The Legendary Pineapple Skinners, a Dixieland jazz band, and the Blue Galaxy String Project, an instrumental pop group, will headline the Leeds Downtown Folk Festival and John Henry Celebration, Sept. 15 and 16.
Both bands have performed at the festival before —the Legendary Pineapple Skinners headlined the 2010 festival, while Blue Galaxy String Project performed in 2011.
The Legendary Pineapple Skinners will perform at 4 p.m. on Sept. 15. Members include Tom Dameron on tuba; Tony Lombardo on banjo and guitar; Mike Cogan on saxophone, clarinet, and trombone; Chuck King on trumpet, and Sam Ranelli on percussion. The band has played Dixieland jazz since 1997. Its name, the Legendary Pineapple Skinners, originated from an episode of television’s Andy Griffith Show.
The Blue Galaxy String Project will perform at 4 p.m. on Sept. 16.
Formed in 2003, the band brings a unique style of music to the festival, described as “an eclectic mix of originals and pop songs arranged for string quartet, acoustic bass and drums.”
The band is comprised of Sue Nuckols and Niamh Clarke on violin, Melanie Rogers on viola, Clay McKinney on cello, Abraham Becker on bass and Michael Glaser on drums.
The fifth annual Leeds Downtown Folk Festival and John Henry Celebration will feature a juried art show and sale, live music, lots of activities for kids, an antique car show, ethnic and regional food and more. A symposium about John Henry, steel drivin’ man and local legend, will be a part of this year’s event for the second straight year.
The festival is set for 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sept. 15, and noon-6 p.m. on Sept. 16. Festival admission and parking are free.
For more information, call 699-1892 or visit www.leedsfolkfestival.org.
— Michael Kline, Special to the Times
