Tribute to American heritage

With venues from Pismo to SLO, the Central Coast Folk Festival embraces homegrown culture

By Sarah Linn | slinn@thetribunenews.com

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Local guitarist Patrick Pearson follows this definition for folk music: “It’s music made by the people, for the people.”

That’s the same motto embraced by the Central Coast Folk Festival.

The new festival, which runs Jan. 15-18 at venues from Pismo Beach to San Luis Obispo, seeks to embrace the best of homegrown culture.

“We wanted to celebrate American heritage — things that are typical to this area and classic and Californian,” event coordinator Casey Moss explained, by putting the focus on locally crafted music, food and art.

Although many of the bands in the festival lineup feature influences such as blues and rock, Pearson said they all fall under the “folk music” banner.

His band Cuesta Ridge, for instance, blends traditional bluegrass with elements of gypsy jazz, funk, rap and reggae. The festival also features music by such local favorites as acoustic strummer Wally Barnick, traditional jazz combo The Creole Syncopators and The Johnny Starlings, known for a vintage sound reminiscent of the Great American Songbook.

“We made it as a ‘folk and more’ festival,” Moss said. “There’s certainly more than just folk here. It’s something for everyone.”

Four-day festival

The Central Coast Folk Festival kicks off Jan. 15 with an array of activities.

At the SeaVenture Resort in Pismo Beach, Cuesta Ridge provides the musical backdrop for an artisan market featuring surf-inspired art by Morro Bay’s Forever Stoked and food from five local chefs.

Hot tubs and folk music by David Talmadge await visitors to Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa near Avila Beach. Meanwhile, soulful singer Jill Knight performs during dinner at The Inn at Morro Bay. The four-day festival also features events at Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo and The Cliffs Resort in Shell Beach. The Boutique Hotel Collection owns all five venues.

According to Moss, the festival has been in the works since September, when Mike Casola, general manager at The Cliffs and chief operating officer for the Boutique Hotel Collection, sat down with Sycamore general manager Charles Crellin.

They wanted an event that would be affordable, seasonal and a showcase for local hotels and local talent. In short, she added, a way to kick 2009 off right.

“They certainly don’t have to call too far to get good bands and good musicians,” said Harmony guitarist Billy Foppiano. His four-piece band, The Mighty Croon Dogs, taps into a party vibe with blues, rock, jazz, reggae and R&B.

“I would say our main genre is fun,” Foppiano said of his band, which plays at one of three champagne brunch events Jan. 18. “We’re going to have a good time and hope everybody walks out having had a good time too.”

He has nothing but praise for the festival’s other acts, which include popular musical duos Dix Bruce & Jim Nunally, the Buchon Brothers and Brick and Field.

Mandolin player Kenny Blackwell and guitarist Dorian Michael perform Jan. 16 as diners enjoy a five-course feast at The Cliffs.

“These guys are famous, famous guys — great musicians, nice guys and entertaining as well,” Foppiano said. On Jan. 17, The Cliffs gets in the swing of things with a dance demonstration by the Cal Poly Swing Club and music by Sugar Daddy Swing Kings, led by crooner and former San Luis Obispo City Councilman Paul Brown. The soiree also features brews from Firestone Walker Brewing Co. in Paso Robles and lavender cookies from Green Acres Lavender Farm in Atascadero.

That same evening, storyteller Kirk Henning of Cayucos brings his age-old art to the creekside lawn at Apple Farm. He is the producer and main performer of “Stories ’Round The Fire,” a popular series at the beach at Cayucos that celebrated its 15th year last summer.

“Storytelling’s definitely a folk art,” Henning said, adding, “It’s common that wherever storytelling is, music usually follows right behind. They go hand in hand.”

New face of folk

According to Moss, organizers hope to make the Central Coast Folk Festival an annual event featuring such attractions as prix fixe dinners and free concerts.

“That sounds like real big fun,” Foppiano said.

He praised the festival for embracing the new face of folk — a world far removed from the musty musicians in Christopher Guest’s mockumentary “A Mighty Wind” and the well-scrubbed performance troupe Up With People.

“If people are thinking of folk music as something old and boring, no, it isn’t,” said Foppiano. “It’s going through some transformative processes.”