Denver - Swallow Hill is pleased to present its summer Minifestival Series, running from June through August of 2007, featuring a different theme/genre of music each performance. From Celtic to swing jazz, world roots music to traditional folk, old time to contemporary singer/songwriters and more, you'll be sure to find some great treasures this summer for you and your family to enjoy during these special Saturday evening concerts.

Skean Dubh, Scoundrels for Hire and Kevin Dooley & Friends - Sat., June 9
Skean Dubh delivers everything from Irish pub songs to Scottish ballads and driving instrumentals; Scoundrels for Hire is a duo specializing in acoustic folk, blues, country, bluegrass, and original music; and Kevin Dooley is a long-time traveling songwriter and authentic acoustic musician, and a past winner of the Crossroads Acoustic Blues Award. Put them all together and you're guaranteed for an evening of exuberant Irish music and Celtic acoustic charm.

Deco Django, Swing Chicks and Swingin' String Band - Sat., June 23
Deco Django performs a lively musical mix of American swing with European gypsy shadings, influenced by the likes of Djano Reinhardt; the Swing Chicks is an all-female swing trio who have performed with each other as well as other local favorites for years; and the Swingin' String Band is comprised of multi-talented Swallow Hill faculty and staff. These three acts will get you on your feet for a night of swingin’ gypsy jazz fun.

Southern Journey, riverrun and The Uptown Relics - Sat., June 30
Comprised of members of Stray Dog, riverrun's Marta Burton, and guitarist Joe Rigley, Southern Journey will set the tone for the following acts, riverrun, a Celtic-fusion band, and The Uptown Relics, who perform Scotch-Irish, Appalachian, African-American, cowboy, and blues traditions from the 1930s and '40s. Explore the deep rivers of songs and tunes that flow through our American experience on this special evening.

The Blue Canyon Boys and Palmer Divide - Sat., July 7
The Blue Canyon Boys is a power trio who play with sincere intensity and raw emotion, and they'll be joined by another stellar band who have become a mainstay of Colorado's bluegrass scene, Palmer Divide, who have shared the stage with the likes of Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, and Michael Martin Murphey, to name a few. Come join us for what will prove to be a great bluegrass hootenanny.

WadiRum, Michael Lloyd Band and Rob Drabkin - Sat., July 14
WadiRum has established itself as a top-notch band that combines roots of folk, jazz, and rock to spellbind audiences. They'll be joined by the Michael Lloyd band, an act that is propelled by an infectious mix of soulful vocal hooks and funky piano, and Rob Drabkin, a quickly rising original singer/songwriter who has recently had opportunities to perform for the likes of President Bill Clinton and KBCO's Studio C. Together, these three will deliver an evening of sophisticated and soulful R&B and jazz fusion.

Planina, Barbelfish Balkan Band and Sandra Wong - Sat., July 21
Planina and the Barbelfish Balkan Band are led by Swallow Hill faculty member Julie Lancaster. Between these two acts, you will be taken on a journey from Albania to Bulgaria, Greece to Hungary, Romania to Turkey, and more, with the Sephardic and Rom (Gypsy) traditions from some of those areas being represented. Sandra Wong will join them with her nyckelharpa, a 16-stringed, keyed, bowed, Swedish folk instrument, to transport the Swallow Hill audience to the exotic, striking sounds of Eastern Europe.

Peace & Love & Jigs & Reels, Crabshack House Band and session friends - Sat., July 28
Peace & Love & Jigs & Reels is a duo that brings the richness of Celtic music on Irish flute, alto flute, guitar, and vocals, all with wild whimsy, tenderness, and a wee touch of Northern Colorado irreverence. They'll be joined by fellow Celts, the Crabshack House Band, as well as other session friends to deliver an evening of unique world sounds. Exactly like an orchestra, only different...African drumming and Celtic music come together...see what happens!

The Winstons, Jubilant Bridge and Third Road Home  - Sat., August 4
Classic folk duos will take the stage on this evening at Swallow Hill. The Winstons' latest album, Coming Home, debuted at #5 on folk radio's Top Albums & Songs, spent four months on folk radio's Top 50 Albums list, and earned them the title of 1st Place Folkies and the award for 1st Place Folk Song ("Up In The Air") for the 2002 Boulder Folk & Roll Awards. A dulcimer wizard and a pure-voiced poet are the heart and soul of Jubilant Bridge, a harmony-driven acoustic duo with a sparkling sound that is fresh and innovative. Third Road Home's music offers a soul-stirring blend of earthy Americana that is as evocative, compelling, and ethereal as it is warm and accessible.

Justin Roth, Eric Schwartz and Amy Speace - Sat., August 11
Justin Roth's accomplishments thus far include being the Best Songs of 2005 Winner for “Shine” from the Indie Acoustic Project, a New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival for 2005 and 2004, and the Troubadour Contest Honorable Mention for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2005. For three years running, Eric Schwartz has performed at the Kerrville Folk Festival, for which this past year he also had the honor of serving as a judge in the New Folk competition. Amy Speace has received awards from the USA Songwriting Competition and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and she was also named a Finalist in the Kerrville Folk Festival's competition for new artist. These three young and rising genre-crossing singer/songwriters are sure to put on a great show.

Laughing Hands, Three Little Words and Ojaleo  - Sat., August 18
Eclectic world music is in store on this night. Laughing Hands is a six-piece ensemble who perform their own unique blend of "fusion" music, combining elements of jazz and rock with various ethnic styles, including Eastern European gypsy music, Latin American, Spanish Flamenco, Asian, and American Bluegrass music. Audience-friendly Three Little Words, a trio of accomplished musicians involved in myriad projects, is singing new life into popular songs from days long past. ¡Ojaleo! performs Spanish Gypsy Flamenco, Balkan music, and Mideastern/North African music and dance, evoking the timeless beauty of these old-world traditions in a contemporary, virtuosic, and thoroughly entertaining way.

Clay Kirkland Band, Healing Force Band and Neil Haverstick & the Swallow Hill Country Bebop Band - Sat., August 25
Swallow Hill faculty members entertain on this evening with their special saucy blends of country and bebop. No doubt there aren't many people left in Denver who haven't heard about the talent of harmonica player, Clay Kirkland. He and his band will be joined by special guest singer/pianist, Madame Andrews, the Gospel Queen of Denver. Mark Caldwell and his Healing Force Band, comprised of some of the most experienced and knowledgeable reggae musicians in Colorado, will bring out infectious dance grooves, strong vocals, and top-notch musicianship. Neil Haverstick has received much praise through his career, and was the subject of a Guitar Player February 2007 feature article, where he was selected as one of the best guitarists of all time among the "101 Forgotten Greats & Unsung Heroes."

For more information, visit www.swallowhillmusic.org or call (303) 777-1003. This press release is also available online at www.swallowhillmusic.org/newsroom/newsmain2007.htm and also as a RSS Feed at www.swallowhillmusic.org/xml/newsroom/rss/SwallowHillNews.xml.

About Swallow Hill Music Association:
Helping people make and enjoy music since 1979, Swallow Hill Music Association is 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, Swallow Hill provides a place to celebrate music that is rarely heard elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain Region. Three concert venues house more than 200 performances 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 extra-curricular educational resource to the community with more than 60 music instructors involved in more than 240 adult classes and 70 children's classes annually.

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