Eric and Suzy Thompson (Special Event)

Eric and Suzy Thompson (who hail from Berkeley California) play roots music of the American south, what Mike Seeger referred to as the "true vine": old time Appalachian ballads and breakdowns, classic blues and jug band songs, bluegrass hot licks, and Louisiana Cajun dance music. Eric's flatpicking on guitar and mandolin is exceptional for its purity of tone, speed, and soulfulness; Suzy is a powerful blues singer, an award-winning fiddler and Cajun accordion player who apprenticed with older Louisiana Cajun musicians under an NEA Fellowship. Both have new CDs: Eric's is "Kleptograss", his band with Jody Stecher, Scott Nygaard and others, and Suzy's is "Hen Party", a duet CD with resonator guitar/uke whiz Del Rey (Suzy also recorded "Texas Sheiks" with Geoff Muldaur & Jim Kweskin.) Each has made solo Cds, they have 2 duet CDs, and have recorded many other CDs (and LPs!) with their various bands over the years. Eric and Suzy were members of many influential West Coast bands including the Black Mountain Boys, Any Old Time, Blue Flame String Band, the California Cajun Orchestra and the Bluegrass Intentions, and they have worked with Jerry Garcia, Maria Muldaur, David Grisman, Darol Anger, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, the Savoy Doucet Cajun Trio, and many other fine roots musicians. Suzy and Eric are ringleaders of the Berkeley Old Time Music Convention (which takes place each Sept. in Berkeley) and Suzy was recently appointed the Artistic Director of the Fiddle Tunes Festival (which takes place each July in Port Townsend, Washington.)

Bring: Snacks and potables to share at halftime and post concert socializing.

For reservations and directions, contact Lars Hanslin at larshanslin (at) mindspring.com or telephone: 301.654.4317.