UpNorth Concert Hall: Blues

This outdoor concert at Asgaard Farm features four performers from the UpNorth Music project: bluegrass with Althea Jean, Caribbean drums with Dan Hammond, blues with Mark Tostrup, and ska and jazz with Shu. We select highlights from their live performances.

The annual singer-songwriter festival at the Norwood Village Green Concert Series featured three performers from the UpNorth Music project: folk songs by Celia Evans of Paul Smiths NY, eclectic acoustic tunes by father-son duo John & Orion Kribs from Corinth NY, and folk and blues by father-daughter duo Jim & Gwen Tracy from Old Forge. We select highlights from their original compositions in live performance.

Performed by Mark Tolstrup in Lake George, NY for UpNorth Music

Performed by Mark Tolstrup in Lake George, NY for UpNorth Music.

Performed by Hard Pushin' Papa in Canton, NY for UpNorth Music

Performed by Hard Pushin' Papa in Canton, NY for UpNorth Music

Performed by Bailey & Feinbloom in Plattsburgh, NY for UpNorth Music.

Performed by Bailey & Feinbloom in Plattsburgh, NY for UpNorth Music.

Performed by the Dirty Blues Project for UpNorth Music on February 15, 2007.

Performed by the Dirty Blues Project for UpNorth Music on February 15, 2007.

It was an evening of great music in a historic setting. Geoff Muldaur's concert will help restore a North Country architectural and cultural treasure, the Edwards Opera House. Muldaur was one of the great voices and musical forces to emerge from the folk, blues and folk-rock scenes centered in Cambridge, MA and Woodstock, NY during the 1960s and '70s. Just back from a tour of Japan, Geoff played Edwards as the start of a month-long US tour. He gave permission to North Country Public Radio to offer the concert in streaming-only format online. Permission is not given to make and keep a download copy, or to reproduce and distribute any or all of the concert by any means. The "download audio" link on this feature is therefore deactivated. Use the "Listen" link to stream the concert.

Canadian blues guitarist Pat Johnson was Ellen Rocco's studio guest for The Blue Note, August 19, 2003. Pat, at left, plays slide on his 1998 National Steel. Here are two numbers he played live during the show on an Oskar Graf custom steel string: his original Sweet Baby Swing, and the traditional Corinna in the Mississippi John Hurt arrangement.

The Don Washington Band cooled out the NCPR studio May 13, 2003. The bluesman and his band are regular guests on The Blue Note. Hear three songs from their live set: I Just Want to Make Love to You, Stormy Monday and Honey Hush.

The Conrad Story Blues Band heated up a chilly spring day in the NCPR studio. The regional bluesmen were guests on The Blue Note, April 30, 2002. Here are three tracks from their 35-minute set: How Blue Can You Get? by BB King, When the Lights Go Out by Willie Dixon and Rack 'em Up by Bruce McCabe.

Performing: Rick "Conrad" Bates, lead guitar, harp and vocals, teaches education at SUNY Potsdam. Jonathan Hunkins, drums, and Chip Lamson, keyboard and vocals, teach music in Massena. Amalio Pratti, bass, vocals.

Baltimore bluesman Automatic Slim plays Georgia Rag and Please Don't Go at the NCPR studio as a guest on The Blue Note, Tuesday, July 3, 2001.

The Maynard Brothers Band from Johnsonville, NY, performing Redneck Express. Recorded live on NCPR's The Blue Note, May 8, 2001.

The King-Tones performing "Early in the Morning," live on The Blue Note. Recorded in the NCPR studio, September 26, 2000.

Chicago blues legend Eddie Shaw and his band, the Wolf Gang, made regular North Country appearances in the late 70s and early 80s. NCPR's Josh Sacco recorded them live at the popular music venue and watering hole, Django's, in Potsdam NY on the night of April 29, 1983, for his program North Country Music.

The Band:
Eddie Shaw: vocals, saxophone and harp
"Vann" Shaw: guitar
"Shorty" Gilbert: bass
"Slim" Holt: drums
Bobby Dixon: piano