The Barefoot Boys

 

 

                            

                

              THE DUO “tried and true”

THE TRIO “updated and new”

 

"Truly talented performers! I recommend them to anyone who enjoys great music and good times!" 

- Judy McMillan, Richmondtown Concerts, Staten Island, NY

The Barefoot Boys perform traditional folk music, whether it's mountain ballads, square dance tunes, instrumental medleys, or folksongs of the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson Valley. They also play more recently written songs (by artists such as Pete Seeger, Stan Rogers, Si Kahn, Bill Staines, and John McCutcheon) that reflect the spirit and and recall the sound of the old songs. They've performed extensively around the Hudson Valley and throughout the Northeast (see partial list below), and play a wide array of instruments, including guitar, harmonica, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, concertina, and both mountain and hammered dulcimer.

"Your performances were wonderful! Thank you for contributing to the artistic success of this event.,"                   -  Lana Nelson, Co-Producer, First Night Annapolis

   The Barefoot Boys are:

- Rich Bala (vocals, guitar, harmonica, mountain dulcimer) is described by the Middletown Record as having "a sturdy voice, a nifty guitar style, and a storyteller's flair that makes you hang on every word.". He's researched, collected, and performed traditional folk music for over 25 years, has released 2 solo recordings, and has performed with Pete Seeger, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Happy Traum, John Herald, Eric Weissberg, and Joe Hickerson.

- Tom White (vocals, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, concertina, hammered dulcimer) is an extraordinary "musician's musician" who plays a wide variety of instruments, and whose knowledge of traditional music is awe-inspiring. He has appeared on over 40 recordings, won numerous prizes at festival competitions, and has played with Emmy Lou Harris, The Woods Tea Company, Roger Sprung, Sandy & Caroline (AND Dave and Rob) Paton, and Pete Sutherland, among others. He's also one of the finest hammered dulcimer players in the Hudson Valley and Catskill regions.

- Rick Hill (vocals, standup bass) the newest member of “The Boys”, is a multi-faceted musician, singer, and songwriter, who has performed up and down the East Coast on his own and in various groups. He has organized many musical events in Virginia and New York, and currently works with Sonny Ochs on the Helping Hands Concert Series in Schoharie, NY. In addition to his solid bass playing and intricate harmony vocals, Rick also plays guitar, banjo, hammered dulcimer, and nyckelharpa.   

"You'll find yourself tapping your feet and singing along!"
- Kate Goldsmith, Taconic Press "Weekend"

 “I want to express our great satisfaction with your performance. It truly was the highlight of the series, and your strong appeal helped to guarantee a successful series. We thank you for your lively, yet easy-listening, fun-filled concert with its top-notch music.”

- Linda Marsh, Coordinator, St. Williams on Long Point Concert Series, Raquette Lake, NY

The Boys have performed at the following selected venues:

Concerts & Coffeehouses:

- Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, NY

- Caffe’ Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY                                  

- Mom & Pop’s Coffeehouse, Levittown, Pa.                                                                                                                               

- Adirondack Lake Ctr. for the Arts, Blue Mtn. Lake, NY

- Rosendale Café’, Rosendale, NY

- Richmondtown Concerts, Staten Island, NY                  

- The Farmers Museum, Cooperstown, NY

- Traditions Coffeehouse, Trenton, NJ                              

- Music Mountain, Lakeville, Ct.

- Cranberry Coffeehouse, Binghamton, NY                      

- North Pointe Coffeehouse, Kinderhook, NY

- The Sounding Board, West Hartford, Ct.

- DownEast Folk Arts Society, Beaufort, NC

 

 

Festivals:

- Clearwater’s Hudson River Revival Festival, Croton, NY

- New England Folk Festival, Natick, Ma.

- First Night, Annapolis, Md., Nyack, Albany, and Saratoga Springs, NY

- Bicentennial Festival, Albany, NY

- Hudson Valley Garlic Fest, Saugerties, NY

- Taconic “Sap to Syrup” Fest, Cold Spring, NY

- Schoharie Maple Fest, Cobleskill, NY

- Harvest Festival, Hunter Mtn., NY

- “Canawler’s Day” Festival, High Falls, NY

- Annual Tugboat Roundup, Waterford, NY

- Erie Canal Festival, Mabee Farm, Rotterdam Jct., NY

For bookings, or more information, contact Rich Bala at:

E-mail:  baladeer@aol.com

    Or:    Rich Bala

             P.O. Box 179

             Billings, NY 12510

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