Below is some information about this past Ocrafolk Festival. Ocrafolk Festival 2022 details will be posted in 2022.
Ocrafolk Festival 2021 Performers
Plus Artisans and More!
Bill and the Belles
Bill and the Belles began as a project to explore the space created between hillbilly and urban, between vaudeville and down home, but has arrived somewhere new. They bring to the stage an uplifting show unlike any other, full of humor, high spirits, and all-around revelry. Nominated for 2017 and 2018 IBMA awards, Bill and the Belles play alongside America’s top country and roots music artists as the house band for the historic radio program Farm and Fun Time presented by Radio Bristol. It’s clear this group shares a rare musical connection and deep love for the music, and their excitement is contagious. Bill and the Belles includes Kris Truelsen (guitar), Helena Hunt (banjo), and Kalia Yeagle (fiddle). billandthebelles.com
Shana Tucker
Lyrical storyteller. Soulful cellist. Dynamic singer-songwriter. That’s SHANA TUCKER. Her unique genre of ChamberSoul weaves together jazz, roots folk, acoustic pop, and a touch of R&B, into melodies that echo in your head for days. She’s the rare performer you’ve never seen the likes of before—and one you’ll never forget.
Steeped in story, Shana’s music is rich, deep music that sits down next to you and puts its arm around your shoulders. She reflects, “ChamberSoul brings musicians and audiences closer, and makes the music tangible, no matter how large or small the room is.”
Shana has worked with educators (Pre-K through college) as a dynamic teaching artist to integrate the arts into existing curriculum. A front-line advocate for arts education, Shana believes that approaching academics from an artistic perspective encourages innovation, critical thinking, and self-confidence. She is currently the Executive Director for Kidznotes, a music for social change organization that provides free music instruction to students attending Title I schools in the Triangle area of NC.
Shana Tucker will be accompanied by Thomas Taylor -drums, and Will Ledbetter -bass. shanatucker.com
Steeped in story, Shana’s music is rich, deep music that sits down next to you and puts its arm around your shoulders. She reflects, “ChamberSoul brings musicians and audiences closer, and makes the music tangible, no matter how large or small the room is.”
Shana has worked with educators (Pre-K through college) as a dynamic teaching artist to integrate the arts into existing curriculum. A front-line advocate for arts education, Shana believes that approaching academics from an artistic perspective encourages innovation, critical thinking, and self-confidence. She is currently the Executive Director for Kidznotes, a music for social change organization that provides free music instruction to students attending Title I schools in the Triangle area of NC.
Shana Tucker will be accompanied by Thomas Taylor -drums, and Will Ledbetter -bass. shanatucker.com
Eric Culberson
While on vacation a couple of years ago, Gary and Kitty were lucky enough to stumble upon Eric Culberson and his blues band at a small club in his home town of Savannah Georgia. They were both knocked out by his playing and stage presence and knew we had to get him to Ocrafolk! As it turns out, Eric has a long history of touring the East Coast and numerous accolades for his stellar guitar talent, including multiple wins of “Best All-Around Musician” of Savannah. Eric is accompanied by Victoria Tartaglia- drums, Eric Dunn- bass, and Adam Holiday- keyboard.
Blues Review: “ A virtual tour-de-force of fret-burning guitar work, Culberson has developed a mature ‘Texas meets Chicago’ sound that generates sparks….
Real Blues Magazine: “This one transcends color/cultural barriers and I’m inclined to believe this boy’s from somewhere down in cottonmouth country. Put this one on your must-have list…a real blues delight. ericculberson.com
Blues Review: “ A virtual tour-de-force of fret-burning guitar work, Culberson has developed a mature ‘Texas meets Chicago’ sound that generates sparks….
Real Blues Magazine: “This one transcends color/cultural barriers and I’m inclined to believe this boy’s from somewhere down in cottonmouth country. Put this one on your must-have list…a real blues delight. ericculberson.com
Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road
Rapidly rising on the bluegrass scene, Billboard-charting artists Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road perform internationally, winning both industry awards and the hearts of fans. Only 18, Liam Purcell has garnered two nominations for IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year. Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road were named Momentum Band of the Year by IBMA in 2019. You’ve seen them on national TV on PBS three times, including a feature on David Holt’s State of Music Show. Growing up just down the road from Doc Watson, Liam Purcell leads Cane Mill Road as they rock the traditional bluegrass standards they were raised on, yet boldly write original music with roots in the fertile grounds of bluegrass, old-time, and Americana. canemillroad.com
Lakota John
Lakota John is an old soul from Southern, NC with a love for music. He learned to play guitar left-handed, in standard tuning, and at age 10 he bought himself a glass slide, placed it on his pinky finger, and has been sliding over the frets ever since. Lakota John blends styles of the Folk, Blues, Rock & Jazz with slide guitar, banjo, piano and mandolin. He adds in a bit of harmonica, and mixes in part of his Indigenous heritage with sounds of the Native American flute. He was nominated for an American Music Award for Best Blues Recording, won a Carolina Music Award in the Best Americana/Bluegrass Category, as well as first place in the 2019 Road to Memphis PBPS Blues Challenge Solo/Duo Competition. He tours nationally and internationally, including selected performances at the John F. Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. He has a new release, “Together at Home”. lakotajohn.com
Chatham Rabbits
From the fertile roots scene in the North Carolina Triangle, Chatham Rabbits is the husband-and-wife duo of Austin and Sarah McCombie, who captivate with intimate close-harmony singing in the vein of predecessors like Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, and a way of connecting with their audiences that is uniquely their own. The couple favors rustic, minimalist acoustic arrangements—mainly clawhammer-style banjo and guitar—that showcase old-time reverence with compelling original songwriting. The group has been touring rigorously around the Southeast in support of the albums All I Want from You, and The Yoke is Easy, The Burden is Full and have been heavily praised by American Songwriter, Paste Magazine, PopSugar, Garden and Gun, and No Depression. chathamrabbits.com
Donald Davis
Donald Davis was born in a Southern Appalachian mountain world rich in stories. While he heard many traditional stories about Jack and other heroic characters, he was most attracted to the stories of his own family and places of origin. Davis begin retelling the stories he heard and then adding his own new stories to them until he was repeatedly asked to "tell it again, on purpose."
During his twenty-five year career as a United Methodist Minister, Davis began to use stories more and more. He was also asked to begin performing at festivals and in other settings until he retired from the church to tell stories full time.
The author of eighteen books and more than forty original recordings, Davis is the recipient of both the Circle of Excellence and the Lifetime Achievement Awards from the National Storytelling Network. ddavisstoryteller.com
During his twenty-five year career as a United Methodist Minister, Davis began to use stories more and more. He was also asked to begin performing at festivals and in other settings until he retired from the church to tell stories full time.
The author of eighteen books and more than forty original recordings, Davis is the recipient of both the Circle of Excellence and the Lifetime Achievement Awards from the National Storytelling Network. ddavisstoryteller.com
Molasses Creek
Members of Ocracoke’s own Molasses Creek band have been frittering away the pandemic pursuing a variety of creative interests. Gary Mitchell tripped and fell into the film rabbit-hole, adapting several of his songs to video, editing a documentary on his legendary high school acrobatic troupe (The Flying Raviolis), and earning a “Golden Scallop” Award alongside Fiddler Dave and Daphne Bennink for a tasty new Ocracoke Alive production called “The Ocracoke Kitchen Project”.
Fiddler Dave has converted his son’s homeschool classes towards rebuilding their Dorian damaged home. Courses include precision thumb hammering and circular plumbing.
Kim France was gifted a sailboat by her father, and has spent the last year inventing the world’s first bass-mast, definitively solving a quantum-space height dilemma that has plagued standup-bass-boaters for 400 years.
Luthier Gerald blocked his rural Franklinville driveway with logs to keep other band members from pawing over his steadily growing treasure trove of handcrafted guitars.
Aside from that, it’s – ya know – life as usual.
molassescreek.com
Fiddler Dave has converted his son’s homeschool classes towards rebuilding their Dorian damaged home. Courses include precision thumb hammering and circular plumbing.
Kim France was gifted a sailboat by her father, and has spent the last year inventing the world’s first bass-mast, definitively solving a quantum-space height dilemma that has plagued standup-bass-boaters for 400 years.
Luthier Gerald blocked his rural Franklinville driveway with logs to keep other band members from pawing over his steadily growing treasure trove of handcrafted guitars.
Aside from that, it’s – ya know – life as usual.
molassescreek.com
Coyote
Coyote are Marcy Brenner and Lou Castro. They write and perform songs that draw you in to their enchanting island life and extraordinary community on Ocracoke Island, 20 miles off-shore of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Their concerts invite the listener into a magic world of homemade, lightening-storm-hot music; unexpected, honest, masterful, heartfelt, authentic. Throw a rock at a genre and you will hear it, with a Coyote twist. coyotemusic.net
Violet Bell
As Violet Bell, Lizzy Ross and Omar Ruiz-Lopez weave classical, gypsy, and soul influences with folk-rock roots into music that sings in your bones. Lizzy Ross made a name for herself with stirring original songs and “a voice like cigarettes and the smoothest whiskey you’ve ever tasted” (Stephen Markley, Chicago RedEye). Ross has won Floyd Fest's On the Rise, the Carolina Music Award, and an Emerging Artist Grant from the Durham Arts Council. Multi-instrumentalist and composer Omar Ruiz-Lopez has toured extensively with Jonathan Byrd, Crystal Bright, Chocolate Suede, Steph Stewart & The Boyfriends, and has performed several of his original compositions with the Durham Symphony Orchestra. Violet Bell’s EP Dream the Wheel was released in Spring 2017, and the duo is currently recording their first full-length studio album. lizzy.net
Beleza
United by musical interests that include samba, funk, soul, blues, bossa nova, jazz and Spanish flamenco; Humberto Oliveira Sales and Madeline Holly Sales blend the melodic, rhythmic and harmonic riches from North and South America. Berto, native to Brazil, pursued a formal education in classical guitar. His knowledge of Brazilian rhythms and study of Spanish Flamenco add to the unique finger picking style he uses. Madeline brings with her the strong influence of soul, jazz and blues. She sings in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Her sensual, rich voice, playful interpretations, and strong stage presence make their combination extremely unique. belezamusic.com
Wyldwood
Wyldwood Stringband is the eastern Carolina collaboration of Caroline Tanner, Sarah Hollis, and Phil Lanier. Each of them separated by a decade, but with the same passion; the evolution of bluegrass and old time folk music. Sarah grew up hearing the bluegrass music of the Bitter Creek Band, comprised of her father and Phil's uncle. Caroline is from western Canada and fell in love with bluegrass on Vancouver Island before moving to the source of the music that stole her heart. Bringing their various backgrounds together, Wyldwood Stringband strives to honor the traditions from which the music came while pushing it forward and having one hell of a good time along the way. www.wyldwoodstringband.com
Serenity Fisher and Michael Ronstadt w/ special guest Bobby Fisher
Serenity Fisher and Michael Ronstadt have created a dynamic, truly moving, and expressive duet over the past six years. Between both songwriters, their material is diverse and reaches far. Serenity Fisher’s nuanced vocals entice stories into becoming songs using truth-telling, highly-visual lyrics, and dreamy melodies. Cellist Michael G. Ronstadt (nephew of Linda Ronstadt) brings a rich musical heritage and absolute knack for improvising up a storm. His genre-blending explorations on cello and guitar complement his thought-provoking lyrics. Together, Serenity and Michael set the bar at Olympian heights in their depth and breadth.
They are joined by Bobby Fisher ~ a world-renowned guitar virtuoso, multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, music producer, composer, and clinician. www.michaelronstadt.com
They are joined by Bobby Fisher ~ a world-renowned guitar virtuoso, multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, music producer, composer, and clinician. www.michaelronstadt.com
mahalojazz
Alison Weiner is the creator and caretaker of mahaloArts, a Carrboro-based company which develops and presents endeavors of positive, constructive and engaging manner that underscore gratefulness for being alive. With degrees in architecture, jazz studies and music composition under her belt, Alison is joyful earning her keep as a musician by teaching, performing, composing, and recording. She and her guests will be bringing their universal language of jazz music to help save the world. mahaloarts.com
Bob and Jeanne Zentz
Bob and Jeanne are old friends and life partners who combine a passion for music and history -- which they love sharing with others! They are singers of songs, old and new, about people, places and times gone by ... players of dozens of the usual (and unusual!) "unplugged" folk instruments ... collectors of stories in verse ... tellers of "the tales behind the songs" ... commentators on the ecology of the human spirit ... scholars of the evolution of "homemade music" … and your hosts of the Ocrafolk Festival workshop stage. www.bobzentz.com
Craicdown
Craicdown’s World Acousticana music showcases their high-energy, rock inspired flair. Mixing musical influences from many parts of the world and various genres, Craicdown’s repertoire includes both songs and instrumental pieces ranging in style from Americana to reggae-sounding vocals, from Celtic influenced jigs and reels to the music of Brazil and Argentina. The band features Rob Sharer on guitar, flute, fiddle and vocals; David DiGiuseppe on accordion and Irish cittern; and Jim Roberts on drums and percussion. craicdown.com
The OBX Traditional Jazz Allstars
The OBX Traditional Jazz Allstars showcase a musical style and repertoire that began in the New Orleans melting pot in the early 1910’s and spread amongst passionate performers and fans around the world. Their ensemble features trumpets, trombones, sax, clarinet, tuba, and drums. You’re gonna love em!
Paperhand Puppets
For over 20 years, Paperhand Puppets have been using papier-mâché, cardboard, bamboo, your old house paints, cloth, and other assorted junk (treasure to them!) to create incredible giant puppets, masks, shadow plays and spectacle performances for all ages. Director Dononvan Zimmerman has visited Ocracoke many times as part of Ocrafolk and as a featured artist in residence at Ocracoke School’s Arts Week. Paperhand continues to tell stories, beat drums, sew cloth, get sweaty, push boundaries and carry heavy things to help make the world a better place. Their parades, pageants, and award-winning performances aim to be an inspiration, a call to action, and a celebration for everyone to enjoy! paperhand.org
Jef the Mime
Whether onstage or roving, Jef is a quiet kind of guy. He juggles and balances things. He gets confused at times. (Sometimes he even forgets what his hat is for!) He involves his audience members to help him when he's confused and to play along with his mime, mask, and variety arts shenanigans. He even leads sing-a-longs! In addition to making appearances at Ocrafolk Festival and Ocracoke School Arts Week, Jef has performed at such places as Merlefest in Wilkesboro, NC; Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, SC; the Very Special Arts Festival in Pembroke, NC; and The Children's Festival in Hampton, VA. www.jefthemime.com
Ballet Folklorico de Ocracoke
Ocracoke’s own Ballet Folklorico celebrates the traditional Mexican music and dance of Ocracoke’s Latino community. Participants in the Festival Latino de Ocracoke and Ocrafolk Festival four year’s running, you can catch their dancing during the All Star Jam set at the end of Ocrafolk weekend.
Rodney Kemp
Remember "Old Jake", "Phoene Bell Gillikin", and "Duke the Duck Dog?"
A crowd-pleaser and proven 'spellbinder' of adults and children alike, Eastern Carolina’s beloved Rodney Kemp is a Morehead City native who managed to actually remember all those Down East tales he heard while growing up. His humor comes not only from his folksy manner but also from his knowledge of, and affection for, the people and places of his boyhood days along the Carolina coast. He is often featured at festivals and events in the coastal region, was a performer at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, DC, and has been with us every year of the Ocrafolk Festival since our beginnings in 2000. Rodney will appear as a stage emcee and will give a performance at the Workshop Stage Saturday at 7 PM.
A crowd-pleaser and proven 'spellbinder' of adults and children alike, Eastern Carolina’s beloved Rodney Kemp is a Morehead City native who managed to actually remember all those Down East tales he heard while growing up. His humor comes not only from his folksy manner but also from his knowledge of, and affection for, the people and places of his boyhood days along the Carolina coast. He is often featured at festivals and events in the coastal region, was a performer at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, DC, and has been with us every year of the Ocrafolk Festival since our beginnings in 2000. Rodney will appear as a stage emcee and will give a performance at the Workshop Stage Saturday at 7 PM.
Two Clowns Walk into a Bard
Emmet Temple is an actor, director, and Podcaster from Ocracoke, NC, perhaps best known to this audience as a featured understudy in The Tale of Blackbeard. Ahna DeMaro is an actor, director, and illustrator from Carrboro, NC, renown for her work covering the fabled WOVV Women's Arm Wrestling Tourney of 2017. They will be popping up and entertaining with Shakespearean shenanigans throughout the weekend.