Free Summer Concerts
Presented by Trinity Wall Street
Saturdays, July 5 – August 2, 2008

Featuring Janis Ian, Slaid Cleaves, Bearfoot, Eric Bibb, and Ronny Cox

New York, May 5, 2008 — Trinity Wall Street will present the second annual Folks on the Island: A Folk Music Festival on Governors Island this summer on Saturdays, July 5 – August 2, 2008. This year’s concert series expands to five weeks and delves deeper into the American folk music landscape with the inclusion of blues, bluegrass, and country western. Featured artists include Janis Ian (July 5), Slaid Cleaves (July 12), Bearfoot (July 19), Eric Bibb (July 26), and Ronny Cox (August 2). The concerts and ferry service to Governors Island are free to the public.

“Trinity Wall Street is pleased to once again present Folks on the Island in our lower Manhattan neighborhood, which includes the 172-acre Governors Island,” said the Rev. Dr. James H. Cooper, rector of Trinity Wall Street. “We hope these summer concerts encourage community, relaxation, and an appreciation for New York City’s outdoor space. We would like to thank the Governors Island Alliance and the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC) for their support in presenting Folks on the Island.”

The concerts will take place on Governors Island at Colonel’s Row beginning at 1:30 p.m. Free ferries to Governors Island will leave every hour, on the hour, starting at 10 a.m. from the Battery Maritime Building in lower Manhattan, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry. For travel directions and more information, visit www.folksontheisland.com.

Trinity Wall Street thanks the Governors Island Alliance and Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation for their support in presenting these concerts.

Janis Ian – July 5, 2008
A veteran folk-pop singer/songwriter, Janice Ian’s music features satiric wit, edgy humor, and 1960s inspired passion. In her 40-year history, this Grammy award-winning performer’s music continues to reflect and transcend the challenges of our times.

Slaid Cleaves – July 12, 2008
Award-winning singer/songwriter Slaid Cleaves blurs the lines between singer and song, producing music that is the perfect blend of country, folk, and rock — pure Americana.

Bearfoot – July 19, 2008
Bearfoot, an Alaska-based acoustic ensemble, brings a fresh and vibrant approach to bluegrass. Their youthful sound has been described as jazz stomp meets Appalachian breakdown, tempered with back-alley southern blues—all infused with a bluegrass passion.

Eric Bibb – July 26, 2008
Son of legendary folk and musical theater singer Leon Bibb, Eric Bibb is an original talent whose singing and versatile guitar playing fuse a variety of genres to create a “New World blues.” Performing with his daughter, Yana, this concert will be a pan-generational foray into the blues.

Ronny Cox – August 2, 2008
Actor and singer Ronny Cox first caught America’s attention with his famous “Dueling Banjos” performance in the movie Deliverance. Since then he has acted in numerous films, yet he continues to chronicle his life experiences musically through an eclectic mix of genres and styles from folk to western to jazzy-blues.