Finnders & Youngberg, Colorado’s premier Americana quintet, will add yet another honor to their impressive resume: they’ve been chosen as an official showcase act for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass conference in Nashville, Tenn., this fall. They are one of just 13 acts invited to perform during the bluegrass industry’s biggest and most important week.
Festival Mozaic has announced its 2012 summer season, which will take place July 12-22 in the most charismatic spaces across California's Central Coast including Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Chapel Hill in wine country, Hearst Castle overlooking the sparkling Pacific Ocean, and Mission San Miguel . The theme, "In The Footsteps of Giants," will showcase a lineage of masterworks which inspired – and were inspired by – phenomenal composers over the ages.
The San Francisco Mandolin Orchestra with singers Susan Gundunas and Twila Ehmcke will be performing one of the gems of the Baroque music era, Stabat Mater, written in 1736 by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi.
The Newport Festivals Foundation has announced the lineup for the 2012 Newport Folk Festival set to take place July 28-29 at Fort Adams State Park.
A neurological disorder called dystonia is estimated to have ended the careers of at least one member of every major American metropolitan orchestra. Dystonia has claimed the livelihoods of musicians across genres including the acclaimed pianist Leon Fleisher of the Peabody Conservatory of Music, former first oboist of the Chicago Symphony Alex Klein, acoustic guitarist Billy McLaughlin, classical guitarist Liona Boyd, keyboard player Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, and others.
Old News
Lunel Line-up
One of the important annual mandolin happenings is coming up. Artists from the United States, Brasil, Ireland, Israel, England, India, Italy, Sweden, and of course France, will meet in Lunel, putting the city in the center of the world of mandolin.
By Reidar Falch
The 8th International Festival Mandolines de Lunel happens October 26-29. As always, there is an exciting International programme.
Mike Marshall and Hamilton de Holanda have alternated as godfathers since the first festival in 2004, when they both opened the festival. In this edition they come together for the Two Godfathers' Edition.
Mike Marshall and Hamilton de Holanda - The Two Godfathers of Festival Mandolines de Lunel - Photo by Maria Camillo
Eva Scow
Choro Das 3
The godfathers will each present one goddaughter, Eva Scow from America and Elisa Meyer from Brasil. Eva Scow plays with guitarist Mike Taylor. Elisa Meyer brings along her band and family, Choro Das 3, Corina Meyer (flute), Lia Meyer (7 string guitar) and Eduardo Roque (pandeiro - Brasilian tambourine).
The festival has organised the creation of a new concerto for two mandolins and orchestra, echoing the great Italian master, Vivaldi. Antonello Paliotti has composed the concerto by commission from the festival. The "Spring Concert" is dedicated to renew the genre and give new horizons for modern mandolin music.
Mike Marshall and Hamilton de Holanda are to play the concerto accompanied by the Orchestre National de
Montpellier Languedoc-Roussillon under the direction of the American-Irish Robert Tuohy. The orchestra will also perform the Mandolin Concerto by Avner Dorman and Romanian Folk Dances by Bela Bartok, with the solo mandolinist Avi Avital (Israel).
Each godfather will present a new personal project. Mike plays with the group Väsen (Sweden), Olov Johansson (Nyckelharpa), Mikael Marin (5 string viola) and Roger Tallroth (12 string guitar). Hamilton plays in duet with pianist André Mehmari (Brasil).
The outstanding virtuoso, U. Shrinivas (India), opens the final show. The godfathers follow up before the final Meeting on Stage, where anything is expected to happen.
Two afternoon concerts will take place with Mark & Beverly Davis & Fabio Gallucci Trio (USA/Italy) and Jean-Louis Ruf-Costanzo (France) playing mandoloncello solo. The famous RV Apéros, are concerts in bars, features Mike Lattrell Group (France/USA), and Dan Beimborn & Sunny spells.
The festival is not about concerts only. The artists teaches in workshops. It is a meeting place for people interested in mandolin music. Coming to Lunel is like coming home.
The festival is organized by the association Odyssey, in partnership with the City of Lunel.
The Experience - Eva Scow, Mike Taylor, Pat Olvera and Ray Moore
Choro Das 3 - Elisa Meyer, Corina Meyer, Lia Meyer and Eduardo Roque