Fox Valley Folk Festival Draws Big Names From Nashville

The Fox Valley Folk Festival is an annual treat in the Tri-Cities, but it's taking steps to be bigger and better than ever in 2013 with the addition of some top-rated talent.

Harpeth Rising, called an "Americana sensation" and voted 'Best Local Band in Nashville' by The Tennessean, joins the lineup for the two-day festival, Sept. 1 and 2, at Island Park.

The four classically trained musicians of Harpeth Rising bring a distinctively new sound to the folk genre. With a banjo and a fiddle, you might think they're traditional bluegrass — but think again.  Cello and percussion round out the ensemble, creating a unique sound.

The group met at the Indiana University School of Music and were united — and continue to be driven by — their eclectic musical interests. They began performing as a quartet in Nashville in 2009, playing for both Music City Roots and live in the studio of WSM the following year.

Harpeth Rising has been touring both nationally and internationally for three years with performances that include the Cambridge Folk Festival, The London Folk Festival, Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour, The Frome Festival, and ROMP Music Festival. 

The quartet has recently begun promoting their latest album, "The End of the World," which debuted in the Top Ten on the International Folk Charts. This is an special project for Harpeth Rising as it presents songs written by David Greenberg, father of Jordana Greenberg, the band's violinist.

Harpeth Rising has been performing songs by David Greenberg for several years to much acclaim, and fans have requested this project for some time. Tracks from the album have received several accolades including Best Song of 2012 by the No Surf Music Review and named a Finalist for the International Acoustic Music Awards. Harpeth Rising's eponymous debut album appeared on numerous Best of 2010 lists. 

Their second album, Dead Man's Hand, produced by multiple Grammy-winner, Bil VornDick (Alison Krauss, Bob Dylan, and Bela Fleck) has been described as "a musical force to be reckoned with" by the Bowling Green Daily News and "wholly wonderful" by FolkWords.  

Harpeth Rising will be playing at the Fox Valley Folk Festival at Island Park in Geneva, IL on Sept. 1 and 2.  The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days and includes serval other celebrated artists such as Michael Smith, Mustard's Retreat, Dennis Stroughmatt et L'Esprit Creole, and David Massengill.

The festival offers barn dances, food vendors, workshops, jams, a children's area, and ghost stories. Tickets are $15 per day, $10 for teens and seniors, and children under 12 get in free. There is a $5 discount for a two-day ticket, and there is also a $40 family rate for one day. 

Harpeth Rising will also be joining several of the Fox Valley Folk Festival's performers for a special concert broadcast on WFMT Radio at 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at on the Unitarian Universalist Church of Geneva, 102 S. Second St..  Tickets range from $15-25.  Tickets for both events are available in advance at 630-897-3655 or juel@fvfs.org.