presents Need help? the 2002 starwood festival - july 23-28, 2002 - brushwood folklore center

Many find Starwood worth it for the Entertainment alone! Come to one or all of our nightly concerts, perform in our Bardic Circle where you are the entertainment; visit our inflatable, hemispherical pufferdome for a midnight party or relax over lunch at one of our aptly named lunchtime concerts.

Main Stage | Lunchtime | Pufferdome

This year we welcome to our Main Stage:

Gaelic Storm [Wed Night]
Since the release of their self-titled first album (which reached #5 on Billboard's World Music chart in Summer 1998), Gaelic Storm has thundered onto stages around the world, astounding audiences with their explosive performance. Featured as the "Steerage Party Band" in the blockbuster hit Titanic, Gaelic Storm has proven they can keep the party rocking long after the credits have rolled. Their dynamic stage show features rousing, upbeat vocals, wild energetic dance tunes, haunting ballads and infectious madcap humor. In clubs and theatres or at outdoor festivals, it's a show that never fails to leave audiences on their feet: reeling, dancing and screaming for more!

Gaelic Storm has drawn record-breaking crowds at Milwaukee's famed Irish-Fest (in '98, '99, and 2001), Celtic-Fest Chicago, the Dublin Ohio Irish Festival and the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, as well as Festival Interceltique in Lorient, France (the largest Celtic festival in the world). More about them at: http://www.gaelicstorm.com/

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius [Fri Night]
Joe Deninzon is a versatile violinist based in New York who has been called "The Jimi Hendrix of the Violin". He has worked with Sheryl Crow, Smoky Robinson, The Mahavishnu Project, and the Trans-Syberian Orchestra among others. Joe’s band, Stratospheerius, has been heavily involved in the New York jam band scene, performing regularly at clubs like Wetlands and the Knitting Factory, as well as touring the East Coast and Midwest. The group features Joe on six-string electric violin and vocals, Scott Chasolen on Fender rhodes and moog, Grisha Alexiev on drums, Rufus Philpot on bass, DJ Big Wiz on turntables, and legendary guitarist Alex Skolnick (who has worked with Testament and Stu Hamm). They mix the avant garde jazz/rock sound of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, the pop sensibilities of the Dave Matthews Band, and Chili Peppers-style funk, to create a STRATOSPHEERIC musical experience with plenty of strings attatched.

Shaman [Fri Night]
Shaman is a music group that was formed in 1990 by siblings, Brahm and Deirdre Stuart. The vibrations that they have created thus far weave Celtic traditional music with Middle Eastern melodies, Blues and Rock underpinnings, and thought provoking pro-Earth iconoclastic lyrics. Shaman means one who is raised and excited speaking for the Earth to her children and back again. Shaman is calling out to all of Mother Earth's children through the medium of Celtic Rock / Earth Music / Pagan Music / Traditional Music / Light & Love Vibrations...

"Shaman's tapesty of sound weaves together an astounding variety of styles combining Celtic instrumentals, Mediterranean Gypsy songs, otherworldly ballads, and passionate pagan pixie music. . ."
RS & ABr, reviewers for the World music magazine Dirty Linen.
Listen to soundbytes from Shaman: http://www.solstar.org/SOUNDbytes.htm


Yokeshire [Tues Night]
is a musical duo from Boston, MA, with a trademark sound of mystical, psychadelic, medieval progressive rock. Performing all original material with a guitar, bass and drums foundation, Yokeshire expounds upon their instrumentation by adding a wide range of unique instruments including mandolin, marimba, Theremin, flute, dulcimer, glockenspiel, vintage keyboards and exotic percussion, with counterpoint vocal harmonies. This blending of different style and worldly influences has created a completely unique and distinctive sound that can be heard on their multi-award winning CD “Masque of shadows,” which has accumulated rave reviewed from more than 25 countries.

The members of Yokeshire are in tune with a spiritual philosophy and a way of life, with cornerstone principles such as respecting Mother Earth, and generating positive energy. Their spiritual quest as musicians and their Celtic heritage hsve guided them for many moons on the path of enlightenment. More at: http://www.yokeshire.com.
Listen to real audio samples at: http://www.kinesiscd.com/yoke_ram.htm.

Seeds of Time [Tues Night]
is an electrifying performance ensemble utilizing drums as a vehicle for growth and self-expression. Led by Billy Woods, they dazzle the festival audience with an amazing blend of chant, poetry, and a unique array of influences including drum corps, Middle Eastern, rock, jazz, Afro-Latin and South American rhythms, using the improvisational style as a true art form. Formerly called Street Drumming, their music is available from ACE on the tapes Street Drumming Live at Starwood and Seeds of Time Live at Starwood. Their members are Billy Woods, Daveed Korup, Joshua Levin, and Saphyre. They are joined by dancers and members of Daveed's band Turku.

The Bardos [Wed Night]
coalesced from an assortment of magical musical metalsmiths. Gradually, other kindred musicians have crept into the current ensemble. The Bardos draw inspiration from around the world and across the ages, from Medieval and Celtic tojazz, rock, and rap. They have performed in a wide variety of settings from coffeehouses, weddings, clubs and gatherings. You may have heard then do live performances anywhere from the radio in Binghampton, NY area or seen them at various gathering such as Rites of Spring, Free Spirit and Starwood. The Bardos have also made numerous club performances. Wielding various strings, winds, vocals, and lots of percussion, they're sure to get your feet moving and your spirits soaring! Visit our website at toad.net/~bardobro/bardos/

with...

Awen [Wed Night]
(Welsh for 'poetic inspiration') are Ian Corrigan and Liafal from Northeast Ohio. Awen's music draws on the traditions of British and Irish folk song and storytelling.
Ballads and story-songs mingle with sea shanties and countryside tunes, and the occasional original song that harkens back to older times. Rollicking guitar and funky rhythms combine with dynamic vocal harmonies to produce a powerful sound that will captivate and delight any audience.
Ian has been performing traditional music for twenty years, as a solo artist and in various bands. His wife Liafal joined him in his music a few years ago. No more at stonecreed.org/awen.

Revelry [Fri]
is something acoustically different; think Indigo Girls with Magickal 'tude! This all-Chameleon trio features Victoria Ganger's multi-genre originals backed by the sensuous harmonies of Lisa Lefkort and Mary Alice Tummonds. From evocative ballads to humorous tangos and all points in between, Revelry draws it's own unique connection between ancient tradition and today's spirit.

Pyrosonic - Retrospecter [Fri - late]
This year for the 12th annual Island Show Extravaganza, we'll be paying homage to the ghosts of island shows past with Retrospecter, a blend of old and new that will revisit the best of Ron Slabe's electronic soundtrack music going back to the early analog daze when the Synthesauris ruled the Earth.
Retrospecter will be an unplugged show, using only pyrotechnics and live action instead of high tech lighting. With the help of Jason Isla, Logan Crozier, and others not yet released from protective custody as of this writing, Ron will be raking the coals to unearth some old school techniques from "back in the day" as well as some new surprises. We don't know what will happen, but it will NOT be business as usual.

And...

Halim El-Dabh and his Orchestra [Sat Night]
Halim El-Dabh is a Professor Emeritus of African Ethno-Musicology from Kent State University. He has travelled the world on projects by such organizations as the Smithsonian Institute, studying and participating in the music of tribal cultures. He is an experienced drummer and performer on a wide variety of authentic African musical instruments and on keyboard. He was a soloist with Leopold Stokowsky, and he's the composer of the music for Martha Graham's Clymenestra, Nuriev and Maugo Fontayne's The Fallen Angel Lucifer, Nile Festival Music, Ramses the Great Symphony, Lament of the Pharoh, and the sound-light show for the Pyramid of Egypt. His latest production, Opera Flies, was part of the 25th Anniversary memorial program for the Kent State shooting. A pioneer in the field of electronic music, he has a new CD coming out entitled Crossing Into the Electric Magnetic. Halim is presently working with both the Ohio Arts Council and Cleveland Public Theatre. He is a participant in the WinterStar panel discussion The Self in Transformation, available from ACE.

Magnus & Spinner [Sat Night]


Lunchtime Concerts
Grab a bite at the Brushwood Cafe or Phil's Grill and enjoy it to the sounds of:

Sona [Wed]
SONA are a new and entertaining pagan and mystical-celtic-folk-rock group influenced by various folk and rock artists (Janice, Bela Fleck, Vassar Clements…). SONA met as if by magick at Starwood two years ago…and have traveled extensively since. They have played at Heartland, PSG, CMA Beltane, Dragon Dance, PPD Events in Austin, Houston and Dallas and are currently engaged in a country wide tour this summer, starting in Indy. SONA are a trio of diverse sounds…one must hear them to understand.

In the Hot Summer months of 2000, three people met at Brushwood Folklore Center in New York, the home of the Starwood festival that have been going on for years. Among them were a singer, a vocalist, and a mandolin player. This father and son duo from Kansas combined with a single female vocalist from Missouri came together to form SONA. It was realized at once that these three had been searching for each other, and that the magick that was apparent between the three of them musically was rare...
Listen to them at: http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/171/sona1.html

Dirty Mothers [Thurs]
Dirty Mothers are a Baltimore, MD female fronted, pagan, urban folk rock band with video show all dedicated to the Dirty Mothers of the universe. The message in our music is directly linked to the lost importance of the Goddess and the importance of femininity and balance in spirituality.

The music of Dirty Mothers is fed from the different backgrounds of each member's influences. Denise starts her love of music with all things female from punk to folk to rock thus equates her dynamic vocal abilities. Kevin is influenced by the heavy rock of the last few decades but also is spiritually bound to playing acoustic guitar. His diverse ability gives the band a strengthened edge and heightens the dynamics of Denise's vocals On the other end of the spectrum is Anthony's love of hip-hop complimenting the band with his natural gift to rap and his soulful bass playing.


Wynne Paris & Laurie Lovekraft [Sat]
Wynne Paris and Laurie Lovekraft performing world-beat devotional music in the kirtan (bhakti yoga) tradition.
Wynne Paris performs on Sarod (a Sitar like Indian instrument) and guitar and sings and chants in Sanskrit and English.
Laurie Lovekraft is also an accomplished singer, poet, drummer and dancer.
Complete with dance loops and improvisation and audience participation, Wynne and Laurie weave ancient and future together in a unique expression of love.


See what's also going on in the Pufferdome.

up where you belong

Remember, last minute changes are unavoidable. Please check back for updated information.
This page last updated: June 13, 2002.