When I was asked to become the booker for the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club last year, a number of thoughts ran through my head.

My first thought was fear – taking over the responsibility of booking talent for a well-run folk club with 25 years of concerts under their belt was daunting.

My second thought was a child-like sense of glee – I would get to be a kid in a candy store, bringing in artists to share their talent with a loyal audience that recognizes quality music. If you have ever attended a Hurdy Gurdy performance, you know that the audience enjoys harmonizing. The audience at the Hurdy Gurdy turns out for exceptional shows. I realized that the job was not going to be easy.

One goal came to mind – to bring “new” artists to the stage of the Hurdy Gurdy that would satisfy the loyal regulars. The music would have to meet the standards, and hopefully bring new faces to the Hurdy Gurdy audience as well. The show scheduled for this Saturday should achieve the goal and create an evening that everyone will enjoy and remember!

Tanglefoot has been on the scene since the 1980’s, starting life in Ontario as a part time trio. A fourth member was added to the group in the mid 90’s. In 1995 Tanglefoot was invited to play the Lunenberg Folk Festival, and on the ride home they discussed turning the group into a full-time band. In 1997 they embarked on their first full-time tour, starting out at the inaugural Stan Rogers Folk Festival. There has been no turning back. The group has built a strong fanbase in Canada and now the United States.

While the personnel has changed over the years, the group remains true to the core. Tanglefoot builds their music on strong harmonies, thunderous acoustic accompaniment, and a pride in sharing the stories of their native Canada. The roots music touches us all.

The group is now a quintet – in 2006 Sandra Swannell became the new fiddler in the band as well the first female member of the band in their history. The current lineup also features guitarist Steve Ritchie who has been with the group since 1988. Bass player Al Parrish came onboard in, multi-insturmentalist Terry Young in 1999, and piano player Bryan Weirmier replaced Tanglefoot’s original keyboardist, Rob Ritchie, in the summer of 2002.

Tanglefoot has recorded numerous CD’s over the years. This past fall they released Dance Like Flames, their first studio album since 2002. In 2003 they released a live CD appropriately titled Captured Alive along with a DVD called Way More Live. Both CD and DVD capture the energetic performances that have become the hallmark of the group. Among their other recordings, Full Throated Abandon (1999) won Crossroads Magazine Music Awards 1999 Gold Star for Best Album.

I am really excited about this show! The concert will take place in our intimate “assembly room” which can hold up to 100 people. Don’t miss the opportunity to see Tanglefoot this close!!!

Tickets for the show are $20 ($17 for Hurdy Gurdy members) and more information can be found on our website – www.hurdygurdyfolk.org . The show will begin at 8pm on Saturday January 13. The Hurdy Gurdy is located in the Central Unitarian Church at 156 Forest Avenue in Paramus. It is really easy to get to from many major NJ highways. We are less then 10 minutes from the George Washington Bridge! For more information you can also call (201)384-8465.

Stop by and say hello! I guarantee you will have a great time!!!