Local bands offer folk fest preview

The Squawback Anvil Blasters are (l.-r.) Jim Cornelius, Lynn Woodward, Dianne Herauf, Charley Engel, Al Herauf and Jeff Wester. photo by Tom Chace

"At the End of a Dusty Road" could well be the name of a folk song, but Sunday afternoon, July 27, it was the destination of several dozen music lovers headed for the "Harmony Ranch" home of Doug and Katie Cavanaugh.

Clusters of eight or 10 aficionados gathered here and there on colorful, webbed chairs and beach towels in the shade of nearby juniper trees to hear the music of the six-member Squawback Anvil Blasters and a trio composed of the two Cavanaughs and Joe Leonardi.

The house concert event was sponsored by the Sisters Folk Festival.

The Anvil Blasters opened the musical afternoon with "Shady Grove" and "Leavin' Lousiana in the Broad Daylight." That started toes tappin' and fingers snappin' which went on for the next two hours. The group features Al Herauf on bass, Dianne Herauf on fiddle, Lynn Woodward on guitar, Jeff Wester on banjo, Jim Cornelius on guitar and Charley Engel on harmonica.

Various members share vocal duties and harmonies.

Many a cool can of beer or bottle of iced water was placed against lips and held against neck and cheek as the afternoon was warm, even in the shade, and the music kept the guests swinging and swaying. Some of the younger ones even danced on the manicured, verdant lawn.

Dick Sandvik, long-time leader of the Sisters Folk Festival, left his guitar at home this day in order to sell raffle tickets along with festival administrator Scott Pillar.

The festival is raffling both a Breedlove guitar and mandolin and raffle ticket sales were part of the fund-raising purpose of the event.

Jim Smith, director of the Sisters Jazz Festival, was there supporting the burgeoning growth of musical entertainment in Central Oregon. Both festivals are scheduled for this September.

Cornelius noted the remarkable fact that music lovers had someone to see nearly every day of the week this summer, including Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan in Bend in the space of a few days.

The Squawback Anvil Blasters paid tribute to a past winner of the Sisters Folk Festival songwriting contest, playing a Dave Carter song, titled "Grand Prairie, Texas, Homesick Blues." Carter, who tragically died last year, was the winner of the original 1995 songwriting contest.

The two groups played over two dozen songs between them.

Katie Cavanaugh, herself a two-time songwriting contest finalist, was the perfect hostess, finding chairs for those who forgot to bring their own.

She shared the stage with her husband Doug, a guitarist, and Joe Leonardi on bass and they recruited Blue D'Arts members Johnny Smorgasbord and Dennis McGregor out of the audience to join them on several songs, including Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released."

McGregor, recovering from a bicycle wreck, quipped, "That was my favorite song when I was in the hospital."

The Sisters Folk Festival will be held this year on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 5-7. Tickets for all performances are available by calling 549-4979.