I’ll admit I’ve been looking forward to this month’s coffee house for over a year, maybe a lot longer.

I unashamedly admit that of all the music that is “folk”, blues is the one I like and understand best. Roy Book Binder is one of those living blues legends who you run across every now and then if you’re lucky. I never thought Friends of Folk could get him to play one of our events, but it’ll happen on Saturday, June 9. And just for extra excitement, we’re having our coffee house outside of Dover for the first time in many years.

Juggling Roy’s schedule and other factors meant that our usual Wesley College Chapel was already scheduled by another group, so with the kind help of Mary Turner and others, we’re presenting Roy in the wonderful Smyrna Opera House.
Roy is almost constantly touring and writes a blog (“Book Report”) to keep folks up to date. He’s just spent some time teaching at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Piece Ranch Guitar Camp in Ohio. Jorma knows a good thing when he hears it, “Nobody writes in the idiom better than Roy Book Binder. He is a master player, singer, writer and teller of tales? true tales.”

Roy’s official press release tells most of the facts: “Roy Book Binder is a blues singing, guitar picking, song writing raconteur, and has been for the past 30 years! Roy has been interviewed by Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air, featured on the Emmy award winning segment of the PBS TV series EGG Art in America, and appeared more than 30 times on Ralph Emory's highly regarded TV series Nashville Now.

"Book Binder has been included in the Big Book of Blues, as well as the Blues Who's Who! Roy has been continually touring across America in his tour bus, which has been his home for the last thirty years, as well as performing internationally. Back in the early 1960s, Roy learned his craft from the legendary blind street singer, Reverend Gary Davis, who was thrust into the national spotlight when Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded his song "If I Had My Way."

"After two years of traveling the folk-blues circuit with his mentor, Roy struck out on his own. Along the way, he befriended Pink Anderson, an old Carolina medicine show performer (who by the way was the "Pink" in Pink Floyd, while Floyd Council, another Carolina bluesman, was the Floyd.) Pink's stories and songs will forever be kept alive as long as Roy has a stage to perform on... In his travels, Book Binder has run across quite a cast of characters, including three peg-legged dancers, and a 90 year old classic blues singer with a sparkling smile, who was known as, "Diamond Teeth" Mary (Bessie Smith's half sister). All of these characters have become a part of a ‘Roy Book Binder show’ which is a hilarious educational experience not to be missed! Roy has toured with Bonnie Raitt, Hot Tuna, and J.J. Cale. He has been invited to many festivals including: The National StoryTelling Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival, and MerleFest where he has hosted the acoustic blues stage for the past twelve years.”

Roy never does the same show twice, never plays a song the same twice, and never tells the same story twice. If you’ve seen him, you know what he’s about. If you haven’t seen him, you really owe it to yourself. This guy represents a part of our musical heritage and he’s keeping it alive the only way he knows.

Opening the evening will be Butch Zito and Friends. Butch has been playing guitar and writing songs for more than 30 years. He is a founding member of the band Stackabones, one of the early 1980s “new” jam bands. Among his songwriting influences are the likes of Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, John Prine, The Beatles, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Gram Parsons, Merle Haggard, Joe Ely, Butch Hancock, David Bromberg, Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, and Peter Tosh. Butch’s songs are like his list–you can hear a Dylan phrase here, a Guy Clark twist there, a liberal dose of John Prine irony, and always the ability to talk about everyday experiences as if they weren’t happening every day. At press time Butch didn’t know exactly who would still be his friends for this show, but he was sure Brad Riseau would be one of them on guitar and vocals, with additional vocal help from Teri Dobra.

Come out to see a true American legend in a classic venue. The Smyrna Opera House was renovated around the turn of the century and has hosted a number of events, including two Friends of Folk co-productions called “Folk Happens”. The Opera House is on the corner of Main and South Streets in Smyrna. Advance tickets are available at delfolk.org via PayPal. All seating is general admission and the doors will open at 7 pm for the 7:30 show. Don’t let it happen without you-Saturday June 9. BE THERE!!

-- John Kidd, DEFF President

Remember, we are a real live 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. That means that your donations to Delaware Friends of Folk are likely tax deductible, but we know you’ll check with the experts before trying to rip off Uncle Sam. We are beginning to work in a few other directions, like sponsoring workshops and perhaps other educational efforts. Got a few extra dollars? Got some ideas on how we might use them? Let us know.

Hope you've been enjoying this beautiful weather! We're busy working toward the best Delmarva Folk Festival ever. Be on the lookout for the finalized artist line-up and ticket purchasing information. You will be able to purchase tickets on-line, at Coffeehouses, and from board members but you won't be able to purchase tickets at local retailers this year. Check the website for more information on how to purchase your 2007 Delmarva Folk Festival tickets.

We need some volunteers.

- We are still looking for a ticket Sale chairperson and a co-chair for the Security/Parking committee. Please help.

- We are ready to take names from volunteers who want to work the day of the festival. This is a 5-hour commitment in exchange for entrance into the Festival.

- We are also looking for people who want to sell ads for the program - you can make money. Please consider joining our hard working Delmarva Folk Festival team.

The next Delmarva Folk Festival meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6th in Smyra at Sheridan's. Please join us if you'd like to get involved. Everyone is welcome!

I know you're busy, so we've taken the liberty of planning your live music activities for the month of June. Grab your calendar and make sure you put these great events on it!

• June 2nd - Appel Farm Festival - just about an hour from Dover, and so many advantages. A "big" festival, but very pleasant, approachable and clean, with a top selection of music, activities for the whole family, great food, and more. We attended last year and hung around to get Richard Thompson to autograph a CD case we brought (just in case). I also got to chat with Janis Ian, when she gave us a severals CDs to donate to last year's Tub O'Tunes. This year the line-up is great - you can see Chris Smither, Sam Shaber, Leon Redbone, the North Mississippi Allstars, Adrienne Young, Joan Armatrading, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, and great up and comers in Hoots & Hellmouth, Kate Gaffney, and Carsie Blanton. My recommendation would be to get there early - the talent at the start of the show is just awesome (Sam Shaber starts around noon, Kate Gaffney at 11:30). Bring comfy shoes and a low chair or blanket (they let you get closer to the stage with a low chair, and even closer with a blanket). There are 2 stages and there's a hike from one stage to the other, so be prepared to get your exercise. Check out the details at http://www.appelfarm.org/festival/artists_schedule/index.html#schedule
• June 9th - Friends of Folk coffeehouse with Blues Legend Roy Book Binder. This is one show you'd better plan to attend. To be able to see Roy Book Binder, who puts on an incredible show, and to see him right in your own backyard, and at an amazing venue like the Smyrna Opera House... Folks, it doesn't get much better than this. Get your tickets (yes, it could sell out) at http://www.delfolk.org/shopping.html.
• Every Thursday - The Summer Concert Series on the Green has started already. It's hard to argue with great music that you get to enjoy for free. Bring a picnic, blanket or lawn chairs - the setting is lovely. The June Schedule:
  • June 7th - Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition
  • June 14 - Libby McDowell Jazz Band
  • June 21 - Salli & Jimi
  • June 28th - The Honeycombs
• June 16th - Rev Peyton's Big Damn Band will bring their Delta Blues to Andy's in Chestertown. If you don't know much about Andy's, you should really learn about this treasure. It's just about 30 minutes from Dover in the lovely college town of Chestertown, Maryland. Andy has had many, many amazing musicians over the years - Jonatha Brooke, Dave Matthews, Eddie From Ohio, Patty Larkin, Susan Werner, Adrienne Young & Little Sadie- way too many to mention. She supports live, original music, and if you haven't, you should check this venue out. Great food, wonderful beer and wine selection, and a real listening room. On the 16th she'll have Rev Peyton's Big Damn Band, which Cincinnati's City Beat described as "a rousing, hyper and authentic brand of Blues that sounds like what might come out of that secret meth lab nestled deep in the backwaters of the Mississippi Delta". See http://www.andys-ctown.com for details
• June 17th - if you're not busy on Father's Day, or looking for some special treat for Dad, get yourself on by to Cooldog Concert Series for a wonderful afternoon of music. Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, the lead singer from the Irish group Danu, is touring in support of her solo album, and she's got a whole band behind her, including Rosie Shipley on Fiddle, and Gerry O'Beirne on guitar and a few other instruments. Muireann is an amazing vocalist and flute player, and if your dad has any inclination toward Celtic music, he'll really appreciate this special treat. (She's not bad on the eyes, either, so Dad will really appreciate that too.) Opening will be Delawarean Sam Smick. See http://www.cooldogconcerts.com for more details.

Ok, I think we got plenty on your calendar for the month. Put it back up on the wall now and pick up the phone and call your friends and family to bring friends to these awesome events.

-- Beth Fizell, DEFF Board Member and Cooldog Hostess