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Live from the performance studio of our sibling station, WTMD in Towson, it's the annual Midday Holiday Concert with Helicon and Friends. On Saturday, Helicon and a host of other traditional artists will present their 38th Annual Winter Solstice Concert at Goucher College. The musicians performing on Midday include Robin Bullock, Chris Norman, Ken Kolodner, Brad Kolodner, Alex Lacquement, Sean McComiskey and Elke Baker. Special thanks to Audio Engineer Charlie Hughes and the WTMD staff for hosting Midday at their performance studio in Towson.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.
On 88.1, WYPR, broadcasting and streaming live from the performance studio of our sister station, WTMD in Towson, it's the annual Midday Holiday Concert with Helicon and Friends. On Saturday, Helicon and a host of other traditional artists will present their 37th annual Winter Solstice Concerts at Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium, with shows at 3:30 and 7:30pm. For many of the past 37 years, the musicians have been appearing here on WYPR the day before those performances with a special musical preview. Helicon, an acoustic trio formed in 1987 by guitarist Robin Bullock, flutist Chris Norman and master hammer dulcimer player Ken Kolodner, will be joined tomorrow by members of the Ken and Brad Kolodner Quartet, which also includes Alex Lacquement and Rachel Eddy, with special returning musician, Scottish National Fiddle Champion Elke Baker. And Charm City Junction bandleader Brad Kolodner will be joined by Alex Lacquement, Sean McComiskey and Elke Baker. The Winter Solstice Concerts will also feature six-time North American Step-Dance Champion Jonathon Srour and step-dancer Katie Ortel. Many, if not quite all, of those folks join host Tom Hall this afternoon here at WYPR's sister station, WTMD. In addition to today's live radio broadcast and our audio livestream at the WYPR home page, we also streamed live video of today's Holiday Concert on the WYPR YouTube page, so you can check us out there, too. Special thanks to Audio Engineer Charlie Hughes, WTMD Assistant Chief Engineer Megan Amoss, WTMD/WYPR Director of Events and Community Engagement Sam Sessa, and the staff of WTMD for hosting Midday at their performance studio in Towson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, award winning Baltimore, Maryland Old-time and progressive Bluegrass sensation The Ken & Brad Kolodner Quartet recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with this musical father and son. “The dynamic father-son team Ken & Brad Kolodner weave together a captivating soundscape on hammered dulcimer and clawhammer banjo blurring the lines of Old-Time, Bluegrass and American Roots music. Regarded as one of the most influential hammered dulcimer players in North America, Baltimore’s Ken Kolodner has joined forces with his son Brad Kolodner, a renowned clawhammer banjo player. They've sculpted their own brand of driving, innovative, tasteful acoustic roots music with a ‘creative curiosity that lets all listeners know that a passion for traditional music yet thrives in every generation.’ The hypnotizing groove of the percussive hammered dulcimer and rhythmic clawhammer banjo is the core of their sound. They are joined by bassist Alex Lacquement who locks everything together with his commanding presence and the dynamic multi-instrumentalist Rachel Eddy on fiddle and guitar. The quartet won 1st place in the Neo-Traditional Band Contest at the Appalachian Stringband Festival in the summer of 2019. They released their fourth studio album "Stony Run" in March 2020.” https://www.kenandbrad.com/about.html In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1978 archival recording of Ozark originals Bob & Kay Blair performing the traditional song “Mary of the Wild Moor,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. Author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage presents an historical portrait of the people, events and indomitable spirit of Ozark culture that resulted in the creation of the Ozark Folk Center State Park and its enduring legacy of music and craft. In this episode, Charley discusses the literal and philosophical dilemmas posed by low water bridges for people who depend on them to get home.
This week, award winning Baltimore, Maryland Old-time and progressive Bluegrass sensation The Ken & Brad Kolodner Quartet recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas. Also, interviews with this musical father and son. “The dynamic father-son team Ken & Brad Kolodner weave together a captivating soundscape on hammered dulcimer and clawhammer banjo blurring the lines of Old-Time, Bluegrass and American Roots music. Regarded as one of the most influential hammered dulcimer players in North America, Baltimore’s Ken Kolodner has joined forces with his son Brad Kolodner, a renowned clawhammer banjo player. They've sculpted their own brand of driving, innovative, tasteful acoustic roots music with a ‘creative curiosity that lets all listeners know that a passion for traditional music yet thrives in every generation.’ The hypnotizing groove of the percussive hammered dulcimer and rhythmic clawhammer banjo is the core of their sound. They are joined by bassist Alex Lacquement who locks everything together with his commanding presence and the dynamic multi-instrumentalist Rachel Eddy on fiddle and guitar. The quartet won 1st place in the Neo-Traditional Band Contest at the Appalachian Stringband Festival in the summer of 2019. They released their fourth studio album "Stony Run" in March 2020.” https://www.kenandbrad.com/about.html In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1978 archival recording of Ozark originals Bob & Kay Blair performing the traditional song “Mary of the Wild Moor,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. Author, folklorist and songwriter Charley Sandage presents an historical portrait of the people, events and indomitable spirit of Ozark culture that resulted in the creation of the Ozark Folk Center State Park and its enduring legacy of music and craft. In this episode, Charley discusses the literal and philosophical dilemmas posed by low water bridges for people who depend on them to get home.
This week, Baltimore based Old Time string and Irish button accordion band Charm City Junction recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with these masterful Maryland musicians. “From dance inducing Old Time rhythms and foot stomping Irish melodies to hard-driving Bluegrass, Baltimore-based acoustic roots quartet Charm City Junction creates a fresh soundscape that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats wondering where they'll go next. Featuring fiddle, clawhammer banjo, button accordion and upright bass, this quartet isn’t afraid to take roots music to new places — but always with an eye on tradition. Formed in 2014, Charm City Junction has taken the acoustic music scene by storm performing around the country gaining high praise along the way for their high-energy, captivating and dynamic performances. Bobby Britt takes charge with his virtuosic, powerful and musical approach to the fiddle. Clawhammer banjo wizard Brad Kolodner adds his playful, driving, melodic and groovy Old-Time touch. Sean McComiskey soars through the tunes and fills the gaps with his soulful button accordion playing. The versatile bassist Alex Lacquement drives the train, locking everything together with his commanding and tasteful choices.” https://www.charmcityjunction.com/about.html In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1976 archival recording of Ozark original Charley Sandage performing the traditional tune “Blacksmith of Brandywine,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. From his series entitled “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins continues his exploration on the story of the Ozark Jubilee, one of America’s first nationally-broadcast Old Time barn dance country music television shows, based in Springfield, Missouri.
This week, Baltimore based Old Time string and Irish button accordion band Charm City Junction recorded live at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Also, interviews with these masterful Maryland musicians. “From dance inducing Old Time rhythms and foot stomping Irish melodies to hard-driving Bluegrass, Baltimore-based acoustic roots quartet Charm City Junction creates a fresh soundscape that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats wondering where they'll go next. Featuring fiddle, clawhammer banjo, button accordion and upright bass, this quartet isn’t afraid to take roots music to new places — but always with an eye on tradition. Formed in 2014, Charm City Junction has taken the acoustic music scene by storm performing around the country gaining high praise along the way for their high-energy, captivating and dynamic performances. Bobby Britt takes charge with his virtuosic, powerful and musical approach to the fiddle. Clawhammer banjo wizard Brad Kolodner adds his playful, driving, melodic and groovy Old-Time touch. Sean McComiskey soars through the tunes and fills the gaps with his soulful button accordion playing. The versatile bassist Alex Lacquement drives the train, locking everything together with his commanding and tasteful choices.” https://www.charmcityjunction.com/about.html In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, musician, educator, and country music legacy Mark Jones offers a 1976 archival recording of Ozark original Charley Sandage performing the traditional tune “Blacksmith of Brandywine,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives. From his series entitled “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins continues his exploration on the story of the Ozark Jubilee, one of America’s first nationally-broadcast Old Time barn dance country music television shows, based in Springfield, Missouri.
Today, Live in Studio A, it's Helicon, the iconic Celtic-inspired trio of Robin Bullock (guitar, citern), Chris Norman (wooden flutes, penny whistle) and Ken Kolodner (hammered dulcimer, fiddle, hammered mbira). Tomorrow, the group reunites for their 33rd Annual Winter Solstice Reunion Concert at Goucher College, playing Scottish, Irish, Appalachian and other folk music. But today, in keeping with a Midday holiday tradition, Helicon is joined in our studio by members of the loval old-timey music band, Charm City Junction, including Ken’s son Brad Kolodner (banjo, fiddle, vocals), Alex Lacquement (bass, vocals), Sean McComiskey (accordian), Patrick McAvinue (fiddle, mandolin, vocals), with Rachel Eddy (guitar, fiddle and vocals). Join us for some great traditional, folk and blue-grass music, performed by some of the best musicians in the genres.Helicon’s 33rd Annual Winter Solstice Concert at Goucher is on Saturday, December 15. The 3:30pm performance has already sold out; check here for ticket information for the 7:30pm performance.Today's program was live-streamed in two parts on WYPR's Facebook page: in the first stream, the Helicon/CCJ ensemble plays a favorite holiday medley: ----Evening of Roses---- (Israel)/----God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen----/----Christmas Eve---- (Ireland), and Charm City Junction plays an Alex Lacquement tune called ----Turkey Trot.---- In the second stream, we hear the ensemble play ----Richmond Blues---- and ----Possum on a Rail---- (with Rachel Eddy leading on fiddle and vocals), a Danish tune called ----The Rumbling Quadrille,---- Robin Bullock's ----Storm Warning,---- CCJ's ----Hop High,---- and finally, a traditional Canadian foot stomper, ----Hangman's.----
Welcome to Get Up in the Cool: Old Time Music with Cameron DeWhitt and Friends. This week’s friend is Alex Lacquement, and he’s a bassist! A Get Up in the Cool first, and hopefully not the last. Alex plays Old Time music with a lot of freedom, but he has a keen sense for exercising restraint. It’s pretty rare to find someone who excels at both leading and following; in music, but also, in general. Support Get Up in the Cool on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/getupinthecool Buy Alex Lacquement’s CD’s and see him live: http://www.charmcityjunction.com/ http://www.bumperjacksons.com/ http://www.kenandbrad.com/ http://www.alexlacquement.com/