Denver — Swallow Hill Music Association is proud to present the Denver Folk & Roots Festival on Saturday, March 31, 2007 in the unique setting of one of the finest acoustic concert halls in America, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a series of four showcases including Denver’s own flamenco guitarist René Heredia with renown dancer "La Churmbela," followed by Storyhill—a new and extraordinary young singer/songwriter duo—, Sons and Brothers —Colorado’s hottest new Bluegrass band— and closing with Liz Carroll and John Doyle’s dazzling Irish fiddle and guitar virtuosity.

Following the intermission, the second half of the evening will begin with world-class mandolinist Mike Marshall and Choro Famoso—a South American all-star ensemble. Marshall and Choro Famoso will be joined by Colombian singer/songwriter Claudia Gómez.

The Taj Mahal Trio will close the evening. We have chosen Taj Mahal as the headliner of the Festival to emphasize the objective of the Festival: Present Folk & Roots music from all cultures of our planet. Taj Mahal began his career with a special interest in American Country/Delta Blues and his signature album Mo’ Roots. Taj Mahal personifies the theme of the Festival in his commitment to and global knowledge of Roots music:

You could call him a singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, ethnomusicologist, two-time Grammy-winner, world-class musical collaborator, musicians' advocate, world traveler, fisherman, or cigar aficionado. These titles are all accurate, yet none convey the warmth, humor, and soulfulness of Taj and his music. Taj has been playing his own distinctive brand of music —variously described as Afro-Caribbean blues, folk-world-blues, hula blues, folk-funk, and a host of other hyphenations— for more than 40 years. Caribbean, Hawaiian, African, Latin, and Cuban sounds and rhythms mix with folk, jazz, zydeco, gospel, rock, pop, soul, and R&B, all layered on top of a solid country blues foundation. What ties it all together is Taj's abiding interest in musical discovery, particularly in tracing many American musical forms back to their roots in Africa and Europe. Following his passion, Taj has spent time in the Caribbean, West Africa, Hawaii, Europe, the South Pacific, Australia, South America, and all over the continental U.S. His music reflects his global perspective, incorporating sounds from everywhere he's lived and traveled. A self-taught musician, Taj plays more than 20 instruments, including the National Steel and Dobro guitars. His remarkable voice ranges from gruff and gravelly to smooth and sultry.

This Denver Folk & Roots Music Festival helps to illustrate the mission of Swallow Hill and our 28 year history in the Denver community.

About Swallow Hill Music Association
Swallow Hill Music Association is Denver's Home for Folk, Roots and Acoustic Music. Helping people make music since 1979, Swallow Hill is a Colorado 501-C3, not for profit organization, and one of the largest institutions of its kind in the United States as a source for folk, roots and acoustic music. With more than 2,100 members (some of whom are also volunteers), Swallow Hill provides a place to celebrate music that is rarely heard elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain Region. Three concert venues and outsourced halls house more than 200 concerts a year, featuring some of the world's great artists as well as up-and-coming new talent. The Julie Davis Music School at Swallow Hill provides a valuable and affordable educational resource to the community with more than 50 music instructors involved in more than 240 adult classes and 70 children's classes every year.

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