Listen for Americana music floating along the shores of Lake Powell as it mingles with the salty evening breeze at Camp Helen State Park this winter. Americana Concerts in the Lodge at Camp Helen State Park are back and better than ever on Saturdays from January 11 to March 1 at 6 p.m.
Tickets are now available for purchase for a suggested donation of $15 directly on the Friends of Camp Helen website (www.friendsofcamphelen.org). The ticket price includes park admission, food, and beverages. There will be limited seats available for each show. The doors open at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 6:30.
Little Mercies, a young trio of talented Tallahassee musicians who trade instruments around like passing a plate of biscuits to a table full of hungry children, kick off the season on January 11.
Nikki Talley, along with exquisite guitar and harmonies by hubby Jason Sharp, offers a sweet trip down the Appalachian trail with a little Florida seafaring thrown in for texture. They will perform on January 25.
On February 8, Ben Gage takes the stage. Although he comes from the rust belt of Ohio, he is anything but rusty.
Crowd favorites, Mike and Maggie Mckinney are back on February 22. Lucky Mud SwampyTonk… Folkabilly, harmony and discord, dark and light from a Florida and beyond perspective.
The last Saturday show March 1 features Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald, quintessential folk musicians with the rarest quality of combined stellar songwriting, beautiful musicianship and unreal vocals and harmonies.
For the first time ever, the grand finale of the series will be the Roots and Wings XII Festival Sunday, March 2, from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Roots and Wings XII is a one day music festival that includes morning workshops and afternoon concerts by some of the finest touring Americana singer/songwriters in the country today. The festival begins at 10 a.m. with one hour morning workshops, free with the purchase of a ticket, in guitar/mandolin/fiddle (choose your specific instrument) (workshop I) followed by vocal/harmony (workshop II) and ends with songwriting (workshop III). These workshops follow each other so that everyone can attend all three. They are totally immersive and interactive, everyone gets involved. It’s a sharing experience when we believe everyone, at any level, has something to add. Tickets are $50 and include parking, lunch, concerts, and workshops. Tickets will be available to the public on Friday, November 29.
Scholarships will be offered to younger musicians. Concerts begin after our lunch break (1 to 1:45 p.m.), also included with the purchase of a ticket, at 2 p.m. with local favorite duo Lucky Mud, purveyors of SwampyTonk & Folkabilly, Florida style, followed by David Singley, jazz-influenced guitarist, former touring backing guitar player and former Minnesota professor with poetic lyrics and soulful melodies turned solo singer/songwriter. The duo Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald from Northern California are the quintessential folk singer/songwriters who are the complete package of vocal/harmony beautiful songs with meaningful, heartfelt messages for today and always. Our final performer, Wyatt Espalin hails from the heart of Appalachia, Hiawassee, Georgia. He brings big beautiful vocals, multi-instrumental talents, and powerful songwriting.
