Ocrafolk Festival 2022 Performers
Jonathan Byrd
Jonathan Byrd is a preacher’s kid, Gulf War veteran, and award-winning songwriter with a near-cult following. With twenty plus years of touring and over a dozen albums, Byrd’s deceptively simple, working-class songs have become campfire standards and crowd favorites for artists like Sam Bush and Tim O’Brien. A Jonathan Byrd show will take audiences on a journey from hell-raising sing-alongs to heart-wrenching ballads and back across the backroads of his native North Carolina.
A lifelong collaborator and innovator, Jonathan Byrd’s latest project is Song Miners, a project to not only write and release new songs, but also to teach others how it’s done. Leading powerful online songwriting workshops and creating free songwriting education for social media, Byrd seems on a mission to fill the world with great songs- not least, his own. Not to be missed. jonathanbyrd.com
"...one of the top 50 songwriters of the past 50 years." -- Chicago Tribune
A lifelong collaborator and innovator, Jonathan Byrd’s latest project is Song Miners, a project to not only write and release new songs, but also to teach others how it’s done. Leading powerful online songwriting workshops and creating free songwriting education for social media, Byrd seems on a mission to fill the world with great songs- not least, his own. Not to be missed. jonathanbyrd.com
"...one of the top 50 songwriters of the past 50 years." -- Chicago Tribune
Josh Goforth
Josh Goforth must have been born musical—he was already playing piano in church at the age of four—but it was an performance by Sheila Kay Adams that caused him to start thinking about the musical heritage of his native Madison County. Most famous for his fiddling, Goforth is a highly accomplished oldtime, bluegrass, and swing musician. Remarkably versatile, he is able to pick up any of a wide variety of instruments and make a solid contribution in almost any kind of band. In 2000, he played fiddle for the movie Songcatcher, both onscreen and on the soundtrack. He has toured extensively with a variety of ensembles, including David Holt and Laura Boosinger, and has also shared stages with Ricky Skaggs, Bryan Sutton, The Yonder Mountain String Band, Open Road, and The Steep Canyon Rangers. blueridgeheritage.com/artist/josh-goforth
Highland Reverie
Drawing their influences from the rich musical heritage of the Blue Ridge mountains, Luke and Madison Morris grew up playing traditional Appalachian music. This songwriting, roots duo brings a unique sound that reflects the beauty of American music tradition. With Luke on mandolin and guitar, and Madison on fiddle and guitar the two have recently released their first album (Highland Reverie). Together they bring a unique sound and creative songwriting, that continues to evolve while remaining true to their roots. highlandreverie.com
Muriel Anderson
Muriel Anderson is a guitarist, harp guitarist, and composer who embraces music from all over the world. Her playing reflects a sense of grace and joy, infused with humor. Muriel is the first woman to have won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship. Her CD, Nightlight Daylight, was chosen as one of the top 10 CDs of the decade by Guitar Player Magazine, and her “Heartstrings” recording accompanied the astronauts on the space shuttle Discovery. She has performed/recorded with Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Victor Wooten, Tommy Emmanuel and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. Her current projects and upcoming live-streams can be found at murielanderson.com/now.
Lipbone Redding
Hailing from North Carolina, Lipbone Redding is an award-winning vocalist, guitar player, voice-strumentalist, storyteller, songwriter, author, teacher and traveler. He is best known for his one-man orchestra show; simultaneously playing, singing and making the instrument sounds with his mouth and without the use of a loop pedal. Lipbone incorporates American Roots, Blues and Jazz with world influences including Indian, Middle Eastern, African and Latin styles. An uncanny vocal range, a nylon string guitar, a wooden spoon duct-taped to his foot and a lifetime of stories are all he needs to get the party started. His natural human sounds of throat singing, bass and beat-boxing, and his astonishingly realistic lip-tromboning are a must-experience. lipbone.com
Aaron Burdett
Drawing heavily on both the traditions of Appalachian folk music as well as nationally known songwriters, Aaron’s music gives voice to the small rural areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains while also speaking to the working men and women throughout the country. His lyrics are soul-touching, intelligent, witty, and poetic all at once, while his music style is a seamless blend of Americana, country, blues, bluegrass, and folk.
Aaron has won top awards in multiple songwriting competitions hosted by the likes of Merlefest, The USA Songwriting Competition, Mountain Stage, the NC Songwriter’s Co-op, and Our State Magazine. His last four albums have been voted top 20 Albums of the Year by WNCW radio listeners. aaronburdett.com
Aaron has won top awards in multiple songwriting competitions hosted by the likes of Merlefest, The USA Songwriting Competition, Mountain Stage, the NC Songwriter’s Co-op, and Our State Magazine. His last four albums have been voted top 20 Albums of the Year by WNCW radio listeners. aaronburdett.com
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). Looking forward to their return! billandthebelles.com
Shana Tucker
With a deep respect for lyrical storytelling, cellist/singer-songwriter Shana Tucker's melodies weave strong hints of jazz, classical, soulful folk, acoustic pop and a touch of R&B into a distinctive rhythmic tapestry. After five years of singing/playing for Cirque du Solei's gravity-defying production, KÀ in Las Vegas, Shana shifted her full-time focus back to her tenure as an international recording, performing and teaching artist. From the singularly distinctive Spivey Hall in Atlanta or The Smith Center’s Jazz Cabaret - Las Vegas, to the center of a downtown Detroit groove at Cliff Bell’s or the Blue Whale in Los Angeles, Shana delivers a unique voice through her self-described genre of ChamberSoul™. A master teaching artist, Shana is devoted to arts education for young students and lifelong learners alike. She regularly books artist residencies and incorporates inspiring outreach opportunities, workshops and classes wherever she appears. shanatucker.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. Named Momentum Band of the Year by IBMA in 2019, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road have been recognized as one of the fastest growing bands on the scene. You’ve seen Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road 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.
Liam Purcell has performed internationally, garnered two nominations for IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year.
canemillroad.com
Liam Purcell has performed internationally, garnered two nominations for IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year.
canemillroad.com
Martin Garrish
Since he was a teenager, Ocracoke Heritage award winner Martin Garrish has been at the heart of the music scene here on the island, fronting bands such as "The Ocracoke Rockers", "The Graveyard Band Revived", and his acoustic ensemble “Martin and Friends". His exceptional guitar playing and rich voice covers everything from acoustic folk and bluegrass to hard rock, classic country and blues.
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 started to poke their heads out from a nutria-hole halfway down south point road after the long pandemic winter.
Gary completed and released the epic documentary about his legendary high school acrobatic troupe “The Flying Raviolis.” After receiving his own star on Howard St, he humbly returned to his nest to continue his work on island short films and music videos.
Fiddler Dave and family finished rebuilding their Dorian-damaged home, and it’s beautiful! His parents are particularly thankful to be relieved of painting duties, and now they’ll have a free place to stay when they visit the island.
Kim France sailed to Florida this winter between orchestra concerts and other music performances. She is now back on dry land, polishing up her bass and working on a new recording with Aaron Burdett.
Luthier Gerald continues to build exquisite hand-crafted acoustic guitars (ask him about ‘Johnny Cash wood’) in his lair up the hollar, and has been letting his hair grow out since his wife said it looked “kinda sexy”.
We will keep an eye on Gerald to see if he sees his shadow. Until then, we look forward to reuniting with everyone at Ocrafolk 2022! molassescreek.com
Gary completed and released the epic documentary about his legendary high school acrobatic troupe “The Flying Raviolis.” After receiving his own star on Howard St, he humbly returned to his nest to continue his work on island short films and music videos.
Fiddler Dave and family finished rebuilding their Dorian-damaged home, and it’s beautiful! His parents are particularly thankful to be relieved of painting duties, and now they’ll have a free place to stay when they visit the island.
Kim France sailed to Florida this winter between orchestra concerts and other music performances. She is now back on dry land, polishing up her bass and working on a new recording with Aaron Burdett.
Luthier Gerald continues to build exquisite hand-crafted acoustic guitars (ask him about ‘Johnny Cash wood’) in his lair up the hollar, and has been letting his hair grow out since his wife said it looked “kinda sexy”.
We will keep an eye on Gerald to see if he sees his shadow. Until then, we look forward to reuniting with everyone at Ocrafolk 2022! molassescreek.com
Coyote
COYOTE are Marcy Brenner and Lou Castro. Residents of Ocracoke Island, NC for over 20 years, they have recently moved to a new habitat in Merritt Island, FL where they continue to invite you into their Coyote Music Den virtually (and their “space coast” backyard soon) for concerts.
Their music is home made and lightening storm hot; unexpected, honest, masterful, heartfelt, authentic. Throw a rock at a genre and you will hear it, with a Coyote twist, often with a special guest. No matter what, you'll be enchanted by the inevitable magic of an evening with Coyote, wherever they are, and whoever is playing with them. coyotemusic.net
Their music is home made and lightening storm hot; unexpected, honest, masterful, heartfelt, authentic. Throw a rock at a genre and you will hear it, with a Coyote twist, often with a special guest. No matter what, you'll be enchanted by the inevitable magic of an evening with Coyote, wherever they are, and whoever is playing with them. coyotemusic.net
Wyldwood
Wyldwood Stringband is the collaboration of Caroline Tanner, Sarah Hollis, and Phil Lanier. Each of them separated by a decade, but with the same passion; the evolution of richly harmonious bluegrass and old time folk music. Sarah's father and Phil's uncle played in a bluegrass band together "Bitter Creek" in the 70s, they are from right here where the music began in North Carolina. Caroline is from western Canada and fell in love with bluegrass on Vancouver island before moving to the heartland of the music that stole her heart. Wyldwood has also been lucky enough to have two-time "SPBMA Bluegrass Bass Player of the year" Zak McLamb join in their ensemble, adding his own flavor to the musical experience. Bringing their various backgrounds together Wyldwood Stringband strives to honor the traditions and roots from which the music came, while pushing it forward and having a lot of fun along the way.
wyldwoodstringband.com
wyldwoodstringband.com
Aaron Caswell
Aaron Caswell is a native to Ocracoke Island who cut his outstanding guitar chops at an early age, absorbing songs, technique and tunes from local guitar legends Martin Garrish and Lou Castro. He performs regularly on the Outer Banks with area musicians, and can frequently be found onstage in the Aaron Caswell Band.facebook.com/aaroncaswellmusicco
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. bobzentz.com
Brooke & Nick
Brooke & Nick are an Americana-Indie-Folk duo based on Ocracoke, North Carolina. Brooke plays cello and sings alongside front man, Nick, who also sings, plays baritone uke, and foot percussion. Their sound is dynamic, edgy, yet soulful. Whether they're playing a slower tune drenched in harmony or one of their more upbeat songs… they emit an energy that easily pulls the listener's ear & heart in. brookeandnickavl.com
Madeline Holly-Sales
Madeline Holly-Sales is a vocalist and music educator. She is influenced and inspired by a variety of musical genres, ranging from soul to samba, and sings in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Her sensual, rich voice, playful interpretations, and strong stage presence make her an Ocrafolk Festival favorite. Madeline is passionate about helping singers explore the capacity for full creative expression through breath, movement, and sound. She loves singing in community, vocal improvisation, and body percussion. Madeline will be emceeing stages at this year’s Ocrafolk, and will also be popping in a number of workshops and performances. belezamusic.com/madeline
Jim Roberts
Jim Roberts is a percussionist, producer, artist, and educator who resides in Chapel Hill, NC, USA. His skills include drum set, djembe, congas, production using Ableton Live, and Cubase and performing with groups or solo. He is also an educator, teaching drum set and percussion at Elon University as well as directing the Elon World Percussion Ensemble. He has journeyed to the island many times as a member of Craicdown. There’s no telling where he will pop up at Ocrafolk 2022!jimrobertspercussion.com
Ana Luisa Chavez
Ana Luisa grew up in Mexico City between sacred music, school choirs and traditional Mexican songs. In her final days as a high school student, the school choir director saw her passion and talent and encouraged her to take her singing to the next level. Thus, she began her training in classical vocal technique as part of her college studies. Although her favorite opera is Verdi’s Traviata, her true self comes alive with the Mariachi, voice of her soul and heart of her country. In 2019, she came for the first time to Ocracoke to visit her father Eduardo (Eduardo’s Taco Stand) and fell in love with the island. Donning a traditional Mexican gown, Ana will be dusting off her falsetto and bringing her joyful performance to Ocrafolk Festival 2022.
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 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. 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 their set on 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, we're pleased to say, has been with us every year of the Ocrafolk Festival since our beginnings in 2000.
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, we're pleased to say, has been with us every year of the Ocrafolk Festival since our beginnings in 2000.
Keeper James Charlet
Keeper James has been involved with the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum for 21 years and was the Site Manager of the Historic Site for 10 of those years. In all that time, he learned a thing or two about the subject. His favorite parts of that “labor of love’ was talking to and with literally thousands of visitors from all over America and the world. Catch his workshops and presentations on Saturday of Ocrafolk Festival. keeperjames.com
Emmet Temple
Emmet Temple is the Artistic Director of Mended Wing Theatre Co., a small non-profit theatre dedicated to bringing Shakespeare to kids and families in public parks and public schools across the southeastern United States. In addition Emmet is one half of the infamous podcast duo Cinema Bums, and teaches in the after school program at Ocracoke School. Emmet has been creating theatre for young audiences since 2017 with Mended Wing, and hopes to bring that same excitement to the Kids Stage at Ocrafolk Festival! mendedwingtheatre.com
Katy Mitchell
Katy Mitchell, an Ocracoke A lister will be emcee to the Ocrafolk Festivals "Local Talent" set. Katy has been singing and dancing since the ripe old age of 6! Daughter of Kitty and Gary of Molasses Creek, Katy Grew up with music all around her. She has recorded 2 albums and been featured on many more throughout her career, not least of all the Motion Picture Soundtrack to Nights in Rodanthe where Katy was a featured Musician on the Silver Screen! Her boisterous personality and infectious laugh accompanied by a deep soulful voice sets her apart. She owns the Magic Bean Coffee Shop on School Road and hosts Music and Mocktail nights through the summer season.
Dusty Old Bones
The Dusty Old Bones, Daniel Bradley and Jenna Strole playing songs from the rails, a patchwork performance of American grit. The group got their start busking on the streets of Asheville NC. They bought a Van and traveled East to Ocracoke. They now run the Open Mic Night at 1718 and call the island home.
Kate McNally
Kate McNally is a performer whose love of Soul Music, old time Rock & Roll, Classic Country, and everything in between shines through in her music. As a solo artist working with guitar and vocals, Kate reorchestrates familiar songs into simpler versions of themselves, trying to maintain her own authenticity as she pays homage to the great song writers of the day. She frequents many of Ocracoke's musical establishments during Summer months and can be seen performing weekly.
Meg Bohne
Meg Bohne, Queer folk singer songwriter who writes from their nostalgia, heartache and happiness. They love telling stories with their songs. Meg's music is a devinly sparkling expression of the human experience. They have awed us with their gentle guitar picking, lyrics dishing doses of real life we can all relate to, delivered with childlike enthusiasm and humor.
Ella Ralston
Emcee Ella Ralston or E-Rals is a spoken word artist, songstress, and MC. Poetry and songwriting have always been two major artistic outlets for Ella who graduated from FSU with a degree in theatre and an emphasis on performance. The acceptance she found in the spoken word community of HipHop propelled E-Rals further into exploring her passion for HipHop and all nine elements. E-Rals currently runs a community non-profit organization in Chicago which is dedicated to the preservation of HipHop. E-Rals has had the great honor of performing all over the US and learning from some of the greatest architects of the industry. Being a part of the Ocrafolk festival is a mind-blowing achievement for Ella as she grew up in awe of the amazing talent found on this magical island. Ocracoke is Ella's second home physically, but in terms of where the heart lives, Ocracoke Island is second to none. It's where she feels the most at home, creative and free.
Our Official 2022 Ocrafolk Festival Artist ~ Jesi Franklin
Jesi Franklin is an Art Student studying Fine Arts with a Concentration in Illustration at East Carolina University. She started living in Ocracoke back in 2016 and graduated Highschool in 2020 at Ocracoke School. After which she studied Illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design through 2020-2021. When she is not creating Art, she can be found making Lattes at the Magic Bean or helping Ocracats by fostering Kittens.