Appearing on the Front Porch:
Joel Timothy
Joel, a first-rate talent with a gift for crafting songs that touch the heart, stir the soul, and sometimes even make the listener laugh out loud, has been writing and performing music for over 30 years. Born in Nebraska, Joel and his family moved to England when he was two years old. After several years abroad, the family returned to the States, and lived for a while in a small mountain town in Northern California. By the mid-1960s, however, as a teenager responding to the inexorable call of music, Joel found himself settled in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco - one of hottest music scenes in the world, and the perfect place for a young musician to start absorbing inspiration. Here, with neighbors and friends, like Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead and many other artists from the era, Joel learned from some of music’s most powerfully talented mentors. In the 1970s, Joel began performing as a street singer in San Francisco, but quickly “graduated” from the street to become a popular artist on the West Coast folk circuit, expanding his territory by touring throughout the U.S. After many years on the road, Joel returned to San Francisco where, from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, he began composing music for film, T.V., radio and theatre. It was during this time that he married artist Karen Boone. Soon after, a son, Ian, followed, and the family moved to Karen’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. From here, Joel began performing throughout the region, including many appearances at Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Cafe. Homefront welcomes Joel back for his 3rd visit to the front porch. Learn more at www.joeltimothymusic.com [4].
The Hot Club of Derbytown
This trio re-creates the hot sounds of vintage jazz produced in Paris in the 1930s and 40s produced by the Quintet of the Hot Club Of France, featuring legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and the virtuoso swinging violinist Stephane Grappelli. Veteran performers Tom Cunningham on fiddle, 'Django' Jim Webb on guitar, and Blue 'Bleu' Murphy on bass, bring this sophisticated and energetic music to life once again, along with red-hot gypsy melodies and old-time blues and ragtime music. Dressed in tux and tennis shoes, these fellows make the audience want to dance in the aisles. Tom Cunningham has appeared on Homefront several times, including as storyteller and fiddle player with the Pot Luck Ramblers. Jim Webb is a well known Louisville artist and has appeared on the Homefront Porch with several bands. Bleu' Murphy has also played on the Homefront Porch with several other bands. We are happy they discovered each other and we welcome them for their first appearance as "The Hot Club of Derbytown!" Visit them at www.fiddletales.com/hotlcub.htm [5].
Hickory Vaught n' Friends
Hickory Vaught, a well known Louisville musician, has gotten a few good friends together to form this terrific band. Hickory plays Mandolin, Guitar, Slide Guitar and Vocals. Dennis Talley will plays Upright Bass and Matt "Sprout" Phelps, Acoustic Guitar. Ever now and then Hickory calls on a few more special friends for a special appearance. We hope that's the case when he comes to the Homefront Porch, as you can sometimes expect random appearances by the likes of renown musicians (and former Front-porchers) Chris Brandstatt, Steve Cooley, Steve Mohler, John Lewis, Alan Phelps, Michael Cleveland and Blake Stamper You can catch Hickory at several venues around Louisville, including Dekes and the Marriott Downtown. We are excited to have them on the Homefront Porch for the very first time! Check them out at www.myspace.com/hickoryvaught [6].
Arthur Hatfield & Buck Creek
This band was formed in January 1994, with original members, Arthur Hatfield on banjo, Gary Minor on guitar, Jimmy Railey on dobro and Johnny Day on bass. Some of Kentucky's finest! Each member had worked with other bands and brought to the group different ideas. By May of 1994 the band had made it's debut recording. Arthur Hatfield and Buck Creek performed many show dates that first year including the prestigious "First Night Celebration" on New Years Eve at Bowling Green Kentucky! In the year to follow Railey decided to move to Alabama and further his education and was replaced by Ricky Burch. Burch brought to the band his own ideas as well as the fiddle and mandolin. It was also during this time that the band started working on their now famous vocal harmonies. 1996 saw the group record it's second project and start gaining in recognition and popularity! In 1999 the band ended the millennium by recording their first Gospel recording! At the request of fans around the country Arthur Hatfield & Buck Creek began working on a fourth release, which came out in early 2001. We are pleased to have them back on the Homefront Porch for their 2nd appearance. For more information, click on www.angelfire.com/folk/buckcreek [7].