{"id":24953,"date":"2019-08-17T10:20:44","date_gmt":"2019-08-17T14:20:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=24953"},"modified":"2019-08-17T10:20:59","modified_gmt":"2019-08-17T14:20:59","slug":"on-stage-the-philadelphia-folk-festival-has-a-loaded-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=24953","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: The Philadelphia Folk Festival has a loaded lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>If you\u2019re in the mood for a lot of music this weekend, then you should head north — to Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville to check out the 2019 Philadelphia Folk Festival (Old Pool Farm, Schwenksville, 800-556-FOLK, www.pfs.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

This Philadelphia Folk Festival is a music festival that is on a plateau all its own. Now in its 58th year, the festival continues to evolve with the times and, at the same time, maintain its traditional vibe. There is no other festival in the country quite like the Philadelphia Folk Festival.<\/p>\n

One of the showcased acts at his year\u2019s festival will be The Mavericks.<\/p>\n

Whenever the Mavericks visit the area for a concert, it seems like a celebration.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Mavericks<\/p><\/div>\n

The last two scheduled dates by the veteran band have really been celebrations \u2013 concerts that celebrate actual events.<\/p>\n

Back in December, the Mavericks performed a special concert at the Scottish Rites Auditorium to celebrate Christmas and the celebrate the release of their first-ever original holiday album,\u00a0\u201cHey! Merry Christmas!\u201d<\/p>\n

This weekend, the Mavericks will be performing a show at the Philadelphia Folk Festival as part of their massive \u201c30th Anniversary Tour\u201d \u2013 and it will definitely be a celebration.<\/p>\n

The Mavericks \u2013 Raul Malo (vocals), Paul Deakin (drums), Jerry Dale McFadden (keyboards), Edie Perez (guitar) — possess an ability to transform any room into a raucous musical celebration, elevating their songs to new heights with the kind of exhilarating performances that have long established them as one of the nation\u2019s best live bands.<\/p>\n

The fields of Old Pool Farm won\u2019t be any different \u2013 except there is no roof for the band to blow off.<\/p>\n

The Mavericks came together in Miami more than a quarter-century ago and immediately built a strong following with their eclectic mix of a wide variety of genres \u2013 from rockabilly to standards to cowpunk. The band makes music that is just as accessible and heartfelt as it is passionate and fun.<\/p>\n

Despite personnel changes, financial difficulties, internal conflicts, a few periods in limbo and a variety of other challenges, the Mavericks are still going strong 30 years later.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe decision to do a big 30th anniversary tour was made by all of us,\u201d said Perez, during a phone interview last week. \u201cWe started figuring out what is something we could do to celebrate three decades of making music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the summer and fall, the Mavericks will perform a unique version of their renowned live show that has won over crowds internationally, including appearances at some of the finest venues in Europe, Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to our catalog \u2013 from beginning to now,\u201d said Perez. \u201cWe\u2019re certainly in a position \u2013 luxuriously I might add \u2013 to do what we want.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe travel through time is done musically from our first album to stuff we\u2019re doing today. But, it\u2019s not easy to encapsulate all this in a two-hour show. It\u2019s been a great way for us to come together stronger.<\/p>\n

\u201cRaul has a really great sense in figuring out our set list. He knows how well the music from 30 years all gels and fits what we\u2019re doing today. For us, the big part of our business is the touring and we have found a way to make it all work.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Mavericks began their career within the punk and alternative music scene in Miami, Florida. In 1991, the band was signed by MCA Nashville, and their first major label release, \u201cFrom Hell to Paradise,\u201d was released on May 12, 1992.<\/p>\n

Their most recent albums are \u201cBrand New Day,\u201d which was released on March 31, 23017, and \u201cHey! Merry Christmas,\u201d which hit the shelves on November 2, 2018. Both LPs are on the band\u2019s own label Mono Mundo Recordings.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn hits tour, we go all the way back to our first record and play popular songs from our whole career,\u201d said Perez. \u201cIt\u2019s great to be able to play these old tunes with this invigorated band.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re making the music we love to make and taking it to the fans. Right now, the Mavericks are making the best music they\u2019ve ever made. And, we\u2019re playing the old songs with their original arrangements. I know if I was a fan, I\u2019d want to hear the songs played the way they were recorded.<\/p>\n

With special staging and a unique narrative, this anniversary show will reimagine the group\u2019s catalog, from their early days in Miami\u2019s punk and alternative scene through their chart-topping years in the \u201990s and 2000s and right up to their reunion and creative rebirth.<\/p>\n

In addition to telling the story of the Mavericks, the shows will chart the many ways in which they have intertwined traditional Tex-Mex, Latino, Norte\u00f1o and Tejano music with country, rock \u2019n\u2019 roll and the great American songbook \u2014 a true American story of cross-cultural inspiration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to present our musical history in a way that\u2019s special,\u201d said Perez. \u201cThis show is a real production.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Malo, \u201cI\u2019m not one to look back, I never have been. I always want to move forward with our music and look to the future, and our fans want that too \u2014 they always respond really well to every new album. But if you can\u2019t celebrate 30 years in such a tough business as the music industry, what can you celebrate?<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud that we\u2019ve made our mark and it\u2019s good to celebrate that. I think we\u2019ve found the perfect way to mark these 30 years without thinking only about the past and I\u2019m really excited to get out and play these shows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for the Mavericks \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/i0haFBXHik4<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While the Mavericks have international influences in their musical DNA, there are many performers at this weekend\u2019s festival that are actually international acts.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Wallis Bird<\/p><\/div>\n

Wallis Bird is a talented singer\/songwriter\/folkie\/indie rocker who was born and raised in Ireland and now lives in Germany.<\/p>\n

Bird is currently touring the states in support of her new album \u201cWoman,\u201d which is her sixth album but first with a domestic release.<\/p>\n

Bird may be relatively unknown in the states, but such is not the case in Europe. Since her start in 2006, she has won two Meteor Awards (Ireland\u2019s annual music prize) and the 2017 German \u201cMusikautorenpreis\u201d (Music Author Prize). Bird also has had nominations for Ireland\u2019s equivalent to Britain\u2019s Mercury Prize, the Choice Music Prize.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first record was an EP in 2006,\u201d said Bird, during a phone interview Wednesday from a tour stop in Washington, D.C. \u201cMy first album was \u2018Spoons\u2019 in 2008. Since then, I\u2019ve been releasing an album every two or three yerars.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her \u201cNew Boots\u201d album came out in 2009 followed by \u201cWallis Bird\u201d in 2012, \u201cArchitect\u201d in 2014, \u201cHome\u201d in 2016 and \u201cWoman.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy new album \u2018Woman\u2019 will be coming out on September 27,\u201d ssaid Bird. \u201cI made 70 per cent of the album in my home studio in Berlin. I started recording this way with my last album. I just bring the band there.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other 30 per cent I did with my co-producer Marcus W\u00fcst at his studio, which is called Altezigarrenfabrik. I bring the vibe and he brings the magic.\u201d<\/p>\n

In July, Bird released \u201cSalve,\u201d the second single off her forthcoming album. \u201cSalve\u201d is a raucous nod to Bird\u2019s soulful heritage and musical upbringings.<\/p>\n

According to Bird, \u201cMy dad was a big soul and rock man. I\u2019ve been floating soul vibes my whole life. It gets me deep down, for sure. \u2018Salve\u2019 warns us about social media\u2019s more poisonous effects.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSalve\u201d follows the release of\u00a0 \u201cAs the River Flows,\u201d a track that is dedicated to Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian refugee whose body was photographed in 2015 on a Turkish beach.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was born in the east part of Ireland,\u201d said Bird. \u201cMy parents had a pub in Enniscorthy in County Wexford.<\/p>\n

\u201cMusic has been with me since I was born. My mother said that I was dancing in the womb. I was whistling before I could talk. When I was six months old, my father gave me my first guitar. From the day he gave it to me, it never left my side. It was my favorite toy — and it still is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her guitar playing was put in jeopardy when she was very young.<\/p>\n

Born left-handed, she lost five fingers of her left hand in a lawnmower accident when she was 18 months old. Four were sewn back on again.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least I got four of the five back on,\u201d said Bird. \u201cI\u2019m left-handed except when I\u2019m playing tin whistle or opening jars. I play right-handed guitar upside-down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perhaps Bird\u2019s greatest asset is the ability to deliver a dynamic live performance.<\/p>\n

Most artists can\u2019t sustain the kind of energy levels that Bird exhibits on stage. Every performance is characterized by an almost startling passion — one that frequently leaves Bird breathless and her guitar strings shredded to pieces with bloodied fingers to match.<\/p>\n

Her refreshingly honest, self-effacing manner has endeared her to audiences of every kind. This weekend, audiences at the PFF will get to experience it first-hand.<\/p>\n

Video link for Wallis Bird — https:\/\/youtu.be\/4HWYqdUV5GE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Young’uns<\/p><\/div>\n

Another act from the British Isles that is just beginning to make an impact in the states is The Young’uns.<\/p>\n

Just as election season is heating up in America, British folk trio The Young\u2019uns are set to bring their unique brand of social commentary to U.S. venues for the first time this summer.<\/p>\n

Named \u201cBest Group\u201d at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards two years in a row (2015 and 2016), they will introduce their trademark harmonies, honesty and humor to American audiences, commencing with their debut appearance at the annual Philadelphia Folk Festival.<\/p>\n

The Young’uns are an English folk group from Stockton, County Durham, England. They specialise in singing unaccompanied — and they perform traditional shanties, contemporary songs such as Billy Bragg’s “Between the Wars” and Sydney Carter’s “John Ball”, and original works including “You Won\u2019t Find Me on Benefits Street” (alluding to Stockton’s reaction to a Benefits Street television crew) and “The Battle of Stockton” (on a 1933 clash with Oswald Mosley’s blackshirts).<\/p>\n

The three members of The Young’uns are Sean Cooney, David Eagle and Michael Hughes, who met as teenagers and encountered folk music as underage drinkers in a local pub. They enjoyed the music and returned to the Stockton Folk Club.<\/p>\n

\u201cMichael and Sean have known each other since they were three,\u201d said Eagle, during a recent phone interview from his home in Sheffield, England. \u201cI met them when I was 17 at a pub in Scotland called the Stockton Folk Club.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a folk club, they would go around and have people in the bar sing songs. When it got to us, they said \u2013 there\u2019s the Young’uns, let\u2019s have them give us a song. We sang this one verse we knew from a sea shanty \u2013 and that\u2019s how we got our name.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe loved the folk club scene. You perform without instruments and sing old songs, shanties and songs about something that happened that day. We kept going back week-after-week.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was in 2003. Our first real gig was in 2005 \u2013 at that same club. Our first album was \u2018To Hell With Pirate John,\u2019 which was recorded live at a shanty gig called Pirate Johns. There were only 100 copies made of that album.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur first studio album was \u2018When Our Grandfathers Said No\u2019 in 2012 when we had been professionals for six years. That\u2019s when we gave up our day jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrior to that, we\u2019d be finishing the day job, leaving the office and going down the motorway to play a gig. Then, we\u2019d be right back in the office the next day. So, we decided to give it a go as a band full-time. We\u2019ve kept doing U.K. tours and now we\u2019re touring the states for the first time<\/p>\n

The Young\u2019uns are best known for their largely unaccompanied story songs that are at once poignant and humorous — some of them ripped straight from news headlines.\u00a0Their 2018 album. \u201cStrangers,\u201d has been described as \u201ca protest album that is pointed and forceful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see it more as social conscience rather than political,\u201d said Eagle. \u201cSocial issues are a focus and we look to have a positive focus. Our songs are about ordinary people who do extraordinary things.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we perform, it\u2019s not just about the music. It\u2019s about chatting, telling stories and having fun. Our songs are about positive focus and having fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for The Young’uns — https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OhZFrVMV0<\/a>tI<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Ida Mae<\/p><\/div>\n

Another act from England that will be performing in Schwenksville this weekend is Ida Mae \u2013 the husband and wife duo\u00a0of Chris Turpin and Stephanie Jean Ward.<\/p>\n

Ida Mae\u2019s magic lies in the sensuous dovetailing of two voices and the intimacy of their songs. Their chemistry on stage isn\u2019t just a dramatic pose and is a truly captivating sight to behold.\u00a0Hailing from Norwich and born out of Kill It Kid who established their credentials in the British Music indie Rock world, Turpin and Ward present themselves as a sensual version of White Stripes meets Civil Wars meets The xx. Singing together, the couple have an unusual \u2018which-is-which\u2019 dynamic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing Ida Mae for about two-and-a-half years,\u201d said Turpin, during a recent phone interview. \u201cSteph and I have been together for eight years. Prior to Ida Mae, we were in a heavier rock-and-roll blues band called Kill It Kid.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe moved to Nashville a year ago. We finished making the album in the U.K. We cut it with producer Ethan Johns at Peter Gabriel\u2019s Real Worlds Studio, which is located near where we used to live.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m from Norwich and Steph is from Crawley. I met Steph when we were studying at a university in Bath. I was playing clubs doing blues and Steph was singing jazz.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had this big strong blues voice and Steph was singing songs by female artist like Billie Holliday and Bessie Smith. She had the female knowledge and I had the male thing. I asked her to sing with me. We were lucky that our voices matched.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breaking away from a band format and going it on their own was the right move for the young duo.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started making music together and traveling together,\u201d said Turpin. \u201cWe became best friends really quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before long, they became husband-and-wife and pursued a career in music together.<\/p>\n

According to Turpin, \u201cWe wanted to make something simple and honest and raw. We wanted to make a record our way, with no compromises.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were living in this tiny little place in my hometown of Norwich when we started writing these songs. We had enough money to live there for six months, so we turned the entire downstairs into a studio and gave ourselves that window to write and demo as much as we possibly could. We knew we had to land a deal in that time, or it would be game over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ida Mae made progress right from the start.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we were living in Norwich, a friend was playing a club called Stanford Arms. He asked us to come play one night, and we said yes. After that, we played the club once a month and the crowds grew.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe took the songs we had recorded and set them out trying to get interest from record labels. We had several labels interested and signed with Warner Bros.\/Sire. But that didn\u2019t work out because Seymour Stein, the guy who signed us, left Warner Bros. and so did his people. Then, we got interest from Thirty Tigers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fortunately, Ida Mae didn\u2019t let any setbacks get to them. Finally, the duo\u2019s debut album, \u201cChasing Lights,\u201d was released on June 7 via Thirty Tigers.<\/p>\n

Video link for Ida Mae \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/UblrG2uKyEM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Tami Neilson<\/p><\/div>\n

Another international act performing at the festival brings two countries to the table. Tami Neilson\u00a0is a singer from Canada who now calls New Zealand home.<\/p>\n

Like Bird, Neilson\u2019s musical roots run deep.<\/p>\n

\u201cMusic is a family business,\u201d said Neilson, during a phone interview from Woodbridge, New Jersey Wednesday not long after she had arrived from a flight from New Zealand.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad was in a musical family and was on tour in bands from the time he was 14. My mom and dad toured for seven years with their own band until they had kids. Then, my dad toured as a comedian.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith us kids, from the time we could talk, we were making music. When I was 12, we sold the house and toured for about a decade as a band. I was always predominantly a singer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was 16, I watched the movie \u2018Coal Miner\u2019s Daughter.\u2019 I got myself a guitar. After watching the movie, I wanted to learn guitar and write songs myself to be like Loretta Lynn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neilson grew up performing across North America with the Neilson Family Band, working alongside great such as Johnny Cash, Tanya Tucker and Kitty Wells. With her parents Betty and Ron (her late father a songwriter of considerable accomplishment) and two brothers Todd (drums) and Jay (bass), she spent years on the road learning her craft.<\/p>\n

This enabled Neilson to explore her increasing vocal and emotional range and build a deep well of musical influences to\u00a0draw upon when she started to write her own material.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe guitar has always been my tool for songwriting more than recording,\u201d said Neilson, who is touring in support of her latest album, “CHICKABOOM!”. \u201cI\u2019ve always thought of my voice as my main instrument.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur family band played gospel and country but my dad was also a rock-and-roller. My mom liked country and my dad liked rock-and-roll. I grew up with that mix. I got my pipes from my dad.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the family band stopped, I toured with my brothers as a trio. Then, one got married. After that, we toured as a duo with me and Jay. That went on for a while and then I moved to New Zealand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neilson fell in love with a New Zealander, moved to the bottom of the world and began her solo career without the support of the family. Over many years she built a platform for herself through open mic nights, playing soulless casinos and the dead-air time slots at festivals, finding a small group of fellow travelers and supportive players, and then a series of increasingly impressive albums followed.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiving in New Zealand was daunting at first,\u201d said Neilson, whose home is in Auckland. \u201cI was starting at Square One again. Now, I tour extensively in Australia and New Zealand. It\u2019s definitely still my largest fan base.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first time to play the states since I was a teenager so it\u2019s really exciting. I\u2019m really looking forward to getting back to playing for American audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Tami Neilson \u2013 https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8WxeOu6v6F8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The PFF features a several acts from North of the Border. One of them is singer\/songwriter Steve Poltz.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Steve Poltz<\/p><\/div>\n

Poltz is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is a founding member of the indie-rock band The Rugburns and is best known for his collaborations with singer Jewel, especially the 1996 single, “You Were Meant for Me” which reached number 2 in the states.<\/p>\n

As a solo artist, he often performs acoustic-only “good old-fashioned sing-along” shows. His songs have been noted for their simple melodies and satirical lyrics.<\/p>\n

Poltz was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and later moved with his family to Pasadena, California, then to Palm Springs, California. He attended the University of San Diego, where he received a degree in political science. His exposure to music goes way back.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy uncle Bob took me to the Hollywood Bowl when I was six to see Julian Bream perform,\u201d said Poltz, during a phone interview Tuesday from his home in Nashville.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe bought me records by Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan. I started taking guitar lessons when I was six.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was older, I went to college at the University of California San Diego. When I was there, I started a band called the Rugburns. We did college gigs and then we got a record deal in 1980. We started touring and never stopped.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally, we just kept touring and never stopped. Then I wrote a hit song with Jewel called \u2018You Were Meant For Me,\u2019 which went to Number Two, and that got me a solo deal. I got a solo record deal and never stopped touring.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first wo albums in 1998 were on Mercury Records. Most of the albums after that were on my label 98 Pounder and the new one is on Red House Records.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new one is \u201cShine On,\u201d which was released earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Shine On\u2019 came out in March,\u201d said Poltz. \u201cWill Kimbrough produced it at his house. We were going to go to a fancy studio. Then, I started doing demos at the studio in his backyard and that worked well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prior to working with Kimbrough, Poltz moved with his girlfriend to Nashville and that became the genesis of \u201cShine On.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of great players in Nashville but I ain\u2019t scared,\u201d said Poltz. \u201cI\u2019m the only me.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy girlfriend Sharon wanted me to move to Nashville. She sold her hairdressing business and we sold sold the condo we were living in.<\/p>\n

Sharon wanted to move to Nashville because she thought it would be good for me. At first, I didn\u2019t want to leave San Diego. But, it\u2019s all right. I like it here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poiltz makes music that is not typical Nashville fare. His songs evoke themes of \u201chope, love, contemplation,\u00a0celebration of Wednesday, pharmacists, and the fact that windows are not inanimate objects and they\u00a0sometimes have conversations with each other.\u201d So far, he has released a dozen albums showcasing his unique way of looking at the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my live shows, I play songs from all my albums along with some Rugburns songs,\u201d said the transplanted Haligonian. \u201cI have so many songs to choose from. Before reach show, I feel the audience and then decide which ones to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Steve Poltz \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/SZ1P774bAGQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The PFF features a lot of international acts and even more domestic acts.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Michael Braunfeld<\/p><\/div>\n

One of the popular domestic acts is singer\/songwriter Michael Braunfeld, who is not only an American but also a Philadelphia area resident.<\/p>\n

Braunfeld is a civil lawyer who has worked around southeast Pennsylvania, including Chester and Delaware counties. But his main focus in recent years has been his music career.<\/p>\n

Braunfeld, a songwriter, guitarist and storyteller, is now performing select dates in support of \u201cDriver,\u201d his new album which was just released on March 22.<\/p>\n

Recorded at MorningStar Studios in\u00a0East Norriton, \u201cDriver\u201d\u00a0was produced by GRAMMY\u00ae winning Glenn Barratt (Susan Werner, Melody Gardot) and Kyle Swartzwelder and features 13 new songs. The songs range in style from folk, to Americana to electric and driving and all feature\u00a0Braunfeld\u2019s\u00a0signature narratives with focus on the characters he creates and the rich, sonic worlds they inhabit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started recording it in December 2017 and went into 2018,\u201d said Braunfeld, during a recent phone interview from his home in Radnor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were in the studio on-and-off, so it took just under a year. We just got the masters in December. It was mixed and mastered by Glenn Barratt.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded the basic tracks live in the studio and then had additional players come in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Braunfeld will be playing Burlap and Bean with his band, The Boneyard Hounds — Tom Hampton, Tommy Geddes, Kyle Swartzwelder, Nate Gonzalez.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also had two of Philadelphia\u2019s best session players on the album,\u201d said Braunfeld. \u201cThe bass parts on the album were done by Ken Pendergast and we had Ross Bellenoit on guitars and mandolin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a great assortment of songs. We went in the studio with 40-50 songs and pared it down to the best 13. The idea was to make an album that demonstrated everything I do \u2013 funk, Americana and all-out rock. The title track made it all come together. I wrote it during pre-production.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of the songs were written recently but some are pretty old. \u2018Fear,\u2019 the oldest song, was written in 1998. It\u2019s been a staple in my live set, but it was never on an album before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Braunfeld, a Harriton High alumnus who graduated from West Chester University with a degree in English and modern literature, has been making music for a while.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will be my seventh record \u2013 five LPs and two EPs,\u201d said Braunfeld. \u201cMy last one before \u2018Driver\u2019 was the \u2018Full Circle\u2019 album in 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy songwriting methods depend on a lot of things. The songs on \u2018Driver\u2019 are examples of every way. \u201940 Below\u2019 was inspired by a newspaper article. Sometimes, it\u2019s just picking up a guitar and coming up with a melody. I\u2019m a topical songwriter and lyrics are a driving force.<\/p>\n

Braunfeld\u00a0has been garnering critical acclaim and industry recognition for his songwriting and intense performances.\u00a0 In 2014,\u00a0Michael\u00a0was welcomed into the Writers’ Night family at The Bluebird Cafe.\u00a0 He was named as a finalist in the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition in both 2016 and 2018 and has been a featured performer at The Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Spring Gulch Folk Festival, and the Philadelphia Folk Festival.<\/p>\n

According to Braunfeld, \u201cI\u2019m proud of \u2018Driver.\u2019 It\u2019s really the first album that captures everything that I\u2019m trying to do with my music. We spent a lot of time whittling down a list of songs to include a little bit of everything that I do while still forming a cohesive collection, which is important to me as a fan of albums.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like to be pigeonholed as a writer or an artist and I feel like \u2018Driver\u2019 represents exactly where I am now, both sonically and thematically.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Michael Braunfeld \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/8diUiqtwJaE<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times If you\u2019re in the mood for a lot of music this weekend, then you should head north — to Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville to check out the 2019 Philadelphia Folk Festival (Old Pool Farm, Schwenksville, 800-556-FOLK, www.pfs.org). This Philadelphia Folk Festival is a music festival that is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24955,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5166],"tags":[3912,9092,8796,9089,9094,9093,4123,9091,9090],"class_list":["post-24953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-featured","tag-ida-mae","tag-michael-braunfeld","tag-philadelphia-folks-festival","tag-steve-poltz","tag-tami-neilson","tag-the-mavericks","tag-the-younguns","tag-wallis-bird"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24953","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24953"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24953\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24954,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24953\/revisions\/24954"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}