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Floodwood headlines North Country Folk Fest that includes music, food and biergarten Saturday in Canton

Posted 4/12/18

CANTON — Central New York folk-jam-funk sensations Floodwood will return to the old Java Quad at St. Lawrence University this year to headline the 7th annual North Country Folk Festival Saturday, …

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Floodwood headlines North Country Folk Fest that includes music, food and biergarten Saturday in Canton

Posted

CANTON — Central New York folk-jam-funk sensations Floodwood will return to the old Java Quad at St. Lawrence University this year to headline the 7th annual North Country Folk Festival Saturday, April 14.

Folk Fest is free, and open to the public and all ages. The event will feature music, food, biergarten and vendors from noon to 11 p.m.

Floodwood combines bluegrass, Dawg, funk, folk and jam band musics into a progressive, yet rootsy mix. The eclectic string band from Central NY features the combined talents of Vinnie Amico of moe., Tony Markellis from the Trey Anastasio Band, Jason Barady, Nick Piccininni and Chris Eves.

With "bluegrass instruments" (plus drums) these 5 musicians from varied backgrounds show that music knows no bounds. At a Floodwood show you can expect to hear everything from traditional sounding bluegrass to Jessie J, jazz to the Grateful Dead.

Vinnie Amico has been playing drums professionally for nearly 30 years, 20 with jamband mainstays moe., and has been with Floodwood since it's inception 5 years ago. Amico is influenced by many musical styles including rock, jazz, bluegrass, reggae, country, and world music.

Tony Markellis is a bassist and record producer from Helena, Montana, now residing in Saratoga Springs. His career spans over 40 years, playing blues, folk, jazz, rock and country music with musicians such as Trey Anastasio, Paul Butterfield, The Mamas & the Papas, Johnny Shines, David Bromberg and many, many more. Markellis was a founding member of the groundbreaking Vermont-based jazz fusion group Kilimanjaro, as well as the Unknown Blues Band featuring Big Joe Burrell.

Jason Barady spent over 10 years recording and touring with the Bluegrass group Wooden Spoon from Taos, until returning to his hometown in central NY. An influential part of his local music scene, Barady plays with an unyielding energy and creativity on both local and national stages. Fans have been known to refer to him as “the Hendrix of Mandolin.”

Nick Piccininni is a self taught banjoist/fiddler who learned his bluegrass chops the old fashioned way - in picking circles at his favorite bluegrass festivals. He has been involved in many projects including touring for two years with CMA recording artists, The Abrams Brothers.

Chris Eves, from the band Castle Creek, is an accomplished guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He has shared the stage with The Zac Brown Band, Jon Fishman of Phish, Johnny Lang, John Popper and many others. He also played guitar for American Idol and is featured in the film Star Trek Nemesis.

Other musicians scheduled to perform during Folk Fest include Althea Jean, Alex Smith and Jake Brillhart, Push Farther Project, Contra Dance Tune-A-Fish and Richard Hayes Phillips.

Among the confirmed vendors at the fest are Birdsfoot Farm, Bittersweet Farm, Milkweed Tussock Tubers, TAUNY, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Nature Up North and Trout Brook Treasures.

St. Lawrence University Student Organizations with displays at the event include the Environmental Action Organization, the Divestment Club with tree planting and more, Seed to Table and the Artist Guild.

Individual artists who will attend selling their products include Emily Hoffman with seashell jewelry, Hannah Smith with journals and paper making, Len Macky with drumming and fire starting, inlay artist and luthier Tracy Cox with his guitar designs, Roxanne Locy from Adirondack Ceramics, Shelley McConnell offering handmade jewelry and scarves, soapmaker Fernando Willson and woodworker Steve Ashpole.

Organizers are looking for local vendors and artisans to set up at the event from noon-4 p.m. Table spots are free. If interested, contact Nick Filannino at 914-450-3236, or email Nfila16@stlawu.edu.