Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys features the accordion mastery and soulful vocals of front man Jeffery Broussard, from the legendary band, Zydeco Force. The band delivers great, pack-the-floor renditions of Creole classics as well as their own brand of contemporary Zydeco.

Come to dance, or just to listen and enjoy.

Whether he is playing a festival stage in front of thousands of dancers, a small theater of seated patrons, giving an interview, teaching a lesson or playing at a trailride, his warmth, love of the music, and talent shine. Jeffery Broussard is well, the real deal. Dedicated to preserving and promoting the Creole culture and traditional Zydeco music, Jeffery plays with passion and commitment to carry on his daddy’s legacy.

Visit Jeffrey's website at www.jefferybroussard.com.

Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys perform It's So Hard To Stop, January 2010.

If “World Music” is music that pays tribute to the spirit of a collection of human beings through distinct rhythms, traditional instruments and harmonic colors, French-Algerian guitarist, singer and composer Pierre Bensusan can be recognized as one of the most eloquent and diverse world musicians of our time.

Born in Oran, French-Algeria, in 1957, when France was decolonizing its empire, Pierre's family moved to Paris when he was 4. He began formal studies on piano at the age of 7 and at 11 taught himself guitar. Influenced in those early days by the folk revival blooming in Britain, France and North America, Bensusan first began to explore his own diverse musical heritage and then moved to the horizons beyond. At 17 he signed his first recording contract, and one year later his first album Pres de Paris won the Grand Prix du Disque upon his debut at the Montreux Festival in Switzerland.

Described by the L.A. Times as "one of the most unique and brilliant acoustic guitar veterans in the world music scene today", Pierre Bensusan was voted "Best World Music Guitar Player in 2008" by Guitar Player Magazine Readers Choice. His name became synonymous with contemporary acoutsic guitar genius, long before the terms New Age, New Acoustic Music or World Music were invented. He has the ability to make a single guitar sound like an entire band as he brings the audience on a mesmerizing musical journey.

And yet, Bensusan is more than what any musician or music lover expects from a guitarist. He is a composer as well as a bilingual and a brave improvisational vocalist, melding whistles and resonant low notes with something like his own scat technique.

There is a sense of something both playful and serious in his work, an unparalleled sense of freedom in his compositions and his improvisations. His "manner" of playing defies classification - crossing world, classical, jazz, traditional, folk and more. None can be isolated as simply “Brazilian”, "Arabic" or “French”; rather, they represent our world in its current state, a world sharing itself, fusing cultures together in ways we have never experienced. Not to be missed!

Visit Pierre's website at www.pierrebensusan.com

Pierre Bensusan performs DADGAD Cafe & Hymn 11 at IMT, March 2011.

What do you get when you combine the TG4 Gradam Ceoil Traditional Musician of the Year award winner for 2008, a key member of the acclaimed band Lúnasa since 1998, and a Grammy award nominee for 2009? The Teetotallers.

Three of the most praised and popular virtuosos in Irish traditional music today, fiddler and violist Martin Hayes, flute, whistle, and bodhrán player Kevin Crawford, and singer, guitarist, and bouzouki and mandola player John Doyle performed together essentially on a whim at the 2010 Sebastopol Celtic Festival in California. But that whim turned into something wondrous for the audience and especially for the three musicians.

Out of that informal, inspired encounter has emerged a formal, formidable new trio now, the Teetotallers, whose potent brand of Irish traditional music is meant to be drunk deeply and repeatedly. The Teetotallers represent a breathtaking summit of talent, skill, and imagination that will captivate followers of Irish traditional and other roots music everywhere. A debut album and tour by the trio promise to be among the musical highlights of 2012.

The Teetotalers perform five tunes.

When Brittany Haas and Lauren Rioux played to an standing room only crowd in an IMT Next to the House show to release Lauren's new CD last June, everyone asked when they'd be back. Now we have an answer: they're coming to start off our summer concerts at the Community Center in Takoma Park (where we'll have a lot more seats).

Bruce says:

Traditional music continues to evolve with time and place, a perpetual, joyful work in progress . Brittany and Lauren have both learned their lessons from old traditions but are also highly informed by what's new. That puts their intimate and soulful music in the forefront of what's going on in the acoustic music scene!

Many people know Brittany Haas from her time touring with Tony Trischka or with Darol Anger's Republic of Strings. And some of you saw her recently when she appeared with Laura Cortese, Mariel Vandersteel and sister Natalie Haas at the Lyceum in Alexandrai. Most people know Brittany from her fiddling with old-time group Crooked Still. Since graduating from Princeton in 2009, she's been taking her 5-string fiddle on tour with Crooked Still and making new fans all over the world, including a recent appearance at the Birchmere. Her first CD, Brittany Haas, was released on Ook records in 2004 and includes guest musicians Bruce Molsky, Darol Anger, Todd Sickafoose, Mike Marshall and her sister Natalie.

Brittany grew up honing her craft in fiddle camps nationwide, and came to her unique sound through the old time fiddling of Bruce Molsky & and the innovative stylings of Darol Anger. A prodigious youth, she began touring with Darol's Republic of Strings at the age of 14. She simultaneously studied baboons in the evolutionary biology department of Princeton University and joined seminal chamber-grass band Crooked Still. She has toured with them since, and also performed with Yonder Mountain String Band, Tony Trischka, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas (her cellist sister), Abigail Washburn, and The Waybacks. She played her fiddle on Steve Martin's Grammy Award-winning CD, "The Crow," and performed in his band on Letterman and SNL. She released her debut self-titled solo album at 17, produced by Darol Anger and featuring Bruce Molsky, Mike Marshall, Alison Brown and others. She recently recorded a soon-to-be-released project with hardanger fiddler and composer Dan Trueman featuring their own original music. She also plays in a fiddle duo with Lauren Rioux and an all-girl indie old-time band called The Fundies.

Lauren Rioux is a rising star in the national fiddle scene. She performs with Darol Anger’s Republic of Strings, Scott Nygaard and Crow Molly, and the StringNation Orkestra. A classically trained violinist and violist, Lauren discovered traditional fiddle music in 2001 at the first National American String Teachers' Association Convention. She is an excellent role model and source of useful information for classical players wishing to "cross over' into vernacular styles. Her powerful sound, vibrant rhythmic sense, fluency in old-time, Celtic and Scandinavian fiddle styles, and her tremendous personal charm add depth and interest to any ensemble.

With her debut album, All the Brighter, Lauren presents a beautiful collection of melodies that embrace and celebrate the richness of life. Rooted in the old-time tradition, and drawing inspiration from a wide swath of musicians, from Sam Cooke to Hillary Hahn, her music is at once timeless and fresh. Lauren performs regularly with Darol Anger, Scott Law, and Mike Block in the band Republic of Strings, and Scott Nygaard and Joe Walsh in Crow Molly. She has shared the stage with Bruce Molsky, Tim O'Brien, Mike Marshall, Vasen, Laurie Lewis, Natalie Haas and others at such festivals as Wintergrass, Delfest, Rockygrass, and Celtic Connections. In addition to her prowess as a performer, Lauren is enthusiastically sought out for her teaching expertise, and leads classes and workshops across the country. She also maintains a very active private studio in her home state, Maine, through which she teaches a delightfully rowdy group of over thirty violinists, violists, and fiddlers ranging in age from 5 to 70.

Visit the Brittany and Lauren's website at laurenandbrittanymusic.com

Brittany Haas, Lauren Rioux & Avril Smith perform
Sullivan's Hollow and Five Miles From Town at IMT, June 2011.

After an enormously successful solo concert last summer, Gabrielle Louise is returning for another summer concert with IMT, and she's bringing her band along.

Gabrielle Louise is noted for her poignant lyrics and astonishing vocals. (She’s a two-time John Lennon Songwriting Contest finalist and winner of the Jack Maher Songwriting Award.) The daughter of two gypsy musicians, Gabrielle inherited the genetic predisposition to wanderlust and song.

Gabrielle Louise’s songs are anchored in folk and roots, while her melody and delivery show strong pop sensibilities. Her sound has the earthy feel of early Joni Mitchell while also capturing the emotion and musical adventurism of fellow genre-hopping artist Martin Sexton. Gabrielle is at one moment folkie and ethereal, the next moment a smoky jazz chanteuse.

As a performer and songwriter, Gabrielle has made a commitment towards the environment. From organizing and co-writing the sustainability themed musical, "The Muse's Market," which sought to address social issues and present sustainability focused solutions through multi-media art, to assisting the "Save the Arkansas River" campaign by releasing a single for the campaign, to doing the majority of her touring in a vehicle powered by bio-fuels, the marriage of creativity and environmentalism has been powerful for her.

She has toured and recorded with a wide variety of configurations, but all her presentations fall under the creative umbrella of "The Gabrielle Louise Show." Variety is the ticket. Recently, Gabrielle has fallen very much in love with Argentine Tango, and is committing time to studying to play and sing tango standards. Don't be surprised to catch a tango performance by the dancers who frequent her shows, or an exhibit by a local artist or photographer.

Visit Gabrielle's website at www.gabriellelouise.com

Gabrielle performs Te Amare in an IMT Next to the House Concert, August, 2011.

The legendary Woody Guthrie was born on July 14, 1912. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth, Joe Uehline has put together a tribute concert for July 14, 2012, with Joe's own band, the U-Liners, and Magpie. IMT is very happy to be sponsoring the show!

Joe Uehlein & the U-Liners

From his early days working in an aluminum mill in Central PA, a fiesty and passionate Joe Uehlein developed a keen interest in Rock & Roll and the Folk and Country sounds of working class music. Joe’s broad musical journey began in union halls across the country, touring to Japan, Switzerland, Great Britain and Venezuela, and led to sharing the stage with countless legendary artists including Pete Seeger, Tom Morello, Steve Earle, Boots Riley, and Lester Chambers.

Joe’s passion continues as he combines forces with the hard workin’, hard drivin’ musicians known as The U-Liners. A rare specialty of this group includes songs of hope, peace, justice, the environment, and worker’s rights; and come from the band’s belief that we can make the world a better place. Joining Joe in the U-Liners are Avril Smith (guitar, mandolin & vocals), Larry Ferguson (drums, percussion), Mindy McWilliams (fiddle, vocals) and Barry Warsaw (bass).

Visit the Uliner's website at www.uliners.com

Magpie

Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner began to play music together in Kent, Ohio in September of 1973. They chose the name Magpie for their band, a name which grew in personal significance for them as years went by. Terry was a student in her senior year at Kent State University in the fall of '73, and when she graduated the following spring, she and Greg packed Greg's VW bus and moved to the Washington, DC area. In the years since then, they have traveled and toured extensively, performed in concerts, at folk clubs and festivals around the world, and recorded many times.

Terry's voice is a truly impressive instrument, not only because of its natural power, but also because of her versatility. She is a gifted singer of jazz and blues in the tradition of Connie Boswell and Billie Holiday, but is equally comfortable with the subtle beauty of traditional folk and contemporary songs. Add to this her uncanny ability to find the perfect harmony line, and, in a powerful blend of their two voices, you have a real treat for the ear. As if this weren't enough, Terry is also an excellent player of the harmonica, mandolin, fretted dulcimer, and rhythm guitar.

Greg is an outstanding guitarist whose fingerstyle approach owes a lot to his heroes, guitar legends such as Reverend Gary Davis, Big Bill Broonzy, Nick Lucas, Phil Ochs, and Rolly Brown. His playing is the solid basis of Magpie's sound, providing whatever is called for, whether it be a hard-driving rhythm, or a ringing lyrical beauty. From a slow Scots air or a plaintive ballad to a rollicking ragtime blues or infectious swing, Greg covers it all. His high baritone voice has equal range and his captivating interpretation gives power and beauty to the full spectrum, from growling blues, to a Chilean lament, to a sweet croon.

Visit Magpie's website at www.magpiemusic.com