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Join Spokane Public Radio on Saturday, November 9th, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a special KPBX broadcast, live from our performance studio! SPR's Steve Jackson and Henry McNulty will host a series of performances and interviews with a sample of musicians participating in the Spokane Fall Folk Festival.
Listeners can hear performances from Free Whiskey, Trillium 239, Jonathan Nicholson, The Two Grey Cats, Sidetrack, The Blue Ribbon Tea Company, and Desiree. Thanks to our event donor, the Spokane Folklore Society. Find out more about the Fall Folk Festival at spokanefolkfestival.org. |
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About the performers:
Free Whiskey, the ultimate Irish rock band, is known for inciting random acts of dancing, revelry, and spontaneous sing-alongs. Their excellent mix of old and new, playing punchy pub fare, traditional Irish melodies, and rowdy rock anthems, ensures they can adapt to any crowd, making them a versatile choice for any event. With a lineup of drums, fiddle, bass, whistle, Bodhran, and lush vocals, Free Whiskey is a 4-member band that guarantees to create a lively and entertaining atmosphere wherever they perform. They’re made from the best stuff on Earth, ensuring a good time for all! |
Free Whiskey
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The Blue Ribbon Tea Company, comprised of Bill and Kathy Kostelec, are performing songwriters in the American Roots tradition. They are known for distinctive vocals and strong writing—"soulful," "powerful," "catchy," "haunting," and "refreshing," in the words of reviewers. They have produced six albums of mostly original music, and numerous songs have aired on public and community radio stations (recordings and live shows).
They also enjoy playing old folk, country, and blues tunes and have performed at multiple Woody Guthrie tribute shows. Bill plays guitar, harmonica, and sometimes banjo, and Kathy plays guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and sometimes autoharp. Many talented musicians have joined them on stage and recordings. Spokane, Washington, is their home, where they have played countless intimate listening venues and other stages, including the Fall Folk Festival main stage, Spokane Songwriters Organization showcases, Pigout in the Park, Inland Northwest Bluegrass Association showcases, and the classic Bing Crosby Theater. They hit the road occasionally, mostly in the Pacific Northwest, and have performed at the Folklife Festival (Seattle), Tumbleweed Festival (Richland), Artichoke Music (Portland), and many other towns and venues. |
The Blue Ribbon Tea Company
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Jonathan Nicholson has become known as an instrumentalist whose music is introspective, soothing, yet evocative in its colorful imagery.
A mostly self-taught guitarist who started learning in his teens, he was influenced by the subtle moods of European bands like The Cure, Tears For Fears, and Peter Murphy to the piano works of David Lanz and George Winston. After a stint on the electric guitar, he returned to his initial love of the acoustic guitar. He began experimenting with incorporating the sounds of other instruments—like the piano and the harp, among others—into his now signature style. His music fits perfectly into a variety of settings, from those that demand the utmost attention of the attendee to more subtle environments where he provides background ambiance in the form of mood music. Jonathan's music has been sold and streamed worldwide. He has enchanted guests at Fortune 100 company events and has been featured in documentaries, relaxation videos, and other media. Jonathan's ninth album, "Outsider," was released last year to rave reviews and is being called his best album to date. The second part of his "Outsider trilogy," "Pray for A Better Ending," was released online shortly thereafter and was called "an amazing follow-up." Jonathan is working hard on his 11th album, "The Fear of Leaving The Dark." |
Jonathan Nicholson
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Desiree Aguirre is a writer/storyteller who likes to sing. She feels very fortunate to have a music room filled with amazing instruments, including several fiddles, numerous banjoes, a 90-string hammer dulcimer, and a 3-string Hurdy-Gurdy. An outstanding (and upright) member of the Northern Idaho Fiddlers, Desiree has played in the old-time string band Ruff Shodd, performed at Renaissance Fairs, local bars, folk festivals, and farmer's markets in the Inland Northwest, and been published in Sandpoint Magazine, Idaho Magazine, the Sandpoint Reader, the River Journal, and Trestle Creek Review.
Desiree believes music is a multilayered art form that inspires love, laughter, and tears, encourages dance, and promotes healing. Her musical and lyrical talents bring her connection with people, animals, and Mother Nature to life. Her music is traditional, folksy, and wrapped with love. |
Desiree
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The Two Grey Cats are an acoustic music duo from Spokane. Don and Doug are retired dance band musicians who continue to play music as senior volunteers and occasional direct bookings.
Don lived and worked in the California "Bay Area" until he retired and moved to Spokane with his wife. He was a brick mason and later sold masonry supplies during the days. He also played lead guitar in Bay Area bands for over 50 years. Don started playing guitar as a young teen. His dad was a popular area guitarist as well. Don mainly played country music and performed at many large events & venues, as well as nightclubs, bars & lounges. He also took up ukulele in later years and played in a ukulele orchestra before moving to Spokane Valley. He also enjoys golf and riding his ebike. Doug grew up here in Spokane. He started playing music as a kid on violin and mandolin and singing in the Spokane All-City Chorus. As a teen, he began playing bass guitar in the mid-1960s and played in local area bands for over 50 years. After high school at Shadle Park, Doug studied music and radio/TV production at SFCC and EWU. In his early 20s, he landed a media & A/V specialist job at the Downtown Library. He was the library's music & film guy for years, retiring from the city library after 43 years. Doug plays bass guitar and upright bass, guitar, piano, mandolin and sitar. He has a home recording studio, still rides his Harley when he can, and lives with his wife of 51 years in the South Perry Neighborhood. Don and Doug met in 2018 after they were both retired. They wanted to continue performing music but didn't want to play in dance bands anymore. They discovered that they had a lot in common as old band guys and decided to give back to the community as senior musician volunteers through Spokane's Project Joy. For the last six years, they have been doing regular concerts around the Spokane area and enjoying performing good music as an acoustic duo. |
The Two Grey Cats
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Sidetrack plays country, rock, blues, and many original songs. The band has been together since 2002. Dave McRae plays guitar, harmonica, and vocals; Michael Robinson plays guitar and vocals; Phil Kleinman plays pedal steel and slide guitars; Ron Green plays bass and vocals; Rick Singer plays drums; and an original member, Geoff Haworth, recently rejoined the band on guitar and vocals.
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Sidetrack
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Trillium-239 has been described as the harmonic equivalent of peanut butter and jelly: distinctly different and perfectly complementary. Playing guitars, banjo, and cello, their original songs and intricate harmonies have been enticing audiences across the Northwest. Humphrey and Hartman, both performers in their own right, joined forces in the mid-90s. Cellist Michelle Cameron joined them in 2003. Strong vocals and tight harmonies continue to be the signature of their high-energy performances.
Playing primarily original material, Janet and Mary's writing styles are diverse; their lyrics are gloriously unique and wrapped in silky harmony. Adding Michelle Cameron to the group brings a dynamic range and a new focus on unique and complex arrangements. |
Trillium-239
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