Festival announces Winter Concert Series lineup

The Sisters Folk Festival has announced the lineup for the 2011 Winter Concert Series.

This year's lineup is an exciting mix of music styles and encompasses an award-winning bluegrass group, a legendary songwriter and an artful women's ensemble steeped in Appalachian and Eastern European melodies.

The 2011 series begins Monday, January 10, with a return of the Steep Canyon Rangers from Brevard, North Carolina. After bursting onto the bluegrass scene in 2001, they were named IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year in 2006. They have perfected their ensemble approach using fierce dynamics and seamless harmonies and are past winners of the prestigious new band contest at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

Last time they were in Sisters in 2009, they impressed hard-core bluegrass fans with their stunning original songs, as well as performing songs of early bluegrass, honky-tonk, and blues.

On Friday, February 4, legendary Americana artist and songwriter Tom Russell will perform. Russell has performed several times at the Sisters Folk Festival, creating a loyal local following.

Critic Ken Bruen writes, "Tom Russell is the last great American voice. For decades, he has been writing/performing and enriching us with mini works of pure art... With 'Blood and Candle Smoke' he has produced his masterpiece... Every song on this pure gold album is a rare and rarer treasure."

On Friday, February 25, the series concludes with Moira Smiley & VOCO, a visionary blend of voices, that redefine harmony singing with the power and physicality of folksong, the avant-garde fearlessness of Béla Bartók and the delicious, vaudevillian accompaniment of cello, banjo, accordion and body percussion.

Moira Smiley leads an ensemble of extraordinary musicians who share a passion for powerful, emotional music with lush four-part vocal harmony. Named #1 a cappella group in the U.S. in 2007, VOCO is the energy of street singing and the elegance of a string quartet.

To purchase tickets visit http://www.sistersfolkfestival.org or call the festival office at 541-549-4979. Tickets are also available at Paulina Springs Books in Sisters and Redmond, and FootZone in Bend. The price for all shows is $15/adult for advance tickets and $10/student; $20/adult, $12/student at the door.

An advanced series pass can be purchased for $40 adult/$25 students for all three shows.

Shows start at 7 p.m. at the Sisters High School auditorium.

Visit http://www.sisters

country.com for lodging specials in Sisters on the evening of these concerts.