The Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair

we believe... that a Fair should ignite all your senses and inspire all your passion, so we have music, too. In fact, we have folk and world music to go with our folk art.

we are proud to present our 2012 performers, complete with contact information and bios. Who knows? You may find you are in need of musical entertainment!

our music is presentd by Off Square Music, who work tirelessly both before and during the Fair to share with you the talents of our delightful lineup of musicians. We thank them for their sponsorship and with their dedication to preserving our folk music heritage.

Off Square Music Board of Directors working the sound board at the 2009
Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair. From left: Roger Benson,
Keith Johnson, Kent Fishburn, Don Humbertson, and
Andy Andrick

performance schedule

friday, june 22

9:00-10:00 (front porch)	Kent Rose
10:00–11:00	Lillian Reasor
	Dean Milano
11:00–12:30	TRILLIUM—FEATURE
12:30 – 2:00	COMPASS—FEATURE
2:00 – 3:00	Mim Eichman
	Mark Hobbs
3:00 – 4:00	Lillian Reasor
	The Beaumonts
4:00 – 5:00	Mim Eichman
	Mark Hobbs

saturday, june 23

9:00-10:30 front porch	The Georgia Rae Family Band
10:00–11:00	Merv Collins
11:00–12:00	MACYN TAYLOR—FEATURE
12:00 – 2:00	SMALL POTATOES—FEATURE
2:00 – 3:00	Mary Lai
	Merv Collins
3:00 – 4:00	Mary Lai
	Bear Creek
4:00 – 5:00	The Beaumonts
	Big Fish

sunday, june 24

9:00-10:30 front porch	Big Fish
10:00–11:00	Guyz with Bad Eyez
	Olivia Kaspryk
11:00– 2:00	OPEN MIC—FEATURE
2:00 – 3:00	Olivia Kaspryk
	TBA
3:00 – 4:00	Courtney Reinhard
	TBA

featured performers

SMALL POTATOES
www.smallpotatoesmusic.com

“Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso combine cleverly witty with powerfully poignant songs, along with well chosen covers to present an unusually entertaining and involving repertoire engagingly delivered. Prezioso's song "1000 Candles, 1000 Cranes" is one of the most outstanding songs of the past 50 years." Rich Warren The Midnight Special - WFMT Radio, Chicago, IL.

TRILLIUM
www.trilliumtheband.com

Trilliam's eclectic repertoire ranges in style from Celtic, to folk, to ragtime, to swing, to bluegrass, and appeals to all ages and most musical tastes. "...the new CD is one of the best recordings I have heard in a while...it's really top shelf!" Lilli Kuzma, WDCB Folk Festival

COMPASS

Compass is composed of ﬁve men in search of a direction. It is commonly known that men never ask for directions. Members of The Lake County Folk Club formed this quintet from a mutual desire to unleash their passion for acoustic adventure music. "(Compass) presents a veritable folk festival…" Dave Humphreys – Two Way Street Coffee House

MACYN TAYLOR
www.myspace.com/macyntaylor
Macyn Taylor is an accomplished guitar player and singer. She is an undergraduate student at the UW-Milwaukee majoring in finger-style guitar performance. Performing since she was seven, Macyn loves to play many different styles of music and is the 2009 East Troy Bluegrass Festival guitar playing champion. In 2009, Macyn was given an award for “most promising new talent” by Acoustic Guitar Magazine.

performers in 2012


	Bear Creek www.BearCreekMusic.us Bear Creek is Gary Plazyk and Rob Middleton. They perform music and songs from the 1800s, plus sea shanties and children’s songs. The instruments they use include: guitar, fiddle, penny whistle, hammered dulcimer, concertina, hurdy gurdy, and didgeridoo, plus a grab bag of musical toys including jaw harp, clackamore, limberjack, spoons, and kazoo. Audience participation is enthusiastically encouraged!
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	The Beaumonts beaumontsusa@ameritech.net Local acoustic trio, Andy Andrick, Gloria Burchfield, and Len Gilard, combine a wide range of music including 50’s, 60’s, Beatles, Elvis, Country, and original music by Len, topping it off with 3-part harmonies. Over 100 years combined experience entertaining audiences with a variety of music and comedy. See them at Johnny Appleseed Festival, Farmers Markets, Stage Left Café, Senior functions, and the Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair.

	Big Fish kent.fishburn@gmail.com With Kent Fishburn and Debbie Firak on guitars and Marty Brunkalla on Mandolin and Fiddle, Big Fish offers up a smooth blend of music from Swing, Blues and Folk, to classic old Jazz standards.

	Merv Collins myspace.com/mervcollinsfingerstyleguitarist Merv Collins, a Fingerstyle and Lead Guitarist, has been playing music for over 4 decades. Merv’s instrumental style is influenced by celtic, classical, bluegrass, country, folk, medieval and even some good old rock and roll music.
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	Mim Eichmann www.trilliumtheband.com/aboutus.htm The artistic director and choreographer of Midwest Ballet Theatre, while rehearsing for a Celtic-themed program, Mim stood next to a musician playing the hammered dulcimer and fell in love with the instrument on the spot!

	The Georgia Rae Family Band www.georgiaraefamilyband.com Georgia Rae's family band plays a mix of Old-Time, Waltzes, and Bluegrass with a bit of "edginess." The ensemble is anchored around first place fiddler, Georgia Rae Mussared (13), and features the multiple talents of sisters,Quin (11), Kelly Jo (16) playing mandoin, banjo, washboard and spoons and mom, Roni, on the guitar. Lots of vocal harmony! Performances are 1-2 hours of foot stomping music and harmony.

	Guyz with Bad Eyez ... are Merv Collins and Don Humbertson. The Guyz enjoy playing a wide range of popular (and some lesser-known) tunes with energy and gusto. Merv Collins, a Fingerstyle and Lead Guitarist, has been playing music for over 4 decades. Merv’s instrumental style is influenced by celtic, classical, bluegrass, country, folk, medieval and even some good old rock and roll music. Don Humbertson, a Woodstock resident, handles lead singing duties for the Guyz along with playing his 12-string guitar. Gordon Lightfoot, John Prine, Leo Kottke and John Fahey are some of the performers Don has admired and been influenced by. Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Don was the advertising director of the Chicago Reader.

	Mark Hobbs www.markhobbsmusic.com Mark’s songs will leave imprints on your heart, and it’s likely that you’ll experience the full gamut of emotions, from heartache to laughter, during his intimate performances.
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	Olivia Kaspryk olivia-harp@hotmail.com Olivia has been playing harp for 7 years and piano for 8. This will be her fourth year at the Midwest Fiber Festival. She is happy to return to play the harp and meet some more wonderful people! Olivia has recently taken up playing the guitar and the bandura, the national Ukrainian instrument. She very much enjoys playing classical harp and any other desired music at weddings and other social events.

	Mary Lai maryelai@msn.com delivers fresh renditions of familiar tunes and memorable originals with passionate vocals and guitar. Her music has been called "magical," "deeply moving," reminiscent of Judy Collins and Eva Cassidy but with a voice all her own.

	Dean Millano www.toys-n-cars.com/my_music.htm Dean’s music ranges from folk, country, rock, ballads, latin, bluegrass, pop to novelty songs. He has opened for such greats as Paul Butterfield, Jan & Dean, Cab Calloway, the Spencer Davis Group, Bo Diddley, The Kingston Trio and many more.
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	Lillian Reasor www.lillianrosereasor.weebly.com 19 year old Lillian Reasor is an internationally award winning Irish Folk Harper. Currently in her freshman year studying Classical Harp Performance at Northwestern University; Lillian also teaches, composes and performs both Classical and Irish music in the Chicagoland area.

	Courtney Reinhard www.reverbnation.com/courtneyreinhard Courtney Reinhard is a singer/songwriter from Woodstock, Illinois. She has been playing guitar for 16 years and has been singing since she was a little girl. She gets inspiration for her songs from her life experiences.

	Kent Rose www.kentrose.com Kent Rose was described by T.J. Simon of musicbox-online.com as, “dressing like Buck Owens, singing like Dwight Yoakam, and writing songs like Buddy Holly.” Kent performs hillbilly and rockabilly songs that are familiar and comforting, as well as originals inspired by these classics. In 2010 Kent was featured as U.S. Cellular customer Kent in a national commercial promoting free incoming calls.
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What did you enjoy most about the Fair? "...the music"..."the music was good"..."good music and time to relax"
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Thank you to our music partner:

Celebrating the Work (and Music) of Your Hands
for 6 Years:

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

"I love the fair. The music was especially appreciated..."
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Music at the Fair: