It'll be a very busy weekend if you let it. It really wasn't planned this way—it's just way things worked out. As much as we'd like to think we're “in control”, truth is we are all victims (or beneficiaries) of the schedules and activities of others. So we're hoping you'll be able to join us for a really full 24 hours, beginning with an amazing guitar player from the north country at our coffee house Saturday evening, April 21 and ending with the consumption of fire by a crazy Tempester on Sunday evening.

Elsewhere in this newsletter you can read all about the fund-raiser hosted by Beth & Paul Cooldog. It's an amazing lineup they've put together and we are lucky to have two people who really believe in this music we call folk music to the point where they allow total strangers to come to their house and kick back for an afternoon. It doesn't seem enough to say “thank you” to them for all they do for Friends of Folk.

Our own personal “24” begins at 7:30, Saturday April 21 in the Wesley College Chapel, corner of Division and N. Bradford in Dover, featuring two new-comers to our coffee house, and one “old-timer”. We are please to feature Philadelphia singer-songwriter Christine Havrilla in a very special appearance with veteran Friend of Folk, Bob Beach. Christine's stirring lyrics express the essence of fumbles and first times, the ache of insatiable desire, and at times an appreciation of life's simple pleasures. Coupled with aggressive guitar playing and haunting vocals, listeners inherently connect to her music. She has five CDs to here credit, the latest entitles “Velocity”. Her web site provides some details and insights:
“Christine Havrilla's latest release, "Velocity," features her six piece band and an eclectic collection of songs. Listeners hear an edgy rapid start to the album. At the same time, Havrilla is introspective as sounds range from raw electric guitar to the subtleties of violin.

"Velocity" reveals Christine's pure musicianship and devotion to her craft as she co-produced the album. With Duane Large (drums), Bill Gallagher (bass), Gretchen Schultz (backing vocals), Wendy Fuhr (backing vocals & violin), Bob Beach (harmonica), Havrilla's "Velocity" offers a full, firmly established sound. Along with her earlier albums, Christine has a collection of songs that clearly define her as a pop singer/songwriter at the peak of her form.

Upon reviewing "Velocity," Chris March of the Phoenixville Mercury writes, "(Havrilla's) tunes offer some of the most focused and empowered songwriting from any artist to stem from the local area yet and results in an eclectic set that can range from adrenalized to emotionally stirring."

As noted by the Princeton Packet, "Angst takes a left turn to upbeat and fun." Dean Sciarra from ItsAboutMusic.com described the personal connection when he said, "We get inside her head with each successive entry from her musical diary. And if she didn't possess that rare ability to make her songs so easily accessible, memorable and heartfelt, then you wouldn't come back for more. And you will come back for more."

"I am absolutely enthralled with (Havrilla's) latest, Velocity. From the start of the first song, "Hole in the Ground", I'm completely blown away and hooked. Havrilla's talent is not only music but to take you away from the hum drum of life and go on a journey where she is the driver and we are her passengers," writes Madalyn Sklar (Founder/Publisher, GoGirlsMusic.com - Houston, TX).

Nate Bauer from Blue Weekly says, "Christine offers the kind of pop-guitar songwriting that definitely should not be overlooked...Havrilla has shifted from the typical Lilith Fair pigeonhole into her own enjoyable sound."
Christine took the East Coast by storm with thousands of listeners at Musikfest, Philadelphia AIDS Walk, Penn State Arts Fest, and New York's Central Park and followed up these performances with appearances on CN8's "Your Morning" and NBC's 10!. Christine also performs sellout shows in venerable venues such as Philadelphia's The Point, Tin Angel, World Cafe Live! and has had well received performances in the Kimmel Center. Making frequent stops at showcase clubs and major outdoor festivals, Christine has established herself throughout the East coast, Midwest, and South. Gaining massive momentum, her material has garnered accomplishments such as:

-- "One of the Top Ten Indie Artists" - Advocate Magazine, 2006
--Velocity's "Hole in the Ground" topped Sirius Satellite Radio's Hot 20 chart at #1 to start off 2007 and remains on the chart 14 weeks and running!
--Garageband.com's "Track of the Day" for Velocity's "Really Really Good Kiss" and "Waiting"
--"Velocity" featured in Music Connection Magazine (LA) March 2007
--Featured Artist on Whole Wheat Radio, Alaska in February, 2005
--Garageband.com's"Song of the Day" for "Here I Am" & "Every Now & Then" in 2004
--Her MP3.com-only CD, "Halo," shot to No. 1 on the folk/rock album chart
--She received MP3.com's 2001 Blockbuster Award for Favorite Female Rock Artist
--Seven songs have had multi-day stays at the No. 1 national singles slot at MP3.com, and she had an incredible seven songs in the top 40 at once.

The positive recognition for Christine's work doesn't stop online. She was a finalist for Philadelphia City Paper's 2002 Best Folk Artist/Group award, and received two grants in two consecutive years from The National Endowment for the Arts for its Meet the Composer series. She has opened for and shared the stages of venues and major festivals with such acts as Jeffrey Gaines, Jill Sobule, Melissa Etheridge, Janis Ian, Antigone Rising, Tempest they're at Cooldog the next day), Grey Eye Glances, Train, Melissa Ferrick, Catie Curtis, Don McLean, Heart, Sara Lee, and Sally Taylor. She also composed and performed the music for the Johnny Cash Franklin Bible Session, a spoken word recording, and had the song "Sing" chosen for the GoGirls 2005 Radio Compilation CD.

Self-taught, Havrilla wins crowds over wherever she goes with her musical innovation, heartfelt lyrics, and sparkling personality, and her guitar a mere extension of herself. Her music and sound are difficult to fit into one category, hence Christine describes it as "Neofunkadelicfolkpoptwangrock!" She lives up to the moniker bestowed upon her by Dena Marchiony of the Philadelphia Songwriters Project, "the quintessential pop-rock goddess." Philadelphia Magazine simply states, "She rocks!"

Opening the evening will be finger-style guitarist Michael Young coming to us all the way “from the jungles of East St. Paul.” I don't really KNOW that he's from St. Paul, but he claims to be from Minnesota, and while probably not following in Sabu's footsteps, he is truly an amazing guitar player traveling about the country with his infectious playing and songwriting. He'll be playing for us after stops in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and New York. He plays both 6- and 12- string guitars (not at the same time, but it sounds like it) in standard and some alternate tunings, and even dares use a slide when it seems like a good idea. He has a tremendous stage presence and sprinkles stories and commentaries between hes compositions. In the grand tradition of the troubadour, he goes on stage without a set list and takes his cues from the audience when it comes to playing the next tune. And he's playing at Cooldog the next day too.

It all starts at 7:30 pm, April 21st, in the Wesley College Chapel, corner of Division and North Bradford St. in Dover. Admission will be $5 for members and $7 for non-members. Kids 12 and under get in free. Be sure to bring a non-perishable food item for the Delaware Food Bank. A great evening of music, hot & cold drinks, and sweet treats await. Don’t let it happen without you. There’s nothing else like it in Dover.

-- John Kidd, DEFF President

Regardless of your political beliefs, whether you lean to the left or to the right, or whether you're more hawkish or dovish, the fact remains that the military is critical to our country, and those who serve in it make huge personal and financial sacrifices, as do their families. The current military activity overseas has been particularly hard on families of those in the military, with tours extended and return tours being more common than not. To quote Garnet Rogers at a recent Cooldog show, "You can be anti-war, but still be pro-military" when you support the military personnel and their families.

To acknowledge those sacrifices, and to help military families partake in our activities with a reduced financial burden, the Board of Directors of the Delaware Friends of Folk recently voted on a new policy to allow Active Military and their families (with id) to attend any of our events and receive the same pricing as Friends of Folk members. It is a small, tiny, even microscopic gift, when compared to what the men and women in the military give to us, and I hope they join us for our coffeehouses and Festival in the near future.

Can you believe that planning for the 2007 Delmarva Folk Festival (DFF) has already started? The Board is lining up performers, committees are forming, program designs are being discussed, and volunteers are already needed for many areas.

The Festival will be Friday evening, October 5 and all day Saturday, October 6th. Mark your calendar now.

Can we get your help?

• We need a chairperson for the Ticket Sales committee which includes advance sales and sales at the gate during the festival.
• Henry Torres is looking for a co-chair for the Security and Parking committee.
• We need some food, craft, and merchandise vendors.
• We also need volunteers to work at the festival in 5 hour shifts on Friday evening and all day Saturday.

If you can help in any of these areas, call me at (302) 736-5585 after 5:00 p.m. or on weekends. Feel free to attend our next meeting on May 2nd, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Sheridan's in Smyrna. Keep watching the newsletter and checking the web site for 2007 Delmarva Folk Festival updates.

As Cooldog did 2 years ago, and Terrie and Bruce McClay did last year, our friends at Cooldog Concert Series will be hosting a fundraiser on April 22nd for the Delaware Friends of Folk.

In the past our objective for fundraising was to get the site for the Delmarva Folk Festival wired for electricity, so we could reduce or eliminate our dependence on generators for our major event. That accomplishment is now in the past, we're pleased to say.

But the 2006 Delmarva Folk Festival was not kind to our organizational coffers - the Nor'Easter that kept so many people home drained our accounts. So, the objective for this year is to replenish the "rainy day" fund, to ensure that the 2007 Festival on October 5 & 6 is able to go forward regardless of the weather.

Here's the info on the Fundraiser:

Place: Cooldog Concert Series, near Kenton, DE (just 2 miles from the Festival Site)
Time: 11am until sunset
Price: $20 for adults, $12 for students & active military
More Info & RSVP: Go to the Cooldog Concerts Site for more detail

Volunteers are still needed. We'll need folks to help set up, break down, keep the food cleaned up, monitor the alcohol, and sell merchandise. To volunteer, contact Cooldog.

We'll have beer courtesy of our friends at Fordham, and BBQ meats courtesy of Rob Fox and his BBQ Grill & CPA business - both will be available for a reasonable donation amount. We're asking everyone to bring a covered dish (side dish or dessert) to share, wine or a beverage. We'll have complimentary coffee & tea, water, lemonade, iced tea, and Diet Coke.

We're also planning fun stuff for the kids - we have a swingset, friendly dogs to play with (including a new 4 month old golden retriever puppy!), bubbles, balls, and a few other things to keep the kids from saying "can we go home now"?

We'll also be selling last year's leftover t-shirts at a bargain price, as well as vintage Folk Festival attire. And of course most of the artists will have CD's available for purchase. so bring your checkbook or extra cash. We'll even have at least one interesting thing to raffle (shhhh - it's a secret!)!