AN INTRODUCTION TO SLOFOLKS
SLOfolks, a non profit organization, brings you live music from Appalachia to Mali, a diversity reflecting the cultural history and expression of the people's music played on a variety of instruments. You will hear sea shanties, ballads, work songs, gypsy music, West African Kora, Celtic Bluegrass as well as French Musettes and Brazilian instrumentalists.

"Let this be my epitaph:The only proof he needed for the existence of God was music"
Kurt Vonnegut

On August 9, 2007, SLOfolks received our tax exempt status from the IRS. We are now a public charity, exempt from federal taxes as a 501(c)(3) corporation.

Any bequests, transfers, gifts or contributions to SLOfolks are tax deductible under section 170 of the code.

Picture on the right shows Pete Seeger with Kate Power & Steve Einhorn at the 2008 Corn Festival in the town of Beacon, N.Y. Kate & Steve performed for SLOfolks in June 2008

You can read Steve's letter about Pete Seeger and the Corn Festival on our Newspage
Folk music has been with us forever...in every country of the world. It is the musical expression of many people; it takes us back to our roots and allows us to participate in that rich tradition.

When times are hard and people are suffering, folk music is the voice of our conscience to awaken compassion and understanding. It moves us, makes us laugh, cry and best of all, brings us together.

Phil Ochs

Phil is one of the lesser known troubadors of the 1960s folk scene, but he's certainly one of the most important. His topical songs tackled everything and everyone, and nothing was too taboo to write about. His songs like "Love me, I'm a Liberal" and "I'm Not Marching Anymore" enjoyed huge popularity. Phil was a major player in the War is Over movement of the Vietnam era, and his songs from that period are covered even today.
Kim Ruehl
ODETTA, one of our very favorite artists.....

Odetta, the awesome blues and folk singer whose work was a soundtrack to the American civil rights movement and an inspiration to Bob Dylan and many others, has died at the age of 77. She began singing in the 1940s, and "In 1961, Martin Luther King, Jr. anointed her 'The Queen of American folk music.'" She was also Rosa Parks' favorite singer.

Odetta's style inspired Joan Baez and Bob Dylan at the start of their careers, while Belafonte credits her with teaching him about the use of dramatic interpretation in song. In the liner notes Belafonte wrote for her album My Eyes Have Seen, he wrote, "Few... possess that fine understanding of a song's meaning which transforms it from a melody into a dramatic experience. Odetta, who has influenced me greatly in this area of dramatic interpretation, is just such an artist." Later, Odetta marched with Martin Luther King Jr., and lent her voice to the American civil rights movement.



Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, the Weavers, Peter Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan were major influences for many of us. Now new voices continue to inspire us, artists like Lucy Kaplansky, Eliza Gilkyson, Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen, James Talley, Alice Stuart, Chuck Brodsky and Chris Smither to name a few .

SLOfolks brings us a variety of voices and instruments... artists like Rahim AlHaj from Baghdad, who uses his music to communicate compassion, love and peace.
"The responsibility of the listener is to understand the message. This message is the secret of life." Rahim AlHaj

Please visit our About SLOfolks page to find out how SLOfolks started, Events to get more information about upcoming concerts. Our News, page will let you know about other local concerts, radio shows, and Press articles, and Past Performers to find out about all the talented musicians who have performed for SLOfolks.

For Ticket Reservation, please check our Ticket page

SHANAGOLDEN RETREAT
We would like to thank all our SLOfolks Fans who help us host our musicians and especially Kristin and Alan Cameron who are hosting some of our SLOfolks musicians in their peaceful Shanagolden Retreat B&B in Templeton.
Shanagolden is named after a little town in Limerick, Ireland. It is said to be a place of great peace and tranquility.

Shanagolden Retreat
WEST AFRICAN HIGHLIFE BAND
West African Highlife Band
Saturday, July 18,Castoro Cellars, 7PM
Catered dinner by Cahoot (for an extra charge)at 6PM

The West African Highlife Band is an authentic all-star group of West African music veterans. Together, they revive the 'highlife' dance classics, with a fusion of African and world musics. Rich vocal harmonies, intertwining guitars, and exciting percussion make this group unbeatable!

"Cause for rejoicing...right up there with Thomas Mapfumo or the Mahotella Queens." Alastair Johnson

"This is truly a supergroup, brought together by the joy of music-making. A tribute to the highlife and "palm-wine bands of Ghana and Nigeria, the hits that motivated the feet of a generation of African youth"
j.poet
The West African Highlife Band brings together an all-star group of distinguished West African music veterans for a unique celebration of the incomparable West African highlife and 'Palmwine' dance hit of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The atmosphere is intense and intoxicating as featured musicians Baba Ken Okulolo, Soji Odukogbe, Rasaki Aldokin, Pope Flynne, Nii Armah Hammond, and Lemi Barrow put out their rare and beautiful music.

"In Africa,music expresses and heals the feelings of the people. Rhythm, dance, and melody bring us together. Songs can be lyrical, funny, angry and ironic. Selfishness and vanity are condemned, while wisdom, beauty, and sharing are praised. Ancestors and deities are involked and thanked for the blessings.

We grew up playing Afrobeat and highlife music, with Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Dr. Victor Olaiya, and many other great African artists. We are reverent and respectful of the past masters. We care deeply about nurturing and sustaining traditions, while we put our own creativity and joy into our music."
Baba Ken & Kotoja

Producer/Bandlander Ken Okulolo was first seen in the U.S. with King Sunny Ade's African beats. He was five times voted Nigeria's best bassist by that country's music journalists. Deeply rooted in tradional village music, as a youth he was bassist for several great highlife bands, including the band of the highlife mster, Victor Olaiya. Now, he also leads the modern Afro-beat band KOTOJA, and The NIGERIAN BROTHERS.

Ghanaian performer/composer/educator Pope Flyne is best known as lead vocalist for the legendary Sweet Talks band of Ghana, where he brought the art of highlife music to new heights. When not on stage, he shares his joful spirit and vast knowledge of African folk music, dancing and percussion with his legions of american students.

Nigeria's Soji Odukogbe was for five yars the lead guitarist for the late Fela Anikulap Kuti. He draws on an extensive background in Nigerian Afro-beat, highlife, and spiritual music, bringing a unique sensibility to his highlife guitar interpretations.

A present and founding member of the seminal Ghanaian group Hedzoleh Soundz, which recorded on several unforgettable hit albums with Hugh Masekela,Nii Armah Hammon is "the Chief" of authentic highlife percussion.

Drummer Lemi Barrow brings a special, vibrant flavor to West African highlife music, brewed from his years of performing and wide experience with African, Brazillian, and African-American musicians.

http://www.Africamusicsource.com
http://www.facebook.com/agx
http://www.cdbaby.com/babakenokulolo
http://www.youtube.com/babateye

West African Highlife Band
Peppino D'Agostino
Coalesce Book store, August 21, Solo Acoustic Concert, 7PM, $22
Tickets, $22 ~ (805)772-2880

Castoro Cellars, August 22, with special guest bassist, Michael Manring 7PM
Tickets, $22 ~ (805)238-0725

Catered dinner by Giuseppe's (at an extra charge)

Peppino D'Agostino is a Renaissance man. He was born in Italy and everything about his art, virtuoso acousic guitarist, composer, singer, teacher and all-around entertainer, is rooted in his heritage.
His new CD,Made in Italy is like a little portrait of Italy. "It's my thoughts and personal impressions of my native country...." Peppino loves to sing," especially songs about life, love, loss and the pursuit of happiness," says Peppino....and the audience loves his singing!

Peppino and SLOfolks are old friends. He has been performing for us for over twenty years and sells out every year. He has many fans in our area!

Peppino writes wonderful guitar pieces. He's one of my favorite composers for this cranky instrument. Plus, he's a tone player. I love his sound... gets the resin and the wood."
Leo Kottke

"potentially a giant of the acoustic guitar"
San Diego Times

"one of the most capable composers among fingerstyle guitarists"
Acoustic Guitar

"Peppino brings warm humanity to the acoustic."
Adrian Legg

"The music Peppino creates, is like him, generous, lyrical and abundant."
Pierre Bensusan

"a poet...among the best talents around"
San Francisco Chronicle

"Peppino's music is deep and beautiful."
Tommy Emmanuel

Peppino D'Agostino is on the cover of the 68th new issue of Fingerstyle magazine

Peppino was also "Best Acoustic Guitarist" 2007 Guitar Player Magazine Reader's Choice Awards.

Peppino D'Agostino
Michael Manring ,Grammy-nominated bassist and composer
Michael is one of the best bass players in the world and has won many awards/credits to that fact.

Hailed by many as the world’s leading solo bassist, Michael Manring has been pushing back the boundaries of what’s possible on the bass guitar for decades. While his technical skill and innovations always make an impression, it is his ability to communicate on a profound emotional level that most touches listeners.

"Forget his astounding technique and musicality;forget his absolute command of his intruments;forget how seamlessly the musical ideas and the performance of them were wedded together....the enlightenment came most from feeling (seeing, hearing) the joy Michael felt to be playing...his brand of transcendental chops and musical understanding....was all in the service of the final outcome, the joy of making music." Tom Darter, Keyboard Magazine

Building on the conception of his teacher, the late bass legend Jaco Pastorius, Michael has developed a unique approach to the instrument that includes unorthodox tunings,techniques and methodologies. He has honed his skills on hunded of recordings as a session musician and thousands of concerts throughout the world. He has worked with diverse musicians, including the late acoustic guitar genius Michael Hedges.
He has gained an international reputation as "a master of the fretless bass without rival"(Guitar Club Magazine, Italy)and has garnered two gold records.

Michael Manring
Wikipedia on Michael: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Manring
Michael's MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/michaelmanring