WHO-FEST FOLK ARTS FESTIVAL
May 23 & 24, 2009
Renaissance Park (North Shore)
Chattanooga, TN 37405

For the second year, the Shaking Ray Levi Society is curator for the Stage and Pavilion events at WHO-FEST, the region's best known folk arts festival arranged by David Smotherman of the Winder Binder Gallery of Folk Art. This year's diverse lineup promises to be action-packed and fun for folks of all ages!

Eugene Chadbourne is a rare guitarist/banjo player and off-kilter songwriter, who is equally comfortable with bluegrass, folk, or free jazz and has worked with a wide range of artists such as Camper Van Beethoven, John Zorn, They Might Be Giants, and Sun City Girls. Chadbourne will be performing with The Shaking Ray Levis -who use analog/digtal synthesizers, samplers, vocals, and percussion to create their “ole-timey avant-garde” sound.
http://www.eugenechadbourne.com http://www.myspace.com/theshakingraylevis

The Michigan trio Little Bang Theory is the brainchild of composer/sonic artist Frank Pahl, creating vibrant pieces and soundtracks from Bernstein & Morricone -using only children’s toys and instruments, including toy pianos, melodicas, music boxes, and hand bells.

Kevin “KalimbaMan” Spears is like Jimi Hendrix on a thumb piano, astounding audiences with his electric kalimba performances that must be seen to be believed, drawing from varied styles such as African music, rock, funk, flamenco, and jazz. http://www.myspace.com/kevinspears

Jennie Knaggs is a prize-winning hollerin’ champion and member of the acoustic trio The Sure Shots -which echoes country, Western swing, and backwoods Americana without succumbing to nostalgia or camp. http://www.jennieknaggs.com/ http://www.myspace.com/jennieknaggsmusica

Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel creates a combination of sounds from two non-fixed-pitch instruments and laptops in an improv environment with a disregard for traditional styles, creating rich textures, swooning collages, and hypnotic pulses. http://www.myspace.com/duetforthereminandlapsteel

The Atlanta band Envie resides in an unusual musical landscape, with harp and piano playing from band leader Renee Nelson and a sound that Stomp and Stammer calls “Intricate and pretty art-rock with a punchy pop undercurrent.” http://www.myspace.com/enviemusic

The new collaboration The River of Flavortaste is Chattanooga’s gnome mythology pop band, making sounds from electronics and instruments like the accordion, banjo, and chord organ.

This year, WHO-FEST and the Shaking Ray Levi Society have partnered with Very Special Arts (VSA) of Tennessee to present a number of talented local and regional performers who have overcome various difficulties to create their remarkable music.

Conductor Sandy Conatser leads the Blair School Dulcimer Choir, comprised of teenagers with autism, and Conatser will also present a workshop to explain her teaching techniques.

Award-winning vocalist Wes Heydel has performed for VSA at the Ryman, Country Music Hall of Fame, MTSU, and at other functions.

Lake Rise Place is a jazz trio featuring Elliott McClain, a 14-year-old pianist who is blind.

Vocalist Amanda Stevens from Cottontown won second place in the 2008 VSA Arts TennesseeYoung Soloist program and has performed at Dollywood.

Several workshops will be featured at WHO-FEST, including an art workshop, dulcimer workshop with Sandy Conatser, dance workshop with Polly Curtis, movement workshop with Ann Shea, and a drum workshop with Eddie Tuduri, the founder of The Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP). Also, there will be a panel discussion with the topic of “Disabilities in the Arts.”

WHO-FEST PARTNERS: Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga, City of Chattanooga Therapeutic Recreation Services, Inner Windows Therapeutic Massage, National Endowment for the Arts, Orange Grove Centers, Shaking Ray Levi Society, TN Arts Commission, The Rhythmic Arts Project, Winder Binder Gallery of Folk Art.

Scheduled Performances for Saturday May 23:

MAIN STAGE

• 11 AM-noon: Orange Grove Chorus
• 12 noon-1 PM: Little Bang Theory
• 1-2 PM: Kevin “KalimbaMan” Spears
• 3-4 PM: Blair Dulcimer Choir
• 4-5 PM: The Sure Shots / Jennie Knaggs
• 5-6 PM: Eugene Chadbourne and the Shaking Ray Levis

PAVILION (Saturday May 23)

• 10:30-11:30 AM: Art workshop
• 12 noon-1:30 PM: Drum workshop with Eddie Tuduri (The Rhythmic Arts Project)
• 2:30-3:00 PM: Dulcimer workshop with Sandy Conatser

Scheduled Performances for Sunday May 24:

MAIN STAGE

• 11 AM-noon: Amanda Stevens
• 12 noon-1 PM: Wes Heydel
• 1-2 PM: Lake Rise Place
• 2-3 PM: Envie
• 3-4 PM: Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel
• 4-5 PM: The River of Flavortaste

PAVILION (Sunday May 24)

• 11 AM-noon: Dance workshop with Polly Curtis
• 12 noon-1 PM: “Disabilities in the Arts” panel discussion
• 2:30-3:15 PM: Movement workshop with Ann Shea