Colorscape announces musical lineup

NORWICH – You don’t have to travel far for some great, free musical entertainment, especially if you make plans to attend this year’s 15th Annual Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12 and13.  The musical lineup is complete and includes a stunning mix of folk, jazz, bluegrass, a cappella, rock n’ roll, blues, and acoustical singer-songwriters in a free outdoor festival located in East and West Parks in downtown Norwich.  The lineup of performers gracing the NBT Main Stage includes:

Saturday, Sept. 12

10 a.m. The Guy Mendilow Band

11 a.m. The McKrells

12 noon Dala

1 p.m. The Kennedys

2 p.m. The Guy Mendilow Band

3 p.m. The Horse Flies

4:30 p.m. Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

Sunday, Sept. 13

11 a.m.  Gospel Show with various performers

12 noon The Kennedys

1 p.m. The Guy Mendilow Band

2 p.m. Aztec 2 Step

3 p.m. Caravan of Thieves

4:30 p.m. Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams     

The lineup of musicians, arranged by Ken Millet, owner of Night Eagle Productions, includes a mix of returning and first-time performers at Colorscape.

Returning to Colorscape for the sixth year, Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams brings music that can “heal what ails ya.”  They fumble onto stage, talk freely to the audience as if they knew you forever, tell you their names (“just so you know who’s playin’ for ya”) and then proceed to take you away.  The music is simple and relatively straight forward, very familiar yet strangely unique and transporting.  These good thieves steal freely from the music they love, all kinds of music.

Also returning to Colorscape this year are the Kennedys.  The story of Pete and Maura Kennedy’s personal and professional relationship, now in its second decade, is somewhere between fate and a fairytale. How else can you explain a chance meeting in Austin between two East Coast-born musicians that immediately sparked a song writing collaboration, a first date at Buddy Holly’s grave, an enduring romance, and a creative partnership that radiates warmth, positive energy, and captivating music?

Aztec 2 Step is making a return engagement to Colorscape following a

one-year absence.  Rex Fowler from Pittsfield, Maine, and Neal Shulman of New York City met one “open mike” night at a Boston folk club in the spring of 1971. Each impressed by the other’s talents, they joined forces and Aztec Two-Step (named for a line from “Coney Island of the Mind” by Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti) was born.  After 30-plus years as a staple of FM radio, major label recording contracts and world-wide touring, Rex and Neal have become one of the folk music’s most popular and enduring acts. They continue to wow audiences with intelligent songwriting, hot acoustic lead guitar, and great harmonies.