Harvest Moon Wine & Folk Festival slated Sept. 11-12

WARWICK-The Warwick Valley Winery Distillery and Orchards will present its seventh annual Harvest Moon Wine and Folk Festival, on Sept. 11 & 12. This year, all acts will showcase original music by national and by area singer-songwriters. Shows on both days will be held rain or shine on the Ron's Meadow Orchard Stage from 1 to 5 p.m.. Gates will open at 11 a.m. Karen Savoca & Pete Heitzman and Terence Martin will headline the festival on Saturday. Greg Brown and Gandolf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams will headline the festival on Sunday. Other regional artists include first time winery appearances by Arlon Bennett, Motherlode Trio and Brian McLaughlin, while Cavern, Kevin Craig, Jim Elwell, Ildiko, Ken & Julie, Marty Koppel, Aileen Morgan, Open Book, Kathleen Pemble, Chip Robertson and local favorite, John Sheehan are return performers. Greg Brown was born in Iowa and raised by a family that made words and music a way of life. His seasoned songwriting, storytelling, and music are deeply rooted in that place. He moves audiences with warmth, humor, a thundering voice and his unpretentious musical vision. Greg's music is an intricate mix. Though a touring musician for over 30 years, he has never abandoned those things that move him deeply - family, home, poetry and the natural world. Music and words flow through him and he uses them to paint simple yet powerful images on a canvas of gospel, blues, country, rock, and jazz. A firm believer in community and ecological responsibility, he often uses his music to support these causes. Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman met on a stage, and they've been making music together ever since. Their style is an elusive blend of all the music they love. soul, rock, pop, jazz, blues, and everything in between. Karen is an extraordinary singer, versatile and engaging. She sings with an inherent sense of fun, drawing the listener willingly into her world, an emotionally charged celebration of life with all its ups and downs. A gifted songwriter, her songs are full of lasting images, melodies and characters. Though she writes and records on a variety of instruments, in performance her compelling percussion is the foundation of their band-like sound. Pete is a fiendishly good guitarist, lyrical, funky and very innovative. He plucks bends and thwaps astonishing textures and soundscapes from an acoustic guitar or longhorn bass. Fluid and colorful, he's been described as the aurora borealis of guitar players. Eloquent and electrifying, Karen and Pete's original sound combined with their on-stage energy and ease make for a powerful and memorable concert experience. Born in London and raised in Los Angeles, singer songwriter Terence Martin is a recent transplant to Larchmont, N.Y. His musical background includes work as a double bassist in the Burbank Symphony and in several rock bands. Also a published poet, his poetry is included in the anthology, "Four Valley Poets." His performances have included opening shows for Christine Lavin, Dar Williams, Richard Shindell, Richie Havens and Lucy Kaplansky, at such venues as the Bottom Line, Emelin Theatre, Iron Horse Music Hall and the Towne Crier. In March 2000, he was one of 14 artists chosen from 100's of entries to audition for Tom Rush's Club 47 concerts. Formed in 1998 in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., Gandalf Murphy and The Slambovian Circus of Dreams quickly became known as one of the most intriguing new bands in the Hudson Valley. Voted the ‘Best Unsigned Band of 1998' by the Hudson Valley AFM, the group quickly graduated from playing small coffeehouses and open mics to playing some of the best venues in the region. This band is a strange phenomenon; hardcore folkies to hard rock purists have embraced them and spread the word. The winery suggests audience members bring lawn chairs or blankets, and no coolers. Admission to the Harvest Moon Festival is $10 in advance, and $15 at the gate. Children 5 and under will be admitted for free. The winery is located at 114 Little York Road in Warwick, NY. Wine tasting and education are available to the public between the hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For further information and directions, contact the winery at http://www.wvwinery.com or at 258-4858.