee - music to your ears. Shonti Elder, Denise Martin, Elsa Aegerter, Ben Saylor & Jim Kerr

Chilkatz - 4 part harmony, barbershop style singing. Jill Stone, Cindy Hamilton, Jean Snyder & Kathy Hughes

Red Elk - bluegrass & western swing. Richard Gelardin, Linda Ziegler, Amanda Kerr, Andrew March & Greg Booth

The Starling Sisters - are pleased to bring you sweet harmonies, both fanciful and true: Amy Lou, Magpie Sue and Tamara, too.

Davya Flaharty - originals & covers with an acoustic country-folk sound.

Chugach Mountain Range Cloggers - precision clogging, formation & line dances to bluegrass, pop & rock music. Leslie Patrick, Lisa Willard, Karen Beaudin, Jackie McIntire, Rhonda Kutzner, Virginia & Dave Ulmer, Celine Vaillancourt & Rhea McDonald

Irish Dance Academy of Alaska - performs several Irish dances featuring champion dancers. 8-10 dancers

Reverend Poor Child- performs several original songs.

Sunday Afternoon 1:00 pm; January 22, 2012
Emcee: ANTONIO MONTERROSA

Amigas - three 6th grade girls from the Spanish Immersion Program at Government Hill Elementary School, have been playing together since they were 5 years old … & now musically. Charlotte Smith, Cinnamon Monterrosa & Karen Habicht.

Nick “the Dream” Weaver - has been performing in Alaska for over 14 years & has produced 7 of his own cds.

Carmen - performs classical guitar solos.

Jude & Suz - have cooked up a fine set of songs, but it's no free lunch. Be prepared to sing. Judy Jacobs & Suzanne Little

Don Perrin - 30’s blues, 60’s folk & more.

Roger Fuson, storyteller - relates the tale of “Malinka, Queen of the Malamutes.”

Delaney Scott - country classics with a little bit of soul & a dash of rock ‘n roll. Delaney & Tim Scott

Jesus Singers - singing peppy gospel songs. GW & Clara Noble

Bluegrass 162 - this is the 3rd Folk Festival for this bluegrass quartet. Marilyn Backus, Mike Hansen, Pete Schaab & Wayne Stuvik

Sally’s Kitchen - old & new friends sing new & old songs.

Tom Taylor - sings & plays the acoustic guitar.

Swiftwater - while seemingly from different planets, a dad & his UAA sons share a love of playing music together. Dan, Dave & Sam Guzauskas

Little Fiddler & Friends - Original & Irish tunes. Julia Nauheim, Kevin Cassity & Mari Jamieson

Brenda Jaeger - performs original songs & traditional folk tunes. Brenda Jaeger, Paul Jaeger & Sharon Ann Jaeger

Alaska Folk Arts - AK Folk Arts Summer Camp attendees, teachers & alumni (too many to name!) having fun & playing mostly fiddle tunes with camp director, Mary Schallert.

Northern Lights Celtic Dancers - will present traditional & state of the art Irish Dances, including reels, jigs hornpipes & figure dances.

Sunday Evening 7:00 pm; January 22, 2012
Emcees: TERRI McCOY and BRETT JOKELA

Mountain Echo - features funny folk music, designed to get a laugh out of everyone. Mike Childers & Steve Hinds

Wade Hampton Miller - a versatile multi-instrumentalist with a wicked sense of humor.

Denise Martin - hammered dulcimer, guitar & Irish music played thereupon. Denise Martin & Jim Kerr

Al Koenig - a little classical, a little pop, or a little flamenco could come out of Al’s guitar. It’s always a surprise.

Bridget & Seth - two old friends (& Steller schoolmates) join musical forces. Seth Eggleston & Bridget Galvin

Three Fish in a Tree - family band extreme. Shonti Elder & Bill, Kluonie & Devin Frey

Acoustic Banana - folk-pop-original string band eclectica. Peter Crimp, Kippie Lanz, Kevin Cassity, Mary Schallert, Shonti Elder, Amy Hettinger & Dolores Catherino

GUEST ARTIST: Hanneke Cassel Trio – Share one last evening with this extraordinary trio. Hear tunes & songs from the Celtic & North American traditions … & maybe more. Hanneke Cassel - fiddle, Ariel Friedman - cello, Keith Murphy - guitar

Thursday Evening 7:00 pm, January 26, 2012 -
Emcees and Stage Crew: UAA Student Activities Staff

UAA Martin Luther King Day, Speaker: Isabel Wilkerson 7:30 - 8:30 pm

UAA Student Folk Night - 9:15 pm:

Handsome Molly - be prepared for brain-melting harmonies. Emily McLaughlin, Ibi Wemark & Luisa Yoter

Brandon Mezzetti - folk music & fiddle tunes.

Prime Minister - this dynamic rock/reggae band will present a rare acoustic set. Ben Altemus, John Linxwiler, Nicholas Holliday, Brendan McCrum & Nicholas Gelinas.

Maura Walsh - local fiddle wizard, will share some enchanting traditional Irish tunes.

Seth Boyer - writes and plays music. Sometimes on stages, sometimes on the street. Often for beer money, but mostly for the love.

Eric & Anna - Eric Rodgers & Anna Lynch combine voices, guitar, mandolin & fiddle in anyway they see fit.

Jonathan Heynen - is a second year music student at UAA; he shares his creations & talent.

Friday Evening 7:00 pm, January 27, 2012 -
Emcee: PATTY HAMRE

Slapdash - bluegrass with a twist. Kai Kokesh, Stuart Bembenek, Cory Sheppard & Harrison Jennings

Midnight Sons Chorus - has been ringing chords in Anchorage since 1967. Hear songs you know & love in close harmony.

Ski Major - plays tunes in their favorite key (ski major!), which they’ve been working on since their band formed at Mary Schallert’s “Alaska Folk Arts Camp.” Zach Bassett, Canyon Tobin, Maggie York & Liesel Von Imhof

Mary Schallert - Anchorage singer-songwriter-music teacher, has just completed a cd, “Short Stories.”

Sarahndipity - a group of young teens bring a fresh sound to bluegrass. Sarah Bartholomew, Sam & Levi Shephard, Ian Wahl & Matt Faubion

Crooked Road - Traditional Irish Music. John Walsh, Maura Walsh, Jim Kerr, Denise Martin & Ben Saylor

Hot Club of Nunaka - owe their inspiration to the acoustic swing created by Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli & the legendary Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Karl Pasch, Eric Rodgers, Nathan Levine & Derek Christianson

GUEST ARTISTS: Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen - January will be a little bit warmer this year when Frank returns to his former stompin' grounds with one of the hottest bands in bluegrass today. Frank Solivan - mandolin & fiddle, Mike Munford - banjo, Chris Luquette - guitar, & Anchorage's own Danny Booth - bass

LATE NIGHT JAM with the Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen - Spenard Roadhouse, 1049 W. Northern Lights Blvd., Anchorage 11:00 pm – 2:00 am

Saturday Afternoon 12:45 pm; January 28, 2012
Emcee: KARL WILHELMI

Alaska Celtic Pipes & Drums - performs, teaches & promotes Scottish and Irish piping and drumming right here in Alaska, focusing especially on young people. Let your Saturday begin with the skirl of pipes & the rattle of drums.

Flute & Fiddle - combine with the human voice to bring us Celtic, folk & gospel songs. Alice Wright & Mary Anne Green

Winds of Time - a recorder consort plays music from medieval to contemporary times. Mary Bustamante, Meredith Rude, Linda Zimmerman, Ingrid Lindberg, Shawn Campbell, Sharon Theroux & Emily Becker

Remastered - ageless music with fun-loving folk. Michael, Jerry & Kim Haller, Torrey Smith, Joel Lockman & Kathy Hughes

Roy Corral - performs traditional & contemporary folk music.

The Kids Are All Wright - three generations of Wrights & friends playing funky new music played with old-time attitude. Duncan, Addy, Oliver, Cathy & Geoff Wright

John Donkersloot - classic folk music.

Rachel Finley - performs originals & covers favorite songs from such artists as Sarah McLachlan, Owl City, One Republic & Adele.

Gabriel’s Call - gospel music the way God intended, “Bluegrass Style.” Jeff Walker, Kelly Leismen, Ken Baehr & Mike Childers

Harford & Koenig - a Nashville transplant & an Alaskan guitarist sing original & old time duets. Betty Harford & Al Koenig

Laura Oden - is a guitar-playing singer-songwriter.

One Grateful Red - Zach was unable to decide whether to play the ukelele, guitar, fiddle, or mandolin … so he will share a favorite song from each. Zach Bassett

Eric & Sean Braendel - singer songwriter & his son play their own unique, original songs.

Dominic & Tom - play acoustic blues & jazz from Robert Johnson to Merle Travis to Jeff Golub. Dominic Mauricio, Tom Lambert & Liz Santoro

Mary Oudean - playing bluegrass & country favorites.

GUEST ARTISTS: Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen - will rock your socks with this short set … then be sure to catch their final trip to the main stage Sunday evening. Frank Solivan - mandolin & fiddle, Mike Munford - banjo, Chris Luquette - guitar, Danny Booth - bass

ANNUAL MEETING - 5:00 to 6:00 pm

Saturday Evening 7:00 pm; January 28, 2012
Emcees: BOB FAIRCHILD and MATT FAUBION

Bowheads - eclectic blend of Americana & Irish music. A cast of dozens.

Alyson McCarty - singing gospel music in Yupik & English. Alyson McCarty & Annmarie Conley

Midnight Sun Cloggers - all-female, contemporary clog & percussion dance team. Dixine, Kari, Katrina, Lindsay, Marcy, Robin, Shannon & Tiffany

Marty Raney - a mountaineer musician plays acoustic electric.

Cindy McKenna - performs original folk songs. Cindy McKenna, Sunrise Sjoeberg & Tim Quinn

The Derry Aires - you just never know what these women will do on stage! Look for their cds locally. Peggy Monaghan, Robin Bassett, Linda Stromquist & Nancy Steeley

Rebeqa Rivers & Al Koenig - An uncle with a guitar + a niece with a voice = swell original songs.

Sunrise & Friends - heartfelt songs from the earth & sky, & maybe k.d. Lang. Sunrise Kilcher Sjoeberg, Tim Quinn & Lindianne Sarno

Gal Pals - together again, with more of our favorite songs for you. Marianne See, Mary Oudean, Jessie Cotter & Linda Ziegler

Lou Nathanson - see him work through all of his childhood traumas & neuroses in song … before a live audience … in 15 minutes.

High Lonesome Sound - awesome old-time & brain bustin’ bluegrass. Amanda Kerr, Eric Rodgers, Carter Banfroft & Garren Volper

Marian Call - singer-songwriter-performer of quirky folk-pop-jazz, tours North America regularly, but calls Alaska home. Look for her new double cd, “Something Fierce.” Marian Call & Jordan Shindle

Matt Hammer with Mz Lona - original, classic and contemporary folk songs. After 36 years ... Matt has become one of Alaska's best known balladeers. Lona & Matt Hammer

Dawn Berg - “What? I'm singing today? I know I have a new song somewhere in my handbag …”

The Long & the Short of It - play several folk songs & maybe an original or 2. Meg Anderson, John Schlomer & Paul Paslay

Spenard Johnny - performs folk-blues originals. John Atchison

Midnight Starlight - plays the timeless music of Ellington, Gershwin & Porter … with a Latin flair. Tom Lambert, Liz Santoro, Lena Gonzales & Corliss Kimmel

Sunday Afternoon, 1:00 pm - January 29, 2012
Emcees: LESLIE KLEINFELD and JON LOCKHART

Destany Hawley - a charming selection of Irish, folk, & acoustic pop songs.

Mountain Mission - an Alaskan-based duo combine guitar, banjo, clarinet, glockenspiel & voice. Sjofn Andersdottir & Paul Monsarrat

Emily Kathryn Barry - singer-songwriter, performs folk songs and plays her guitar.

Three Sets of Sandals - a old time-bluegrass trio that enjoys playing music together & having as much fun as possible. Hollis Hasbrouck, Matt Faubion & Harrison Jennings

Eric Backstrum - solo folk guitar and vocals.

Country Gospel - country gospel songs. Jill Ekstrom, Jan Fry & Davis Normand

Tom Wolforth - find out what a homemade wooden banjo sounds like when played by a suburban kid that moved to the sticks in southern Indiana, then raised a family in Hawaii and suddenly was beamed up to Alaska.

Cowboy Church of Anchorage - country gospel praise band. Hear them Sundays at 9:30 AM at Wayland Baptist University. www.cbcanchorage.org Debra & Steve Oudean, Andrea Gresset, Steve Wright & Doug Briney

Betty Arnett, storyteller - does her thing.

Saint Mary’s Praise Singers - are the folk & contemporary music choir at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Wade Hampton Miller, Karl Wilhelmi, Rama Ishaya, Kade Bissell, Malie & Vicky Delgado, Christy Favorite, Stephen Thorpe, Dave Rein, John Crittenden, Michael Morrison, Chris Cooke, Emily Nenon, Megan Kemp & Elsa Aegerter

Kathy Burgoyne & Shimmy Sisters - present a variety of dances of Middle Eastern & Mediterranean origin. Kathy Burgoyne, Linda Gow, Debby Jones, Sharon Headley & Bobby Stanley

Zoey Kelly - mostly original songs accompanied by guitar.

Lindianne - performs songs from her cd, “American Man.” Freedom songs from the peace line. Lindianne Sarno & Sunrise Sjoeberg

TGB - 4 Alaskans playing music for Alaskans. Erin McCarthy-Keeler, Willow Feighery, Irene Bembenek & Yana Smith

Relatively Famous - fun with ukuleles. Tim & Kevin Quinn, Sunrise Sjoeberg, Vince Bergkamp

Fountain of Youth Fiddlers - Amanda Kerr’s advanced fiddle students perform their favorite fiddle tunes. Aurora Beaty, Jenni Grunblatt, Harrison Jennings, Connor Moma, Kaelin & Teaguen O'Fallon, Anna Padrick, Henry Toal, Lindsay Von Tish & Amanda & Jim Kerr

Sunday Evening 7:00 pm; January 29, 2012
Emcees: ROBIN HOPPER and GRADY HOPPER

Thursday Night Céilì Band - a friendly group of musicians who meet every Thursday for tunes & fun. John Walsh, Maura Walsh, Denise Martin, Jim Kerr, Donna Fearey, Marilyn Backus, Ben Saylor, Charlie Rogge, Willow Feighery, Richard Gelardin & Elanor Carpenter

Anna Lynch - originally from California, singer/songwriter Anna Lynch has played numerous venues around the Anchorage area.

Rick Miller - opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Management.

Bayou Glacée - plays traditional & contemporary Cajun music in French … with an occasional song in English. Gary Fitch, Bill Allen, Patty Hamre, Lauren Bogle, Celine Vaillancourt, Beverly Grogan & Eric Stice

Melissa Beck - sit back & relax as Melissa performs original songs & shares a story or two.

Backyard Swing - This is the way the music is gonna look when we heard it back then. Terri McCoy, Linda Ziegler, Doyle Williams & Brett Jokela

GUEST ARTISTS: Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen - is the best antidote for the winter blues we can prescribe! Enjoy the rich voices & incredible musical skills of this fine bluegrass band in their final 2012 Folk Festival performance. Frank Solivan - mandolin & fiddle, Mike Munford - banjo, Chris Luquette - guitar, Danny Booth - bass

AFF Production Staff:

Dance Coordinators - Kenny Powers & Brian DeMarcus

Folk Week Coordinator - Suzy Crosby

House Manager - Joe Meehan

Lighting - Ken Brown, Jerry George, Grady Hopper, Ian Wahl & other volunteers

Lobby Manager - George Knight

Program Coordinator - Merideane Kennison

Program Layout - Bradley Reid & Associates

Scheduling Coordinator - Mary Schallert

Social Media Coordination - Chris Oudean & Garren Volper

Sound - Lucy Peckham & Rick Miller

Stage Crew and Technical Support - All of our wonderful volunteers

Stage Manager Coordinators - Marianne See & Bill McDonald

Stagecraft - Shane & Wayne Mitchell & the Wendy Williamson Staff, from the design by Katie Sevigny

Volunteer Coordinators - Bill McDonald & Martha Jokela

Webmaster - Ken Brown

Workshop Coordinator - Garren Volpe