Voice Works is Centrum’s annual week devoted to singing. At the end of the workshop week, we hit the lights at Fort Worden’s performance venues for a series of amazing public performances featuring the artist faculty who have so generously shared their passions and gifts.

On Saturday, June 29, 2013, we are presenting a super lineup of musicians at McCurdy Pavlion who will be exploring Roots and Branches of American Singing, from the Secular to the Sacred. The show starts at 7:30pm.

• Purchase tickets: reserved seating $20; 18 & under free

Caleb Klauder and Reeb Wilms

Caleb and Reeb play with The Foghorn Stringband, The Cajun Country Revival, and leads the Caleb Klauder Country Band. In the last year, they have also started appearing as a musical duo, notably at The Portland Old Time Music Gathering in Portland, Oregon and at the 2012 Blackpot Festival in Lafayette, Louisiana.  They are making their mark on the scene with a notable perspective on country music in the new century, melding Nashville-quality songwriting with a love for early country, bluegrass and old-time music.

Laurel Bliss

Bellingham, Washington vocalist and dobro player Laurel Bliss was exposed early in her life to the Carter Family, Doc Watson, the Louvin Brothers, and Jimmy Martin. That exposure has inspired a lifelong dedication to unearthing and learning vocal chestnuts. Laurel has a composed, straightforward, yet tender approach to singing, that suggests an earlier era. Laurel played dobro and sang in Southfork in the 1980’s, and has performed for many years in a duo with Cliff Perry.

Yvette Landry

Yvette is a musician/singer who has performed with the Red Stick Ramblers, Pine Leaf Boys, Dirk Powell, Cindy Cashdollar, Geraldine Gay and Darrell Scott and many more. Her new CD titled, “No Man’s Land” – with guests Bill Kirchen, Cindy Cashdollar, Geno Delafose, Dirk Powell, Richard Comeaux, and Joel Savoy – has been atop the national Freeform American Roots music charts for more than 2 months.

Riley Baugus

Riley is a renowned banjo maker who has shared his incredible playing and singing at  Augusta Heritage Festival and Augusta Old Time Week, Mars Hill College’sBlue Ridge Old Time Music Week, the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, WA and Sore Fingers Week in the UK. When not teaching or building banjos, Riley can be found out on the road performing, playing with the Dirk Powell Band, with Kirk Sutphin, and with Ira Berstein, among others.

John Lilly

John Lilly’s original, traditional, and classic country music hits home and rings true. From hidden masterpieces by Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, and the Louvin Brothers to ancient folk ballads and creative original songs, John Lilly presents music of unusual depth and sincerity.

Jason and Pharis Romero

Jason and Pharis Romero’s first album, A Passing Glimpse, won the Americana Album of the Year at the 2012 Independent Music Awards. They also were given the Canadian Folk Music Award for 2012 New/Emerging Artist.

The Birmingham Sunlights

When Centrum first inaugurated the Voice Works gathering, one of our first actions was to invite the Birmingham Sunlights to participate.

The Birmingham Sunlights are a five-man, four-part harmony a cappella gospel group, founded in 1978 by James Alex Taylor, along with his brothers Steve and Barry. Wayne Williams and Bill Graves complete the picture. The Taylor brothers grew up in a musical family and developed their a cappella sound in the Church of Christ. Despite having day jobs as plumbers and pipefitters, the Birmingham Sunlights have appeared in many festivals across the country and on State Department tours around the world.

Since they were last at Centrum, the Birmingham Sunlights were presented with a National Heritage Fellowship in 2009 – our nation’s highest cultural honor.