Church of the Resurrection
2280 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22311
For Focus info: (703) 501-6061
From I-395 in Northern Virginia, take Seminary Road exit West. Turn right
onto Beauregard Street (just past Southern Towers Apartments), turn right at the first
stoplight onto Fillmore Ave, and turn right again into church parking lot.
NOTE:
Purchases must be made 24 hours before
the show. Please print and bring your PayPal purchase
confirmation. Otherwise, just come and pay at the door.
"An expert on Robert Johnson [who] has written a book about him, 'Robert
Johnson/At The Crossroads,' Ainslie has tremendous skill coupled with an
awesome love for the music. His voice is at times soft and keening and at
other times booms out to match the intensity and power of his guitar. There
is no doubt in my mind that Scott Ainslie feels the blues the way the rest
of us feel an electric shock; it courses through him like a current."
--Ellen Arthur, The Spectator
With
a rich tenor voice and a mastery of the guitar, dobro,
mandolin, and dulcimer, David LaFleur has been performing
his unique mixture of folk, blues and bluegrass for over 20
years. LaFleur learned his chops performing among such acts
as Danny Gatton, Nils Lofgren and the Johnson Mountain Boys.
His original music has been featured on TV as well as NPR.
www.davidlafleurmusic.com
The
story of Pete and Maura Kennedy’s personal and professional relationship,
now in its second decade, is somewhere between fate and a fairytale. How
else can you explain a chance meeting in
Austin
between two East Coast-born musicians that immediately sparked a songwriting
collaboration, a first date at Buddy Holly’s grave, an enduring romance, and
a creative partnership that radiates warmth, positive energy, and
captivating music?
Inspiration is where you find it
– and where it finds you. Open to every moment, the much-traveled married
duo of Pete and Maura Kennedy have spun their personal experiences, musical
influences and philosophical beliefs into ten albums of winsome original
songs, frequently seasoned with exquisitely-performed cover tunes, that
blend acoustic-based folk, rock, country, pop and secular gospel into an
inclusively delightful sound that’s all their own.
Cohn
studied jazz guitar, composition and ethnomusicology at the New England
Conservatory, Berklee and Tufts University and has played in bands that
range from rock to contemporary folk. He has 20 years' experience playing
and teaching popular guitar styles, currently at his Arlington, Va., music
studio. A Pennsylvania native, his Grits roots rock band played in Boston
and Cohn toured solo as Pluto (as in out of this world) or part of the band
Pluto's Republic and jam band The Grand Candy. The Washington Post's Mark
Jenkins wrote that the 13 songs on his solo CD "Par Avion" are "spare
neo-folkie tunes of the sort that would have typed him as a 'new Dylan'."
"No
artist on the coffeehouse circuit today is better than Don White at
combining the heartfelt aesthetics of the singer-songwriter with
side-splitting laughs. ... Even his silliest jokes shimmered with emotional
truth, healing barbs that allowed parents and kids to both laugh at and
examine their own family struggles. Whether singing a wrenching ballad about
unexpressed love or goofily imitating a broken eight-track stereo, White was
always telling us the truth." -- Scott Alarik, Boston Globe
An
award-winning songwriter with a talent to deliver memorable
"true" stories and timeless accounts of humanity.
"Nick is recognized for his dry wit, his profound and
sincere lyrics, and a voice that is often compared to James
Taylor but has a soulfulness uniquely
his own." -Laurie Oudin, Main Street Cafe
Margot
MacDonald, of Arlington, won the Washington Area Music Association's 2007
New Artist award and is up for five Wammies for 2009, including artist and
rock album of the year ("Walls," her third CD). MacDonald, just 18, tours
with her band as well as a solo acoustic artist and was a recent
artist-in-residence with the Music Center at Strathmore.
MacDonald dove into music at a young age. She sang with the World Children's
Choir and at 10 was singing professionally with the Washington National
Opera, the Wolf Trap Opera Company, and other musical theatre productions.
At the age of 12, she released her 2004 debut album, "Rising." She went on
to attend the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington.
www.margotmacdonald.com
"Any
new song that can live comfortably beside the well-worn songs of folk
tradition has a good chance of surviving the test of time. Such, we believe,
are the songs of Bill Staines"
"His gentle lilting voice, spacious
melodies and common-chord lyrics give his songs a homespun grace that often
belies his mastery of the folk form. He is such a pure pleasure too, people
forget to notice how damn good at the job of singer-songwriter he really
is."
We will have a wonderful
new home. We are very excited about it. It's
easy to find off of I-270, has lots of space, and offers
us flexibility on booking big-drawing performers.
From I-495 (the beltway
around Washington D.C.) take I-270 North to exit 6-A, Route 28 (in
the direction of downtown Rockville).
A
t
the top of the exit ramp onto Route 28/Montgomery Ave. go straight
through the light on to Nelson Street.
Take Nelson
Street for 1.3 miles to first traffic light.
Turn right at
light onto Manakee Street.
Proceed 0.2 miles,
past Rockville Swim Center and Welsh Park.
Take a left onto Welsh
Park Drive and go one short block to the church entrance on the
right.
Driving directions - Alternate Version:
From I-495 (the beltway
around Washington D.C.) take I-270 North to exit 6-A, Route 28 (in
the direction of downtown Rockville).
A
t
the top of the exit ramp onto Route 28/Montgomery Ave. go straight
through the light on to Nelson Street.
In .2
miles, turn right on Beall Avenue.
At
traffic circle take 3rd exit (3/4 way around) onto Manakee Street.
Go
through one stop sign to Welsh Park Drive (formerly Norris Street)
on right.
Take a right onto Welsh
Park Drive and go one short block to the church entrance on the
right.
NOTE:
Purchases must be made 24 hours before
the show. Please print and bring your PayPal purchase
confirmation. Otherwise, just come and pay at the door.
"A master musical storyteller, often dealing in songs of the
heart. Rogers digs an emotional well and invites the listener in for a long,
refreshing drink."
- Dirty Linen
...he knows and captures what is real and lasting - the
joyous, contradictory poetry of living - Dirty Linen
"Garnet Rogers
is capable of awe-inspiring and unpredictable stuff - and that
includes more than just music"
Resolutely
independent, Garnet Rogers has turned down offers from major labels to do
his music his own way.
Cosy
Sheridan delivers one of the most well-rounded concert performances of
anyone in folk music today, which is why Acoustic Guitar Magazine has
written, "If I were going to throw an all-girl dinner party at which I
wanted to laugh and cry from the hor d'oeuvres to the chocolate pudding,
Cosy Sheridan is the first woman I'd invite."
A
California-based performer with 10 albums known for very
sophisticated songwriting; clean guitar playing; rich,
textured instrumentation; and top-notch singing.
"Heartfelt, inspired songwriting...with a delivery both
biting and assured." -- SingOut! Magazine
"Nachmanoff has a real knack for delivering a tune with an
acoustic style that's somewhere between the easy-going charm
of Arlo Guthrie and the raw energy of Bruce Springsteen."--
The Davis Enterprise
"Chuck
is the whole package...melodic singing, witty lyrics and GREAT boots." -
Mike Pengra, Minnesota Public Radio
"This is sophisticated western music with its slightly jazzy gypsy guitar
swing."
- Bill Groll, AustinAmericana.com
"Chuck Pyle's songs, playing and singing are transporting. If you're looking
for top-flight alt-country-inflected contemporary folk ... this is it." -
Mark Moss, Sing Out!
When
the steel mill he worked at went bankrupt taking his pension with it, Angelo
M. (short for Melasecca) tossed his hardhat, picked up his guitar and began
penning songs for his debut CD, "Far From Home." His soulful voice rings
with authenticity and carries the rawness of truth seasoned with experience.
Drawing influences from Ry Cooder, Duane Allman, Chet Atkins and Leo Kottke,
Angelo M. is casting a strong impression with his guitar virtuosity and his
original finger-picked folk and blues. He is also noted for playing dobro,
mandolin and harp. Two "Far From Home" tracks are featured in the PBS series
"Roadtrip Nation" and his song, "Thirty Years" received honorable mention
in the prestigious Mountain Stage NewSong and Billboard song contests. His
new CD, "Steelwork," made the top-25 FolkDJ albums list in September.
Since leaving the steel mill, Angelo has played at numerous festivals and
notable listening rooms from Philadelphia's World Café to Artichoke Music in
Portland, Ore.
Take
two scoops of funk; throw in a heathly serving of reggae; stir in a few
large cups of deep Piedmont blues; throw in a pinch of Latin flavor for
spice, and top it off with some old school R&B. Shake it up and you've got
the music of Sol. A venerable pan stew of groove.
"You have to admire a blues/soul singer who is
trying to sound like himself, instead of some old blues guy."
-Tad Dickens, Press Review
"Sol is an amazing talent -- a
guitarist/singer/songwriter and producer. His music makes you feel good,
and that ain't bad! Sol puts into each song just what it needs. He can
take a nod to the traditional and still be original and fresh."
-Music is Music, Music is Music Blogspot
"When
Toby Walker straps the guitar on, the notes fly at a rate that is
dizzying. They dance with speed, grace and precision. The effect is one of
steel-like strength. His blues are a flash of muscle and his gentle
fingerstyle ballads speak poetry."
-Richard Cuccaro - Acoustic Live
In a remarkably short period of time, Pat Wictor has become the name that is
being chatted about on the acoustic, blues, folk and Americana circuits.
Steeped in American "roots" music, Pat is a contemporary
songwriter and interpreter drawing on the rural country, gospel, and blues
traditions of our nation.
"Cliff
Eberhardt sings with passion and with wit. ... What makes his brand so
rare is the self-assurance and poise he brings to his nearly flawless
show."
—The New York
Post
"Eberhardt is better
than ever, Steve McQueening his way into your heart at about
ninety-eight miles an hour, kicking ass with fresh insight and new ways
to lament old yearnings.” —Philly Rock Guide
Captivating
and distinctive blue collar roots music from Fort Macleod,
Alberta. The Calgary Sun wrote, "John Wort Hannam has a
Gordon Lightfoot-like skill at penning songs". He writes
songs that champion the way things used to be, small towns,
the working class, and the sanctity of the land and those
who work it.
A monthly Focus Song Circle has begun on the
first
Wednesday of each
month
at the Cascades Library in Potomac Falls, which is in the Sterling, Va.,
area starting at 7 p.m. The library's address is 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac
Falls, VA 20165.
Jerry Bresee,
former Focus president and longtime member, has organized the event and
will lead the song circle. Everyone is welcome - singers, players,
covers, originals. No electric instruments.
Purchases must be made 24 hours before
the show. Please print and bring your PayPal purchase
confirmation. Otherwise, just come and pay at the door.
The
story of Pete and Maura Kennedy’s personal and professional relationship,
now in its second decade, is somewhere between fate and a fairytale. How
else can you explain a chance meeting in
Cohn
studied jazz guitar, composition and ethnomusicology at the New England
Conservatory, Berklee and Tufts University and has played in bands that
range from rock to contemporary folk. He has 20 years' experience playing
and teaching popular guitar styles, currently at his Arlington, Va., music
studio. A Pennsylvania native, his Grits roots rock band played in Boston
and Cohn toured solo as Pluto (as in out of this world) or part of the band
Pluto's Republic and jam band The Grand Candy. The Washington Post's Mark
Jenkins wrote that the 13 songs on his solo CD "Par Avion" are "spare
neo-folkie tunes of the sort that would have typed him as a 'new Dylan'."
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"I
want to run into the streets and force people to hear this genius girl with
her strapped on cello." (Indie-Music.com)
Cosy
Sheridan delivers one of the most well-rounded concert performances of
anyone in folk music today, which is why Acoustic Guitar Magazine has
written, "If I were going to throw an all-girl dinner party at which I
wanted to laugh and cry from the hor d'oeuvres to the chocolate pudding,
Cosy Sheridan is the first woman I'd invite."
Take
two scoops of funk; throw in a heathly serving of reggae; stir in a few
large cups of deep Piedmont blues; throw in a pinch of Latin flavor for
spice, and top it off with some old school R&B. Shake it up and you've got
the music of Sol. A venerable pan stew of groove. 
