This summer, New York's harbor is filled with music, thanks to Trinity Wall Street and the Alliance. The Folks on the Island series, every Saturday in July, attracted almost 2,900 people to the opening on July 7- the most visitors since the Island was opened to the public three years ago. This free festival of American folk music greats is presented with additional support from WFUV radio and the Village Voice.The Festival began with Odetta, a musician essential to the American songbook. The audience picnicked on the grass of Colonels Row while listening to her soulful renditions of folk classics "He's got the Whole World in His Hands," "This Little Light of Mine" and "The House of the Rising Sun."
Richie Havens performs on July 21st. Legendary for his three hour
opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock music festival and his
lyrical talent, this Brooklyn native recently released his 26th album,
Grace of the Sun, on his own Stormy Forest label. Billboard says,
"...this acoustic soul giant truly seems to be getting more inspiring
and graceful with age."
The festival concludes on July 28 with a concert dedicated to
Woody Guthrie: Ribbonof Highway, Endless Skyway. It will feature songs
of Guthrie's entire career, well-known works along with pieces he never
recorded.
The large cast of musicians performing include Woody's
granddaughter Sarah Lee Guthrie, Lloyd Maines, Terri Hendrix, Jimmy
Lafave and the Burns Sisters.
For more information, visit www.folksontheisland.com.
All concerts are free, as is the ferry service from lower
Manhattan. Ferry departs every hour on the hour starting at 10 a.m.,
from the Battery Maritiume Building on South Street, next to the Staten
Island Ferry. As needed, New York Waterways will supplement the regular
ferry service with departures on the half hour. Subway
to Whitehall or to Bowling Green.
http://www.governorsislandalliance.org/pdf/OnlineOffshorevol2_5.pdf