2019 Main Stage Performing Artists
Dan Lilley and the Keepers with Amy Bedard
Dan Lilley and The Keepers is a classic and original rock band with influences that include Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Grateful Dead, and The Kinks. The group is comprised of 4 RI music veterans: Dan Lilley on vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica, and songwriting; Mike “Scatman” Sullivan on lead guitar and background vocals; Kenn Reynolds on bass guitar and background vocals; and Gary St. Germaine on drums.
RI music fans will remember Kenn Reynolds and Gary St. Germaine as the rhythm section for the legendary band Rizzz, a mainstay on the Rhode Island club scene throughout the late 80’s and early 90’s. Kenn and Gary were recently honored, along with their former bandmates, when Rizzz was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in May of 2017.
Dan Lilley and Mike “Scatman” Sullivan have been playing together since the early 80’s in several bands including Tyger Tyger, The Flying Ditchdiggers, and Lovetrain. Nowadays the two can be seen most weekends playing folk, rock, and blues as the duo, Dan Lilley and Scatman.
Dan and Gary are also members of the award winning Neil Young Tribute band, Forever Young for the past several years. Since their formation in 2011.
Dan Lilley & The Keepers have
been a growing presence on the local music scene. The Providence Folk Festival performance will feature John Amitrano on bass and Amy Bedard on violin and vocals.
Ryan Lee Crosby Trio
Ryan Lee Crosby Trio
Ryan Lee Crosby Trio
With an intercontinental band, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Lee Crosby blends essences of American folk-blues and North Indian raga into meditative songs of impermanence, compassion and joy. Crosby’s music is a pleasing mix of improvised and composed material, performed on traditional and modern instruments. Through his recordings and performances, Crosby hopes to inspire peace, openness and respect - for tradition, for culture, for each other and for one’s self.
Flowers and Rain
Ryan Lee Crosby Trio
Ryan Lee Crosby Trio
Flowers and Rain - celebrating the joys and sorrows of life through their music, Flowers and Rain balance the pretty and the gritty with their upbeat Americana sound.
Hollow Turtle
Hollow Turtle
Hollow Turtle
Hollow Turtle has been crafting songs together and developing a bluegrass style all their own. With Nick Preite on mandolin, Alfie Purcell on guitar, James Cappelletti on banjo, Joe Cappelletti on the upright bass, and Ben Richard sawing the fiddle, they bring a ruckus to a traditional style, while tying it all together with tightly wound vocal harmonies.
Quahog Quire
Hollow Turtle
Hollow Turtle
We sing a variety of old, really old, and modern folk songs, work songs, and shanties, with a strong emphasis on "joiny-inny" songs with choruses that you should be able to pick up. You can also join in on the verses once you know them!
Lisa Couto Trio
Chris Monti Trio
Chris Monti Trio
Lisa Couto is a singer/songwriter from RI whose eclectic style incorporates Pop, R&B, Rock and folk influences. She has traveled throughout the eastern seaboard and overseas to perform. In 2013, she was recognized as “Female Vocalist of the Year” by Motif Magazine. She has released 3 CDs, most recently (in 2013) an album entitled "Not Going Under". She has been compared to Sheryl Crowe, Eva Cassidy and even Alicia Keys. Her laid-back style and soulful vocals capture audiences and create devoted friends and followers wherever she goes. She will be accompanied by Erik Peterson on keys and Don Morton on percussion.
Chris Monti Trio
Chris Monti Trio
Chris Monti Trio
The Chris Monti Trio plays an upbeat mix of original dance music along with West African and Caribbean songs. Theo Regan is on the bass, Michael Lewis is on the drums.
Known for his effortless style and curiosity, Chris Monti has been doing the good work as a musician in New England for over fifteen years. He has immersed himself in West African style guitar, dug deep into country-blues and old-time music, and moves seamlessly between diverse styles from Egypt, Peru and India. Chris has played with the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars, Big Nazo, and the Double Decker Dance Band. Touring the East Coast, Canada and points west, he also enjoys his singular role in the community as a strange combination of entertainer, educator, and magician.
Cardboard Ox
Chris Monti Trio
Cardboard Ox
Well stablished as solo performers in their home state of Rhode Island, Tracie Potochnik and Steve Allain joined forces in 2014 to form Cardboard Ox. The duo is known for sweet and soulful harmonies, thoughtful musicianship, and lyrical storytelling. Cardboard Ox will once again be the Providence Folk Festival Main Stage hosts!
2019 Songcrafter Stage Performing Artists
Allysen Callery
Allysen Callery
Allysen Callery
Songcrafter Stage cohost Allysen Callery is an American folksinger from Bristol , RI, whose delicate, austere sound has been compared to classic British folk artists like Sandy Denny and Nick Drake.
Winner of the Motif Music awards Best Female Vocalist (Americana) 2019.
Lisa Bastoni
Allysen Callery
Allysen Callery
Lisa Bastoni is an award-winning songwriter based in Northampton MA, whose songs have been described as "Americana of the highest order...along the lines of Gretchen Peters or Patty Griffin" (Maverick-UK).
Kala Farnham
Allysen Callery
Ric Allendorf
Drawing from a classical education and multi-instrumental background, Kala Farnham presents a hallmark reinvention of the folk tradition, drawing audiences into imaginative re-creations of the familiar world through vivid storytelling and metaphor.
Ric Allendorf
Ric Allendorf
Ric Allendorf
Ric Allendorf is a native New England singer-songwriter whose intuitively familiar songs reveal a quiet hope that lives behind our challenges; anchoring the listener in themes that draw from folk & blues, classic singer-songwriters, and traditional Celtic and British fingerstyle players.
John Faraone
Ric Allendorf
John Faraone
John Faraone is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist from Pawtucket, RI, who released his first full-length album, Light Upon, in 2018 to high critical acclaim.
Lara Herscovitch
Swimming Bell (Katie Schottland)
Swimming Bell (Katie Schottland)
Lara Herscovitch is a modern American songwriter-poet-performer, creating masterful contemporary folk with blues, pop and jazz influences; former State Troubadour of CT, Sound Waves Magazine described her music as “expertly written prose… songwriting at its best… good for your ears AND your soul.”
Swimming Bell (Katie Schottland)
Swimming Bell (Katie Schottland)
Swimming Bell (Katie Schottland)
Swimming Bell is the solo project of Brooklyn-based Katie Schottland. Schottland uses loop pedals and other effects to create expansive harmonies and soundscapes all riding upon strong and catchy melodies.
Bob Kendall
Swimming Bell (Katie Schottland)
Andrew Victor
Songcrafter Stage cohost Bob Kendall is a singer songwriter, producer, and curator living on Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island. He’s also the founding member of the bands Lifeboat, The Blood Oranges & The Brothers Kendall.
Andrew Victor
Andrew Victor
Andrew Victor
Andrew Victor has been releasing albums and touring for sixteen years. He is now based in Westerly.
Seatbelt
Andrew Victor
Seatbelt
Seatbelt features members from Harvey Garbage & Cherry Pit, are an urban gothfolk duo with raw harmonies.