Gainesville artist Lennie Kesl dies at 86
Aired on WUFT on November 26th, 2012
Remembering Lennie:
Earlier int[erview with Kesl on WUFT-FM on Lennie’s CD release party:
Lennie on a scheduled art show featuring his work:
Lennie Kesl
Category Archives: Arts
“Carrie” brings campy fun to the Hipp
The Hippodrome State Theatre is launching what they call a “campy twist” on the Stephen King novel Carrie. The show, which opens tonight and runs through Nov. 4, is a comedic version of the classic King novel involving a young woman dealing with her peers and her fundamentalist mother.
Clawgrass Banjo Player Mark Johnson
- Clawgrass Banjo player Mark Johnson
When Mark Johnson isn’t working as the Levy County Director of Emergency Management he’s plucking his banjo. He has had a love of the instrument since he was a teenager. In recent months he has found himself in the spotlight as a guest on “The Late Show” with David Letterman. 2012 was a good year for Johnson as he also won $50,000 as recipient of the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass, which is named after the famed actor and comedian. One of his latest CDs was also nominated as one of the top 5 instrumental albums of the year by IBMA. Donna Green-Townsend has this profile of Johnson who developed the blend of bluegrass and clawhammer banjo playing into a new sound–“clawgrass.”
In March of 2000, Mark Johnson and Donna Green-Townsend had the opportunity to sit backstage with Doc Watson and folk icon Norman Blake at the Suwannee Springfest near Live Oak. It was one of those rare opportunities to swap stories and share some tunes. When the special hour began you can hear Peter Rowan and company in the distance performing on the main stage. Meanwhile backstage Green-Townsend began chatting with Johnson as he played Ashokan Farewell and demonstrated his style of picking called clawgrass, a combination of bluegrass and clawhammer styles.
Ashokan Farewell was used throughout the popular PBS Series, “The Civil War.” Before long folk icon Norman Blake jumped into the Civil War discussion and shared an acapella version of an old song, “Faded Coat of Blue.” When Doc heard Mark’s banjo, he asked if he could play it. In the three recorded segments below you’ll hear the spontaneous conversation and music from that afternoon that can only be described as “magical.”
Johnson and Doc Watson swapping banjo stories at the Suwannee Springfest
In Part 1 (running time 4:35) Green-Townsend talks backstage with Clawgrass player Mark Johnson:
In Part 2 (running time 5:16) Green-Townsend and Johnson begin an interesting music dialogue with folk icon Norman Blake and share an acapella version of “Faded Coat of Blue.”
In Part 3 (running time 32:24) Doc Watson hears Mark Johnson’s banjo and asks if he could hold it and then begins sharing his inside knowledge of some of his favorite banjo tunes, banjo styles and personal stories):
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“The Drawer Boy” takes to the stage at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre
Aired on WUFT August 24th, 2012
Tonight is opening night for the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre’s production “The Drawer Boy.” The serious, yet funny play about two farmers and a young actor who is attempting to write a play about the men is being directed by Mark Woollett. He talked with Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend:
“The Drawer Boy” opens tonight at 8:00 at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre on South Main Street in Gainesville.
Sam Pacetti
Fingerstyle guitar wizard Sam Pacetti debuts new CD at Shake Rag in Melrose
Critics have described Sam Pacetti’s recordings as “passion and angst” coming together with lyrics that are full of imagery. The St. Augustine fingerstyle guitarist is debuting his newest CD Saturday night at 8 p.m. at the Shake Rag Art and Culture Center in Melrose. Pacetti shared his musical inspirations with Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend.
Originally aired on WUFT August 9, 2012
- Gabe Valla and Sam Pacetti performing together in a Union-Reunion Concert at the Thomas Center in Gainesville on August 17, 2013 (photo by Lee Townsend)
“The Marvelous Wonderettes” opens tonight at the Hippodrome State Theatre
Aired on WUFT on June 1, 2012
- The Marvelous Wonderettes
The latest production at the Hippodrome State Theatre, opening tonight will take the audience on a musical trip down memory lane. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with two of the actors in the the Hipp’s production of “The Marvelous Wonderettes.”
The state official folk festival celebrates 60 years this weekend
Aired on WUFT on May 25th, 2012
The 60th Annual State Folk Festival got underway today in White Springs just north of Lake City and runs thru Sunday night. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with longtime festival performer Tom Shed about the history of the longest running folk festival in the country.
Grant Peeples
Singer songwriter Grant Peeples often performs in North Central Florida. In May of 2012 he had a CD release party at the Shake Rag Art and Culture Center in Melrose for his CD titled “Prior Convictions.” Peeples sat down with WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend on May 18th, 2012
Lis and Lon Williamson, The Gatorbone Band and the Driftwoods
The Gatorbone Band is an award winning, world class band whose repertoire includes Bluegrass, Americana, Swing, Old-Time, and Jazz. The band features Jason Thomas on fiddle, Lis Williamson on guitar, banjo and vocals, Lon Williamson on standup bass and vocals and Gabe Valla on guitar and vocals.
Lis Williamson is an award-winning songwriter. She’s won first place in the Will McLean Best New Florida Song competition twice in recent years. Lis and her husband Lon make their living performing music with a variety of bands. From her audio archives from April of 2012, Donna Green-Townsend talked with singer songwriter Lis Williamson from Keystone Heights about some of her latest song inspirations, including a song about the effects of one of Florida’s recent droughts on North Central Florida lakes.
In addition to the Gatorbone Band, they also perform as a duo and with the Driftwoods. Lon is also a local luthier. During the 2015 Florida Folk Festival in White Springs over the Memorial Holiday weekend the Driftwoods performed on the Main Stage on Saturday, May 23rd and the Heritage Stage on Sunday, May 24th.
Here are a couple of video clips from the band’s Sunday performance. The first video is the band’s rendition of, “Hard Times Come Again No More.”
Here’s the finale performed by the Driftwoods on the Heritage Stage on Sunday.
Donna Green-Townsend brings us up close and personal with Lis Williamson from the Keystone Heights area who performs alongside her husband Lon in a variety of bands all over North Central FL. (Aired on WUFT-FM on Sept. 23rd, 2011)
Lis Williamson on her first-time win of the Will McLean Best New Florida Song Contest
Aaron O’Rourke
Aaron O’Rourke Trio brings its unique acoustic style to Keystone Heights
Aired on WUFT on March 16th, 2012
Music lovers had the opportunity to fill their desire for Irish music at a recent house concert in Keystone Heights featuring the Tallahassee-based Aaron O’Rourke Trio. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend takes us up close and personal with the leader of this acoustic group.