Wepecket Whisperings
Published sporadically when there's news by Wepecket Island Records Inc.
Volume 2,
No. 10; Dec., 2011
Ariel Stimson is our new lead Account Executive and producer for our Penikese Productions division.She also helps with artist and repertoire development for Wepecket, and will be promoting and staffing concerts, tour appearances and trade shows, including the upcoming International Folk Alliance Conference in February (see below).
A recent cum laude graduate of Umass Amherst, she is an accomplished violist, but also sings, plays piano, fiddle and guitar, and has a deep affinity for strings. While an undergraduate she served internships with Sonic Zen records in Berkeley, California and with Svaram Music and Instruments, Tamil Nadu, India.
Ariel also shares our passion for preserving and sustaining our environment, having worked extensively as a bicycle mechanic and on organic and permaculture farms.
Joe Rivers will continue his full-time job at the
Boston Museum of Science, where he has been the lead A/V producer for several years, but will bring his talents to Wepecket as an Account Executive for Penikese Productions. He will also be moving us forward in the production of music videos and presentation clips for Wepecket and Penikese.Joe has also operated his own audio and video production company and produced, mixed and edited for a vast range of clients, including Rosanne Cash, the Boston Childrens' Museum, The National Heritage Museum, the WGBH Foundation and the Boston Playwrights' Theatre.
Joe is also an accomplished singer/songwriter, and has a wide and deep range of knowledge and experience in acoustic music.
Rolling Along...
We've already secured a number of dates for our Spring 2012 Rolling Roots Revue. We'll be in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Massachusetts and New Hampshire between April 16 and May 6.We're adding dates to our calendar as they are confirmed. If you know of a venue that might be a good fit, let us know (or let them know!).
New Recordings!
Sherman Lee Dillon's new CD, "Can't Help Worryin' About Me," is now set to be released in January. The project includes a bunch of newly-penned tunes, as well as more traditional blues and classic country tunes.Also in production are "Ragtime" Jack Radcliffe's "Ragged & Blue," the first volume of our "Chicken Stew" recordings, "Banjo Babes," and a compilation/sampler of the best of Wepecket, 2005-2010. All five will be out in time for the Folk Alliance Conference (see below).
All recordings are available on our music page, and you can download mp3s of individual tunes or complete albums on your favorite music site or at CD Baby.
Memphis, Here We Come...
The International Folk Alliance has its headquarters in Memphis, and most years holds its annual conference there. The 2012 conference is Feb. 22-26. Our ties to that great American city are considerable: In addition to its being one of the great wellsprings of traditional American music, Andy Cohen has made it his home for more than 20 years; and Jack Radcliffe has fond memories of living just off Beale Street in the late '60s.We have attended a number of regional and annual conferences in the past (our "Whiskey" and "Beer" showcase rooms are legendary!), but this year we're taking a step forward as an official Conference sponsor.
Friday evening we'll be hosting our own formal showcase on "Performance Alley," and we'll have an exhibit hall booth. There will be Wepecket "swag" in every conference attendee's bag, and our banner will fly proudly from the balcony overlooking the hotel lobby. Most of Wepecket's staff will be attending, as will many of our recording artists, including Don Barry, Andy Cohen, Sherman Lee Dillon, Phil Minissale, "Ragtime" Jack and Lauren Sheehan.
If you're coming to Memphis this year, stop by and say "hey!" And if you're not a member of the Alliance, you can click on their link to find out how to fix that
Thanks for helping us keep the music alive!