OFFICIAL 2005 PRESS RELEASE
CALENDAR EVENT LISTING
What: The Faerieworlds Festival
Where: Secret House Winery - Veneta, Oregon (Near Eugene)
When: July 23rd-24th, 2005
Times: Noon-10pm
Website: www.faerieworlds.com
Contact: 541-687-0945
To Feature: Main Stage Music, Froud Faerie Lightshow, Faerie Vending Village, Froud Art Show, Costume Contest, Children’s Area, Fashion Show,
Wandering performers, Fire Show and more
TICKETS
Tickets are available at all TicketsWest Music Millennium and Safeway Ticket Counters and by phone at 800-992-TIXX. They are also available online at www.faerieworlds.com and www.ticketwest.com. Kids 10 and under are free. The prices for passes are:
WEEKEND PASS:
$30 in advance until June 1st;
$35 in advance after June 1st;
$40 at the gate
SINGLE DAY PASS:
$18 in advance until June 1st;
$20 in advance after June 1st
$24 at the gate
DETAILED EVENT LISTING
The magic of the Faerieworlds Festival returns to the Pacific Northwest for a weekend of extraordinary live music, world-renowned art, elaborate multimedia and otherworldly live performances. We invite you to join us in the beautiful forest of Oregon at the Secret House Winery near Eugene, for a very special weekend of magic and celebration.
On the main stage, this years festival will feature two full days and evenings of live music including international music acts as well as many northwest favorites. From Ireland, Faerieworlds presents the stunning voice of award-winning Irish vocalist Karan Casey, the spellbinding former lead singer of Irish supergroup Solas. Faerieworlds will also feature world-renowned fiddler Kevin Burke of “Celtic Fiddle Festival,” who will perform a set traditional and original arrangements, in addition to presenting a fiddle workshop as part of the event. (cont. next page)
Saturday evening will feature a dance set from the realm of Faerie with the mythic rock band Woodland, featuring the World of Froud Faerie Lightshow by Devon, UK artist Brian Froud. This years festival will also see the return of legendary northwest festival favorites, Trillian Green, with a headlining set Sunday evening to feature the Beyond the Ninth Wave Lightshow by Welsh artist Jen Delyth.
Faerieworlds will also include performances by folk powerhouse Sasha Butterfly, Seattle pagan-rockers Gaia Consort, Eugene local favorites The Sugar Beets, electronica dance band Trance Zen Dance, Seattle acoustic ensemble Magical Strings, Lorane’s Well featuring members of Toad in the Hole, and the traditional Irish band Fiddlehead to name a few.
The Secret House Winery will become a virtual Faerie realm, with a Faerie Vending Village, Froud Faerie Lightshow, Froud Art Show in Winery Gallery, Costume Contest, Fashion Show, Children’s Area, Wandering performers, Fire Show and more.
The gates open at noon on July 23rd-24th and main stage runs from 1pm to 10pm each day. This one-of-a-kind event is all ages, and a portion of proceeds will benefit the Family School in Eugene, Oregon
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Emilio and Kelly Miller-Lopez
info@faerieworlds.com
541-687-0945
www.faerieworlds.com
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ABOUT THE HEADLINING MUSICIANS
KARAN CASEY BAND
As a member of Solas for four and a half years, Karan Casey has been critically acclaimed from Japan to America as one of Ireland’s greatest singers. The Wall Street Journal has described her as one of the true glories of Irish music today.
Karan has learned from a variety of musical sources, starting with church choir and local mentors Lupeta Sheenan and the Foran Family in her own parish Ballyduff Lower. After moving to Dublin for university studies in Italian and Classics, she also trained in piano and voice at the Irish School of Music and The Royal Irish Academy of Music. Meanwhile she sang in the jazz band Bourbon Street, was the resident singer in George’s Bistro for two years and performed her own original songs with the group Dorothy.
In 1993 Karan emigrated to New York and began a jazz degree in Brooklyn’s Long Island University. Making the rounds of the sessions in New York she was asked to join Atlantic Bridge. Later she joined Seamus Egan, Winifred Horan, John Doyle and John Williams to form the group Solas. The band recorded three albums in just four years, and won NAIRD awards for each. They played with Bela Fleck, Iris De Ment, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, The Chieftains, Donal Lunny, Sharon Shannon and Paul Winter while touring extensively in America, Europe and Japan.
During this period Karan recorded her first solo album SONGLINES, released in 1997, and also found time to do some solo touring in Ireland. Other recent recordings include the Grammy-winning CELTIC SOLSTICE with Paul Winter and Friends (Best New Age Album 1999), and the PBS documentary (and Rykodisc album) AFRICANS IN AMERICA with Sweet Honey in the Rock’s Bernice Johnson Reagon.
In her second solo album, THE WINDS BEGIN TO SING, Karan explores the boundaries of traditional Irish song. Fully versed in the genre’s subtleties (and comfortable singing several selections in Gaelic), she is equally at home while transforming Billie Holiday’s jazz classic “Strange Fruit” into a chilling Irish ballad from beyond the Pale.
Usually touring with accordion virtuoso Niall Vallely and guitar wizard Robbie Overson, Karan Casey has already performed at many prestigious venues, including the Kennedy Center, WOMAD USA, A Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, Symphony Space, Knitting Factory, Kentucky Center for the Arts, and (participating in Paul Winter’s Solstice Celebrations) the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
KEVIN BURKE
Burke is one of the best-known contemporary fiddlers who has been influenced by the Sligo fiddling style. Characterized by carefully ornamented phrasing and a rhythmic intensity, Burke’s repertoire runs the gamut of Breton gavottes and Scottish reels. He first made his mark with the Glenside Ceil¡ Band, winning the 1966 All Ireland Ceil¡ Band competition at the Fleadh Ceol in Boyle at the age of 16.
Hardly a man to follow conventional routes to trad greatness, Burke was as readily seduced by Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix as he was by renowned Sligo fiddler, Michael Coleman, and all because they shared one thing in common: an ability to get to the soul of the music. Burke went to America in 1972 to record an album with Arlo Guthrie (Last Of The Brooklyn Cowboys). After that, the Lazy Reel folk group provided him with some sustenance (alongside Tom Madden and Chris Andretti) before he joined Christy Moore’s band in 1975. Later he reached full throttle when he joined the Bothy Band in 1976 after Donegal fiddler, Tommy Peoples’ departure. This was traditional music on speed, complete with electric harpsichord and even more electrifying rhythms. He recorded his first solo album in 1978 (If The Cap Fits), and afterwards embarked on a seminal musical partnership with fellow Bothy Band member, Miche l O Domhnaill, which resulted in two further album releases (Promenade and Portland).
Having re-located to America in 1980, Burke continued to partner
O Domhnaill until 1985 when he formed the pivotal supergroup Patrick Street with Jackie Daly, Andy Irvine and Arty McGlynn. In between he found time to form yet another band with Sandy Silva, Paul Kotapish and Mark Graham, which they christened Open House. Their sound defined as much by mandolin, cittern and clarinet as it was by the fiddle and guitar, Open House finally disbanded in 1999.
Meanwhile, Burke was also crossing borders with the Celtic Fiddle Festival along with Johnny Cunningham and Christian LemaŒtre where Scottish and Breton tunes melded with traditional Irish tunes to stunning effect. A firm believer that “music is a release from the tyranny of conscious thought”, Burke (now resident in Oregon) revels in pushing the envelope of what has long been perceived to “fit” within the boundaries of traditional music.
WOODLAND
In the Fall of 1998, after five years of performing at West Coast festivals and touring with Celtic rock band Spirit Union, Kelly and Emilio Miller-Lopez started writing and production for a new and unusual project. Kelly’s background in Celtic myth and Shakespearean theatre, and Emilio’s skills as a songwriter and music producer converged to create the mythical music of Woodland.
Soon after producing their first EP ‘Heritage’, Woodland connected with Devon, UK artist Brian Froud, and started producing Faerie themed masquerades and events weaving together their music with lightshows of Froud world-renowned art. The events quickly caught on and before long the shows grew from a few hundred participants to major outdoor festivals with thousands in attendance.
As Brian said in a recent interview with Four Corners Magazine, “When we heard the music of Woodland, we thought how wonderful it was and we were intrigued with the possibilities of how ideas sort of flow outward and get larger... We just wanted to help, encourage and expand the world. We put my images together with the music and we received a delighted reaction from the audience.”
In 2004 the ensemble relocated to the Pacific Northwest, after five years as a festival and theatre headliner throughout Arizona, New Mexico and California. Woodland was welcomed to Oregon with a main stage gig at the Country Fair, and as a Saturday night headliner at the Faerieworlds Festival at Hornings Hideout near Portland. The bands rich poetic lyrics steeped in Celtic myth, married with the groups ability to jam live, has made Woodland one of the most talked about acts in the northwest festival scene this year.
The ornate vocal harmonies of Kelly and Emilio Miller-Lopez are poetic invocations with dynamic and tight counterpoint melodies. The bands live improvisations soar, with interwoven melodic grooves and energetic rhythm interludes by master percussionists Jarrod Kaplan and Vash. Fiddler Kimmy Smith adds a traditional edge to the bands original sound, with a diverse repertoire of Celtic jigs and reels. Woodland’s self-produced Faerie Masquerade events have been hugely successful for five years, with attendance between 400-4000 per event.
Emilio and Kelly Miller-Lopez are the founders and primary songwriters in Woodland. Kelly plays harp, Celtic whistle and native flute and sings lead vocals. Emilio plays guitar and sings lead and harmony vocals, and writes a large amount of the music and poetry for the band. Woodland also features fiddler Kimmy Smith (Spirit Union), drummer Jarrod Kaplan (Trillian Green), percussionist Vash (The Bringers), harmony vocalist Danielle Opal and bassist and didjeridu player Donald Brodsky.
Live, the bands performances journey between soft sensual acoustic sounds and melody-driven rhythmic tribal rock. For years Woodland concerts and faerie Masquerades have coincided with ancient mythic holidays such as solstices, equinoxes and full moons, with their multi-generational audience arriving at events adorned in masks, robes, horns, wings and crowns in celebration.
TRILLIAN GREEN
In 1994, TRILLIAN GREEN: Ben Klein (Silver Flute), Christine Gunn (Cello), and Jarrod Kaplan (Percussion) met and began performing at The Oregon Country Fair. Soon after, The Trio developed their act on the Streets of Seattle, performing guerrilla style at Bumbershoot, Folklife, The Fremont Fair, The University Street Fair, and many other festive events.
Trillian Green’s music, and act, had an appeal to audiences of all ages & walks of life. Younger audiences were drawn to the band’s energy & mystique, as well as the dance-ability of the music. Older audiences enjoyed the band’s acoustic instrumentation & melodic sensibility; and the fact that the group didn’t have to play loud to convey the music’s power & intensity. Universally, the band’s chemistry & connection with the audience was very entertaining to be a part of other’s shows. Cafes & venues harbored Acoustic Musicians, and with a thriving scene of supportive fans, there was a sense that the “Post-Grunge Seattle Music Scene” had arrived.
From the stage, at a sold out Black Citroen show in 1995, Ben Klein coined the term, “THE ACOUSTIC REVOLUTION,” with an inspired declaration that Acoustic Music could powerfully & forcefully take over the mainstream music realm. Soon after, Jarrod Kaplan (the band’s Percussionist & Manager) further defined the term to describe the scene that “revolved around” the creation of Acoustic Music. With Trillian Green as the catalyst, Jarrod started OMNIVINE RECORDS and AGENCY to distribute recordings for, and book many of the acts within, the Acoustic Revolutionary Family of bands.
As a result of a lot of hard work, and a lot of performing, by the middle of 1996, TRILLIAN GREEN was informing a mailing list of thousands of fans, and selling out THE BACKSTAGE (500 Capacity, Seattle), EAGLES HALL BALLROOM, (350 Capacity, Bellingham, WA), THE MT. TABOR THEATER (400 Capacity, Portland, OR), THE WOW HALL (500 Capacity, Eugene, OR), THE MARK ANTHONY BALLROOM (300 Capacity, Ashland, OR), as well as 300-400 Capacity Venues in N. CA, from Arcata to Santa Cruz. This sell-out show trend continued through the end of the band’s career in February 1998, when, with no advertising, THE TRACTOR TAVERN (Seattle) had to turn away over 100 fans, some of who drove from as far as Canada, Montana, and N. CA inspired by the “rumor” that this was to be Trillian Green’s final show.
In 1996 and 1997, Trillian Green found themselves on Main Stages at BUMBERSHOOT, NW FOLKLIFE, THE FREMONT FAIR, THE SEATTLE PEACE CONCERTS (Gasworks & Volunteer Parks), SALMON DAYS (Ballard), THE NW HERBAL FAIRE (Bellingham, WA), THE OREGON COUNTRY FAIR, EUGENE CELEBRATION, THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY FOLK FESTIVAL, DAVINCI DAYS (Corvallis, OR), THE WHOLE EARTH FESTIVAL (Davis, CA), and THE HIGH SIERRA MUSIC FESTIVAL (Quincy, CA), among many others.
Trillian Green independently released “Metamorphoses” on May 1st 1997, just in time for Festival season. By the end of the summer the band was receiving airplay on over 25 West Coast radio stations, as well as 2 nationally syndicated shows (Hearts of Space & Echoes), and could be found in most record stores along their tour route. Further however, internet savvy fans were spreading word of the music, and mail-orders were coming in from all over the world.
Classically, as the band’s success accelerated, so did the pressures to write, perform, and appear in the public eye more often. Unfortunately, at the time, this type of success and pressure was new to the band. The intense personalities that normally gelled to create such powerful and amazing music, soon polarized, and each member decided to go their own way…
With time came growth, experience, and healing.
6 years later, as fate would have it, Jarrod crossed paths with the producers of a major Fantasy/Faerie-Realm inspired Celtic Musical event called Faerie Worlds (www.FaerieWorlds.com). Emilio & Kelly Miller-Lopez had recently moved to Eugene, and were seeking to renew the line-up of their Band, Woodland; the centerpiece act of their event. As long-time Trillian Green Fans, they dually propositioned Jarrod to perform with Woodland, and have Trillian Green reunite for a performance at their next Faerie Worlds Event.
On August 1st, 2004, Trillian Green reunited at Horning’s Hideout (N. Plains, OR) for an exclusive performance at The Faerie Worlds Festival. Reawakened to their powerful musical chemistry, the band put on a tremendous show, and soon after became thirsty to perform again…
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ABOUT THE FEATURED ARTISTS
BRIAN FROUD
This years event will feature a gallery showing of originals by Brian Froud, site Froud banners and design, and a Faerie lightshow featuring the artwork of Brian Froud. Froud’s son Toby, the famed baby stolen by David Bowie in the Henson film “Labyrinth” will be attending and performing and stiltwalking at this years event as well.
For over 25 years, Brian Froud’s significant accomplishments have spanned a wide variety of media and a diverse range of applications. Internationally regarded as an authority on faeries and faery lore, Brian’s lifetime fascination with the world of faery has provided the foundation of his diverse
and highly original creative life. The international best-selling book, FAERIES with fantasy and Tolkien illustrator Alan Lee is considered a modern classic. His work with Jim Henson as conceptual designer on feature films THE DARK CRYSTAL, LABYRINTH and other Henson projects set new standards
for design, puppeteering and animatronics in film and are considered landmarks in the evolution of modern day special effects and have attracted an international cult following.
Born in Winchester in 1947, Brian Froud graduated with Honours from Maidstone College of Art in 1971 with a degree in Graphic Design. Soon after, Froud began working in London on various projects ranging from book jackets, magazine covers to advertising as well as illustrating several children books. A couple of years, later Brian Froud moved to Devon and stayed with fellow artist Alan Lee and his family. Froud continued to illustrate children books as well as find time to create and publish his own artwork (such images can be found in THE LAND OF FROUD and ONCE UPON A TIME).
In 1978, Brian Froud and Alan Lee put together an ensemble of drawings and paintings which the world adored: FAERIES became an international bestseller, hitting the number four spot on the New York Times Best Seller List. Brian Froud’s artistic techniques and wisdom of folklore caught the eyes of many, including Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets. In 1978, Jim Henson hired Froud to create a unique otherworld, better known as THE WORLD OF THE DARK CRYSTAL. The film “The Dark Crystal” was a monumental collaboration of ideas, techniques, and creativity. On the set of “The Dark Crystal”- released in 1982, Brian Froud met Wendy Midener, a puppet designer (creator of the “Gelflings” and Star Wars’ “Yoda”). Their son Toby starred in the Henson film, “Labyrinth”- 1986, in which Brian Froud was once again hired as the Conceptual Designer. Froud continued working with Henson on television programs such as “Jim Henson’s Storyteller,” as well as working on designs for other film/media projects.
Froud also began to collaborate with the screenwriter of “Labyrinth,” Terry Jones. He contributed to several Froud books including the international best selling phenomenon, LADY COTTINGTON’S PRESSED FAIRY BOOK and STRANGE STAINS AND MYSTERIOUS SMELLS.
Brian has continued to revolutionize the concept of “faery” for modern readers. In 1998, Brian published the sequel to Froud/Lee’s best selling FAERIES, GOOD FAERIES/BAD FAERIES, which became a highly acclaimed and an international best seller, as did the book / cards set, THE FAERIES’ ORACLE. In 2002, Brian created the long awaited Lady Cottington sequel, LADY COTTINGTON’S FAIRY ALBUM and the 25th Anniversary Edition of FAERIES with new art and introductions by Brian Froud and Alan Lee, both published by Abrams Books. He also released his first musical project, “FAERIES: A Musical Companion to the Art of Brian Froud,” an Enhanced CD from Windham Hill / RCA Victor /BMG. In 2003, Brian released THE RUNES OF ELFLAND with text by Ari Berk, published by Abrams Book as well as the 20th Anniversary Edition of THE WORLD OF THE DARK CRYSTAL. Brian’s new book, GOBLINS! with text by Ari Berk will be released this Fall by Abrams Books. He and Ari are currently working on the next Lady Cottington book, LADY COTTINGTON’S PRESSED FAIRY LETTERS. Through Imaginosis, who represents the Frouds, Brian has several highly successful lines of licensed merchandise and is also involved in film and media projects.
For more information, please visit the Official Froud Faeries Site: www.worldoffroud.com
JODY BERGSMA
As a little girl, Jody Bergsma had nightmares. Her mother comforted her by telling her that if she painted them, they would no longer scare her. Her childish monsters, dragons and wide-eyed children, set the stage for her future work; paintings that often had their origins in her dreams.
By the age of 15, Bergsma was painting professionally, selling her watercolors at local art shows. Hundreds of her originals, mostly of children and pets, were sold during her teenage years. “I found I could make more money than I dreamed at an art show,” remarks Bergsma. “The money I made ended up paying for my education.”
Not completely convinced that art could be a legitimate career, Bergsma interests wavered between art and engineering. Studying in Europe inspired her, but her aptitude for mathematics directed her towards a more financially secure future in engineering school. Close to graduation, Bergsma dropped out of college to pursue what she really loved – art.
“People often told me that my work was immature,” says Bergsma. “Art teachers criticized it and my brothers told me I would go broke if I tried to make it as a painter, but I was determined. So with $2000, she printed lithographs of ten of her paintings and sold them at art shows. Soon, she set up a small showroom and warehouse in Bellingham, Washington.
BERGSMA GALLERY PRESS, INC. now consists of a showroom, wholesale warehouse, wholesale sale division, publishing company, and an international licensing operation.
Bergsma sets aside periods of seclusion in which she creates her new watercolor sketches and original paintings for all of her products and licensors. “I get up early in the morning and often paint for twelve hours a day during seclusion,” comments Bergsma. “My goal is to dedicate myself solely to painting. Being under a deadline to complete everything puts the pressure on that helps me to get the work done.”
Jody’s earlier and first recognizable style, Dreamkeepers, consists of a magical world of harmony inhabited by wide-eyed characters and fantasy friends. They celebrate family, friendship, parenthood and love with inspirational sayings. This line has recently taken on a new look and includes a wide array of products from limited edition prints and embossed art cards to plush toys and sun catchers.
Her second style, Natural Elements, was inspired by childhood trips to the pristine wilderness of the San Juan Islands with her father in his floatplane. The culture of the Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest stirred her imagination, and resulted in artwork with symbolism intermixed with the nature and wildlife that surrounded her. Bergsma takes a trip to a place of beauty that will inspire her Natural Elements work each year. These trips have included Alaska, the Rockies, Florida and even Ireland. Her work is all done in rich vibrant flowing watercolor, which is easily identifiable by her collectors.
In the last several years, Bergsma has illustrated six children’s books. Her first was The Right Touch, which was done to educate children about sexual abuse. Her next book, Sky Castle, is rich with brilliant color and fantastic detail. In the next book, Dreambirds, Bergsma implemented her Natural Elements style. Her most recent projects have been The Little Wizard, Dragon, and Faerie, which she not only illustrated, but also wrote. “This has opened up an exciting new world in my creative life,” says Bergsma. “I look forward to doing more in the areas of writing and illustrating.” All of Bergsma’s books have won numerous awards in the world of children’s publishing.
Jody has completed a wide range of licensed projects for companies such as Universal Studios, Sea World, Busch Gardens, Fiesta Toys, Polar Graphics, Franklin Mint, Sandstone, Edenborough, Mug World, Masterpieces, and Leanin’ Tree. Together they create thousands of products sold throughout the world. For further information, please contact Alicia Rodside, BERGSMA GALLERY PRESS, 1344 King Street, Bellingham Washington 98229. The telephone numbers are (360) 733-1101 or (800) 237-4762. You can get more information and view Bergsma’s work online at www.bergsma.com
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EVENT PRODUCERS
IMAGINOSIS
Imaginosis is a transmedia media arts company that works with visual artists to create and develop “World Properties”: self-contained universes that reflect the depth of imagination, vision, philosophy, locale, characters and paraphernalia unique to the property. IMAGINOSIS forges creative partnerships with visionary professionals in entertainment media and products to develop, produce, launch and merchandise World Properties of exceptional quality, singularity, depth and longevity.
For over twenty-five years, Robert Gould has been involved with the development, creation, and production of art and story for all media. Drawing from his deep experience in the media arts, literature, philosophy and mythology, Robert has worked with major entertainment companies in film, television, publishing, licensing and live theater including: Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Columbia TriStar Television, The Jim Henson Company, The Creature Shop, Pacific Data Images, Sony Imageworks, Sony Animation, Entertainment Design Workshop, Cyan, N-Wave Pictures, Olio Design, Hasbro Toys, Sideshow Toy, Simon & Schuster, Bantam Books, Berkley Books, Warner Books, Byron Priess Visual Publications, Pavilion Books, Harry N. Abrams Books, Turner Publishing and Lionheart Books, Headline Entertainment, Hot Topic, Import Images, C&D Visionary Inc. and Daniel Flannery Productions.
His current clients include the international best selling faerie artists, Brian & Wendy Froud, Terryl Whitlach and Iain McCaig, concept artists for STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE , internationally recognized horror artist, Brom, writer, poet and folklorist Ari Berk, screenwriter David Michael Wieger, STAR WARS technical designer TJ Frame and other visual artists. Robert is the producer of The Faerieworlds Festival with Woodland Productions, a musical and theatrical event inspired by the World of Froud. Robert speaks on fantasy, myth, media and culture at various film and culture conventions in LA and the US.
CONTACT: Robert Gould ph: 818. 783. 6520
WOODLAND PRODUCTIONS
Since the first Full Moon Faerie Masquerade in Arizona in 1999, Woodland Productions has been creating mythic events that invite celebration and audience participation. Woodland Productions has been working with Imaginosis to develop and expand the Faerieworlds festival over the last 4 years. From pre-event media to direct event production, Woodland Productions has helped to make Faerieworlds the mythical international gathering that it has become.
CONTACT: Kelly and Emilio Miller-Lopez ph: 541.687.0945 e-mail: info@woodlandmusic.net
