Allen Folk Festival 2011 Part 3 of 3

Emanating from the heart and soul of all cultures, folk music brings people together in a way no other musical genre can accomplish. The Allen Folk Festival held its inaugural event at the Allen Public Library, Saturday evening, September 17, 300 N. Allen Dr. Live performances from popular local folk musicians. Sponsored by Bach to Books.

Allen resident Kevin Vaught opens the festival. A graduate of the University of North Texas, majoring in theater, Kevin is an adherent of the philosophy that music is too important to be left solely to professionals. "I'm certainly no one's idea of a virtuoso player but I don't want to let that stop me from making music. That's why folk music really speaks to me and so many others. It's a form where I can be a participant, not just an audience. I hope this festival continues as a tradition."

An ever-popular staple of folk music venues across North Texas, the duo of Ann Armstrong and Steve Hughes have been entertaining audiences with their blend of Texas blues, folk and rock, for over 20 years. They have shared billings with Albert Collins, Jerry Jeff Walker, Hot Tuna, Arlo Guthrie, Guy Clark, and more. Their recent venues have included the South by Southwest Convention, and they are regulars at the internationally acclaimed Kerrville Folk Festival. In addition, they were the winners of the 1990 Best Blues Act in the Dallas Observer readers poll.

Bruce Balmer and Lisa Markley perform an exciting blend of jazz and folk. After studying music at Marlboro College, Bruce played lead guitar for rock, jazz, and country bands, and composed for dance performance and film. A multi-instrumentalist, Lisa holds a degree in music composition. In 2000, she received "Honorable Mention" in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for two of her songs (in both the jazz and in the folk categories). That same year she went on to win the B.W. Stevenson Songwriting Contest. Her solo projects include Goddess of Groove, The Sky Is Blue and Sometimes Cries, and One Word.

The musical duo Twice As Far delight and engage audiences with music that ranges from traditional mountain dulcimer tunes to contemporary and original songs. Jeannie Clark Fisher began her career as a singer/songwriter in Red Bank, New Jersey, where she opened for Bruce Springsteen in his early days. When she and Judi Altstatt Allen formed their duo Twice As Far, her folk roots resurfaced. Jeannie also sings with the Dallas Opera Chorus. Judi Altstatt Allen earned a bachelor of music education degree and continued her training by completing a master's degree in clarinet performance. She plays with the Allen Symphony and teaches band at Ereckson Middle School in Allen.

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