Okee dokee folks… In 1994 I produced the first Hear In Rhode Island music festival. Though I had worked other fests before, this was my first time producing one on my own. Originally this was a big showcase for members of the Rhode Island Songwriters Association. It was quite the undertaking. Back then I was performing with my duo Fuzek-Rossoni and I included a set for the duo in the line-up. BIG MISTAKE. That day I learned that it is very hard, if not impossible, to shift gears and engage the artistic side of the brain when the production side of the brain is already working overtime. I couldn’t focus on the performance and was completely distracted. I plodded through that set but I have not again booked myself at my own events for the past 31 years.
In 2014 I started the Providence Folk Festival and that became The Rhode Island Folk Festival. People were always asking me if I was going to perform at the festival. Not only did I not perform, but I would not even get on the stage during the event. I just kept to the background and got things done. As the years progressed and more folks came on board and started taking the weight off my shoulders, I felt the production burden slowly easing. Beth Barron, Lisa Couto, Allysen Callery, Anthony Loffredio, Rich Watrous, Karen Murphy, Loraine Lesniak, Ed McGuirl, Jen Long, Lori Mars, Ken Abrams, Maha Janik, and many others have truly stepped in and stepped up to make the RIhode Island Folk Festival an amazing annual event. Last year was the first year that I actually found myself sitting down and listening to some of the music. Usually I am zipping from stage to stage making sure things are running smoothly.
Last year my duo Fuzek-Rossoni celebrated 35 years of performing together and we are starting to play more shows again. Earlier this year I decided that after 31 years it was time to play my own festival again. All of the folks named above have worked so hard over the years to help make this event great and are making it possible this year for me to actually get on stage and play a short set. Thank you to all of them!
If you don’t already know, the 11th Annual RIhode Island Folk Festival takes place on Sunday, August 24, from Noon – 6pm at Crescent Park in East Providence. There are three stages of music, a songwriter workshop with Mark Cutler, a Protest Song Song Circle (new this year) with Pete Vendettuoli, a kids music area, art vendors, food, beer garden, and more. Scheduled to perform are: The Lost Tribe, The Catnip Junkies, Jeff Horton Bluegrass Band, Dan Lilley with Amy Bedard and Scatman, Jon Butcher, Robin Lane & Adam Sherman, John McNiff, Atwater-Donnelly, Jan Luby, Mary Pierce & Margi Gianquinto, Dave Alves, Avi Jacob, Michelle Saylors, Clay Camero, Mel, Gary Higgins, Lily & Noel, Lainey Dionne, Ike Dee, Steven Rodrigues, Patty Perry Band, Berm, Bent Light, Jen Long & The Whale Guitar, Jody Treloar, Breachway, The Whelks, Kim Petraca, and Fuzek-Rossoni! The festival is free to attend but cash/venmo donations are accepted to offset production/artist fees. There will also be a food drive as well for the 1 of 52 Hunger Organization run by Steve Maciel. The RIhode Island Folk Festival won a Motif award this past March- stop by and find out why! For more, get the folk over to RhodeIslandFolkfestival.com
Another awesome festival! The Warren Folks Festival happens on Saturday, August 16,th from 1 – 7pm at 30 Cutler Street in Warren. This is a local festival withthat has a fun vibe thatand folks truly love it. Performers on twoTWO stages include Free Beer, The Whelks, Fools Gold, Polly Bessette, The AfroSemitic Experience, Skip Daniels – -Magician, Ricky Rainbow Beard, The Whale Guitar Project, and a Poetry Slam. There will also be food & drink, and arts & craft vendors. Folks Fest is for the whole family, and there will be a family art & crafts tent! Dogs are welcome if they’re on leash and do well in crowds. There is no on-site parking. The organizers suggest biking or walking to The Warren Folks Festival — it’s right off the East Bay Bike path. If you do drive, there’s parking on Railroad Avenue and at the Park and Ride off Franklin St. Folks at The Collaborative, which organizes the event, say, “Expect an unforgettable day of live music, colorful performances, community art, locally made goods, mouth-watering food, and ice-cold craft beer!” Keep Warren weird and head over to: thecollaborative02885.org/folks-fest-2025 for more!
Some of you may remember the folk multi-instrumentalist, Mike Fischman. He was a fixture in the RI music scene for many, many years. A couple of years ago, he moved to Washington state and we lost one of RI’s best musicians to the West Coast. Well, good news! Mike Fischman will be back for a visit and a special performance at Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth on Sunday, August 17, 1 – 4pm. The Folk Support Group, Golden Bantam String Band, and The Slackwater String Band will all be performing. It’s free and open to the public. Kids and dogs are also welcome! For more, clusterfolk over to: greenvale.com
Stone Soup presents A Celebration of Banjo Music & The Banjo Musician on August 30 from 3 – 10pm at Nick-a-Nees in Providence. There’ll be fingerpicking, strumming, claw-hammering, and more. Performers on two stages include: Ed Sweeney, Bird & Augur, Folk the Empire, Kate Mick, Andrew Pauls (PA), Ken Perlman (MA), Carolyn Shapiro (NY), and more TBA. Frail over to stonesoupcoffeehouse.org for more.
That’s it for now. You can listen to my podcasts at motifri.com/rootsreportpodcast and find my concert photographs at motifri.com/fuzeksfotos. Thanks for reading and listening. johnfuzek.com
(Mmy main website is experiencing tech difficulties, please use fb.com/johnfuzek in the interim)