West Side Folk
Winter/Spring 2009
Concert Details

From his unique roots as an Italian musician in love with both American country and bluegrass as well as the music of his native country, Beppe has travelled the world and even crossed the “Iron Curtain” to dazzle and charm music enthusiasts everywhere. After ten CDs, four DVDs, four teaching books, and collaborations with many other top-flight musicians, Gambetta is increasingly known as one of the true live master innovators of the acoustic guitar.

While Beppe still lives in his native Genova, he travels to North America at least twice each year. His reputation in the U.S. and Canada is reinforced by his participation in prestigious festivals like the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, Merlefest in North Carolina, and the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas. In a world dominated by the trends and logic of the market, Gambetta's playing and singing stand out for their intimate emotions, communication, research in tone, sobriety and humor. An inspired music that modestly avoids relying solely on his high level of technical excellence, but also reveals the innermost feelings of a brilliant, playful mind that is always firmly exploring and innovating while staying firmly routed in tradition.

Visit Beppe Gambetta’s web site | West Side Folk home

The beauty and mystery of Po Girl's music – a sound that has beguiled fans the world over - springs from the dynamic, improbable, mesmerizing bond shared by its two principal singers and writers – Allison Russell and Awna Teixeira. Drawing upon jazz, folk and country, they play 21st Century roots music, urban roots – never derivative, not faithfully aping a beloved tradition. Teixeira and Russell don't re-hash the old forms, they reshape and reinvigorate them for new ears. Po' Girl is a quartet, but on any given night they play a dozen instruments. “In the midst of the Appalachian hollerin’, country laments, sweet acoustic rock crooning, Dustbowl blues and Celtic-by-way-of-bluegrass airs, Po’ Girl also take time out for jazzy breakdowns, gospel wailing, Western swing and even a little hip-hop. Now that’s a combination that you can actually call Americana (even if they are from Canada).” (Tuscon Weekly)

Visit Po' Girl’s web site | West Side Folk home

West Side Folk is thrilled to present longtime Walnut Valley Festival favorites Marley's Ghost in their Lawrence debut! Known for irrepressible humor and a lively stage presence, Marley's Ghost is one of the popular folk-roots band on the festival and concert scene. With both instrumental virtuousity and inspired four-part vocal harmonies, Marley's Ghost blends English folk roots music, gospel, reggae, country, cajun and rhythm and blues music. The group features former John Denver band member and tony nominated Broadway star Danny Wheetman on guitar, fiddle, bass, banjo and blues harp, Jon Wilcox on mandolin, guitar and bouzouki, Ed Littlefield, Jr. on guitar, dobro, pedal steel guitar and bagpipes, and honey voiced Michael Phelan on guitars, dobro and fiddle.

Visit Marley’s Ghost’s web site | West Side Folk home

Ticket Outlets: 
Tickets are available now via mail order, online with credit card and at Mass Street Music in Lawrence. Send mail orders, with checks made out to West Side Folk, to: West Side Folk, c/o Megan Willsen, 801 N. 7th St., Lawrence, KS 66044. Please include an email address and/or phone number so we confirm receipt of your mail order. Mail order tickets will be held at door, unless you include a SASE.

Credit card orders: Tickets purchased online via credit card will require presentation of photo ID and the original credit card, or government-issued photo ID at the door.