Festival Performers

Martin Garrish

A native of the island, Martin has been at the core of the Ocracoke music scene for over three decades now. He performs frequently with many local musicians and can often be found at the heart of a dance with his band, The Ocracoke Rockers. In addition to his performances for concerts and square-dances, he has a keen interest in helping the next generation of island musicians to carry on the tradition of live music on Ocracoke. Martin will be performing with his acoustic band, Martin and Friends, on Saturday. He has several recordings available around the island.

Molasses Creek

Together since 1993, Ocracoke’s Molasses Creek has toured throughout the United States, released 8 CDs, and received worldwide radio airplay. Members of the Southern Arts Federation, they have been a featured act at Our State magazine’s “Best of NC” weekend in Pinehurst and the “Tall Ships Festival” in Beaufort, NC. In 2008 they have performed at ‘First Night’ Williamsburg and opened for Garrison Keillor at East Carolina University’s concert series. They are frequently joined by their good friends, Gerald Hampton on mandolin, and Lou Castro on dobro. For more information on concerts at home and away, newsletters, and albums visit their website at www.molassescreek.com, or catch them live on Ocracoke during the summer and fall seasons at Deepwater Theater.

Warren, Bodle, and Allen

Warren, Bodle, and Allen has been making music together for over 20 years now, playing throughout North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. Members of this a three-voice, seven-instrument band share a historical tie with Gary Mitchell's (of Molasses Creek) legendary days of the Flying Raviolis and the Wahoo Revue. Their music is a combination of tasty bluegrass and contemporary folk-rock and country-rock tunes. Featuring lots of original material, as well as songs by artists like Dan Fogelberg, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Loggins & Messina, Poco, James Taylor, and Paul Simon, their acoustic sound, tight harmonies and clean picking, will have you dancing under the live oaks. www.warrenbodleallen.com

Michael Stanwood
and Fiddler Dave

At this year's festival, Michael Stanwood and Fiddler Dave (of Molasses Creek) will be showcasing a wonderful tapestry of songs and tunes from their brand new release "Brothers In Another Time. "

As a solo or as a leader of two of the Colorado region's more notable bands, Michael Stanwood has been a five time winner of Westward Magazine's "Best of Denver," for everything from his performances to his recordings for both kids and adults. He has toured throughout Southeast Asia as a musical goodwill ambassador for the US information service. He now plays a variety of ethnic instruments like the didgeridu, the Thai khaen, jaw harp, and the mbira, as well as guitar and autoharp. Winner of several international autoharp competitions, he is recognized as "One of the finest autoharp players in America today." Visit Michael's website at www.michaelstanwood.com.

Noah Paley

In 1999, Noah Paley decided to record some of his original songs at Soundside Studio here on Ocracoke Island. Within months, he was performing them before enthusiastic audiences at theaters, coffeehouses and festivals around North Carolina and beyond. 3 highly acclaimed CDs later, he is continuing to wow audiences with his beautifully original melodies, intelligent lyrics and fine guitar accompaniment. In June of 2006, Paley performed at the “Celebrate Our State” festival in Highpoint, North Carolina, along with Doc Watson and Melva Houston. In October of the same year he opened for Grammy-nominated instrumentalist Boney James at The Carolina Theatre in Durham, NC. He has been featured on WUNC’s “Best of Back Porch Music” CD, and is featured in the 2008 North Carolina Touring Artist Directory. On Friday nights this summer he will join Coyote in concert at Deepwater Theater, Ocracoke Island, for an evening of "Songs and the Stories Behind Them." Visit his web site at www.myspace.com/noahpaley.

Ruth Wyand

The first woman ever to win Gamble Rodgers Fingerstyle Guitar Competition, and the first place soloist at the WVA Blue's Society Competition, Ruth has won many awards for her fingerstyle playing and songwriting. She is known for her powerful voice, audience rapport, and the ability to mix jazz runs with primal Delta slide.
This year Ruth released her 5th CD and toured New Zealand where performed and taught Maori Indian children. She also opened The Carolinian Studio, a cooperative for music teachers.
"Her interesting use of open tunings, claw hammer, Piedmont and Travis picking, along with harmonics and drumbeats on the guitar, kept the audience totally absorbed and enchanted,” the Devonport Folk Club wrote from Auckland, New Zealand.
http://ruthwyand.com/

The Barnraisers

Winners of the prestigious 2007 “Best Band in Wilmington” award, the Barnraisers are composed of Tiff Reece on lead vocals and 5-string banjo, Adam Forsythe on guitar, and Clint Cooper on the bass fiddle. The Barnraisers play traditional music of the mountains, as well as their energetic originals, and are known to do covers outside of the bluegrass spectrum in mountain fashion. Influences range from Ralph Stanley to the Pixies. Opening for such acts as the Steep Canyon Rangers, and Chatham County Line, the Barnraisers are one of the fastest rising acts on the coastal Carolina acoustic scene. Visit their web site at http://barnraisersmusic.com.

Jule Garrish	Martin’s uncle Jule was born on Ocracoke in 1922. An original member of Ocracoke's Graveyard Band, Jule has drawn from a lifetime of working on the water to become an accomplished singer and songwriter, performing regularly with the “Ocrafolk Opry.”

Phil Kelly	In 2007, Wilmington native Phil Kelly first graced the Ocrafolk Festival with his powerful and clever songwriting skills and witty performance style. He’s back by popular demand! Don’t miss him on the Howard Street Stage on Saturday!

Jubal Creech

Jubal Creech became enamored by percussion at an early age. Traveling in West Africa and Haiti, Jubal studied traditional rhythms and dances. He has also traveled to China, Europe, and all over the United States. Jubal has studied, trained, and taken masters classes in the United States with many master drummers including Babatunde Olatunji, Madou Dembelle, Mohamed Decosta, Joh Camera, John Santos, Khalid Saleem, Beveryly Botsford, Bradley Simmons, Michael Spiro, Ernesto Diaz and Giovanni Hidalgo. Along with performing and recording, Jubal dedicates a lot of his time to educational programs in public schools and is an avid storyteller. He lives in Raleigh, NC with his dog Mbira and his cat Ima.

John Golden

John's interest and knowledge of coastal Carolina history goes all the way back to the Lost Colony, the pirates Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard, up to the colonial times and the Civil War blockade runners and pilots. He has written songs about Virginia Dare, pirates, the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, and has published many recordings of folk songs and stories. At this year's event John will be hosting the Howard Street stage. For albums visit Soundside Records online (www.soundsiderecords.com).

Baby Dee and Free Moustache	Baby Dee and Free Moustache features Bob Ray lead vocals and guitar, Matt Sheehan harmony vocals and guitar, Kevin Hardy vocals, pedal steel and dobro, Robert Rayborn vocals and doghouse bass, Jason Burdo percussion, and Theresa Ray washboard and percussion. Sounds like old time country with an open attitude!

Capt. Rob Temple & Sundae Horn

Capt. Rob and Sundae have been singing and sailing together since they first met on Ocracoke in 1993. Rob is the captain of the schooner WINDFALL, and he spends his summers taking passengers on sunset sails and pirate cruises from the Community Store Dock on Silver Lake Harbor. He's renowned for his nautical tales (no lie!), which he tells to lucky passengers and Ocrafolk Opry audiences. He and Fiddler Dave of Molasses Creek can also be caught at the Rumgagger show at Deepwater Theater during the summer.

Sundae hosts the Family Stage at the festival, is a regular performer at the Ocrafolk Opry, and loves to sing with Rob and other Ocrafolks. She writes for the Island Breeze and publishes Ex Libris, her own newsletter of book reviews and essays.
www.schoonerwindfall.com

Mallomar	Mallomar is a British folk-pop band of up to thirteen ensemble members with a real talent for writing wacky songs about cultural issues. Complete with a catalogue of hits including “Chicken Pot Pie”, “Shadows and Bears”, and “TXT ME YR LUV”, Mallomar is right set to cut loose on Saturday night at the Ocrafolk Festival. Find them on the web at myspace.com/mallomarband. Cheers!

Bob Zentz

Bob is an accomplished veteran of the American folk scene, having toured nationally and internationally for over 21 years. His rich voice, exceptional songwriting, warm, inclusive rapport with audiences and his splendid virtuosity on numerous musical instruments has made him a popular act at numerous festivals and concerts around the world. Most recently Bob performed on screen for the filming on "Nights of Rodanthe."
Visit his website at www.bobzentz.com

Rick Lee	Rick Lee is a Massachusetts-based old-time banjo and piano player, wonderfully expressive singer, and a songwriter with family roots deep in Appalachia (his Tennessee-born grandfather was a singer with a vast repertoire from the mountains of East Tennessee). A much sought-after piano accompanist, Rick has several solo CDs as well as recording with “Scuttlebutt.” www.ricklee.org

Anne Haley

A resident of Oriental, NC, Anne has an extensive and impressive performing history. Her early beginnings in music read like that of a wonderful Southern novel. She frankly discusses the ways of growing up in a small town in North Carolina, in the foothills, among tobacco growers and textiles... leaving you wishing you had, too! Having come from a very musical family, Anne was exposed to many types of music in every genre. Through her 25 years in the industry, she has diligently honed both a craft and a following. She has recorded several albums. Anne will perform on the Howards Street Stage on Saturday and will also host the Songwriter's Circle after her set. www.annehaley.com.

Coyote

Coyote (Marcy Brenner and Lou Castro) are a most welcome addition to the Ocracoke community. These talented performers and songwriters are featured in the 2008-2010 North Carolina Arts Council Touring Artist Directory and can often be found playing up and down the Outer Banks and at summertime shows at Deepwater Theater on Ocracoke. Both will be appear playing on-screen for the upcoming Warner Brothers movie "Nights of Rodanthe." Lou also plays guitar with The Ocracoke Rockers and dobro with Molasses Creek, and teaches guitar at Ocracoke School. Marcy works with the children’s music program at the Ocracoke Methodist Church. They have a new live Cd with Noah Paley from their Friday nights shows at Deepwater Theater on Ocracoke. Visit their website at www.coyotemusic.net.

Katy Mitchell

Katy Mitchell has been part of the music scene at Ocracoke Island since age 5 when she was dancing barefoot to her parents' band, Molasses Creek. This fine 19-year-old singer has a presence and talent beyond her years. In 2008 she has a new solo release, and will be appearing on-screen singing in the upcoming Warner Brothers movie "Nights in Rodanthe" (due out in October). She has just completed her second year at Appalachian State University (and is learning a lot about football). You can find her recording at local stores and at www.soundsiderecords.com

Aaron Caswell	Aaron is the newest member of the Ocrafolk Opry. This talented young guitarist is an tenth grader at Ocracoke School and has been studying guitar with Martin Garrish and Lou Castro. He performs regularly at the Youth Center’s Flat Cat Café as well as at the Methodist Church. We look forward to many more years of wonderful picking from him!

Gerald Hampton	This fine mandolin picker from Franklinville, NC, is a frequent touring guest of Molasses Creek wherever they may roam. His original instrumental "Category 2" is featured on their “Strangest Dream”,release and another, “Ehringhaus Blues,”,is included on the“Ocrafolk Music Sampler Vol. III. There’s no telling where he will pop up picking on the weekend!

Catesby Jones

Catesby learned to play the guitar in the era of the Beach Boys, the Beatles and other singer/songwriters of the late sixties and early seventies. He got his first paying engagement on Bourbon Street. Moving up to New England he played the clubs in Boston and Cambridge and landed a year-long tour on the fabled New York College Coffeehouse Circuit. He has been involved in the songwriter’s scene in Cleveland, the US Virgin Islands, Martha’s Vineyard, New York, Memphis, Austin and South Texas, and was a Kerrville Folk Festival winner in 1982. He was a staff writer in Nashville for 5 years and scored several hits, most notably “Country Club” by Travis Tritt and “Read My Licks” by Chet Atkins. Catesby currently lives in Wilmington, NC with his wife and two children and regularly performs there with his 4-piece band. www.catesbyjones.com

Robbie Link	This bassist extraordinaire from Chapel Hill, NC, will be gracing the stage with a variety of performers throughout the weekend. Hold on to your tappin' toes!

Donald Underwood Thompson	A couple of years ago Molasses Creek was performing at “Smoke on the Water” in Washington, NC and had the great pleasure of hearing bluesman and writer Donald Thompson for the first time. Their immediate reaction was “Wow, we’ve gotta get this guy to the Festival!” Donald's CD "The Ocracoke Sessions" was released this last year so you can find it at the 2008 festival!

Skye Zentz

Hailing from Norfolk, Virginia, Skye Zentz is a 23 year old musical-poet with a strong foundation in two genres: folk and choral music. She has been writing songs since the age of 3. Raised in practice rooms and on stage at her father's guitar shop, Skye was involved in the thick of the Tidewater Folk Music scene early on. She was one of thirty selected to attend Virginia's Summer Governors School Vocal Department in 2000. She has also performed with the Virginia Opera as a supernumerary. She has performed at the State Fair of Virginia in Richmond and Hampton's Bay Days Festival as well as the Ocrafolk Festival. Her dynamite new album, “Legitimate Bohemia,” was recorded here on Ocracoke at Soundside Studio! www.myspace.com/skyezentz

Wes Lassiter

Potter by day banjo player by night Banjo Wes has been playing banjo and writing songs for 35 years. Banjo Wes started playing on the Outer Banks with his first band "UD Thumper and the Mulletwhackers" in the late 70's and then played in Florida with the "Green Grass Revival". After moving back to NC in 1989 he formed the "Diamond Shoals Band". During the last 20 years Wes named and originated two Musical Events, The Outer Banks Folk Festival and the Frisco Jubilee that still is a working show. Wes has played with on many occasions Molasses Creek and the "Ocrafolk Opry" where he will be performing this summer. Today Wes and his wife Rhonda reside on Hatteras Island and own and operate "Red Drum Pottery" reddrumpottery.com

Ocracoke Jazz Society

The Ocracoke Jazz Society was born out of the collaboration of Dave Tweedie (violin) and Serge Gracovetsky (clarinet) circa 2006. It grew up with the addition of Rollin Reeder (piano), Leonard Conover (banjo), Lou Castro (guitar), Robert Kellet (drums), April Trueblood (bass) and Rachael Reeder (vocals).

	Serge retired after 25 years as professor of engineering and computer sciences at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. He also left behind his contribution to several companies, his tuxedo, many fancy ties and several sets of polished shoes. Upon retirement in 2000, he bought a clarinet and returned to his University as a music student in the Jazz program.
	Recently retired American Airlines International Captain Rollin Reeder is realizing his lifelong dream of learning to read music and play in a music group. Besides playing the piano, Rollin is renovating his 30 years old Ocracoke house and training a 130 pounds Great Pyrenees puppy. He also likes to acquire priceless "collectibles" in C-141s and C5s.
	Lou Castro is half of COYOTE who performs in the “Ocrafolk Opry” at the Deepwater Theater. He teaches at the Youth Center’s after school music program. He also appears with the Ocracoke Rockers, Molasses Creek and more.
	Leonard recently moved from southern Delaware where he retired full-time and began playing banjo part-time. He is a perennial tourist on Ocracoke, a sought-after house-sitter and his favorite musical spot is the porch of the OPS museum where he can answer tourists’ questions with a plink and a plunk.
	Bobby started his drummer’s career at 14 by playing in clubs in and around Miami, Florida. His mother, Daisy Howard, a native of Ocracoke taught him the basic Jazz Standards. He then played professionally with Roy Orbison, Dusty Springfield Bobby Goldsboro and many others in studio or clubs around the country.
	Rachael Reeder has been singing with her father Rollin since she was able to speak. She studied voice for 8 years and expects to graduate from the University of Virginia in 2008, with a double degree in French and Slavic Studies.
	April moved to Hatteras Island after completing her Fine Arts degree in 2001 from Abilene Christian University in Texas. She began playing bass four years ago when the local blue grass musical group “The Diamond Shoals Band” took her under their collective wing and taught her how to play. She sings, plays guitar and bass as part of the “Frisco Jubilee” and the “Ocrafolk Opry”.