Loretta Hagen, recently awarded “Top Female Songwriter of the Year” by JAM (Jersey Acoustic Music) Awards, NJ’s equivalent to the Grammy‘s, will make a special one-night-only appearance at Godfrey Daniels, the region’s premiere live music listening room, Friday June 21 at 8pm. Loretta has performed at many Pennsylvannia area venues and heard on area radio including “Notes From Home” with host Mike Holliday on WBZH. John Mozer of The Morning Call has called Loretta “..conventional folk, enjoyable,..consistently strong.”
One part Americana, two parts Folk, a dash of Country-flavored rock – all served up by multi award-winning, chart-topping songstress Loretta Hagen, delivering rich alto vocals, polished award winning lyrics and tightly woven harmonies; the hallmark of her musical career. Also a NJ Folk Festival Songwriter Competition Winner, and CT Folk Festival Finalist, Hagen recently released her third CD, “Mud and Stone”, featuring uplifting heartfelt ballads, playful up-tempo country swing, and cool bluesy grooves.
Released by Trespass Music, “Mud and Stone” debuted at #10 on Folk DJ Charts, consistently #1 on the Roots Music Report for NJ, #5 Top 50 Folk Albums RMR, and is receiving airplay throughout the US, Canada and Europe. John Apice contributor to No Depression calls Mud and Stone “ first class, top tier, a true contender as an artist to reckon with.”
Loretta has shared the stage with Pete Seeger, Roger McGuinn, Steve Forbert, Richie Havens, and Gretchen Wilson to name a few and plays premiere stages across the Northeast. Loretta’s melodies leave folks feeling as if they are listening to their own stories set to song. Scott Cullen of Concerts at the Crossing raves, “With her smart, insightful lyrics, and catchy melodies Loretta Hagen certainly knows her way around a song. Plus judging by my audience’s reaction at her recent appearance at Concerts at the Crossing, she’s got a knack for connecting with a live audience as well.”
Loretta will be joined by guitarist Gary Hagen and PA area percussionist Josh Kanusky.
Susan Cattaneo, a nationally and internationally respected singer-songwriter and an integral part of the Boston music scene, has been winning the hearts of audiences in the New England area for many years. Cattaneo is also a songwriting teacher at Berklee College of Music. Her music has been covered by numerous Nashville artists and her songs have launched the careers of Jillian Cardarelli and Erica Nicole.
Susan’s past three albums, “Brave and Wild,”“Heaven to Heartache” and “Little Blue Sky” are a blend of country, rock and soul with sparkles of folk and blues, showing comparisons to the music of Bonnie Raitt, Mary Chapin Carpenter or Sheryl Crow. Mike Errico, former editor in chief of Blender Online raves “While many country rock singers choose to explore either the tender or the passionate edges of the genre, Susan Cattaneo’s fluid style embraces both with finesse and grace.”
Susan has shared the stage with Boston’s Dennis Brennan, Canada’s Rose Cousins, and Nashville star Travis Tritt, among many others, and is an award winning songwriter, selected as “Best Boston Debut Artist.” Her first album garnered “Top 10 Albums of 2009″ by Patriot Ledger’s Jay Miller. Her albums charted high on Americana Radio, in the Top 10 on European Country Music Association, Top 5 New Music Weekly Country and the Top 80 Music Row Charts. Her CD’s have featured some of Boston and Nashville’s finest musicians, and include duets with Mark Erelli and Ellis Paul.
Susan Cattaneo & Jenee Halstead Poster June 20 Lizard Lounge
Jenee Halstead grew up in the high desert of Spokane, Washington, the daughter of hippie parents who let her find her own direction. She spent her childhood exploring her mother’s garden and singing along to records with her Dad. In middle school, she transformed into the rarest of birds; an athletic choir geek who sang medieval choral works, but loved Led Zeppelin and Dolly Parton. She wrote quietly on her own for years, moving from place to place Spokane to Seattle to nowhere Alaska, before moving to Boston in 2007. She collected all of her songs into what would become “The River Grace.”
“Raised By Wolves,”Halstead’s current album, reclaims the careless freedom of her childhood with a sense of wonder that is unique and fiercely engaging. Americana UK’s Sian Owen says of Halstead and the album, “Her silky, seductive vocals flip from being delicate and vulnerable to worldly and knowing.They go down like dark red wine, leaving the listener punch drunk.”
Danielle Miraglia comes armed with a strong steady thumb on an old Gibson, an infectious stomp-box rhythm and harmonica. Her tunes range from heart-felt to socially conscious and will move both your heart and hips. Danielle’s latest release “Box of Troubles” a bare-bones expression of all these attributes, explores the highs and lows that life has to offer and has already received rave reviews. Alternate Root says “Danielle Miraglia’s guitar work keeps Delta traditions alive. Her steady thumb and playing style trace a direct line to the blues of the field and chicken shacks. Vocally, Danielle’s voice digs in, twisting within the delivery, seeming to break but more likely soaring before the fall. ‘Box of Troubles’ balances good times with the bad, her characters roles’ defined and believable.”
Danielle is featured in Alternate Root Magazine‘s “List of Omissions” as part of the “30 Women Burning Up the Blues” list! HAVE A LOOK HERE
The one day event features opportunities to network, jam, hear juried showcase artists and attend workshops. DJ’s, music industry professionals, presenters and musicians will enjoy the benefits of the larger NERFA conference on a smaller scale.
Tracey Delfino pic
Workshop 1 – Conference Hall
10:30am to 11:45am
Trespass Music FounderTracey Delfino will lead a panel discussion on ‘Building Your Audience.‘ Tracey will be joined by Susan Cattaneo of Berklee College and Michael Kornfeld, a veteran communications and PR strategist and vice president of NERFA along with Michelle Fortier, Marketing and PR. ‘What do radio hosts, presenters and performing songwriters all have in common? They all need an audience!! This discussion will offer tips, ideas and suggestions on how to best build and keep an audience. Some topics that will be covered are the internet, social media, print media, utilizing street teams and ways to more comfortably promote yourself or your venue.’
Workshop 1 – Concert Hall: 1:00pm to 2:15pm Tracey Delfino of Trespass Music will moderate a panel discussion on ‘How to Get Radio Airplay‘ with folk DJ’s Diane Crowe, of Peoples Music Network (WMCB), Graham & Barbara Dean host of Common Sense Songs on WBCR and chart topping songwriter Loretta Hagen.‘Recording music and radio airplay go hand in hand, but it is sometimes not as easy as just mailing your new CD to the station. From CD packaging to initial outreach, this panel will give you the tools you need to better your chances for radio airplay. We will also discuss the important relationship between DJ’s, venues and musicians – how all can work together to fill seats at shows.’
4:15 PM – 7:00 PM
Juried Showcases – Theatre:
These opportunities are awarded to 10 artists/acts selected by a panel of judges prior to the conference from among a maximum of 70 submissions. Each showcase performer/group gets 15 minutes to present their music to the DJ’s, concert and festival presenters, agents, managers, promoters and other artists in the URI Concert Hall.
We congratulate Trespass Music radio client Stefilia’s Stone chosen as an Official Showcase Artist for NERFA One Day in RI. The duo recently received high praise in a review by Remo Ricaldone of The Long Journey in Italy. Read the entire REVIEW HERE
Visit Stefilia’s Stone Website HERE
Official Showcase Artists ~ Stefilia’s Stone, Boxcar Lillies, Heather Pierson, Joanne Lurgio, Heather Styka, Sarah Blacker, Josh Joffen, Digging Roots, Chris Lavencher and Robin O’Herin.
RISA‘s MISSION:
To encourage, foster and conduct the art and craft of original lyrical and musical composition; provide educational programs, critique sessions and performance opportunities for all artistic styles; and support open collaboration within the RISA community. For more information please visit RISA Website HERE
NERFAis the Northeast Regional chapter of Folk Alliance International www.folkalliance.org. Our goal is to provide opportunities for our members to network regionally and advance the overall mission of Folk Alliance International. For more information about NERFA visit their WEBSITE HERE
Linda McRae‘s album “Rough Edges & Ragged Hearts”, has legs…long, long legs.
Rough Edges and Ragged Hearts CD
“Rough Edges & Ragged Hearts” is still going strong with 26 solid weeks equating to 6 months of charting on the RMR. (Roots Music Report) The album has consistently found its perch many of those weeks, nestled in the TOP 20 and TOP 10. This week the album remains in the Top 25, coming in at #25 for the Top 50 Roots Country Albums and #28 for the state of TN.
Stories of a Linda McRae tune being covered by Toronto’s Root Rock band Skydiggers, are emerging in newspapers across the country. Mike Bell of The StarPhoenix reports the Skydiggers, also celebrating 25 years in the biz, “plan to release four different projects with the arrival of each season… It features three different Skydiggers concerts recorded 12 years apart – 1988, 2000 and 2012 – to celebrate the different time periods of the band that has seen members come and go, with Maize and guitarist Josh Finlayson remaining the consistent core. The second release is set for July and will feature the Skydiggers celebrating Canadian songwriters, and feature covers of artists such as Gordon Lightfoot, Ron Sexsmith, Neil Young and Linda McRae.” Read more HERE:
Linda’s busy tour schedule includes stops in Upstate NY and Ontario this week and next.
May 31 sees Linda at the Sportsmans Tavern in Buffalo, and in Scarborough, Ontario at the premiere listening room Acoustic Harvest on June 1. For more info visit Linda’s website
Trespass Music released “Rough Edges & Ragged Hearts” worldwide in November to Folk DJ, debuting at #14. The album was released Mother’s Day, 2012 in her native homeland of Canada, shooting to #1 on CKUA, and named Folk DJ Allison Brock’s Pick Of The Week. Brock calls McRae “one of the most pure, soulful, honest and distinctive voices in Roots music, period!” In the first month of it’s Canadian release the Canadian Folk DJ-L Airplay charts saw the album at #4 in the Folk DJ’s list of Top Canadian Albums, #1 & 2 Top Canadian Songs for Rough Edges & Ragged Hearts and Be Your Own Light and #8 in Top Canadian Artists. It also hit #16 on the Freeform American Roots (FAR)Chart and named Pick of the Week at the Vancouver Province.
CFMA Nomination “Contemporary Album of the Year”
Rough Edges & Ragged Hearts, McRae’s highly anticipated fourth solo release, doesn’t describe the gold and platinum polish enhancing a musical career spanning 25 years. Produced by Marc L’Esperance her new recording features performances by Marc, Gurf Morlix, Doug Cox, Ray Bonneville, Stephen Nikleva, Samantha Parton (The Be Good Tanyas), and The Sojourners. The album gained national recognition with industry peers, when the Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA) nominated the album as “Contemporary Album of the Year”, confirming Linda’s maturing distinction as a quality songwriter and recording artist.
Performing on clawhammer banjo, acoustic guitar, accordion and porchboard stompbox, Linda combines old-time sounds with universal themes of heartbreak & redemption offering an intriguing sepia postcard from the past that is vibrant and alive in the present. Recordings and performances with musical luminaries include Bruce Cockburn, Neko Case, Alejandro Escovedo, Gurf Morlix, and Ray Waylie Hubbard.
Linda earned a Juno nomination and double Platinum, triple Gold recording status as bassist and accordionist with Celtic/Roots group Spirit of the West. Departing the band after eight years she resumed her solo career consecutively producing three critically acclaimed recordings: Flying Jenny, producer Colin Linden (Bruce Cockburn, Emmy Lou Harris), Cryin’ Out Loud, producer Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier) and Carve It To The Heart producers Marc L’Esperance (Po’ Girl, Headwater).
2012 marked Linda’s 25th anniversary as a Canadian recording artist, and the launch of her new record label 42RPM. The CFMA nomination, glowing industry reviews, and consistent airplay make the success of 42RPM’s first release all that much more signicant.
Linda McRae’s accolades for “Rough Edges & Ragged Hearts” include 2012 Top 10 Lists, Allison Brock – CKUA; Allison Brown – CJAM, Jim Marino – CFMU, John Prentice – UMFM; Brenda Tacik – CJTR; David Newland – Roots Music Canada, Mike Sadava – Freelance Journalist, Outlaw Magazine, Edmonton (Penguin Eggs Review) Honourable Mentions 2012 Penguin Eggs and the 29th Annual Mid-AtlanticSong Contest. The album also earned stellar reviews in Penguin Eggs, Mike Sadava saying “I predict that 25 years from now the folksingers of the day will still be borrowing songs from this disc.”No Depression contributor John Apice states “It just tastes that good and you wish there was more – and you know these songs aren’t fattening. They are satisfying. Maybe that’s the sum of the review – this music is satisfying.” A 5 star review from Roots Music Report critic Duane Verh sums up Rough Edges and Ragged Hearts; “Track after track, her stories are stand-alone gems, elegant in their minimal orchestration and united by their modest charm.. A quietly masterful effort.”
“Danielle has been a strong thread in the fabric of the Cambridge scene for many years now, adding her strong thumbed, gritty (but somehow suave…yeah, I just used suave) blues sound to an otherwise, rather folk driven scene.” Red Line Roots
This feature reveals some behind the scenes looks at Danielle personally and professionally, including the scoop about her brand new single “The Heat of the Win“ released in time for Opening Day at Fenway Park. Listen to the MP3 HERE The-Heat-Of-The-Win
Find out WHO is on her bucket list to work with and why Guns N Roses, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, Prince, Bill Hicks, John Hurt and Big Bill Broonzy play a part in Danielle’s music. READ THE ENTIRE FEATURE HERE
About Red Line Roots Blog “With the ever present increase in Roots music in the Boston area and surrounding northeast there seems to be a small presence of music publications that will pay attention to the “little guy”, the indie artist, the first record releasers, and folks that otherwise wouldn’t get picked up in any press. My first and foremost mission is to provide those folks with an attentive and new ear to listen, review, and provide feedback on their most recent projects…some days may include ramblings, live reviews, or simply CD, EP, single reviews that are sent to my attention. Time will tell..”
Like The Moon
Artist: Stefilia’s Stone
Label: Self-produced
Year: 2012 Styles: Country Folk Folk Singer Songwriter
By: Remo Ricaldone
“Stefilia’s Stone are the singer-songwriter, Boston Massachusetts based duo of Carrie Rowan and Adrienne Fawkes, performing well blended acoustic guitar, and pleasant, inspiring harmonies within their folk and pop melodies.
Their debut album Like The Moon, is an exclusive work of female musicians, including Tara Greenblatt on percussion in the Caribbean track Brilliant Chameleon and Barbara Kessler, adding acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies to the story of a girl who inevitably makes misguided choices in the Wrong Girl. The rest of the album lies on the shoulders of Stefilia’s Stone, as they portray the inner journey we face in the nuances and facets of life, paying particular attention to the most intimate aspects of interpersonal relationships. With the utmost grace and elegance, Stefilia’s Stone designs a timeless arrangement of acoustic guitars and piano, strengthened by the prowess of their vocal harmonies, creating a deeply poetic, reflective mood.
Throughout the album, Stefilia’s Stone‘s adult contemporary style, lends comparisons and inevitable reference to the influential works of Carole King, as well as Jewel, Tori Amos,Shawn Colvin and Karla Bonoff who’ve made this style of work so successful in the United States. Alternating confident, mid-tempo selections and ballads, together they form a cohesive, well thought out playlist. Genuine and assured musicianship, my personal favorites are the title track Like The Moon, crystalline and well defined Take It Back, Let You Love Me, Make Me Special and the expressively direct Lover.” Source: The Long Journey year 2013
“About two years ago, Carrie and I were asked to play a Sunday brunch at the lovely Seaward Inn in Rockport, MA. We decided to make an overnight stay of it. The night before our show, we stumbled into a jewelry store and were instantly drawn to a case full of Larimar, which is a rare, gorgeous, aqua and blue stone, found only in the Dominican Republic. We tried very hard to leave the store without buying anything, (as many women can attest- this is an impossible feat!) but these stones wouldn’t let us go without buying them. Carrie and I each purchased necklaces, and continued our enjoyable and unforgettable evening which included a delicious dinner, a fire and some firemen. However, this is another story….
During this time, Carrie and I had decided we were a duo, and we had been going by the duo name, Rowan and Fawkes. The very knowledgeable, gifted and talented singer/songwriter, Vance Gilbert had suggested we might want to consider a more feminine name for ourselves. So, as we were wearing our gorgeous Larimar necklaces, we began the search for a new duo name. Eventually, after months of searching, we found that another name for Larimar is Stefilia’s Stone. Larimar is considered a healing stone, and said to be finely tuned to the human body particularly to the throat area. It represents peace and clarity, healing and love. The stone is also known for connecting to the Divine Feminine. And it brings the ancient wisdom of Atlantis and the healing power of dolphins to harmonize the body and soul. We instantly knew that it HAD to be our name. It just seemed like a logical, perfect fit!
WHAT:6th Annual SERFA Conference
WHEN:May 16-19, 2013
WHERE:Montreat Conference Center
Montreat, North Carolina
SERFA Logo
Montreat Conference Center, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, will host the 6th annual SERFA ~ Southeast Regional Folk Alliance conference from Thursday, May 16 to Sunday, May 19. SERFA returns to Montreat for a third year, a magical, inspiring setting for musicians, industry professionals, and music lovers.
Learning opportunities through panels, workshops and mentoring sessions are slated along with networking possibilities and cultivating relationships with peers and within the folk community at large.
Tracey Delfino pic
Tracey Delfino will moderate “The Power of Your Newsletter” in Room 303 from 1:30-2:45pm along with Louise Baker of Mountain Spirit Coffeehouse and musician Susan Cattaneo. Tracey will also provide mentoring sessions on Saturday, May 18 from 3-5pm.
“The Power of Your Newsletter” ~ Whether you are a DIY musician, venue promoter, or a DJ -the most powerful tool you have is your newsletter…..it is also the most misunderstood. This workshop will be full of tips, suggestions and ideas on how to grow your mailing list and get the most from your newsletter. We will explain to you ways to use your mailer to draw more attention to your music, fill more seats at shows and grow your fan base.
Delfino is the founder and owner of Trespass Music, a successful agency which she built from the ground up. Having ‘done it herself,’ Tracey now draws from her own experiences to offer powerful strategy sessions to indie musicians. Trespass Music also offers ground breaking radio promotion packages which Tracey formulated herself to make the best of the changing times. Tracey speaks at many folk alliance conferences, serves on the executive board of the Boston Coffeehouse Association and is a member of the Cotuit Center for the Arts Music Committee. She also hosts two venues on Cape Cod: Trespass Music Monday and Third Fret Coffeehouse.
Music can be heard throughout the weekend with a full line-up of Official Showcase Artists and Guerrilla Showcases taking the music lover well into the night. The general public is welcome to attend the Offical Showcases Friday and Saturday night held at Assembly Inn, Convocation Hall. The show begins at 7:00pm and admission is $10 per person, per night.
Matt Borrello pic
Matt Borrello, Trespass Music roster client, will attend SERFA. Matt is a native of Dighton, Masachusetts. A recent graduate of music history both at Northeastern University and on his own time, Matt collects and studyies the folk music styles of the past. His passion for traditional country, acoustic blues, and early rock and roll is obvious in his own original work. Over the past three years, Matt has performed weekly in the Southeastern Massachusetts/Rhode Island area, usually as a solo acoustic act. He credits Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, and especially Bob Dylan as songwriting and musical influences.
Now living in Boston, Matt hopes to increase his creative output, perform more frequently, and grow as an artist. He is currently playing shows solo acoustic, as well as with his backing band, the Quality Dogs.
Stop in and have a listen! Thank you to the hosts of Matt’s showcases. For more information about Matt Borrello please visit his WEBSITE and check him out on FACEBOOK.
“The Southeast Regional Folk Alliance exists to preserve, promote, develop and celebrate the diverse heritage, of roots and indigenous music, dance, storytelling and related arts of the Southeastern United States.”
Bobby Fisher (guitar/songwriter) and Michael G. Ronstadt (cello/guitar/songwriter) are both international touring and studio musicians. When their paths crossed on a project, they realized that they shared a rare musical chemistry. So in spite of their hectic schedules, Bobby and Michael decided to record an album together and meticulously wrote, arranged and recorded these songs over an 18 month period.
This project started as an idea, a dream that two musicians could combine their talents and creativity to produce something unique, something not driven by market trends or record label demands. Musicians offered their talents without expecting anything in return. Many friends came forward to contribute their time, talents, and treasure.
For seventeen years, Michael G. Ronstadt has been offering his music to audiences on cello, guitar and voice. Conversant with a wide range of styles, he has performed throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico with artists like David Bromberg, Linda Ronstadt, and Muriel Anderson. In addition to solo performances, Michael currently tours with his group Ronstadt Generations and regularly appears with Craig Bickhardt, Lisa Biales, and David Trotta. His playing can be found on over 50 albums from the last 12 years, including Trotta & Ronstadt’s 3.30.11 (2011), Ronstadt Generation’s Prelude (2012) and Lulo (2010), Lost In Holland’s The Last Great Loss (2009), Amber Norgaard’s last three albums from 2006-2010, and Santa Cruz River Band’s Volume I (2004) and II (2005). Michael Ronstadt’s 4 solo albums, Crazy Rhythm (2012), Bridging The Gap (2010), Cotton Dreams (2008) and Motionless Swirls (2006), “…show him to be a performer with an amazing command of the typical and exotic sounds of the cello, a true virtuoso and a man of instinctive musicality” (Dan Buckley, Tucson Citizen, 2008). Michael received his Master of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in June 2008, and his Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Arizona in May 2006. He has studied under esteemed pedagogues Yehuda Hanani, Nancy Green and Dr. Gordon Epperson.
Join us for this month’s edition of the Trespass Tracker as we go in depth with Shawn Taylor about his project “Sandy Hook Songs For Hope“, shine the spotlight on artist Loretta Hagen, give you all the low down with our Trespass Tidbits, and our DIY Musician helpful hints with Trespass Tips!
Know a venue, artist, magazine, or radio show we should feature in the Tracker? Let us know! We’d love to talk to you.
Contact tracey@trespassmusic.org or michelle@trespassmusic.org
Released by Trespass Music, “Mud and Stone” debuted at #10 on Folk DJ Charts, consistently #1 on the Roots Music Report for NJ, #5 Top 50 Folk Albums RMR, and is receiving airplay throughout the US, Canada and Europe. John Apice contributor to No Depression calls Mud and Stone “ first class, top tier, a true contender as an artist to reckon with.” 
This special evening with Loretta gets underway at 8pm, doors opening at 7pm. Godfrey Daniels is located at 7 E. 4th Street, Bethlehem PA. Tickets are $15.50 and can be purchased at the Godfrey Daniels Box Office from 2-6pm, Tuesday to Thursday, via email at Reservations@godfreydaniels.org, by phone (610)-867-2390 or online at www.godfreydaniels.org 
