Spring 2019 Performers

Frank Vignola is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His jaw-dropping technique explains why the New York Times deemed him “one of the brightest…stars of the guitar.” Every show covers an extraordinary range of jazz, pop, classical, gypsy, and traditional music. Frank’s stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Wynton Marsalis, David Grisman, Tommy Emmanuel, Leon Redbone, Charlie Byrd, Mark O Connor, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, The Folk Project and The Acoustic Getaway. No less than Guitar Legend Les Paul named Vignola on his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List.”
Frank’s sideman and partner the sublime is guitarist, performer, and educator, Vinny Raniolo, best known for his accompanying skills and is a very high demand rhythm guitarist. His dynamic playing has brought him to 14 countries on three continents – and still growing – having performed in some of the world’s most illustrious venues, including the Sydney Opera House in Australia, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, New York’s Lincoln Center and the world’s oldest indoor concert hall, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy. His recording credits include soundtracks for HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and Woody Allen’s film Café Society.
Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo are international guitar stars. They’ll be performing, teaching, and astounding at the Spring Getaway.
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The Slambovian Undeground - Joziah Longo, Tink Lloyd and Sharkey McEwen - is the fabulous acoustic trio of core members of the Slambovian Circus of Dreams known for their electrifying live performances in their tours both nationally and abroad, and in their famous mayhem of joy finales at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. They play a moody but upbeat alt-roots rock with an extensive instrumental arsenal that includes accordion, cello, mandolin, and the theremin. The Underground is our Sunday Sundae – the final set of our weekend
The Slambovians have been called “the hillbilly Pink Floyd.” They pioneered the alt-folk circuit, winning the praise and support of the indie radio and press. Having headlined major music festivals and venues across the US, Canada and UK, this band has developed a huge and devoted cult following. They are known and loved throughout folkdom as the final act that brings the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival to its crescendo finale. They’ll be doing the same at Getaway for our Sunday Sundae – one last treat before we all hit the road for home.
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David Roth is an outstanding artist whose unique songs, offbeat observations, moving stories, sense of hilarity, and powerful messages have made him a favorite musician internationally, nationally, at the Folk Project and at Getaways past. He’s graced the stage of every major folk and acoustic festival, concert hall, and coffeehouse across the country to rave reviews and loving audiences.
David’s songs have been performed at Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, several Chicken Soup for the Soul books, the Kennedy Center, albums by Peter, Paul, & Mary and The Kingston Trio, NASA’s Goddard Space Center, the Space Shuttle Atlantis, “Rise Up Singing,” and “Rise Again” He’s won top songwriting honors at Kerrville and Falcon Ridge, He’s taught singing, songwriting, and performance at the most prestigious symposia, workshops and residencies in the U.S., including Augusta, Swannanoa, and Summer Songs.
The former artist-in-residence at New York’s Omega Institute has also been a songwriting judge at Kerrville, Napa Valley (CA), Tumbleweed (WA), Eventide Arts (MA), the Avalon Festival (WV), the South Florida Folk Festival, and for the Rhode Island Songwriters Association (RISA).
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Irish Mythen is a powerful musical presence that whips audiences into frenzy of fun, laughter and musical messaging that is thoughtful, tender, rambunctious and penetrating. This Irish-born singer-songwriter now residing in Prince Edwards Island is internationally recognized and honored for her catchy anthems, edgy humor and heartfelt storytelling. Her shows are part theatre, part comedy, and totally filled with honesty, energy, and heartfelt audience interaction.
Irish has performed with Rod Stewart, Gordon Lightfoot, and Lucinda Williams, and has headlined premier folk festivals worldwide, including the legendary Cambridge Folk Festive in England and Australia’s Byron Bay Bluesfest. Among her many notable accomplishments and awards, she’s won Canada’s Songwriter of the Year and in the U.S. won the Roots Album of the Year award.
Be prepared to be amazed and in love with this Getaway catch.
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Any attempt to categorize a Zoë Lewis performance will fail. She’s a charismatic, eclectic, and engaging ball of atomic stage energy who thrives on taking ordinary people, situations, and just plain stuff, and making them beautiful, interesting, fascinating, and fun. Expect her play any instrument – piano, guitar, spoons, anything – in any style, folk originals, Latin, swing, Celtic, gypsy, anything!
Zoë has currently runs a 1920’s speakeasy, and she’s written music for commercials, movies and original musicals. She’s performed and travelled to over 70 countries around the world, picking up world-beat grooves, gathering stories, jumping box cars, riding on freight boats, and has even played music with an elephant orchestra in Thailand. In addition to elephants, she’s performed with the Indigo Girls, Pat Benetar, Judy Collins, Richie Havens and Nanci Griffith, to name a few. Her awards include Colorado Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Troubadour Award, a Kerrville New Folk winner, and Falconridge Audience Favorite.
Zoë Lewis is an enormous talent with an explosive stage presence. Getaway audience members are advised to wear protective clothing, sunscreen, and, of course, blue jeans.
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Toby Walker is an internationally-acclaimed and award-winning fingerstyle guitar virtuoso and songwriter whose blend of blues, ragtime, country, bluegrass, old-time jazz and rock results in a terrific, high-energy show that always leaves audiences astounded and on their feet with an uproar of applause and acclamation. He’s received numerous awards, including being the first place recipient of the International Blues Challenge Award in Memphis and the NY Music Award for best instrumental CD. Walker has also been inducted into the NY Blues Hall of Fame.
Toby is a nationally recognized guitar instructor, and he’ll be leading workshops at the Spring Getaway. He’s also taught at Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch, Woody Mann's Guitar Seminars, The Swanannoa Gathering, and the National Guitar Workshop. Walker also has eight instructional DVD's on Happy Traum's Homespun Music Instruction, and has produced hundreds of instructional videos on his own. His passion for blues, rags, folk, and other traditional American music drove him tracked down some of the more obscure - but immensely talented - music makers of an earlier era, include “Son” Thomas and Etta Baker.
Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane said, "Flat out... you have to hear this great musician... I'm blown away." It is a joy and honor to learn from this supreme guitar master.
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Mies Hora Getaway’s first-ever Keynote Speaker and will be presenting a slide show and talk entitled How Did Ella Fitzgerald Become the “Greatest Female vocalist in History?” Mies is the editor, designer, and publisher of ELLA: A Biography of the Legendary Ella Fitzgerald, a book and CD set by author Geoffrey Mark. Mies is president founder and creative director at Ultimate Symbol, and has an extensive career in the design field, where his experience includes corporate identity, advertising, positioning, environmental design, wayfinding, and photography.
The book was developed with materials, artifacts and photos from the archives of Ella’s estate. It reveals the unknown side of this renowned and beloved singer - details her life, her internationally acclaimed career, and the true, untold story of Ella, the woman. Mies’ presentation will be accompanied by slides, music, and his extensive knowledge and research about this fantastic singer and amazing person.

Christine DeLeon is an astounding vocalist, a skillful songwriter and the consummate musical communicator. The impact of her pure and impressive voice is immediate and transportive. Her voice is often compared to the likes of Judy Collins and Joan Baez, and the range of emotions she instills in every note in every song for every audience is expansive and thrilling. Her songs are heart-stirring - exquisitely crafted emotional journeys through the days, incidents and lives of Christine herself and the people she’s known and loved.
Christine is well-known in her native New Jersey and beyond. Her extensive accomplishments include being a finalist in the 2015 Rose Garden Coffeehouse Performing Songwriter Competition, a winner in the 2014 Recording Artists Development Singing Contest, a three-category nominee in the 2013 Jersey Acoustic Music Awardsm and a winner in the 2008 New Jersey Folk Festival Songwriting Competition. Her extensive performance history includes The Rose Garden Coffeehouse in Massachusetts, Borderline Folk Music Club in New York, Morristown’s First Night Celebration, Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club in Fair Lawn, NJ, the historic Sanctuary Concerts in Chatham, and so many more venues, including our own Acoustic Getaway.
Christine is Folk Project Family - an active member and supporter on all levels, including leadership at the board level. She’s a stellar example of the talent, intelligence, friendship, and heart-felt goodness that can be found in the Getaway community. We love her, you will, too.
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Two Daves & a Dame is a dynamic trio that combines the enormous individual talents of Dave Kleiner, Liz Pagan, and Dave Sherman for fantastical feel-good fun with premier vocals and inspiring guitar work. Kleiner is known as an insightful, heartfelt, and frequently funny songwriter. His wife and musical partner Liz is a multifaceted singer with a voice that is expressive, dynamic, and pure – not to mention rockin’ and thrillin’. Dave “The Shermanator” Sherman brings a party to every performance, with his laser sharp tenor, piercing pick-work, and infectious showmanship in every phrase sung and every note played.
The band is beloved by the Project and Getaway, and well-remembered for their successful tour of Ireland’s pub scene. Davey the K was a founding member of the Folk Project. He is a recording artist of note, who has written and recorded with Steve Gillette and Dennis Dougherty, both Getaway favorites. He and Liz have been heard nationally on Mike Flynn's Folk Sampler, Dr. Demento's radio show, NPR's Car Talk, and many other radio shows across the country. Their performances reveal a genuine love of music, people, and a unique sense of fun and camaraderie. And it's contagious.
Two Daves and a Dame are Getaway family, and stalwarts of our community. It’s a thrill to have them on the main stage. Watch performance video.

The story of Music Town is more than a story about banjos, fiddles and three-part harmonies. It’s the story of musical friendships that reach back over 25 years and culminate in an exciting blend of down-home folk tunes, boot-kicking mountain instrumentals, and heart-felt original songs. An evening with Music Town is a chance to share an evening of excitement, love, talent, and … food.
Group members are all Folk Project members, and close to all have played key roles on the FP board and in running the Getaway. They spent years playing together at jam sessions, festivals, parties, and eventually in their own homes, where the band’s lineup became obvious: Ken on guitar and on salads with his beloved wife Judy; Andy “cooking” on the bass and cooking the main dish with his soul chef and wife Barbara; Jeff on banjo and Evelyn on guitar combining their love for each other and their love for baking desserts; and Mark playing fiddle, “fiddling” with his wife and part-time percussionist Robin, and supplying the living room and the drinks.
The music is rocket high, bullet fast, and daisy sweet. Music Town has been channelling their love for music and each other into concert audiences for many years, and audiences have been channeling their appreciation back to the band for an enjoyable and impressive musical experience.