2023 Klamath Folk Festival
Saturday, August 26, 2023
3-10 pm @ The Ross Ragland Theater
Klamath Falls, OR
Doors open at 2pm
$25 General Admission . $5 Kids (ages 12 & under) . $45 Box Seats (includes two drink tickets)
Main Stage Line-up
J. Michael Harter & "Yellowstone's" Forrie Smith
MAIN STAGE: 9:00pm
Iconic actor, stuntman, and working cowboy, Forrie J. Smith, has teamed with Arizona born recording artist and songwriter J. Michael Harter to put their unique brand on country and western music. Their first release, “Well Oiled Machine,” is sweeping the nation, touching the hearts of our heartland and shining a light on the folks that keep America running.
Signed to Nashville’s Broken Bow Records in 2002, J. Michael Harter’s debut single, “Hard Call to Make” spent 15 weeks on “Billboard’s” “Hot Country Songs” charts. As part of a sibling trio, The Harters, he enjoyed back to back releases on “Billboard’s” “Top 50.” Mike has toured in support of Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Dwight Yoakam, shared stages with Blake Shelton and Sara Evans, and performed as part of Superbowl L and LIV events. In 2021, Harter was named TCMA “Songwriter of the Year” and formed his own artist launching pad and label group, Lockett Meadow.
Born in Helena, Montana, Forrie J. Smith is known to many today as “Lloyd Pierce” on the wildly popular television series “Yellowstone.” A real-life cowboy with years of actual rodeo experience and stunt work under his belt, Forrie has worked as an actor on numerous film and television projects, including: “Desperado,” “Tombstone,” and “Better Call Saul.” When not acting, Forrie calls New Mexico home, where he’s an active rancher.
FELLOW PYNINS
Main Stage: 8:00pm
Fellow Pynins is an Ashland, Oregon based award winning contemporary folk duo with a keen and bucolic sense of vocal harmony and song craft anchored in the balladry tradition. The duo consists of Dani Aubert (claw-hammer banjo, bouzouki) and solo artist Ian George (guitar, mandolin). They are songwriters, collectors, and interpreters.
Since 2016, the duo has toured the US incessantly and gathered significant traction in the UK/Ireland, gracing festivals such as Cambridge Folk Festival, Wilderness Festival, Omagh Bluegrass Festival, and selling out legs of their most recent UK/Ireland tour. In 2019, Fellow Pynins was named by NPR’s Bob Boilen as one of the best “Tiny Desk” submissions. The same year, they won the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time duet competition. In 2020/2021, the duo relocated from Minneapolis, MN back to Oregon to build (learning every step of the way) two tiny houses on wheels for their family, in which they now live.
In May 2022, Fellow Pynins released their sophomore album “Lady Mondegreen” while officially showcasing at the 2022 Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City. “Lady Mondegreen,” recorded live over 10 days in December 2021 at their off-grid tiny house dwelling in the mountains of Oregon, is an ode to their love and reverence for traditional music. All songs on the album were learned person-to-person from various individuals they met whistle traveling with their two children over a 10 month song collecting trip through Europe/UK/Ireland in their transformed camper van, “Big Blue.” The album showcases their “strong vocal harmonies” (-“Smithsonian Folkways”), instrumental prowess, and adventurous arrangements quintessential to the Fellow Pynins rustic sound. The duo’s sophomore album has received remarkably positive reviews. “Songlines” states “’Lady Mondegreen’ is an exquisitely harmonized treasure trove of imaginatively reinterpreted, historically significant acoustic music,” while Paul McGee of “Lonesome Highway” stated it as one of the best folk albums of the year. There is additional instrumentation on the album from players from Ireland, London, NYC, Boston, and Minneapolis.
DIRT MILLER
MAIN STAGE: 7:00pm
Dirt Miller is an American multi-instrumentalist and songwriter entrenched in music his entire life. With a saga to share about a life lived hard, and a recovery fought even harder, Dirt’s guitar virtuosity combined with a unique, gritty singing style and humble interpretation of lyric and melody paint a lush landscape of the American soul. With early influences of Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, James Taylor, and Led Zeppelin echoing in the subconscious, Dirt’s music is grounded in pure instinct and deep roots in American folklore and blues history. The majestic lands of this country, combined with a personal journey of spirituality, guide the inspiration for a number of Dirt Miller’s sonic tales.
Dirt Miller’s music (co-produced by composer Max DiCarlo) is comprised of real instrumentation (including: cellos, violins, and percussion) to create a surreal world of image and emotion. Telling the human story with eloquence, fierceness, beauty, and a personal edge that harkens to one’s inner soul, Dirt Miller is sure to cut straight to your heartstrings – always leaving you wanting more. All written from true-life experience, the music speaks for itself!
DANIEL BOCCHI
MAIN STAGE: 5:45pm
Daniel Bocchi is a local country music, singer/songwriter star in the making. Born and raised in Klamath Falls, Daniel grew up listening to the genre; however, it wasn’t until his college days he was ultimately bit by the musical bug.
During his freshman year at Oregon State University, Daniel’s mother purchased a guitar for his brother. Too busy to play it for himself, Daniel took up his brother’s guitar, gradually teaching himself the instrument and learning to sing. After a number of years honing his skills, Daniel booked his first show at the Bronco Saloon in Coburg, OR. The gig awakened the realization that the interest was more than fleeting; he truly did have a passion for music.
About a year after college graduation, Daniel packed up his life and dreams and moved to Nashville. In his short time there before returning home to work with family, Daniel wrote a plethora of songs, recording a few. “They Love You ‘Til They Don’t” was his first release and most popular song to date. Shortly after, he released the singles “Broken Man,” followed by “The Touch of a Woman”.
Although Daniel is no longer in music city, his passion for music has far from faded. He continues to write and play shows in hopes of one day turning his neon dreams into reality. With the voice, stage presence, and writing chops, of a seasoned veteran, Daniel’s local performances are packing area establishments. Many of us would not be surprised to look back in a few years and say, “We saw Daniel Bocchi at those early Klamath gigs before the world knew this hit-maker’s name.”