Bring a chair, sit back and relax while listening to outstanding musical performances at the National Folk Festival. Visitors attending the Festival's performances at the Valley Court Stage are asked to take part in the summer fun and bring their own chairs and blankets. In the spirit of the Festival, visitors will have the opportunity to find their own listening spot and enjoy the music with friends, family and other Festival attendees.The Valley Court Stage is located on the west side of downtown East Lansing, one block off Grand River Avenue, behind Peoples Church. The site hosts the largest of five stages where near continuous performances will take place. The festivities begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 10, 2001 and will run until the Festival's close 6 p.m. Sunday, August 12, 2001.

For those of you who can't wait to hear what is in store for the 63rd National Folk Festival, wait no longer! Get a sample of the wonderful music of the Festival before you head to the streets of East Lansing on August 10th, 11th and 12th. The Capital Area District Library System and East Lansing Public Library currently carry CD's from various performers of this year's National Folk Festival. The CDs will be spread out among the various branches of the Capital Area District Library System and can also be found at the East Lansing Public Library (those indicated with *). Sample the CDs of the different artists, and get ready for the 63rd National Folk Festival - we've saved the best for last!

Some featured CD Titles available in libraries:

• Doc Watson, Best of Doc Watson*
• Don Rigsby and Dudley Connell, Meet Me By The Moonlight*
• Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie, Thats What Im Talkin About
• Johnny Gimble and the Hot Club of Cowtown, The Texas Fiddle Collection
• Shemekia Copeland, Turn the Heat Up*

The NFF is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of East Lansing and the Michigan State University Museum.

The National Folk Festival on August 10-12, 2001 in downtown East Lansing is committed, for the third year, to being accessible to persons with disabilities. All services provided at the festival last year will be provided again this year to help make the wonderful music and other program elements fully accessible to all visitors.

Continuing in the tradition of providing accessibility services, the following will be available for NFF 2001:

• Audiotapes with information about the Festival and short performer biographies are available. Advance notice is recommended.
• Programs will be available in Braille and large print at the main information booth.
• Programs will also be available on audiocassette at the information booth for use with your player. Advance notice is recommended.
• Throughout the weekend there will be several performances interpreted in sign language. For a schedule of times please contact the National Folk Festival.
• Parking for vehicles with wheelchair tags or cards will be reserved next to St. John's Student Parish, 327 M.A.C. Avenue; on the east side of the Valley Court Community Center; and in designated areas at each Park & Ride parking area. All CATA buses used in the shuttle routes will have wheelchair lifts.
• There will be wheelchairs available for loan at the main information booth. These wheelchairs are for use free of charge, but a refundable deposit of $20 and photo I.D. will be required. Advance notice is recommended.
• Blue flags provide easy identification of the two wheelchair ramps at the main Valley Court Stage.

The NFF is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of East Lansing and the Michigan State University Museum.

Folk arts workshops link creativity and tradition Creative opportunities abound during workshops held by East Lansing Recreation and Arts in conjunction with the National Folk Festival. Festival goers and arts enthusiasts alike can learn how to recreate some unique and hard-to-find art forms at crafts workshops on Friday, August 10 at East Lansing's Bailey Community Center.

Passed on through generations and cultures, art forms like spinning, embroidery, rug braiding, willow skein work, making and using natural dyes, and paper cutting are center stage at this year's folk festival. National Folk Festival artists contribute to the preservation of traditional arts and crafts by carrying on this heritage, and workshop participants of all skill levels can share in this experience and create personal souvenirs drawing on their own taste and imagination.

Workshops include:

• Bonnie Gale, an English basket maker from Liverpool, New York, will show how to make a skeined willow bracelet or willow baby rattle.
• Eugenia Worobkevich will lead a workshop on Ukrainian embroidery, where participants can embroider a bookmark.
• Braided rugs and simpler hot pads will be demonstrated by Julie Sullivan.
• Found objects with a strong personal connections are the center of three-dimensional, framed "box sculptures" by George Thomas.

These and other arts will also be demonstrated and sold at the NFF's Folk Arts Marketplace August 10-12.

Although workshops provide free instruction, a supply fee is required for each project. The workshops will take place at 300 Bailey St., at the corner of Bailey and Ann streets in East Lansing. For detailed information and pre-registration call ELRA at (517) 337-4442. The National Folk Festival is produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of East Lansing and the Michigan State University Museum.

BARACHOIS
Acadian French music and dance

"...the tremendous Barachois, from Canada, not only seriously funny, all four members are extremely talented multi-instrumental musicians, singers, and percussive step dancers - they truly stole the show." Warwic Folk Festival, The Living Tradition

"The two men and two women can flat-out play and sing and clog and go for a crowd's heart... Friday night's show kicked off with the eight furiously clogging feet of Barachois, captivating and adorable... their music was superb." David Perry, The Lowell Sun, Lowell, Massachusetts

"The night's biggest surprise was Barachois, an Acadian quartet from Prince Edward Island that combined French lyrics, vivacious drive, daffy wit, and a theatrical flair..." Daniel Gewertz, The Boston Herald

"And Oh! how they danced. Sitting down, standing up, individually or as a foursome, their red socks flashed and blurred...don't miss any opportunity to see Barachois in concert." Peter Fairbairn, The Living Tradition, United Kingdom

"When it comes to delighting the daylights out of a crowd, no one does it better than Barachois. This bouncy quartet of Acadian musicians from Prince Edward Island have got it all - energy, high spirits, wit, charm, and musical dynamite. " Stephen Pedersen, The Mail Star, Halifax NS

"Barachois impressed throughout with their sense of fun and showmanship... earning a standing ovation." (Vancouver Folk Music Festival), The Georgia Straight, Vancouver British Columbia

CHERISH THE LADIES
Irish music, song and dance

"For sheer entertainment, Cherish the Ladies are hard to beat. What makes their concerts that much more enjoyable is the obvious pleasure and pride they take in the tradition--learned right here in America." Earle Hitchner, Irish Echo

"Expands the annals of Irish music in America...the music is passionate, tender and rambunctious." Jon Pareles, The New York Times

"The Ladies are first generation Irish-American with pride in their roots, a terrific sense of fun and heaps of music in their fingers and toes. Cherish the Ladies is their name and cherish them this enthusiastic Glasgow audience did." Rob Adams, The Glasgow Herald (Scotland)

"... What made this ensemble even more fascinating was the fact that they are America's first all-female group in was has always been a male dominated field...Among the highlights: bubbling good humor, infectious enthusiasm and the exuberant step dancing." Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times

"It seems incredible that it was only 10 years ago that Cherish the Ladies, the first all-women's Irish music ensemble, came into being. They are now among the busiest, best, and most popular Irish music groups in the world." Scott Alarik, Boston Globe

"They have converged and risen like a great wave to engulf the hearts of audiences from Brooklyn to Belfast and from Boston to Brittany. They are currently in top form, touring the world as a mighty example of the richness of America's Irish music traditions." Steve Winick, Dirty Linen Magazine

"Their performances are by turns lively, moving and evocative, brimming with rich melodies and sprightly rhythms, occasionally graced by Gaelic song." Mike Joyce, The Washington Post

"Cherish the Ladies is something that we all must be proud of. They can rightly challenge any band coming out of Ireland. . . the standard bearers into the next century." Dan Ryan, The Irish Music Newsletter

DOC WATSON
Appalachian flat-picked guitar

"By hard work, determination and unwavering devotion to excellence he has lifted himself to a permanent place in the history of American music." Jim Rouse, Bluegrass Unlimited

"A hero to pickers everywhere, with versatile chops, a great voice, and an easy manner..." Jay Orr, The Tennessean

"That's the magic of Doc Watson. His music is human, the vivid and simple songs carrying him and the listener to another time, another place.... He's a living museum of American roots music..." Dana Andrew Jennings, The New York Times

"an utterly charming, natural, and affecting singer, a fountain of fascinating traditional song repertoire, and a real master of at least 5 distinct instrumental styles -- one of which, his astonishing flatpicking lead work on acoustic guitar, dramatically changed the role of the instrument in bluegrass music, and opened the door for the careers and styles of Clarence White, Tony Rice, Norman Blake, Dan Crary, Eric Thompson, and literally thousands more." John Lumsdaine


"...sparkling music of such a consistently high caliber... And Watson sang with such grace and elan that his concert would have delighted even if he didn't pick a single note on guitar." George Varga, The San Diego Union-Tribune


MAHOTELLA QUEENS
South African mbaqanga

"The Mahotella Queens represent so much of what is the best in the music of South Africa: the finely honed art of passionate singing, the latticework of funky rhythms, and the breathtaking art of spectacular live performance... for their lifetime of music, their sheer quality of output, their deep roots within South African popular culture, and for the music they make to this very day..." WOMEX Award ceremony, 2000 (Berlin)

"...irrepressibleS.the Mahotella Queens are not the retiring sort - there's plenty of song and dance left in them yet." Lara Allen, Songlines

"...a powerful continuation of the 'mbaqanga' style..." Jason Koransky, Downbeat

SHEMEKIA COPELAND
blues

"Raw vocal power and real emotion, boisterous soul and swaggering blues. This woman knows how to sing." The Washington Post

"A diva-in-the-making... Copeland's success isn't an accident, it's her birthright. She's a one-woman revival act, a lesson in the power of live music." CNN/Entertainment Weekly

"...Shemekia bridges generational and regional tastes... heartbreaking in her purity of tone and sentiment... nothing short of uncanny. She's a new generation of blues woman." Village Voice

"Shemekia's a ball-of-fire vocalist. This big, bawdy Harlem blues belter has a voice that's part Memphis, part Chicago, and all woman - she's the real dealS.devastatingly powerful. If there was a stronger new voice recorded in 1998, I didn't hear it... a throaty growl that's part Etta James, part Tina Turner, and part someone I'd never encountered before but knew I'd better listen to or pay the price. She's a great singer, period." Chicago Sun-Times

"Belts out songs with a passion rarely heard in someone so young. She roars with a sizzling hot intensity." The Boston Globe

"Her voice is pure, beautifully unaffected and powerful. Copeland has blues in her blood... unshakable confidence... sizzling, simmering soul. Shemekia Copeland's promise is as limitless as her talent." Living Blues

"Shemekia Copeland may well be the first great blues voice of the new millenniumS..she exudes confidence, maturity, a sense of history and placeSimpeccable and relentlessSshe has a command that many a singer only dreams about." Variety


GLENN OHRLIN
Cowboy songs and stories

"Glenn became a working buckaroo at age 16, and I think it affected his mind. It made him a discerning observer of life and gave him a keen and wondrous sense of humor. He's a real cowboy, four parts rawhide and one part steel. But he's as quick as Groucho Marx when the truth is needed." Joseph Wilson, National Council for the Traditional Arts

LAMAS OF THE DREPUNG LOSELING MONASTERY
Tibetan sacred music and dance

"Their presence is more than a show. It's an experience of a lifetime for both presenters and audiences alike." Jaime Thompson, Boise State University

"...remarkable ...the music and the dance invoke sacred ecstasy ...dignified, graceful..." Jon Pareles, The New York Times

"...fascinating and entertaining...." Dennis Polkow, Chicago Tribune

"The visit by the monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery has without a doubt been the best thing that has happened to this community for a long time." Jan Eastman, Oregon Coast Council for the Arts

GENO DELAFOSE & FRENCH ROCKIN' BOOGIE
Louisiana zydeco

"Geno Delafose has made a timely and timeless record. The ever-cool accordionist moves to the front of a new dance floor, breaking cultural ground as he reclaims a proud shared legacy.
...Delafose's approach to tradition makes his latest album for Rounder, La Chanson Perdue, one of the most remarkable releases in the new era of zydeco." Living Blues

"A lot of zydeco music has not been written down - only handed down from generation to generation - and Geno does not want to see that music lost. He resists the trend in zydeco today to move away from its' Creole roots. He defiantly continues to write, record and sing primarily in French. ... one of zydeco's rising young stars." CBS News Saturday Morning

"... thorough knowledge of the old Creole, Cajun and zydeco musics of South Louisiana. Delafose does these old styles as well as anyone still playing, and that knowledge may presage greater breakthroughs to come." The Washington Post

"...the young hope of traditional zydeco." The Boston Herald

"Geno Delafose is a standard-bearer for traditional zydecoSand he has proved himself one of the most versatile musicians in South Louisiana." Smithsonian/PBS TV series "River of Song"


JOHNNY GIMBLE with the HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN
Texas swing

"Johnny Gimble is 'Country's Favorite Fiddler' for good reason. He is simply as good as it gets." MusicAustin

"Johnny Gimble is among the greatest western swing fiddlers alive." Austin American-Statesman

"Oh boy, were you terrific! You kept me smiling from ear to ear for a solid two hours and the crowd's feet going in accompaniment..." Rebecca Weller, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Hot Club of Cowtown

"Totally hot, totally cool." The Atlanta Press

"Words such as 'fierce' and 'explosive' rarely describe acoustic-powered, string-band music. But they're an apt description of Hot Club of Cowtown, an Austin-based trio that mixes the western swing of Bob Wills with the hot jazz of Django Reinhardt and Stephanie Grappelli into something downright combustible." John Roos, Los Angeles Times

"The instrumental work simply amazes, and the smooth, crooning vocals evoke memories of earlier, lazy eras. You'll be hard-pressed to find better musicianship in any contemporary music." Ken Rosenbaum, The Toledo Blade


DUDLEY CONNELL and DON RIGSBY
"Brother-style" country duet singing

"... intimate and beautiful...a true vocal event." Craig Havighurst, No Depression (The Alternative Country Bimonthly)

"...by getting out on their own, Connell and Rigsby have eloquently demonstrated that their skills may be even greater than their biggest fans have realizedSnot only a joyous reinvention of the venerable country duet genre - it's a true celebration of the talents of two of the most enjoyable performers on today's bluegrass scene." Bluegrass Unlimited

EDDIE BLAZONCZYK'S VERSATONES
"Chicago-style" Polish polka

"According to polka music expert Richard March of the Wisconsin Arts Board, Blazonczyk's creative contributions and the magnitude of his impact on American polka tradition are comparable to those of B.B. King on blues and Bill Monroe on bluegrass. . ."

1998 National Heritage Fellowships program book

DAVID DOUCET
Cajun guitar and ballads

"...David Doucet's convincing adaptation of the guitar as a solo voice certainly deserves attention." Duck Baker (Liner notes, 1957: Solo Cajun Guitar)

"It is in his versatility and sensibility that comparisons to other guitarists fall short. Doucet seems to have gleaned the best from
his predecessors' techniques and infused the music with an understanding of Cajun culture that can come only from someone who has grown up in the tradition." Linda J. Morris, Dirty Linen Magazine

"Once again, David Doucet has broken new ground within Cajun tradition. Lovers of both the acoustic guitar and Cajun music should be delighted." Mark Greenberg, Sing Out!

JOAQUIN DIAZ
Dominican merengue

"Accordion master Joaquin Diaz and his 'typical group' take you to the hillsides of the Dominican Republic (and to the dance floor!) with a thrilling performance of roots merengue music. Accordion, saxophone, conga, guira (metal scraper), and tambora (drum) create a sound that can only be described as sabroso - absolutely delicious!" Cultures Canada

"In concert, Diaz's enthusiasm is contagious." The Gazette (Montreal)

"Diaz adds depth and texture to Dominican folk music and traditional merengue and keeps feet dancing at a breakneck pace." Brian Lindamood

" If you can't dance to Joaquin Diaz, then you just can't dance." 1999 Calgary Folk Music Festival program book

HOT KUGEL KLEZMER BAND
Jewish klezmer

"Exceptional...filled the evening with joy and enthusiasm." G. Brodsky, Congregation Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim

"A lively, fun-to-watch singer." David Perry, The Sun (Lowell, MA)


INCA SON
Music and dance of the Andes

"Sone of the best ethnic music groups in the world..." Steve Ryals, New Age Retailer

"Your music was wonderful . . . we all appreciated the way you made connections between the rich past and present conditions in Andean
countriesS.You deserve the widest possible audience." Letter to Inca Son, Joan Harlowe, Boston Museum of Fine Arts


DALE WATSON
Honky tonk/classic country

"I'm one of Dale's biggest fans - I enjoy all his records and think he's great. Dale stays true to what he believes in...whatever they say made me and Waylon "outlaws," I think he's the same. If we were, he is." Willie Nelson

"Shunning the excesses of the form, Watson embraces and understands the subtleties of country music as well as anyoneS. there's a sense of security that comes with the knowledge that Watson will continue to wage his war for the heart and soul of country music, even if he has to win his battles one roadhouse at a time." Bob Mehr, Phoenix New Times

"No, it isn't true that Dale Watson's heart pumps black coffee, or that his boots are soled with steel-belted radials or his electric guitar is diesel-powered. But... the casual listener can be forgiven for thinking that inside Watson's chest rumbles a Peterbilt plant." www.country.com

"Every song is a story, covered by Watson's rich baritone, and delivered with the panache of a radio star from yesteryear... [Watson] is blessed with remarkable songwriting ability, courtly good looks, and golden vocal proficiency..." Margaret Moser, Austin Chronicle

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Programming embraces the heritage and traditions of all Americans - from families who have been here for centuries to the most recent immigrants.

Audiences are treated to blues, bluegrass, rockabilly, gospel, klezmer, jazz, cowboy, polka, old-time, western swing, mariachi, honky-tonk, Tex-Mex, rhythm and blues and zydeco music as well as traditional music and dance from Cajun, Native American, Celtic, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, East Asian, Hispanic, African and Pacific Island cultures.

Exhibits and demonstrations feature the finest craftspeople in traditions ranging from pottery, quilting and needlework to instrument making and wood carving. Processions and parades gather visitors together; storytelling and children's activities teach and entertain at the same time. Delicious ethnic and regional food specialities are available throughout the festival site.

Visitors will enjoy a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere with great ethnic and good, old- fashioned American foods, craft exhibits and demonstrations, children's activities, traditional games and much more. A dance pavilion will provide a place for visitors to kick up their heels and dance along to the great sounds of bands performing polka, Cajun, blues, Caribbean, Tex-Mex, contra dancing and more.

The National Folk Festival is Free to the Public.

The Festival will take place in downtown East Lansing. Travel and lodging information can be accessed through the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau's Visitor Center by calling their toll free number, 888-2-Lansing. Ask about hotel packages for the National Folk Festival. The Visitor Center is located at 1223 Turner Street, Lansing, MI 48906 and can provide information on many other interesting sites in the greater Lansing area.

Twenty diverse musical acts have been confirmed:

• Tony Ballog and his Gypsy Orchestra (Michigan Hungarian Roma)

• Larry Bannock and the Golden Star Hunters (New Orleans Mardi Gras)

Barachois (Acadian French)

• Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones ("Chicago-style" Polish Polka)

• Cherish the Ladies (Irish)

• Dudley Connell and Don Rigsby (Bluegrass)

• Shemekia Copeland (Blues)

• Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie (Zydeco)

• Joaquin Diaz (Merengue)

• David Doucet (Cajun guitar and ballads)

• Los Fantasmas del Valle

• Johnny Gimble with the Hot Club of Cowtown (Western Swing)

• Hot Club of Cowtown (Western Swing/European Jazz/Tin Pan Alley)

• Hot Kugel Klezmer Band

• Inca Son (Music and dance of the Andes)

• Lamas of Drepung Loseling Monastary (Tibetan Sacred Music and Dance)

• Mahotella Queens (South African)

• Glen Orhlin (Cowboy Songs and Stories)

• Don Rigsby and Dudley Connell (Bluegrass)

• St. James Adult Choir (African American Gospel Choir)

• Dale Watson (Texas honky-tonk)

• Doc Watson (Appalachian)

For those who enjoyed the NFF 2000 Crossroads Stage, focusing on traditions in clothing and body adornment, look for more Talkers and Tellers programming throughout this year's festival. Artists in arts and ethnic food traditions will provide audiences with insightful experiences from their own lives. The Folk Arts Marketplace, Taste of Traditions Food Court, Children's Folk Activities Area and Traditional Games Tent complete the sights, sounds, flavors and fun of this rich cultural celebration.

East lansing Recreation and Arts will again sponsor crafts workshops this year for those looking for a more "hands-on" experience. And dance workshops, offered on three separate evenings prior to the festival, give people the chance to perfect some dance steps they can use under the dance tents each night at NFF.

Transportation to and from the site will be by shuttle bus from off-site parking.
Trolley service will move visitors around on-site. For those with disabilities, assistance will be provided in moving around the crowded festival site.
Audio Description and sign language will be provided at each stage.

The National Folk Festival is presented in its selected host community for three years. It is mounted by the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) in partnership with a coalition of local organizations. The National's recent successes are the result of such partnerships.

On August 10-12, 2001, the National will for its third and final year be hosted in East Lansing, Michigan.The producing partners along with the NCTA are the City of East Lansing and the Michigan State University Museum. In addition, the State of Michigan, Ingham County and the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau's Visitor Center have been actively involved in bringing the Festival to Michigan.

The festival is an enriching experience for visitors of all ages, socioeconomic groups and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The National Folk Festival offers the chance to savor America's cultural treasures and gain a renewed appreciation for the beauty and excitement of our multicultural and pluralistic society.

The National Folk Festival is currently attracting audiences in excess of 100,000 along with strong regional and national media exposure. Close work with the State of Michigan Travel Michigan program and the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau has helped draw large numbers of out-of-town visitors from across the state, the Chicago area and beyond. The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Lansing estimated that the festival brought an economic benefit of over $4.8 million in 1999.

For additional information call:
National Folk Festival
24 hour number (517) 351-2735
Business phone (517) 319-6927
Visitor information 1-888-2-LANSING

Volunteers from the League of Michigan Bicyclists and Tri-County Bicycle Association will park and guard bicycles for FREE in a special Bike Valet Parking Area located on Linden Street at Abbott Road adjacent to City Hall in the heart of the Festival area.