Song of the Soul

Sarah McQuaid carries a world of music with her, born in Spain, raised in the USA, and having lived 18 years in Ireland & England. A singer/songwriter who started in the folk world, Sarah will win your heart with her beautiful voice, lively and lovely guitar, and deep spirit.

Vonn New creates innovative music, modeling deep listening in the process. Using things like flutes, percussion, found sounds and field recordings, Vonn creates sonic playgrounds over which she improvises. She also notes that "My intention as an artist is to promote peace-building and non-violence by modeling the power of listening, and the expression of defiant joy", crucial tools and gifts sorely lacking in our culture.

Tracy Grammer is, via her website, a poetry-loving, type A ex-head cheerleader, graphic designer, classically trained violinist and karaoke queen with Florida roots and California cool. And for a handful of years she was in a folk duo with the incredible Dave Carter, which makes this a story for the ages. One of their songs, Gentle Arms of Eden, was rated 75 in the top 100 folk songs of all times, so you know this is great folk music!

Danny Schmidt is one of many talented artists with the Americana Agency. Danny is profound and down-home, and he has an amazing gift for stunning lyrics, with influences like Bob Dylan & Leonard Cohen - and many others. Raised Jewish, his current spiritual outlook is not bound to any church or organization.

Pat Lamanna is part of the People's Music Network for Songs of Freedom & Struggle, has performed for 15 years as part of the folk trio, The Raggedy Crew, and run a coffee house music venue starting in the 1970's. Find Pat on Facebook, get her music at CDBaby, or visit her very occasional blog.

Chris Moore is unique singer/songwriter on a very conscious spiritual path, often explored in and through music, currently as part of the trio, Kindling Stone. Chris' journey forward in Spirit has taken him progressively back in musical styles and forms, including music from the Sacred Harp and the Shakers. He's profound, humble, inspiring, and a talented, creative musician.

Singer/songwriter Tracy Feldman is one of the many rewards I got for going to this year's MREA Clean Energy & Sustainable Living Fair. While there's a clear and powerful passion in his guitar, violin & lyrics, teaching biology at UW-Stevens Point is also a major calling of his life.

Sally Campbell does not refer to herself as a musician so much as a "song catcher". Having been judged unacceptable for choir as a youth, she had to work on developing her singing & playing ability when she started receiving songs in 1982. For her 70th birthday she performed & recorded a concert of her music for a group of friends.

John Sheldon of Warwick, England, has been teaching, leading, performing & directing music, across the spectrum, for around 4 decades. A longtime participant & leader for The Leaveners, John was present at the 2012 FGC gathering at Kingston, RI, where this was recorded, to organize & conduct a performance of The Fire & the Hammer.

Ellen Whyte mostly hangs out in Portland, but recently toured Wisconsin's Chippewa Valley with Sue Orfield. She combines her beautiful voice & great musicians with a powerful personal understanding - of the blues, of rhythm, and of turning her life around. She's someone you want to know, both as a musician & as a person.