Danika Holmes & Jeb Hart

November 11, 2016

She’s a songwriter who was almost a doctor. He’s a guitar aficionado who owns and operates his own guitar instruction company. Together they form the duo Danika Holmes & Jeb Hart, a soulful combination of acoustic pop and blues that hits the heart with their blended talents.

danika-holmes

Hailed as “a captivating singer in a truly soulful duo,” by Emmy Award winning-songwriter Trey Bruce, Holmes initially started as a solo artist, her songs playing on Sirius XM’s Coffee House station and on 150 radio stations nationwide. Her belief is that a well-written song can embody all emotions of human existence, and she articulates that beautifully with her slightly raspy yet gentle voice and truthful lyrics.

jeb-hart

Jeb Hart can tell a story with six strings. “I’ve seen some of the best guitarists that rock, blues and country have to offer.” says Entertainment reporter Jim Renke.  “Jeb Hart can hold his own with any of them. His heart and passion are matched only by his technical skills.” The multi-faceted Hart began playing music at the age of 9. His 16-year career of guitar instruction includes opening his own company, Six Month Guitar. Performing with various bands, ranging in genres from blues to rock, country to big band, Jeb found the partner he was looking for in Danika.

Danika and Jeb are taking stages by storm, having opened for mainstream heavyweights such as Lyle Lovett, Dierks Bentley, Phil Vassar and others. Their soulful and intoxicating sound lures in new fans daily.

U-Liners Sweet Loraine CD Release Concert

October 14, 2016
JOE UEHLEIN and the U-LINERS
Sweet Lorain CD Release Concert

http://www.uliners.com

U-Liners with Rickie SimpkinsSweet Lorain is an Americana concept album featuring a collection of new original songs that have something to say about the world around us.

The U-Liners play a wide variety of music in the roots-rock and Americana genres including country, rock, folk, bluegrass, rock’n roll, swing, folk-rock, country-rock, blues, rhythm & blues, soul, and more. The U-Liners have a deep and eclectic repertoire ideal for dancing or listening. The U-Liners have performed at the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in Cleveland, the Knitting Factory and the Mercury Ballroom in NYC, Bally’s in Las Vegas, at the AFL-CIO, SEIU, and all of DC’s finest venues, including The Birchmere with Pete Seeger, The Black Cat, the Silver Theater, and Jammin’ Java with Tom Morello and Boots Riley, The IOTA Club, Madams Organ, the State theater, the Mansion on O St., the Millennium Arts Center (w/ Lester Chambers), the old Half Moon BBQ, and many others. A rare specialty of this group includes songs of hope, peace, justice, the environment, and worker’s rights; and come from the band’s belief that we can make the world a better place. The U-Liners are Avril Smith , Electric Guitar and Vocals; Joe Uehlein, Acoustic Guitar and Vocals; Larry Ferguson, Drums and Percussion; Jessica Lake, Vocals; Barry Warsaw, Bass; and Tom Espinola, Mandolin.

We are excited that Rickie Simpkins, Virginia Folk Music Hall of Fame inductee and multiple award winning fiddle player, will be joining Joe and the U-liners for this special show.  Rickie is a member of the Seldom Scene, and has toured extensively with Emmylou Harris and Her Red Dirt Boys.

Whether with his band, The U-Liners, or as a solo artist, Joe’s concerts always include a wide and deep presentation of Americana and roots-Rock music, including folk, rock’n roll, bluegrass, country, soul, and more. But his solo shows take on a more intimate feel, talking more about music, politics, and the human spirit.

From his early days growing up along the banks of the great Lake Erie, and working in an aluminum mill in Central Pennsylvania, Joe developed a keen interest in Rock & Roll and the Folk and Country sounds of working class music, protest music, and environmentally-themed songs and has become a well-known performer of songs of work, hope, freedom, and environmental action and labor rights.

Joe has performed with Pete Seeger, Lester Chambers of The Chambers Brothers, Dave Alvin, Steve Earle, Tom Morello, Boots Riley, Jill Sobule, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Emma’s Revolution, John Kadlecik, Billy Bragg, and with the punk band, the Dropkick Murphys. Joe has also performed at all of Washington, DC’s finest venues, including the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, The Birchmere, Strathmore Music Hall, IOTA Club, Jammin’ Java, the Hamilton, Howard Theater, the Black Cat, and more. Joe has also played NYC’s Knitting Factory, Starlight Ballroom, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Bally’s in Las Vegas, among other fine venues. Joe has played all across the U.S., as well as in Canada, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, and Venezuela.

Thank You (2015-2016)

Thank you to everyone for helping to make our sixth season such a rousing success!  When we began Carroll Cafe, we never could have imagined the amazing richness of the experience—the fabulously gifted musicians, storytellers and dancers who would grace our stage; the spirited audiences who would show up to pack our house on the second Fridays; and the unique feeling of joy and deep camaraderie which would permeate the air whenever we’d come together to celebrate live performance.

We are thrilled beyond words with what has blossomed over these years.  We have many more exciting nights planned for our seventh year and we will keep you posted as plans firm up for our 2016-2017 Carroll Cafe season!

Joe Uehlein & the U-Liners were originally scheduled to close out our season on June 17.  We have had to postpone that show for now–and are delighted to report that Joe and Co. will release their new CD Sweet Lorain at the Carroll Cafe on Friday October 14!

A big thanks to our volunteers for all of their dedication.  And a special thanks to you, for coming out and supporting live music!

In the meantime, we invite you to continue to support live roots music and the musicians who make it.

A special shout-out to one of the hidden gems in our area—Common Ground on the Hill in Westminster, MD.   Common Ground is only a little over an hour from Silver Spring.  It has been spreading the gospel of folk and roots music, dance and the traditional arts for 22 years, through through the annual Roots Music & Arts Festival, July 9 and 10, and the week-long Traditions Weeks workshops Traditions Week 1: June 26 – July 1 and Traditions Week 2: July 3 – July 8. Read more below and check it out for yourself—you’ll really be glad you did!

See you in the fall.

Jesse Palidofsky
Glen Yakushiji
Sandra Miller
Deborah Sokolove
Denise Leclair
Marcia Sprague

jose2012_guitar_image
Common Ground on the Hill’s Roots Music & Arts Festival
International superstar José Feliciano (9 Grammy awards, over 45 gold & platinum albums, hits include “Feliz Navidad”) headlines Saturday at this weekend-long festival. Blues Hall of Famer & Grammy nominee Professor Louie & the Crowmatix with the Maryland Rock of Ages Horns headlines on Sunday. Americana, bluegrass, blues, Celtic, old-time, Native American, Middle Eastern music & more! 3 stages, food, camping, beer/wine garden featuring Union Craft Brewery, juried arts & crafts, children’s area. At the Carroll County Farm Museum, 500 S. Center Street, Westminster, MD  21157

The Festival is held in tandem with the 22nd annual week-long Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Weeks held at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, attracting participants of all ages from around the world.  Musical offerings are a virtual potpourri of ethnic genres, including Blues, Folk, Bluegrass, Native American, Latino, Celtic, Appalachian Old-Time Music & Dance, Black Gospel, African Drumming & Dance, Storytelling, Poetry, Performance Art, Juried Arts & Crafts, Ethnic Foods, a Family World Village, and more! Traditions Weeks info at http://www.commongroundonthehill.org/2016-trad-wk-home.html

Celtic and Beyond

May 13, 2016

CELTIC & BEYOND:
CASSIE & MAGGIE MacDONALD  and LILT   

cassie and maggie mcdonaldCassie and Maggie MacDonald
http://cassieandmaggie.com/

Cassie and Maggie are two young sisters who are astonishingly charismatic and high-energy performers of their own unique hybrid of Celtic Roots music.  Born to a family with a rich musical heritage and raised in Nova Scotia, a province steeped in musical culture and traditions, Cassie and Maggie are turning heads wherever they go. And the music community has taken note;   Canadian Folk Music Award nominees for “Young Performers of the Year”, East Coast Music Award nominees for Traditional Album and double Music Nova Scotia Award nominees for New Artist and Roots Album of the year, their accolades and awards speak of a young duo that is turning heads wherever they go.    

LILT — Keith Carr and Tina Eck

LILT Keith Carr-Tina Eck photo copyright Michael G. Stewart068
LILT Keith Carr-Tina Eck photo copyright Michael G. Stewart068

 www.liltirishmusic.com

Lilt– a duo consisting of Tina Eck on flute and whistle and Keith Carr on bouzouki and banjo–met in the Washington DC Irish session scene and found that “flute and zouk” were a good instrumental match for what they love to play: traditional dance music from Ireland. Jigs and reels, polkas and hornpipes, the occasional slow air or vocal number. Lilt loves and tries to capture the essentials of Irish traditional music: boundless energy, wildness and melancholy.  LILT will be joined by step dancer Kate Bole from the Culkin School of Irish dance

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Shirleta Settles

April 8, 2016
SHIRLETA SETTLES

www.shirletasettlessings.com

shirleta settles

A native Washingtonian, Shirleta Settles is known as “Not Just a Voice, but an Entertainer!” Not just a voice because her performances are not limited to only music.

During her performances she has the innate ability to connect and include her audiences of all ages, whether singing, storytelling, drama, spoken word, staff development or as a recording artist.  Her experience as a Bandleader and lead vocalist for a 10 piece variety band, Marquise for 15 years has given her the ability to share her talent in a variety of venues and genres (R&B, Jazz, Blues, Pop, and Gospel. .

She has traveled nationally and internationally sharing her gift of music and storytelling from festivals, schools, and political arenas as well as private engagements.  Shirleta has been featured on FOX 5 News as an outstanding vocalist/entertainer.

Tret Fure CD Release Concert, with Lynn Hollyfield and Roy Barber opening

Tret FureMarch 11 2016
TRET FURE, a CD Release  Concert

www.tretfure.com 

Women’s music pioneer Tret Fure’s musical journey has a unique trajectory.  She started out as vocalist/guitarist with Spencer Davis; Lowell George of Little Feat produced her first solo recording; and she opened for bands like Yes, Poco and J. Geils.  In the 1980’s Tret left the pop music world and, over time, became a highly influential and well-loved figure in the women’s music movement.  She worked as a duo with Cris Williamson throughout the 90’–they released 3 CDs together and appeared at venues like Carnegie Hall.   Tret has garnered the prestigious Jane Schliessman Award for Outstanding Contributions to Women’s Music and was voted “Pride In The Arts Favorite Female/Lesbian Musician” in 2009.   She is president of Local 1000, the Traveling Musicians Union of the American Federation of Musicians.  Her latest CD is entitled, “Rembrandt Afternoons.”

lynn hollyfield
Lynn Hollyfield
roy barber
Roy Barber

Opening for Tret will be two distinctive D.C. area songwriters: 

WAMMIE award winner  Lynn Hollyfield. Hear Lynn at www.lynnhollyfield.com

and D.C. playwright/composer/director Roy Barber. Meet Roy at http://www.bokamosoyouth.org/foundation/board-biographies/bokamoso-board-Roy-Barber.php

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Victoria Vox and the Unified Jazz Ensemble

February 12, 2016 • 7:30 p.m.

VICTORIA VOX
and THE UNIFIED JAZZ ENSEMBLE

victoria voxVictoria Vox is a ukulele-playing award winning songwriter with an infectious pop-folk-jazz style.   Vox also has received praise for her ‘invisible’ instrument: The Mouth Trumpet, blowing her own horn on the Jay Leno Show.   She has been artist in residence at Strathmore hall and tours in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and across the U.S.   Her 9th album, “When the Night Unravels” was released in January 2015.   

unified jazz ensemble
vibraphonist Mike Noonan, bassist John Pineda, trumpeter Tim Stanley, and Dominic Smith on drums

We’re delighted that for this appearance at Carroll Café, Victoria will be joined by the UNIFIED JAZZ ENSEMBLE, featuring vibraphonist Mike Noonan, bassist John Pineda, trumpeter Tim Stanley, and Dominic Smith on drums.

An undercurrent of toughness, a beautiful voice, great melodies and loads of charm make her unique folk/pop music impossible to resist.  – Vintage Guitar Magazine

Vox’s soulful-ukulele shatters all preconceived (and ill-informed) notions about ukuleles and their underrated capabilities as an instrument. – WhatWeekly

Bumper Jacksons 

January 8 2016
Bumper Jacksons

find Bumper Jacksons on the web at
www.bumperjacksons.com

Bumper JacksonsThe Bumper Jacksons are a big, fat party. Hot and sweet, their traditonal  jazz and pre-war country repertoire paints America’s story from New Orleans’ brothels to Appalachian hollers. Unafraid to scrape together new sounds from forgotten 78’s, the Bumper Jacksons boldly and elegantly balance paying homage to the traditions while fashioning their own unique, DIY style.  They headline at the Birchmere and tour nationally.   We loved hearing Jess and Chris last year with the Sligo Creek Stompers and we are delighted that they’re back this year at Carroll Cafe with the BJ’s!

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