Local Food Vendors

We have gathered some of New Haven?s best to serve you with both vegetarian and
non-vegetarian choices.

Ashley's Ice Cream

Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant

Elm City Kettlecorn

Joe Grate's Barbecue

Thyme and Season

Zen Roasters

 Raw You-niverse Smoothies

Caseus Cheese Truck

Gia's Greek Pastries

Exhibitors & Vendors

3Degrees

ACLU of CT

Actual Foods

AMC

Barefoot Books

Be Free Solar

Beach Bum Sea Glass Jewelry, LLC

Big Brothers and Sisters Clothing Recycling

Bios Organization LLC

Bodhichitta Farms  CSA

Bring the Hoopla

City of New Haven Office of Sustainability

CitySeed

Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA)

Coconut Bliss

Connecticut Fund For The Environment / Save the Sound

CT League of Conservation Voters

Cyril the Sorcerer

Dava

Do It Green Home Services

Donnelly Colt/Progressive Resources

Dream Green Cleaning

Dr. Katey Cofrancesco and Dr. Jennifer Botwick

Duck Truck Composting

Fun Organic Shirts Yale Student Environmental Coalition.

E Magazine

Easy Care Energy Solutions

Ecosolar

Edge of the Woods

EE Smarts

Elm City Market

Elm City Cycling

Energize CT

Face Painting with Jammie

Green Haven Co-Housing

Green Star Energy Solutions

Guitar Town

H.O.P.E. Spay and Neuter Clinic

Haiti's Back Porch

Hale Hill Biofuels

John's Refuse

Jugglebox

Kidhaven

Interrelig​ious Ecco Justice Network

"Kidical Mass" New Haven Touch a Cargo Bike

Metro Taxi

Mr. Solar Workshops

Natural Awakenings

Natural Family Health LLC

Natureworks

Neighborhood Housing Service

New Haven Bioregional Group

New Haven Land Trust

New Haven /Leon Sister City: Walk Bike Transit Initiative

New Haven Museum

New Haven Urban Renewal Initiative (URI)

Octopus's Garden

Ogham Art

Progressive Asset Management

ProNatural Physicians Group LLC

Pure Play Kids

REI

Renewable Resources Inc

SAPWII Southeast Asia Pure Water Iniatiative

Sierra Club

Silvermoon Herbals

Sparkease Tie-Dye and Marbeling

Solar Youth

Song Writing Workshop for kids with the Sea the Sea

South Central CT Regional Water Authority

Stratford Acupuncture and Wellness Center

Street Smarts

Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc.

Sweet Pea the Fairy

Tastykale

The Painted Fairy Henna

Techniart

The One Joy

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Town of Hamden

Tribe Hummus

Tutor Doctor

Twice Recycled Jewelry

Two Coyotes Wilderness School

Tutor Doctor

Urban Miners LLC

Velomobiles (Recumbent Trikes)

Yale Student Environmental Coalition

Back to Top  

CT Folk Presents FREE Music all day long
for the whole family!
Download the Schedule of Performers (PDF)

Schedule of Performers
11:00AM – Beth Patella Band - Beth has been performing, writing and singing for over 15 years. She grew up on show tunes and later studied classical singing in college, which she currently continues to study today. Ten years ago, Beth avidly wrote and performed her own folk/rock songs throughout Connecticut and New York, which received very high praise. After a personal tragedy, Beth left the music performing, but has reconnected with her own love for songwriting and singing and has became very involved in performing American jazz/blues standards with a jazz trio.

11:30 – Singer-Songwriter Competition (5 finalists) Fred Arcoleo, Loretta Hagen, Hannah & Maggie, Brian Kalinec, and Jake Klar

The five Finalists in CT Folk's 3rd Annual Songwriting Competition compete in front of a panel of judges to determine the overall winner, who will kick off our Main Stage Concert that evening. Audience reaction counts, so stop by and discover some new talent!

12:30PM – CT ARTIST SONG CIRCLE - Shawn Taylor, Amanda Kaletsky, Kate Callahan

Shawn Taylor: With a thumping thumb, dancing fingers, deep gritty soul stirring vocals & poetic blue collar lyrics; Taylor's songs ooze American roots. His voice has been compared to Tom Waites, Bruce Springstien, Chris Smither, Bob Dylan & Eddie Vedder. His original songs draw from country blues, rockabilly, folk, rock, Reggae & country, & his lyrics are colored by the experiences of his own working class wandering roots. He's been an oysterman, carpenter, hitchhiker, homeowner, father & 'Thru-hiker'

Amanda Kaletsky: "Amanda Kaletsky has the voice of a pop star, but the soul of a singer/songwriter. Her infectious [music] finds a middle ground between New York's homey downtown clubs and the polish of Top 40 radio." - Relix Magazine. Jumping from guitar to piano and back, Amanda delivers songs that are tastefully built around passion and melody. Nurtured by influences such as Joni Mitchell and Carole King, her introspective music ranges from sultry blues inspired love songs to power-driven pop hits, all carried by her emotional vocal performances.

Kate Callahan: Since the early millennium Kate has been awarded the Hartford Advocate’s “Best Solo Performer” award three times. Her performances and creative work in Connecticut earned her the non-profit based Serenity Award and the distinction “Woman of Character” in 2005 from the Hartford Courant, where she met Jane Fonda and accepted her award in the historic Bushnell Theater. Kate has opened shows for folk legends Judy Collins and Noel Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul & Mary), and troubadours Aztec-Two Step, Mustard’s Retreat, the late Bill Morrissey, and Rachael Sage. She’s shared stages with Regina Spektor, Noel Paul Stookey, Jonny Rodgers, and her musical partner André Balazs.

1:30 – Whatever
Steven Prasinos, Mike Gieralt, Gary Gieralt, Eugene Zampieron make up the band. It all began when singer/songwriter psychologist Steven gets to know Mike at their daughter's soccer games. Mike listens to Steven's songs and likes them. They jam and click. They perform at open mics. "We should form a band!" Steven knows EZ, a percussionist, who joins. "If only we had a bass!" Mike's brother Gary plays bass! Boom. A band. We practice in Mike's basement. We get along. We jam and arrange. We play open mics. The songs work. We play a bagel shop. Audience digs it. We get confidence. The band has legs. We make a demo CD. We play an Inn. Audience raves. We're offered a gig, sponsorship even. And, now we'll all get to know and love them at the CT Folk Festival and Green Expo!

2:00 – John Ciambriello
John began his musical career in the 5th grade when he joined the school band as a drummer. He wrote his first song in 1995 called “Two Men On The Corner”. As he began to write more he would sing his songs a cappella as he never had music to his songs being a drummer. John wrote songs that were inspired by his Christian faith. John decided to teach himself how to strum chords on the guitar from an internet chord chart he came across, which was when he really became serious about his songwriting. In 2001, John became the Music Director of Milford Christian Church in Milford, CT.
In mid 2004 John started a business called Forecast Music which primarily focused on performing older songs in about 15 to 20 nursing homes a month. Later that year, he began recording an acoustic six song EP entitled "When Time Stands Still", which was a collection of songs he wrote including one cover which was the hymn “Be Thou My Vision”. The EP was released in August of 2005 which also was the month and year he was married to his wife Roo. John started the rock band, After Autumn, with friends and plays throughout Connecticut. While continually growing After Autumn, Forecast Music, The Milford Christian Church Music Team and his family, John continues to play solo gigs wherever he can.

2:30 – Anne Marie Menta
Anne Marie Menta hails from New Haven, CT., where she has been a long time favorite singer/songwriter. She comes from a family of three brothers, where playing and listening to music was their great passion. Her musical credits include fronting various rock & roll, folk, and country bands as a singer/guitarist, including The Wanderers, Sugar Moon, Sky Riders, and Rodeo Radio. In the mid 90s, she decided to concentrate on her own original music, and those tunes of hers that she “snuck” into her cover band repertoire now became her main focus. But, the country, folk, and pop music that she loved continued to be an influence in her writing.

3:00 – Kristin Graves / Glenn Roth

Kristen Graves is a folk/pop singer & songwriter with a voice that commands attention, lyrics that catch your heart, and melodies that stay with the listener long after the evening ends. Kristen’s songs have a coziness to them like a well-worn winter blanket, but don’t underestimate her; she can pack a serious emotional punch at a moment’s notice. Picture an energetic Sarah McLachlan, or Tracy Chapman with a pop edge, and you’ve found Kristen Graves.

Glenn Roth is not your typical commuter from Connecticut. Instead of a briefcase, he carries a gig bag. His workspace is the vaulted splendor of Grand Central Terminal or the tunnels and platforms of the New York City subway system. A literal “underground” sensation, Glenn is a licensed performer in the MTA’s “Music under New York” program, And his fingers work magic, creating a soundscape of compelling melodies that invite them to leave the cityrush behind on an aural escape.

Glenn is a fingerstyle guitarist, his thumb riding the bassline and the melody driving all. His compositions suggest multiple guitars, but it’s really just one guy, ten flying fingers, one instrument. All instrumental, Glenn’s songs suggest moods and narratives that compel the listener to fill in the details.

3:30 – Professors of Bluegrass
Yale's Professor of Bluegrass really are professors, and they really know how to play Bluegrass music! They have become a staple of the CT Folk Festival lineup, and we are pleased to welcome them back.

4:00 – The Levins - Winners of the 2011 CT Folk Songwriting Contest!
THE LEVINS ( pronounced The L'Vins ) Ira and Julia Levin combine harmony-driven acoustic folk rock with wistful overtones of the 1930s and the intention of putting a smile on your face. Original tunes, guitar, piano and voices provide a full sound with unexpected harmonies and unique arrangements. It's Happy-Folk, Smile Pop....sounds likeThe Mamas and The Papas having coffee with Cole Porter.

4:30 – GRASSY HILL SONG CIRCLE
          Putnam Smith, Danielle Miraglia, Kevin Neidig

6:00 – Songwriter Competition WINNER

6:15 – The Sea, The Sea
Two voices that blend like smoke and air. Like night and a whisper. Two distinct award-winning songwriters that meet in the mercury, collide and create emotionally spare music.  Simple and true.

Borrowing their name from the cry of joy made by ancient Greek Soldiers upon their post-war homecoming, The Sea, The Sea is Mira Stanley from West Virginia and Chuck E. Costa from Connecticut (our own CT State Troubadour). They meet in the middle with acoustic guitars. Standing next to other contemporary duos like The Weepies, The Civil Wars, The Swell Season, The Sea, The Sea is spare beauty, bravely unadorned. Written by Amy Speace.

7:00 – String Fingers
The String Fingers band has been supplying a daily dose of musical medicine for a solid three years, enduring us all through the sands of time. Songwriters Dan Tressler (Vocals, Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, Banjo) and Dan Carlucci (Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin) take an eclectic approach through a unique path of the American Roots Music evolution. They are on the verge of reclaiming American Country Music to its true form. Instrumentalist Dave Kaye brings life to the original music with flares on Dobro, Banjo and Pedal Steel Guitar. Ryan McAdams takes an American Jazz Studies background and rotates the wheel counterclockwise to feed the hills of Appalachia. Rob Bonaccorso, the American Rock and Roller, takes a breath in between drum fill one and drum fill two to discover the initial, primitive rhythm that started music as we know it. String Fingers are a "Door is Wide Open" kind of band. If you can imagine that...Then step inside.

8:00 – Pesky J. Nixon
Bombastic yet brilliant, these boys from New England exude a genuine musical authenticity and mirth on stages up and down the East Coast. Drawing influences from contemporary urban balladeers, rowdy southern bluegrass, and the sardonic yet wry wit of New England's localized folk scenes, Pesky J. Nixon (PJN) creates an atmosphere both inviting and challenging for audiences.

Compelling harmonies and narratives rein in disparate instrumentation including- zydeco style accordion, virtuosic mandolin, a variety of tribal percussion, and a myriad of string instrumentation. Jay Moberg of Boston's WUMB says of the group, "These guys represent what I love about music...great playing, thoughtful lyrics, and musicians who actually enjoy playing together!".

HEADLINER:
9:00 – Cheryl Wheeler
Cheryl Wheeler has to be seen to be appreciated. Nothing you read and nothing you hear from her albums prepares you for how good a performer she is.

You may not be familiar with Cheryl, but you have probably heard her music. She is very respected as a songwriter by her peers, which can be seen by how many of them record her songs. Chery's songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Dan Seals, Peter Paul and Mary, Kenny Loggins, Garth Brooks, Suzy Boggus, Melanie, Bette Midler, Maura O'Connell, Sylvia, Kathy Mattea, and Holly Near. If they think she is great, then you owe it to yourself to learn more if you aren't familiar with her.

From her albums you can tell that she is a gifted songwriter with a beautiful voice. From other people's comments about her you can learn that she is a natural story teller with a fantastic sense of humor. But until you see her in person, you never really believe what you've been told about her.

Back to Top