SFMS Resource List
Ensembles
A roster of SFMS Members who are offering their talents to the public.
The Ensembles category includes bands of various sizes.
All Strung Out
All Strung Out is an eclectic string ensemble that combines elements of bluegrass, old-time, folk, and swing music. It’s anchored by mandolinist/guitarist/hammered dulcimist Henry Koretzky, and rounded out by some of the area’s finest players and singers.
Contact Henry at hrk2 (at) psu.edu or 717-574-0266
Arcona Reel Band
The Arcona Reel Band is a hard hitting, raucous, witty group of musicians who put an American spin on traditional Celtic music. They have been performing for more than 10 years at major events throughout the Northeast. In addition to strong vocal harmonies, featured instruments include the hammer dulcimer, guitar, mandolin, concertina, upright bass, and bodhran. The band’s music has been described as honest, their style as unique, and their performance as high energy.
Contact Sparkie Radcliffe at arcona (at) arconareelband.com or 717-234-0842
Black Bear Crossing
Black Bear Crossing is comprised of five musicians scattered throughout northcentral Pennsylvania, with a geographic center in Williamsport. Their repertoire includes tunes found in the Celtic lands, selections with an Eastern European flavor, as well as traditional and Old Timey American favorites and original compositions. They have released two CDs, The Trail and The Bridge.
Black Bear Crossing performs at Celtic and Folk music events, contradances, concerts, weddings and community functions. SFMS member Wendy McCormick plays the Celtic harp, hammered dulcimer and accordion. Other instruments include flute and whistle, fiddle, bass, keyboard, autoharp and bodhran.
Contact Wendy McCormick at mmccormi (at) cub.kcnet.org or 570-398-1387
Callanish
Callanish plays Irish and Scottish music in the traditional style, on fiddle, flute, whistles, Scottish small pipes, concertina, guitar, mandolin, bodhran, and voice. The band has played State College First Night the past two years, the CPFA, and many weddings and parties. Their repertoire includes lively jigs and reels, haunting airs, and rollicking songs! Callanish recently released their first CD.
Contact Patty Lambert at esppatty (at) attglobal.net or 814-692-8966
Clannamore
Clannamore is a lively duo featuring Alanna Berger (hammered dulcimer, concertina) and Blaise Liffick (guitar, pennywhistle, octave mandolin, bodhran). Their repertoire draws heavily from the Celtic culture (Ireland, Scotland, and the British Isles) and traditional American music, ranging from the ancient (pre-Renaissance era) to the modern. Jigs, reels, hornpipes, and marches are combined with lyrical airs, laments, and waltzes to form a warm and lively sound. They also have an extensive repertoire of lively drinking songs, bawdy tunes, ballads, and funny stories. Alanna also teaches hammered dulcimer.
Contact Blaise & Alanna at lifflick (at) clannamore.com or 717-361-2992
The Contra Rebels
The Contra Rebels is an old-time southern-style band led by York County fiddler Todd Clewell, with Henry Koretzky on guitar and mandolin. The group specializes in playing contradances and square dances in a circuit ranging from New York to Georgia, and is often augmented by banjo and bass.
Contact Henry at hrk2 (at) psu.edu or 717-574-0266
Cormorant’s Fancy
Cormorant’s Fancy was created during the fall of 2003 when a couple of Folk and Friends’ Civil War band members began talking about an Irish band. Later discussions expanded the target repertoire to include all British Isles music. Huntingdon based Luthier Curtis Rockwell was asked to join and help develop our repertoire. After reviewing a few dozen proposed names, the band picked Cormorant’s Fancy. We play music of the British Isles, including a variety of traditional and contemporary hard-driving songs, haunting slow airs, jigs and reels.
Contact Dan Diviney 717-624-2542 or Beth Folkemer 717-334-4334, or email mail (at) cormorantsfancy.com
Folk and Friends
Folk and Friends began their collaboration in 1999. Their name describes their membership and repertoire. Made up of members of the Folkemer family and their friends, the group performs Civil War era music, American and British Isles folk music, spirituals, and traditional carols. They add a few surprises — pieces from other genres “friendly” to folk style music. Instruments include fiddle, guitar, pennywhistle, concertina, oboe, hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, bowed psaltery, piano, bodhran, and bones. Folk and Friends has performed in venues such as History Meets the Arts, The Main Street Gettysburg Series, The Civil War Roundtable, First Night, Susquehanna Folk Music Society Coffee House, and Historic Gettysburg.
Contact Beth & Stephen Folkemer at bfolkemer (at) yahoo.com or 717-334-4334
The Gnu Tones
The Gnu Tones is a Celtic-based contradance ensemble led by State College fiddler Bruce Young and anchored by Lancaster pianist Jill Smith.
Contact Bruce Young at bryfiddle (at) aol.com or 814-237-1602
Howard and the Islanders
This four piece band specializes in “Island Music”, featuring Jamaican songs, Calypso, Hawaiian tunes, Jimmy Buffet songs and other songs with a similar flavor. The band consists of Jamaican native Howard Lee on twelve string guitar, Micheal Carbon on electric guitar, Tom Carl on bass, and Jim Richardson on banjo and ukuele. Their diverse backgrounds in calypso, rock, bluegrass, country and jazz blend to form a distinctive sound featuring strong vocals, a driving rhythm and melodic guitar licks.
Contact Micheal Carbon at 717-877-2079 for information or booking.
Indian Summer Jars
We are seasonal gigging musicians who play the Harrisburg, York and Gettysburg area. Our music is bluesy folk rock with earthy and Celtic undertones, passionate lyrics, soulful harmonies, and lots of heat. Take a look and listen at www.myspace.com/indiansummerjars
Inishowen
Inishowen is a four-piece group that specializes in Celtic, Maritime, Old-Timey and Québecois tunes and songs. They appeared on the SFMS Coffeehouse stage recently. Henry Cohen also teaches at home, giving lessons on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, tenor banjo, and hammered dulcimer.
Contact Henry at henry (at) inishowenmusic.com or 717-334-4334
Irish Blessing
Since 2002, Irish Blessing, a York based family band, has stormed the Central PA region with a powerhouse of traditional music and dance.
Jonathon, 18, plays piano and flute, is the North American Irish Dance Champion, and currently ranks 5th in the world for his age group in Irish Dance. He has danced many times, along with his brother Josh, for The Chieftains, Eileen Ivers, and Cherish the Ladies, at the Kennedy Center and the Meyerhoff.
Josh, 14, has learnt fiddle from Donna Long (of Cherish the Ladies) for several years and is a rising star on the young generation scene. He qualified for the "All-Irelands" in his band two years ago. Josh has competed in the World Irish Dance championships for the past three years. He is 5th in the Mid-Adlantic region of the USA.
Rounding out Irish Blessing are Cushla (mom) on wooden flute and keyboards, and Jim (dad) on bodhran and flute.
Contact the Srours at srour (at) medscape.com or 717-792-3999
Ken Gehret Swing Quartet
The Ken Gehret Swing Quartet is a jazz ensemble mixing elements of classic and contemporary jazz. The group is led by violinist/guitarist Ken Gehret, with Bruce Campbell on bass, L.J. Palmer on drums/percussion, and Henry Koretzky on guitar/mandolin.
Contact Ken at kgehret (at) comcast.net or 610-927-1755
KJ & Henry
KJ & Henry is a duo performing original and contemporary folk, featuring Lewisburg singer/songwriter K.J. Reimensnyder-Wagner and mandolinist Henry Koretzky. KJ & Henry also perform as part of a larger ensemble, Sweet Nothings.
Contact Henry at hrk2 (at) psu.edu or 717-574-0266
Ladies In The Parlor
Ladies In The Parlor is a string band that brings Old Time fiddle tunes and songs to a variety of audiences. The Ladies have appeared on various stages in the region and have played for contra dances, festivals, hoedowns, private parties and celebrations, including weddings. Their lively playing has a special way of delighting a crowd, ensuring that everyone has a good time.
At the 2006 Deer Creek Fiddlers’ Convention, Ladies in the Parlor took first place in the Old Time band competition. Their instrumentation includes fiddle, five-string banjo, guitar, bass and mandolin. The Ladies in the Parlor are Barb Schmid, Sharon Sacks, Freya Qually and Suzanne Gates.
Contact Suzanne at Suzanne (at) ladiesintheparlor.com or 717-259-0319
Late For Supper
Late for Supper is an eclectic group playing a variety of music on guitar, fiddle and banjo. Old-time Appalachian fiddle tunes are sure to get your feet tapping. Creative arrangements of bluegrass, gospel, folk tunes sung in three-part harmony leave audiences wanting more. They have played for concerts, fairs, barn & Contra dances, private parties, banquets, festivals, and weddings to mention a few.
Barb Schmid from Hampstead, MD takes the lead on fiddle, lead & harmony vocals. Jack Hoffman from Hellam, PA adds five-string banjo and harmony vocals. Todd Clewell from Felton, PA on guitar, mandolin, fiddle and lead & harmony vocals, rounds out this powerful trio.
Contact Todd at info (at) ToddClewell.com or 717-235-4504
The Lowlander Highlanders
The Lowlander Highlanders — fiddler Beverley Conrad and percussionist Luke Glick — play a variety of historical music from the northern Appalachians and old world highlands. Their lively interactive performances combine tunes, clogging and old-time stories with history, folklore, instrument-making and hands-on music lessons.
Contact Beverley at bevconrad (at) yahoo.com or 570-374-2647
Medicinal Purpose
Medicinal Purpose is a contradance band mixing southern old-time and northern Celtic influences. The group, which also performs public concerts and has released a cassette entitled Uncorked!, is led by fiddler Ryck Kaiser, joined by guitarist Jamie O’Brien, banjoist/concertina player Carol Whitfield, and mandolinist/hammered dulcimist Henry Koretzky.
Contact Henry at hrk2 (at) psu.edu or 717-574-0266
Old World Folk Band
The Old World Folk Band is a twelve-piece Harrisburg-based Klezmer ensemble available for concerts, weddings, and other celebrations. Founded in 1982, the band performs throughout the mid-Atlantic region, specializing in Klezmer, Russian, Yiddish Theater and Eastern European music. Our own Jess Hayden plays clarinet.
Contact Dale Laninga at dlaninga (at) oldworldfolkband.org or Jess at 717-932-2348
Rootbound
Rootbound is a duet based in old-time music but also reflecting contemporary influences and material. The group consists of Glen Rock singer/guitarist Deb Kauffmann and mandolinist/singer Henry Koretzky, who feature tight duo harmonies.
Contact Henry at hrk2 (at) psu.edu or 717-574-0266
Simple Gifts
Simple Gifts is a trio of women playing twelve instruments and performing ethnic folk music: Romanian, Klezmer, Greek, Irish, Scottish, Appalachian, and more. The group has performed throughout the mid-Atlantic region and has released five albums. The most recent, Time and Again, won a Crossroads Music Award.
Contact Linda Littleton at Linda (at) SimpleGiftsMusic.com or 814-238-8048
Sink Or Swing
Sink Or Swing is a Lewisburg-based swing band fronted by clarinetist/vocalist Doug McMinn, joined by bassist/singer Carl Kirby, guitarists Joe DeCristopher and Ed Scholl, and mandolinist Henry Koretzky. The group features a mix of classic and contemporary swing and jazz vocals and instrumentals.
Contact Henry at hrk2 (at) psu.edu or 717-574-0266
Sweet Nothings
Sweet Nothings is a contemporary folk trio led by Lewisburg singer/songwriter K.J. Reimensnyder-Wagner, augmented by bassist Joe DeCristopher and mandolinist Henry Koretzky. K.J. has released two CDs under her own name, Pony Tales and Dreaming Inside Her Mind. KJ & Henry also perform as a duo.
Contact Henry at hrk2 (at) psu.edu or 717-574-0266
Tin Kettle
Tin Kettle is a Lancaster-based trio specializing in the dance music and songs of Ireland, played on fiddle, tenor banjo, concertina, tin whistle, guitar, five-string banjo, and mandolin. In addition to their large repertoire of reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, and airs, the group features the vocals of Matthew Ward, a regular performer for the Philadelphia Ceili Group. Matthew's extensive store of material includes songs by some of Ireland's finest contemporary songwriters as well as songs from the deep tradition.
The other two members of the group, John Winship and Sharon Sacks, aside from their Irish playing, have long experience with American Appalachian music: Sharon currently holds the banjo chair in Ladies in the Parlor, and John played for many years in the West Orrtanna String Band and the Orrtanna Mountain Steamers. You can hear this mountain influence in some of Tin Kettle's arrangements.
Contact John at john.winship (at) ricefruit.com or 717-677-9106,
or contact Sharon at skscpa (at) verizon.net or 717-396-9752
Unbowed
Unbowed is a fiddle-less contradance band, led by the mandolin of Henry Koretzky and supported by guitarist Mike Henry and others.
Contact Henry at hrk2 (at) psu.edu or 717-574-0266
Voxology
Kevin Neidig and Les Vonderlin make up this award-winning duo based in Central Pennsylvania.
Voxology performed for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, and were finalists in the 1998 Lilith Fair/Levi’s Talent Search. Voxology has opened for the Legendary Doc Watson, Peter Rowan and his Texas Trio, and the Grammy award winning Alison Brown Quartet and The Badlees. They have been featured at music and arts festivals throughout the mid-Atlantic region. They have produced three recordings.
Kevin Neidig also teaches guitar at the Neidig Guitar Studio in Mechanicsburg, PA.
Contact Voxology at voxology (at) ezonline.com or 717-795-6206
We3
We3 presents music styles from roots, folk, country, blues, along with 50's, 60's and 70's favorites. Selections include songs by Bob Dylan, Old Crow Medicine Show, John Prine, Arlo Guthrie, Doc Watson, Lovin Spoonful, James Taylor, Everly Brothers, Harry Chapin, Maria Muldaur, John Denver, Roy Orbison, Linda Ronstadt, and Gordon Lightfoot. The Band is Russ Matthews (Guitar, Banjo, Autoharp, Harmonica, Vocals); Paulette Matthews (Bass Guitar, Ashbory Bass, Violin, Vocals); Lindy Mack (Keyboards, Vocals).
Contact Russ & Paulette at We3 (at) amnesia-music.com or 717-319-0349
Wesley Bluegrass Gospel Group
The 8-member Wesley Bluegrass Gospel Group (formerly known as the Sesame Street Bluegrass Gang — because when you have a Kermit and a Grover playing in your group...) is still on-going.
Contact Ed at erech (at) state.pa.us or 717-730-2191
