WOMP SHOWOGRAPHY 1991-2013

P.O. Box 50105 Columbia, SC 29250

803-708-4500

BACKSTORY Fortunate friendships, non-mainstream tastes!

BACK IN 1991, three old friends were lamenting the fact that so many blues and folk-music artists were bypassing their town. One of the three, Jay Crouch, posed a simple question. “Why don’t we put on some shows ourselves?”

Chris Judge and Geoffrey Graves exchanged glances then turned to Crouch. “Sounds cool,” they said.

Word of Mouth Productions was born, and for the next few months, Columbia was treated to everything from Delta blues to Irish folk music in venues that ranged from the former Rockafellas’ music club to the State Museum.

Three years later, the WOMP crew, with the help of a few other local blues fans, launched the Columbia Blues Festival, a free, day-long show that brought a needed infusion of the blues to the Capital city.

On the wing, with blind faith and a City of Columbia hospitality grant for non-profits, this lovingly diverse, multicultural annual event keeps chugging along. The WOMP family has grown significantly in number over the years, and the same spunky, grassroots spirit lives on. This year we feature the unique musical talents of Danielle Howle, Andrew Scotchie & The River Rats, Mill Billy Blues, Tommy Malone, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, and Sonny Landreth. With a special appearance by The Dixieland Codgers, plus a tribute to our dear friend Frank Smoak!

HEARTFELT THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AND PATRONSWHO MAKE THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT POSSIBLE

Bill ThorpeBill GilesBill WagnerKevin WoodwardMyra CoxSteve RingerHarry GindmanRichard LaymanJeffrey BloomJohn PittmanCathy AlexanderMac MontgomeryRichard MerrittAnita Gotwals Graves

Michael WingateKittrel TuckerBobbi SonefeldTony BissellCurtis BestJane PattonGerrit JobisWernher WiebachWillie & Patty DurkinGene GravesDominic ComoThad MyersDan BliekPamela Graves Murray

HOW TO FIND USDr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Memorial Parkin Five Points

2300 Greene StreetColumbia, SC

Debbie McDanielMichael MillerTim & Nancy BradshawSarah ScarboroughFerd SumnerJimmy RiddleSteve BennettSteve GulleyCarl SteenKen DearForever and always:Jules Pernell Paul PittengerEd Buddin

For more detailed information about ourfestival, including history, archives,

stories, photo galleries, and more, please visit

www.wordofmouthproductions.org Join the WOMP community on Facebook!

Through the years, Word of Mouth Productions has

hosted more than 50 shows, produced 18 Annual

Blues Festivals, and brought more than 125 recording

artists to Columbia audiences. Our multi-cultural

festival enriches the local arts environment, enhances

our collective sense of community, and attracts

music lovers from across the country.

Geoff Achison • Alligator Wine • Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues • Etta Baker • Carey Bell • Tab Benoit • Big Sam’s Funky Nation • Rory Block • Roy Book Binder • Randall Bramblett • Skeeter Brandon & Hwy 61 • Eden Brent • Brock McGuire Band • Lonnie Brooks • Nappy Brown • Eddie Burks • Michael Burks • R L Burnside • Henry Butler • Campbell Brothers • Kenny Carr & The Tigers • Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick • Paul Cebar • The Cedar Creek Boys • Cephas & Wiggins • Chulrua • Clara’s Velvet Dress • Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater • Pat “Mother Blues” Cohen • The Crude Earles • Cultivation • Guy Davis • Katherine Davis • D.B. Bryant Band • Delta Moon • Delta Swagger • The Dixieland Codgers • Dr. Dixon • Donna The Buffalo • Gibb Droll • The Dudes • Elliott & The Untouchables • Jim Errante • Fat Back & The Groove Band • Cool John Ferguson • Damon Fowler • Anson Funderburgh with Sam Meyers • Paul Geremia • Griff • Dennis Gruenling • Guitar Shorty • Len Graham & Cathal McConnell • Jim Hadley • John Hammond • Harper • Corey Harris • Alvin Youngblood Hart • The Holmes Brothers • The House Band • Danielle Howle • Vasti Jackson • Samuel James • Wanda Johnson • Richard Johnston • Jeff Liberty Band • Jorma Kaukonen • Keb’ Mo’ • Smokin’ Joe Kubek with B’Nois King • Leo Kottke • Sonny Landreth • Rosie Ledet • The Lee Boys • Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials • David Lindley • Walter Linigern • Little Whitt & Big Bo • Shelley Macgee & The Bad Deeds • Tommy Malone • Bob Margolin • Mill Billy Blues • John Mooney • Moreland & Arbuckle • Big Bill Morganfield • Danny Morris • Pete Morton • Nat King Kong • Naz & The Falsehoods • Tracy Nelson • The Nields • New Legacy Duo • Paddy O’Brien • Tim O’Brien • Bobby Parker • Tom Principato • Buddy Ray & Frank Smoak • Rakish Bubban • Paul Rishell & Annie Raines • Duke Robillard • Robin Rogers • Roy Rogers • Tommy Sands • Son Seals • Savoy Brown with Kim Simmonds • Andrew Scotchie & The River Rats • The Shades • Eddie Shaw and The Wolf Gang • Slap Wore Out • Magic Slim & The Teardrops • Drink Small • Chris Smither • Toni Spearman • Speed Limit 35 • the subdudes • Reggie Sullivan • The Alexis P. Suter Band • Hubert Sumlin • Swamp Cabbage • Otis Taylor • Jimmy Thackery • Dave Thompson • The Elaine Townsend Blues Band • Eddie Turner • Joe Louis Walker • Rev. Marv Ward & The Blues Disciples (and Congaree) • The Watersons • Jack Williams • Johnny Winter • Rev. Billy C. Wirtz • Craig Wright • WSNB

No coolers please, concession saleshelp keep our festival FREE. Please visit our

$1 DONATION STATION, complete our survey, and offer a smile for the grace given by more

than 100 friends and volunteers. We recycle. Help us keep the park clean!

Help us bysaying thank you to our generous

supporters

Program printed by

www.hardwaregraphics.comwww.sun-inc.com

Word of Mouth Productions is a non-profit

corporation registered with the IRS and SC

Secretary of State’s Office.All donations aretax deductible.

SONNYLANDRETHTOMMY MALONE

BIGSAM,S FUNKYNATIONMILLBILLYBLUESA FRANK SMOAK TRIBUTEDANIELLE HOWLE

ANDREWSCOTCHIE&THERIVERRATSTHE DIXIELAND CODGERS

A FEATURING B

franksmoak TRIBUTE

Big Sam’s Funky Nation is a driving force of urban funk. You haven’t experienced New Orleans until you’ve heard the sound of Big Sam Williams (former trombonist for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band) who refuses to let the audience sit still. Between his signature dance moves and distinctive riffs, the energy level is high voltage! A festival favorite across North America, BSFN’s contagious tunes

Sonny Landreth was born in 1951 in Canton, Mississippi. The family soon relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana where Sonny was surrounded by the many musical and cultural influences heard in his music today. He has played with artists as diverse as Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Clifton Chenier, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Doucet, Jerry Douglas, John Hiatt, Dr. John, Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Maria Muldaur, Dolly Parton, Richard Thompson, and Junior Wells just to name a few.

His haunting slide technique is unlike anything you’ve ever heard; coaxing sounds from his guitar that sound like other instruments, using a style that combines fingerpicking, palming and slapping the strings, and what often appears to be “excitingthe strings” like a bow on a violin. Landreth’s songsoften weave wonderful stories based on Southern

One of the greatest songwriters of his generation, Tommy Malone is a superb guitarist/vocalist who animates every corner of his compositions. Tommy grew up in a family of talented players, exposed to every type of American roots music.

For 40 years Malone has been at the center of some of the most storied and star-crossed bands in Louisiana history, including still beloved the subdudes. Chronicling one man’s journey through hard times – from hurricanes to heartbreak – but always finding a way forward, his songs offer masterful psychological insight, a bulwark against troubles, and a lighthearted sense of wonder. Sculpted by his remarkable voice and an intricate array of guitar textures and rhythmic foundations, Tommy’s music leaves no emotional stone unturned, and is the work of a true artist who has taken the time to get it right. n

Folk Heritage Award winner singer/harmonica player Freddie Vanderford, regional bluesman Shane Pruitt, and guitar whiz Brandon Turner are Mill Billy Blues. Over time they have honed their musical styles to become cornerstones of the Upstate music scene. All three were born and raised in SC mill towns and ingrained with an affinity for traditional blues, forming a decades-long friendship. The band creates a sound so unique that “mill town blues” becomes touted as a newly discovered stepchild of the blues. Sometimes referred to as The Travelin’ Wilburys or The Highwaymen of the Piedmont, their earliest influences were “front porch pickers,” playing Piedmont-style blues, country, gospel, and folk music. Mill Billy Blues have quickly established themselves as crowd favorites, performing before sold out crowds and packed houses near and far. n

FESTIVALHEADLINER

www.wordofmouthproductions.org

NoonFESTIVALKICKSOFF!

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MILLBILLYBLUES

Big sam,sfunky nation

tommymalone

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danielle howle

Some artists have great vision, some great voices, and some a great story. Danielle Howle embodies all three. Stylistically, she has run the gamut: jazz, punk, rock, soul, jam, folk, country; and her spirit embraces the truest sense of Americana. Her voice is a stunning instrument which tugs at your heart- strings, making you want to laugh, cry, and cut a rug all at the same time. Her live performances are a genuine offering of her heart. Danielle is the toast of folk music communities throughout the country. The New York Times calls her “an extraordinary mind, a southern storyteller with a gorgeous sense of melody that should be pouring out of stereos everywhere. She is one to be treasured.” n

Columbia’s Frank Smoak, a local “guitar hero” who never failed to draw a crowd, left us too soon in February, but will long be remembered for his kind heart and magical skill with a Fender Stratocaster. An army brat who spent his early years in Virginia, Germany, and France before attending USC, he was a self-taught musician. Frank’s earliest album, recorded in 1969 when he was just 20 years old, is still sought after by collectors of rare original rock music. In the ’70s his groups opened for Steely Dan, Savoy Brown, and the Charlie Daniels Band among others. Frank later toured with artists such as Billy Joe Royal, Reba McIntire, and George Strait and spent several years in Nashville before returning to his roots in Columbia. Today we honor the enduring legacy of Frank’s music and friendship. n

and memorable performances attract fans around the globe. World-class musicians performing the joyful sounds of the Crescent City, their performances are legendary funk fests with a deep NOLA groove that has been called “tight enough (and hot enough) to turn coal into diamonds!” n

life enhanced by soulful, ghostly overtones androaring, full-throated harmonies. Groundbreaking technique, brilliant experimentation, superlative talent, innovative musicianship? Sonny puts it best,

“That’s the natureof inspiration. I thinkit’s when you quit asking questionsyou’ll quit findinganswers. I meanyou really have toopen yourself up to the possibility of themoment and whatthat can bring.” n

Andrew Scotchie & The River Rats have evolved from a stripped down guitar-and-harmonica duo to a red-hot 5-piece rock, soul, and blues band. This hardworking Asheville group was jumpstarted from several songs written by local singer/songwriter Andrew Scotchie. With a rollicking sound best described as “Funkin’ Rock Soul and Blues with a Southern Twist,” The River Rats are on a high-energy mission to create new music and make new fans!

Andrew Scotchie

&theriverrats

SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY

Members of USC’s Congaree New Horizons Band are seniors from all walks of life!

A THE BDIXIELANDCODGERS

A THE BDIXIELANDCODGERS

Guest Emcee: Clair DeLuneHost of Blues Moon Radio / WUSC-FM