The Shawano Folk Music Festival's 2025 Artists
Heather Styka is a singer and songwriter from Chicago. Heather’s songs are folk, Americana, gritty country and catchy pop. She’s energetic and intimate, quirky and funny. For more, go to heatherstyka.com
The Oh Boys! is a trio from Chicago. Tight harmonies and infectious enthusiasm bring vintage-inspired pop, rock, folk and doo-wop to life. Zachary Stevenson, Shawn Whitley and Kieran McCabe are The Oh Boys! This is their first time in Shawano.
Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound comes from Milwaukee with a funky racket that’s explosive, yet intimate. The music takes cues from western Louisiana (and his native Midwest), the streets of New Orleans, African and Caribbean combos and soul, funk & blues. Tomorrow Sound is Reggie Bordeaux, Mac Perkins, Mike Fredrickson, Bob Jennings and Paul Cebar, who centers it all with his guitar and gifted songwriting. More at paulcebar.com
Cedric Watson is a fiddler, vocalist, accordionist, songwriter and four-time Grammy nominee from Lafayette, LA. His bottomless repertoire of songs includes forgotten Creole melodies, obscure reels and Cajun and Zydeco songs, He moves between fiddle and accordion adding strong blues-inflected vocals. Learn more at cedricwatson.com
Joe Crookston is a songwriter, singer, storyteller, teacher, guitarist, painter, banjo picker, fiddler, slide player and believer in all things possible. From upstate New York, he’s full of surprises – he’ll have you laughing in the aisles, singing along and then he’ll stun you into silence. Sadness, pain, hope, joy and nonsense – it’s the stuff of life and Joe sings it. He always leaves us wanting more, and so we keep inviting him back. More at joecrookston.com
Anne Hills is s an inventive songwriter with an unforgettable voice. When she sings, she puts her whole heart and soul into the moment. Anne tours extensively, winning over audiences with her warm, lively and humorous performances. More at annehills.com
Stas Venglevski and Misha Litvin are from Milwaukee with music that's exquisite and a bit of fun, ranging from “Lara’s Theme” through Russian folk tunes to Vivaldi and original compositions. Stas Venglevski, a native of Moldova, is a composer and master of the Bayan, a Russian concert accordion. Misha Litvin, originally from Minsk, Belarus, is a master mandolinist and master of the Domra, a Russian mandolin. They both teach and tour extensively, both internationally and in the United States. More at stasv.com
Pat Wiley is a songwriter and performer with a “rural, down home” flavor. He invites his audience to pull up a chair and give a listen. He plays at clubs, coffeehouses, festivals and barn dances.. In 1979, Pat was a performer at the first Shawano Folk Music Festival. Since then he’s joined us on stage as a musician and an MC, doing both with humor and grace. More at patwileymusic.com
Band O’ Barley plays Irish music with traditional jigs, reels and ballads, along with original music. They are Rick Metz (Highland bagpipes, smallpipes, Irish whistles, concertina, harmonium and melodion), Eric Genereau (bohdran and harmonica), Jesse Kaftanski (vocals, guitar and banjo), Steve Shani (fiddle and cello), Issac Plyant (fiddle and guitar), Jake Hartman (mandolin and guitar) and Brian Arthur (bass). More at https://www.facebook.com/p/Band-OBarley-100066530962308
Flip of the Coin started in 2005 as a Ceili band. They play Irish and old time music that’s made for dancing. John Wilson plays fiddle, tenor banjo and guitar. He’s joined by Tim Johnson (octave mandolin and five string banjo), Mike Oconnell (hammered dulcimer, penny whistle and vocals), John Casey (penny whistle, low Irish whistle and vocals) and Mike Casey (guitar and foot drum). Sunday afternoon they’ll play for the Festival Dance, with jigs, reels, squares, circles and waltzes. John Wilson will call the dances. Don’t know how to do the dances? They’ll teach you. This dance is for you, whether you’re 2 years old or 90. Join us Sunday afternoon for the Festival Dance, 1:30-3:00 in the Food Tent.
Turkeyfoot Road is an all-female band, mostly from Wisconsin. Their vocals range from high tenor to descant soprano, with intricate 3 and 4 part harmonies. Amanda McHugh and Melissa Trauger Mulroy are from New London, Nancy Hitz is from Hartford. Frances Ranney moved to Desert Hot Springs, CA, after living in Northern Kentucky. Guitar, soprano and baritone ukulele, banjolele and a variety of percussion instruments accompany their singing. Their song choices include bluegrass tunes, pop melodies, folk and Americana.
Jeff Pockat is a Gaelic harpist and storyteller from the Fox Valley. Playing a wire-strung Celtic harp, he performs traditional tunes and original compositions that soothe. Long-time attendees may remember Jeff from the early years of the festival, with the sounds of his harp wafting through the trees. When Jeff isn’t performing on festival and concert stages, you may find him playing for cancer and hospice patients. More at jeffpockat.com