Festival Performers

Molasses Creek

Photo by Ann Ehringhaus

Together since 1993, Ocracoke's Molasses Creek has toured throughout the United States, released 9 CDs and received worldwide radio airplay. Members of the Southern Arts Federation and award-winners from Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, they have been featured at Our State magazine's “Best of NC,” frequently headline at 'First Night' Williamsburg, opened for Garrison Keillor at East Carolina University's concert series, and recently completed a three-week tour of the Northeast. Band members Gary Mitchell, Fiddler Dave Tweedie, Marcy Brenner, Lou Castro, and Gerald Hampton have released a brand new album, “More Better Molasses Creek,” including new material as well as audience favorites of the last 10 years, just in time for Ocrafolk Festival 2010! 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.

The Ocrafolk Opry	This sampling of performers from Ocracoke's popular long-running family variety show features Aaron Caswell, Capt. Rob and Sundae, Jamie Tunnell, Philip Howard, and April Trueblood. You can see them every Wednesday night during the summer season at Deepwater Theater.

Martin Garrish & The Ocracoke Rockers	For many years "The Ocracoke Rockers," led by guitar virtuoso Martin Garrish, has been THE band of choice when locals want to go out to dance and have a GOOD time. This is their first appearance at the Ocrafolk Festival

Trent Wagler and Steel Wheels

Gary and Kitty discovered this wonderful band while on a vacation in the Shenandoah Valley, and couldn’t wait to bring them to Ocracoke to share with their friends! Trent Wagler and his band bridge the traditions of folk, bluegrass, and blues with the best of Americana today. Since 2004, they have been delivering innovative acoustic-roots music to audiences across the US and Europe. Wagler's sound never fails to inspire audiences with its "devastating beauty" and "poignant relevancy." John Bright of the Purple Fiddle calls Wagler an "Americana songmaster." www.trentwagler.com

Photo by Ann Ehringhaus

The Honey Dewdrops

Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish are the Honey Dewdrops: a nationally touring and award winning husband and wife duet who perform fresh, original songs focusing on vocal harmonies and tight instrumentation. In March 2008, they appeared and won first place on A Prairie Home Companion’s “People in their Twenties Talent Show.” Additionally, the Dewdrops were selected as finalists in the 2009 Mountain Stage NewSong competition. “When you listen to the Honey Dewdrops, you can’t just listen to one song – you just want more, more, more. Their gentle spirits come with powerful voices while the instruments have voices of their own. This is fresh, homegrown music but deeply rooted in tradition and most importantly it is really good!” – Anne & Pete Sibley
www.thehoneydewdrops.com

photo by Meredith Montague

Warren, Bodle, and Allen

John Warren, Rob Bodle, and Louis Allen have been making music together for over 20 years now, playing throughout North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. Members of this 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.
www.warrenbodleallen.com

Mandolin Orange

Last year Fiddler Dave encountered Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz in Chapel Hill and after a few minutes of tunes called Gary saying "We've GOT to get these guys for the festival!” With wonderful on-stage chemistry, instrumental virtuosity and beautiful vocal harmonies, Mandolin Orange fills the stage with the perfect combination of melody and charm. They were a huge hit last year, so of course we HAD to get them back! http://www.myspace.com/mandolinorange.

Craicdown

Combining a technical mastery of their instruments with a passion for their playing, Craicdown performs acoustic roots music with a high-energy, rock inspired flare. The band's repertoire draws from many sources, including the jigs and reels of the Celtic cultures, Brazilian choros, the swing musettes of Paris, American roots, and original compositions. The band features David DiGiuseppe on accordion, Irish cittern and vocals, Rob Sharer on guitar, flute, fiddle and vocals, and Jim Roberts on percussion. With a distinctive and unique sound, this trio of accomplished musicians brings to the stage musical inspiration, a fire in their fingers, and a love for their art. craicdown.com

Kate McNally

By popular request, Ocracoke summer favorite Kate McNally is back! Hailing from Asheville, NC (with roots in Greenville), she's been playing guitar for over 10 years and took it a step further when she pursued a music degree with an emphasis in classical guitar at UNC Asheville. As a talented singer, guitarist and songwriter, performing is her biggest passion, with a wide array of originals and many covers as well. Some of her influences include Gram Parsons, Hank Williams, Gillian Welch, and Lucinda Williams.

Photo by Ann Ehringhaus

The Barnraisers

Fittingly celebrated as "Honky-tonk spitfires," the Barnraisers' aesthetic sensibility and sound is appropriately described as "mountain music melancholy delivered with a wink and a chuckle." The husband and wife duo consists of Tiffany Reece Forsythe's unmistakable vocals and 5-string banjo, coupled with Adam Forsythe's hard driving rhythm and complex flat-picking. Drawing influences from early bluegrass, honky-tonk, and country music, this North Carolina-bred duo has been hailed as Wilmington's best band of 2008 and 2009. Visit their web site at http://barnraisersmusic.com.

Photo by Ann Ehringhaus

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, and 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 and also teaming with Philip Howard to lead a talk about "Ocracoke Shipwrecks." His most recent CD release, “Minstrel of the Times” is available at the festival and at Soundside Records online. (www.soundsiderecords.com).

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 II, 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. Sundae hosts the Family Area at the festival, and is a long time and beloved performer at the Ocrafolk Opry. She writes for local periodicals and publishes Ex Libris, her own newsletter of book reviews and essays. They have recorded a collection of their children’s favorite lullabies, as well as Rob’s favorite pirate stories, and A Pirate’s Christmas Cd. www.schoonerwindfall.com

Phil Kelly	Phil Kelly currently resides in Hampstead, NC, but has roots on Ocracoke Island. His unique approach to singing and song-writing reflects his southern upbringing and musical influences which include bands like Grateful Dead, Little Feat, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, and Steve Earle.

Bob Zentz ("Scuttlebutt")

Hailing from the seaport of Norfolk, VA, Bob is an accomplished veteran of the American folk scene, having toured nationally and internationally for over 22 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 festivals and concerts around the world. Most recently Bob performed on screen for the filming of the movie "Nights in Rodanthe."
Visit his website at www.bobzentz.com

Rick Lee ("Scuttlebutt")	Rick Lee is a Massachusetts-based old-time banjo and piano player, a 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

Mallomar

British invasion sensation Mallomar is a folk-pop band of up to thirteen ensemble members (including someone who looks like Skye Zentz) with a real talent for writing wacky songs about cultural issues. Complete with a catalogue of hits including the mouth watering “Chicken Pot Pie”, the spooky and powerful “Shadows and Bears”, and the totally contemporary “TXT ME YR LUV,” Mallomar is an act you will not soon forget! myspace.com/mallomarband. Cheers!

Aaron Caswell

This exceptionally talented young guitarist is a 2010 graduate of Ocracoke School, and has been studying guitar since the fifth grade with Martin Garrish and Lou Castro. He performs regularly with the Ocrafolk Opry, The Ocracoke Rockers, and Martin and Friends as well as at the Methodist Church. Now we finally get to enjoy the fruit of all those hours of study and picking, "The Aaron Caswell Band".....YAHOO!!!

Robbie Link	This bassist extraordinaire from Chapel Hill, NC, who has been featured on a number of Soundside Records CDs, will be hosting a Saturday morning jazz session with some friends and gracing the stage with a variety of performers throughout the weekend. (He’s the one with the biggest instrument on stage).
Photo by Ann Ehringhaus

Donald Underwood Thompson Band

The Donald Underwood Thompson Band delivers rousing versions of classic and original blues, vintage rhythm & blues tunes, rock-a-billy (and even folk music!). Donald has performed for festivals, colleges, television audiences, libraries, arts councils and other concert venues, sharing the stage with artists such as four-time Grammy winner David Holt. Fans often comment on the band's energy and good-time feeling, so come see and hear them for yourself; you won't be able to keep your toes from tapping!

The Women of Ocrafolk	This year we are featuring some of the amazing and talented women who grace the Deepwater Theater stage throughout the summer season: Marcy Brenner, Sundae Horn, Jamie Tunnell, April Trueblood, Katy Mitchell and Rachel Reeder. And as a bonus they have just released a CD of their wonderful music! Enjoy!

Skye Zentz

Skye Zentz is a Soul Singer with a Bluesy-Folk Heart in her chest and songwriting in her genes. Her music has been described as "a cozy home with many wildly decorated rooms". She writes most of her eclectic songs on guitar or ukulele, but enjoyed her first songwriting experiences on her family's old Gulbransen piano. Her vocal stylings have been compared to the likes of Norah Jones, Suzanne Vega and The Andrews Sisters. Skye's debut album Legitimate Bohemia was produced by Gary Mitchell, right here in Ocracoke! It recieved a nomination for "Album of the Year" at the 2008 Portfolio Music Awards in Norfolk. Skye offers singing/songwriting workshops for children and senior citizens, and she even does Singing Telegrams for special occasions. Her mission with music is simple; to spread joy and healing by creating honest songs that anyone can relate to. www.myspace.com/skyezentz

Photo by Ann Ehringhaus