Opportunities

In Folk Music

By Todd Tyson

Even with the "dawg daze" of August nearly upon us, folk music options continue to proliferate like welcome volunteers in your organic vegetable garden. Tonight down at Coburn Park in Lebanon, there’s a rare free chance to catch John Gorka with his bottomless portfolio of carefully crafted songs and offbeat wit.

World music fans can travel up to the Flynn on Saturday night to catch an African groove with celebrated guitarist Habib Koite, who has been dubbed by some critics as the Jimi Hendrix of his continent.

Also, don't forget that Aug. 1-3 hails the return of the Champlain Valley Folk Festival. One of this year's highlights will be past New World Festival performers, Genticorum.

The Valley Stage Festival in Huntington returns on the 16th with the Duhks, Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem along with many local performers all jamming under a green banner of sustainability (www.valleystage.net).

Listeners of a more political persuasion should take note of a unique chance to catch Texas-based singer-songwriter Tom Russel, at the Tunbridge Town Hall on Sunday, August 24^th (www.mtnfolk.org).

Favorite new folk releases that have come down the trail lately include work from Maria Muldaur, Railroad Earth, Tim Grimm and Otis Taylor...a CD featuring a history of the African-American style of banjo playing.