Ocrafolk Festival 2025 Performers
Here is the 2025 Lineup as we know it so far!
Click on the following links for more information.
Larry & Joe
Larry Bellorín hails from Monagas, Venezuela and is a legend of Llanera music. Joe Troop is from North Carolina and is a GRAMMY-nominated bluegrass and oldtime musician. Larry was forced into exile and is an asylum seeker in North Carolina. Joe, after a decade in South America, got stranded back in his stomping grounds in the pandemic. Larry worked construction to make ends meet. Joe's acclaimed "latingrass" band Che Apalache was forced into hiatus, and he shifted into action working with asylum seeking migrants. Then Larry met Joe.
Currently based in the Triangle of North Carolina, both men are versatile multi-instrumentalists and singer-songwriters on a mission to show that music has no borders. As a duo they perform a fusion of Venezuelan and Appalachian folk music on harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, maracas, guitar, upright bass, and whatever else they decide to throw in the van. The program they offer features a distinct blend of their musical inheritances and traditions as well as storytelling about the ways that music and social movements coalesce. larryandjoe.com
Currently based in the Triangle of North Carolina, both men are versatile multi-instrumentalists and singer-songwriters on a mission to show that music has no borders. As a duo they perform a fusion of Venezuelan and Appalachian folk music on harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, maracas, guitar, upright bass, and whatever else they decide to throw in the van. The program they offer features a distinct blend of their musical inheritances and traditions as well as storytelling about the ways that music and social movements coalesce. larryandjoe.com
Clements Brothers
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The Clements Brothers are George and Charles Clements, identical twins from New England. They’ve been playing and writing music together for as long as they can remember. ‘The Clements Brothers’ marks their first project together since playing in the internationally touring grass-roots band, The Lonely Heartstring Band, with whom they put out two albums on Rounder Records. With roots, rock, bluegrass, jazz, and classical influences, George (on guitar) and Charles (on bass) aim to capture their singer-songwriter sensibilities in a unique blended voice, at once enthralling and intimate, groovy and serene. theclementsbrothers.com
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Foreign Landers
Mandolinist David Benedict grew up in South Carolina while Tabitha Agnew Benedict started playing 5-string banjo at a young age in her homeland of Northern Ireland. Today Tabitha and David are carving their own path in the acoustic music world together, drawing on their unique international heritage to create something new. With the release of their debut full-length album Travelers Rest, Transatlantic folk and bluegrass duo The Foreign Landers share their own story in a way that is beautifully honest and moving. Although it is their story, listeners will find much that resonates within themselves—fears in the face of uncertainties, a commitment to cling to hope, and a longing for home/a familiar place to rest—all presented in a unique musical experience that sparks curiosity and joy, and showcases a love that unites across borders. theforeignlanders.com
Reggie Harris
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Reggie Harris is a singer-songwriter, storyteller and world-renowned song-leader who is a powerful interpreter of the global music narrative. Uniquely committed to “music as a community building vehicle,” Reggie’s music shares insightful perspectives on issues of life, history, education and human rights. In the spirit of his mentors, Pete Seeger and Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, (founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock), Reggie is a master songleader who loves to help people discover that they can make a difference at any age, wherever they may live. 2021 winner of both the Spirit of Folk Award from Folk Alliance International and the W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Award, Reggie is also a featured teaching artist in the Kennedy Center’s CETA program (Changing Education Through the Arts). Reggie criss-crosses the country, carrying the message of joy, unity, tolerance and peace through the powerful medium of live music. reggieharrismusic.com
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Jeff Little Trio
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Jeff Little (Piano – Vocals – Harmonica), Steve Lewis (Acoustic Guitar – Five String Banjo – Vocals), Luke Little (Mandolin)
Jeff Little is an award-winning musician from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. With few exceptions the piano does not play a prominent part in Americana or Appalachian music and is rarely the lead instrument. But Jeff Little is an exception and a remarkable one. Jeff has not only been recognized as a critically acclaimed musician but also a true music innovator. Performances include The Smithsonian Institution, The National Folk Festival, American Piano Masters, The Barns of Wolf Trap and many theatres, performing arts centers, and festivals. Steve Lewis is an award - winning guitar and banjo player from Todd NC and is one of the most respected acoustic musicians in the country. Steve is well known for his flat picking on guitar and his mastery of the five - string banjo. Steve has won many championships for his guitar and banjo playing. Some of the prestigious events include the Walnut Valley Nationals, Merlefest, the Galax Old Time Fiddlers Convention, Renofest and the Wayne Henderson Guitar Competition. Luke Little is a young and talented mandolin player whose musicianship and style expand well beyond his years. Luke's performances include the National Folk Festival, PBS Song of the Mountains, The Richmond Folk Festival and The Moss Center for the Performing Arts at Virginia Tech. jefflittle.net |
Wilder Flower
Madeline Dierauf, Molly Johnson, and Danielle Yother have been building a sound together since meeting in 2021 at the Hagood Mill Fiddlers Convention, where each member has taken home multiple blue ribbons. The band's musical chemistry developed easily during their first practice, and they've been refining their sound and show ever since.
The Wilder Flower blends Folk, Americana, Bluegrass, and Old-time influence into something new and fluid. They thrive vocally on three-part harmonies, whether a two-chord old-time ballad, or a modern, minor-filled melody, and instrumentally feature bluegrass banjo tunes, fiddle and clawhammer string-band songs, flatpicking guitar, and everything in between. Their unique sound is centered around original songs and tunes that are thoughtfully arranged and adapted to showcase their tasteful instrumental sensibilities. They flex between genres and writers in each song, but there is something to their collective taste that speaks the same language, though switching dialects. thewilderflowermusic.com
The Wilder Flower blends Folk, Americana, Bluegrass, and Old-time influence into something new and fluid. They thrive vocally on three-part harmonies, whether a two-chord old-time ballad, or a modern, minor-filled melody, and instrumentally feature bluegrass banjo tunes, fiddle and clawhammer string-band songs, flatpicking guitar, and everything in between. Their unique sound is centered around original songs and tunes that are thoughtfully arranged and adapted to showcase their tasteful instrumental sensibilities. They flex between genres and writers in each song, but there is something to their collective taste that speaks the same language, though switching dialects. thewilderflowermusic.com
Josh Goforth
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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
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Sam Fribush Organ Trio
The Sam Fribush Organ Trio began to take shape in the spring of 2020, when Fribush — a jazz piano graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, who had established a sizeable following in New Orleans — moved back from the Big Easy to his hometown of Greensboro, NC. “My friends in New Orleans and I were all making a fine living, having fun, playing out every night of the week, and putting cash in our pockets,” he recalls, “but then the pandemic hit and all the gigs dried up.” A mutual friend introduced Frisbush to Hunter, who had himself relocated to Greensboro from the NYC area a few years earlier, and the two immediately hit it off. After woodshedding together in a converted garage studio at Fribush’s parents house, the pair convened at Stephen Lee Price’s Studio in High Point, NC with veteran jazz drummer Clapp in tow.
“I’ve always had an affinity for the Hammond organ,” says Sam Fribush. “It’s such a greasy, funky, soulful instrument, but it’s also an incredible piece of engineering. You open it up and there’s over a hundred spinning discs; it’s more complicated than a grandfather clock. It has such a mind of its own — most of the time, it feels like it’s playing me more than I’m playing it.” samfribush.com
“I’ve always had an affinity for the Hammond organ,” says Sam Fribush. “It’s such a greasy, funky, soulful instrument, but it’s also an incredible piece of engineering. You open it up and there’s over a hundred spinning discs; it’s more complicated than a grandfather clock. It has such a mind of its own — most of the time, it feels like it’s playing me more than I’m playing it.” samfribush.com
Donna Washington
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Donna Washington is an award-winning internationally known master storyteller, artist-educator, and author who has been providing workshops and performing for audiences of all ages for over thirty-six years. She is renowned for her storytelling for both children & adults from poignant & funny fables about the human condition to racy relationships stories to spine-tingling tales of terror. She has been featured at numerous festivals, schools, libraries, theaters and other venues around the world including Canada, Peru, Ireland Argentina & Hong Kong. In 2020, she co-founded the non-profit organization Artists Standing Strong Together with Master Storyteller Sheila Arnold for which they won a 2021 Oracle Award. In 2022 she received the Coleen Salley Storytelling Award. dlwstoryteller.com
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Biscuit Eaters
Photo: Daniel Pullen
Returning for their second Ocrafolk year, the Biscuit Eaters are a 7-piece, bluegrass and old-time family string band from Surry County, NC, with their youngest member playing fiddle and singing at 6 years old. The parents, Meredith, homeschooling mother of the six kids, and Jason, a pastor, round out the ensemble. www.facebook.com/thebiscuiteatersnc/about
Donald Davis
Photo: Daniel Pullen
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 began 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
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
Saltare Sounds
Photo: Daniel Pullen
Saltare Sounds returns to Ocracoke with their diverse array of international artists. This extraordinary group of classical musicians, dancers, and actors, creates performances that fuse music, dance, and theater. . . promising experiences that push the boundaries of conventional classical music performance, with intention, humor and heart.
Blue Cactus
Photo: Daniel Pullen
Lipbone is a one-man orchestra and award-winning collaborator, who makes stories into songs, and songs into birds. In his early years, he left his home of North Carolina to live in New York City, where he busked nightly for three years in the Uptown 6 Train subway station in SoHo. The experience of New York has led him to many accolades and adventures. His music is groove-inspired, unique and heartfelt; a rootsy, soulful joy that can move a crowd to dancing with just a microphone and a guitar. His songs are peppered with vocal trombones and throat-singing crickets, fantastic animals and a host of poignant characters. Lipbone engages the audience as if they are additional band members, and invites them to employ their voices, claps and dance moves for the greater good. lipbone.com
Beleza
United by musical interests that include samba, funk, soul, blues, bossa nova, jazz and Spanish flamenco; Humberto (Berto) Oliveira Sales (native to Salvador, Brazil) and Madeline Holly-Sales (raised in the southeast of the US) blend the melodic, rhythmic and harmonic riches from North and South America. They are joined by percussionist Matt Wyatt, a songwriter, musician and sound engineer for Tree and Booms studio in Charlottesville, Va. belezamusic.com
Martin Garrish and the Ocracoke Rockers
Photo: Eakin Howard
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. Teamed up with his brother Clifton (bass), young Dallas Mason (guitar & drums), and other special guests and family, they will be ready to rock on Friday night!
Jay Turner & The Swinging Doors
Photo: Daniel Pullen
J. T. & The Swinging Doors plays "Roots Country, Old Rock and Refurbished Hits of Today" with a feel and love of this music. This is not your Grandfather’s Country Music. Oh wait, Yes it is. A good part of it anyway. Jay remembers his Grandfather yodeling Jimmie Rodgers songs while shaving, and listening to Johnny Cash on WXGI at the family's Body Shop. These songs bring those memories to life & remind us there is a great selection of music that many have written off. The Swinging Doors does play a variety of these classics but also drops in some Sun Records era Rock-N-Roll and takes songs of the past 20 years and sets them in new light. Hop in and take a refreshing and entertaining ride down the rural routes of yesterday while still having your modern influences satisfied. facebook.com/SwingingDoorsBand
Molasses Creek
Photo: George Wood
Your host band, Molasses Creek, began life way back in 1993 when Gary Mitchell lured "Little FiddleBoy" David Tweedie to spend a college summer on an exotic island filled with beautiful bikini-clad young women, live music and fig cake. David got quite excited about the fig cake, and moved to Ocracoke where he found the beautiful woman of his dreams, paid music gigs, and also became an accomplished baker of figgish goods. Over the next 30 years, Molasses Creek band went on to win awards and loyal fans around the world (and beyond), produce 15+ albums, create The Ocrafolk Opry, Deepwater Theater, The Ocrafolk School, and last but certainly not least, The Ocrafolk Festival. The band is currently composed of Gary Mitchell, Fiddler Dave Tweedie, Gerald Hampton and Kim France. They welcome you to Ocrafolk 2025! molassescreek.com
Aaron Caswell Trio
Photo: Eakin Howard
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.
Paperhand Puppets
Photo: Daniel Pullen
For over 22 years, Paperhand Puppets has 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
Bob & Jeanne Zentz
Photo: Eakin Howard
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.” See them onstage, or stop by the Workshop stage (Sat 12 PM) for the Instrument Petting Zoo, where you can try your hand at being a folk musician! bobzentz.com
Jef the Mime
Photo: Eakin Howard
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
Philip Howard
Photo: Eakin Howard
Dive for the Oyster . . . Dig for the Clam . . . Carry your partner to the promised land!
Ocrafolk Festival isn't just about sitting still and listening to incredible performances . . . it's about jumping into activities like the Ocracoke Squaredance that give you that one-of-a-kind Ocracoke experience.
Ocracoke Islander Philip Howard is celebrated within the community for his passion for collecting and sharing the local stories. Without the efforts of researchers like him, many of the treasured Ocracoke tales would have disappeared. Not only does he pass along his research through his books and his blog on the Village Craftsmen website, Philip also instructs local residents and visitors in the living tradition of the Ocracoke Squaredance. A featured event on Saturday night of the Ocrafolk Festival, this dance is easy to learn and fun for the whole family. Not to be missed!
villagecraftsmen.blogspot.com
Ocrafolk Festival isn't just about sitting still and listening to incredible performances . . . it's about jumping into activities like the Ocracoke Squaredance that give you that one-of-a-kind Ocracoke experience.
Ocracoke Islander Philip Howard is celebrated within the community for his passion for collecting and sharing the local stories. Without the efforts of researchers like him, many of the treasured Ocracoke tales would have disappeared. Not only does he pass along his research through his books and his blog on the Village Craftsmen website, Philip also instructs local residents and visitors in the living tradition of the Ocracoke Squaredance. A featured event on Saturday night of the Ocrafolk Festival, this dance is easy to learn and fun for the whole family. Not to be missed!
villagecraftsmen.blogspot.com
Ocracoke Ghost Stories with Amy Howard & David Tweedie
Saturday evening as night falls and the misty moon rises, join Amy, David, & Philip in the front yard of the Ocracoke Preservation Museum for some ghoulish stories from Ocracoke Island. They will introduce you to some of the famous and infamous characters that have strolled the sandy village lanes over the years. You might even learn some island history. Spooky Stuff!
Louis Allen
Photo: Eakin Howard
Louis began his band life with Gary Mitchell in the mid-70s as one of the founding members of The Wahoo Revue bluegrass band. It was there that he acquired the stage name "Uncle Dewey." (Gary's stage name was..."Gary.") Since then, he has spent the last 45!! years in the trio Warren Bodle & Allen, a past repeat performer at Ocrafolk. Louis went to law school to learn how to emcee a stage at Ocrafolk. Heckle him at your own peril! warrenbodleallen.com