FolksTogether is: Rick Bellaire: guitar, mandolin, mandola, banjo, accordian, keyboards, percussion, vocals. John Dunn: Bass, dobro, guitar, drums, percussion, vocals. Donna Anthony Olson: percussion, keyboards, vocals. Jeff Olson: guitars, percussion, vocals. Vincent Pasternak: violin, viola, classical guitar, guitar, dulcimer, mandolin, percussion, vocals.
Influences
FolksTogether's major influences include Bob Dylan, Eric Andersen, Pete Seeger, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Tim Hardin, Ian and Sylvia and the other great folk artists of the 60's, The Beatles, Stones, and other British Invasion groups, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Gram Parsons, Lefty Frizzell, Matthew Fisher and Keith Reid (Procol Harum), Carole King, The Louvin Brothers, and just about everyone else who picked up a guitar, bass, fiddle or mandolin...
While it is clear that the band was strongly influenced by the great folk, rock, pop, and country artists of their generation, they were individually influenced by the Brazilian Sambas, Broadway Showtunes, and jazz/pop artists like Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.
Sounds Like
The FolksTogether sound defies easy classification. In truth, after numerous lively discussions on the subject FolksTogether can't agree on how to classify themselves! Being all acoustic, the group is usally categorized as a Folk or Americana act. Because they often utilize violin, mandolin, and banjo on stage they are sometimes called a bluegrass act, but this is far from the case. FolksTogether's music incorporates elements of Rock, Pop, and Jazz as well as Folk. This is not an accident. The members of FolksTogether have long and varied backgrounds and resumes that run the gamut of musical genres. They really enjoy the fact that they have aunique ability to keep the audience guessing. A FolksTogether set is likely to include an acoustic version of a 60's rock tune, a jazz instrumental, an obscure bluegrass or country tune, and a number of original compostions that incorporate all of the above styles.
FolksTogether is not easy to categorize. The group combines elements of folk, rock, jazz, bluegrass, and country into a sound that is all its own. FolksTogether started performing as a group in 1997. Previously, they had worked together an a variety of projects and recordings.
PILGRIMS is FolksTogether's first studio album. Recorded at the FolksTogether Workshop in Providence, RI and released in September of 2005, PILGRIMS includes 11 original tracks plus unique versions of songs by Procol Harum (Pilgrim's Progress), Carole King (I Wasn't Born to Follow), and Free (Wishing Well). PILGRIMS was produced by Rick Bellaire with FolksTogether, engineered by John Dunn and Jeff Olson, mixed by Henry Gauvin with Rick Bellaire and Vincent Pasternak, and mastered by Grammy award winner Cynthia Daniels (Monk Music Inc). The photos and artwork for the CD booklet was created by Vincent, Elizabeth and Collin Pasternak with the assistance of David Perluck.
Previous recordings by FolksTogether include a live CD: "HomeMade" (1999). "Looking Back" (2000) a compilation of studio recordings by elements of the group (Bellaire & Dunn: "From Now On," Wire & Wood: "The Grand Carousel."). They have also appeared on regional compilation CDs including "The 12 Steps of Christmas," "Our Invincible Summer," "Lazy Day,"and "Uptight Before Christmas."
FolksTogether call Providence RI home, but they perform throughout the Northeast. Performance highlights include appearances at the "Unofficial 30 Year Woodstock Reunion" on Yasgurs farm (Bethel, NY), Strawberry Festival at Beacon Sloop Club (Beacon, NY), WERU Full Circle Fair (Maine), Hear In Rhode Island Festival (Providence, RI), The New England Folk Festival (Boston, MA), and The Joe Davies Folk Festival (MA). Notable club and coffeehouse appearances include The Narrows Center For the Arts (MA), Stone Soup Coffeehouse (RI), the Left Bank Coffeehouse (ME), and Bodles Opera House (NY). FolksTogether has shared the bill with the likes of Eric Andersen, Jack Hardy, Pete Seeger, Peter Rowan, and Country Joe McDonald. They have also performed in festivals with many of the best known folk/acoustic artists.
To learn more about the group vist the FolksTogether Homepage (http://www.folkstogether.com) or email us at mederick@cox.net or folkstogher@fullchannel.net
FolksTogether recordings may be purchased at WoodstockCD.com
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Its always nice to visit this page. The music sounds great. We wanted to invite you to our next show. Its a lineup of 4 great folk/americana acts including a cd release of North Carolina's Jeff and Benares who bring traditional appalachian roots and songwriting to the stage. Its May 30 if you can make it. Hope to see you, WCS
Hey folks...FOREVER YOUNG is a tribute to the music of NEIL YOUNG... we hope that you will take a minute and vote for us-it is QUICK and painless!!! The Band Members are: BECKY CHACE, MARK CUTLER, JOHN FUZEK, DAN LILLEY, PETE VENDETTUOLI, JOHN AMITRANO AND PHIL HICKS
I wanted to let you know I have been nominated in the Providence Phoenix's Best Music Poll for
BEST FEMALE VOCALIST
Please support local Music and Vote at ThePhoenix. com/BMP
Also, we have some cool shows we have coming up.
Hope to see you at one (or more)
Friday MAR 14th - 8:00 pm -
THE LIVING ROOM with Disquiet, Cobalt Opus, Shout Rock Radio and Lost Tide
Saturday MAR 15th - 9:00 pm - THE OCEAN MIST with THE CHASERS
Sunday MAR 23rd - 8:00 pm - CLUB HELL LIVE with The Grey Stanford Band, Pariah Beat and Chelsy Lau Band
HEY FolksTogether THANKS FOR THE ADD!!!!
COOL SITE!!!!
TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF MY MUSIC AND I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON NEW MUSIC AND SHOWS!!!!!
click here!!! HELP SPREAD THE DIRT
