Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert Series set to roll

Sisters Folk Festival continues its tradition of brightening up cold winter nights with a variety of music - this year ranging from an old-timey band to an innovative guitarist.

The Sisters community is invited to turn out on Fridays in February for the Sisters Folk Festival's 2015 Winter Concert Series.

On Friday, February 6, The Foghorn Stringband will bring their old-timey brand of music to Sisters. The Foghorn Stringband is the present-day shining gold-standard for American string-band music, with seven albums, thousands of shows, over a decade of touring under their belts, and an entirely new generation of old-time musicians following their lead. Through all this, they've never let the music grow cold; instead they've been steadily proving that American roots music is a never-ending well of inspiration.

From their origins in Portland's underground roots music scene, the core duo of Caleb Klauder, whose wistful, keening vocals and rapid-fire mandolin picking have always been the heart of the band, and Stephen "Sammy" Lind, perhaps the best old-time fiddler of his generation, have spread the old-time string-band gospel all over the world. Along the way, they've brought in influences and inspiration from their many travels and fellow bandmates. Vintage country songs became a part of Foghorn Stringband thanks to Klauder's intense passion for the music; and frequent visits to Louisiana have inspired the group to bring Cajun songs into the repertoire.

Sisters favorite and long-time Folk Festival artist Beth Wood will open the show. Beth Wood's exceptional musicianship, crafty songwriting, and commanding stage presence have been winning over American audiences for 16 years.

On Friday, February 13, the second installation will include the co-billing of The Stray Birds and returning favorites Cahalen Morrison and Eli West, bringing their brand of high-lonesome music to Sisters.

"This is a roots music "wheelhouse' booking, the harmonies, the adherence to tradition and pushing things forward is what both of these bands do with great success," said Brad Tisdel, creative director of Sisters Folk Festival.

The Stray Birds, made up of Maya de Vitry, Oliver Craven and Charles Muench, formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and the classically trained and roots-music-raised trio has spent the last several years honing their sound and touring extensively, including live performances on NPR's Mountain Stage, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival and Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.

The band, whose playing is gorgeous, the harmonies exquisite, made their Yep Roc Records label debut October 21 with the release of their second full-length studio album, "Best Medicine." Following the band's 2012 self-titled release, which NPR Music named Top 10 Folk/Americana album and proclaimed, "Clearly these are players with chops, songwriters with a fierce command of their craft."

They will be joined by the duo of Cahalen Morrison and Eli West, from Seattle, Washington. They are considered two of the most innovative and subtle roots musicians today. Their music draws from old folk sources, and it sounds vibrantly alive.

"After a very successful Festival appearance in 2014, we are happy to bring them back and expose their virtuosity to a broader audience," said Tisdel.

To conclude the series, on Friday, February 27 the incomparable Willy Porter will bring his inventive guitar playing, passionate songwriting and entertaining stage-show back to Sisters. His live shows combine his guitar-playing, songwriting and on-stage improvisational skills as a storyteller and performance artist. This show pushes the new acoustic music frontier forward, and is not to be missed.

The Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert Series package is $50 for all three shows for adults, $25 for students. Individual tickets are $20 advance/$25 door/$10 student. All shows are at the Sisters High School Auditorium, 1700 W. McKinney Butte Rd., and start at 7 p.m.

For more information on the 2015 Sisters Folk Festival Winter Concert Series, or to purchase tickets go to www.sistersfolkfestival.org or call the festival office at 541-549-4979.