There’s a new event coming to the City of Havre de Grace on Saturday, August 6, at Concord Point Park Heritage Area. The Fish, Fowl and Folk Festival highlights the folk art-heritage of the city known as the Decoy Capital of the World while celebrating rural folkway traditions of a Chesapeake Bay community through food, craft and song.
From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Sat., August 6, a number of performers will entertain against the stunning backdrop of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay. Among the numerous performers is Chesapeake songstress Janie Meneely with “Bay-Spun” originals, and traditional balladeer Rob van Sante, joining to perform maritime music from the Bay and Beyond. Rob will bring his virtuoso guitar to Janie’s originals while Janie will add vocal harmonies to Rob’s traditional ballads.
Janie Meneely has been singing about Chesapeake people, places and history for nearly 30 years, chronicling stories of watermen and even poking a bit of fun at sailors’ traditions. This collaboration with Rob van Sante is a new undertaking and fans of original music with a local flare should make sure they are a part of this exciting collaborative performance.
Dutch-born Rob is a guitarist of skill and subtlety who toured extensive throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle East in the 1970s through 1990s. He worked with such stalwarts of British folk and jazz scene as Danny Thompson, John Strong, Tom Napper, Tom McConville, Kate Rusby, John McClusker and others.
Nanne Kalma and Ankie van der Meer will also perform, a duo that has been performing together since 1980 at first in groups like Kat yn’t Seil, Kajto and Liereliet, and now as a duo. They will perform in Frisian, Dutch, Esperanto and English songs that need no translation.
Regional favorite Don Shappelle’s songs are evocative of his mentor, the late Pete Seeger – easy to sing along to with thoughtful lyrics that pack a punch. A staunch advocate of our Chesapeake Bay and clean-up efforts, Shappelle laces his songs with the beauty and magic of the bay, especially his beloved Susquehanna River.
Jennifer Cutting is another performer for the Fish, Fowl and Folk Festival who blends a career as a bandleader, composer, instrumentalist and ethnomusicologist with record producer. With her new live
band the Ocean Orchestra, Cutting has pushed the boundaries of Celtic, Folk and Folk Rock. She creates arrangements with sweeping orchestral sounds, shimmering ethereal electronics, authentic traditional instruments and a hard hitting rhythm section. Cutting is a multiple award winner in all areas of her music career including sweeping the 2004 WAMMIE awards including Musician of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Best New Artist, as well as Album of the Year.
In between acts participants can enjoy a Makers’ Market, beer and wine garden, performances along Havre de Grace’s famed promenade and regional food choices will be available. Admission to the Fish, Fowl & Folk Festival is free for this family-friendly event.
The event celebrating Havre de Grace’s Maritime Heritage is organized by the Heritage Museums of Havre de Grace including the Concord Point Lighthouse and Keeper’s House, Havre de Grace Maritime Museum and the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum.
There are still a very few vendor spaces available at the event this time by contacting Bethany Baker at 410-939-3213 or [email protected], or by calling the HdG Decoy Museum at 410-939-3739.
Visit www.facebook.com/FishFowlFolkFestival for additional details or information.
Calendar Listing
FISH, FOWL & FOLK FESTIVAL, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat., August 6, Concord Point Park Heritage Area, Lafayette Street, Havre de Grace. Celebrate Havre de Grace’s long traditions of fishing, canning and cargo transport, boat building, duck hunting and decoy carving with a family-fun event centered on food, craft and song. Numerous performances, including national award-winning acts, crafters, regional food from vendors, a beer and wine garden, activities and, of course, our local museums, await at this family-friendly event. Visit www.facebook.com/FishFowlFolkFestival or call 410-939-3213 or email [email protected] to learn more.
