Beer Festival Entertainment

Evening Session

Since 2005, The Wrong Reasons have been the vehicle for Joe Fletcher’s expansive songwriting skills. Thus, the band’s lineup is an ever-revolving roster of musicians, with the 32-year-old singer-songwriter remaining its one constant presence. He and drummer Michael Cyr are the group's musical heart, bringing to the table their lifelong appreciation for blues, rock, and country. Joe Fletcher is one of the most uniquely talented singer-songwriter’s out there today. The fact that he uses roots rock & roll as the backdrop for his lyrics makes his style all the more alluring. The Wrong Reasons are the perfect outfit for an approach that is rootsy, honest and sometimes not so simple. Yup, there’s no getting around it - this is true roots rock at its best. Their new CD release “Bury Your Problems” exemplifies these abilities with eleven songs that reintroduces the meaning of American roots music to a public desperately in need of a refresher course. -Motif Magazine

Afternoon Session

Music in the Celtic Tradition

New England has long had a rich tradition of Celtic-inspired music. Looking forward to their 24th anniversary in 2007, the Rhode Island- based ensemble Pendragon has embraced that tradition and created a timeless sound of its own, performing roots music with an unmistakable contemporary edge. Pendragon's music celebrates the lives and lore of generations of New Englanders who brought traditions from Ireland, Scotland, French Canada and other distant shores to the banks of the Blackstone River.

Pendragon seamlessly blends lively jigs and reels with Mary Lee Partington's original songs depicting the experiences of the immigrants who settled here and their role in the mill and textile traditions of New England. While drawing on the ethnic music of the Blackstone River Valley, Pendragon fashions the music of tradition into the music of tomorrow, performing their original songs and dance tunes on an exciting combination of fiddle, flute, bouzouki, concertina, banjo, guitar, whistle, bass and percussion. In performance, Pendragon elaborates on the cultural and historical context of the music while projecting a relaxed and humorous stage presence that comes from over two decades of performance together.

Pendragon is a long-standing member of both the New England Foundation for the Arts Touring Roster and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Performing Roster. Past tributes include three straight Boston Music Award nominations for Outstanding Celtic Act and a 1991 Governor's Tourism Award. Pendragon has been voted Rhode Island's Best Celtic Act in the 2007, 2006 and 2005 MOTIF Magazine's Best Music Poll. Pendragon was voted 2005 Best Local Folk Act of the Year in the Providence Phoenix Best Music Poll, the 8th time they gained that recognition.

Pendragon is comprised of Bob Drouin on fiddle, bouzouki and tenor banjo; Russell Gusetti on guitar and concertinas; Josh Kane on flute and whistles; Ken Lyon on vocals, guitar and bass; Mary Lee Partington on vocals, and step dancer and percussionist Kevin Doyle, a U.S. champion dancer who has now performed throughout the New England area for over 30 years.

Pendragon released their seventh CD, Artistic License, on Blackstone River Theatre's RiverFolk Productions label in 2005. Finding Our Way Home was released in 2001 and 1998 marked the release of Beyond Borders...A Celtic Journey, the first recording released on the RiverFolk Productions label. In 1993, Pendragon signed with Beacon Records for the international release of Passage to New England produced by Johnny Cunningham. Previous projects include The Working River, At the Crossroads, and Pendragon.

1996 saw a Hero Award presented to Pendragon at a 10-year anniversary of partnerships in the Blackstone River Valley for their years of performance promoting its traditions and history. A 66-part video project called Along the Blackstone utilizes Pendragon's music for its soundtrack and has won several awards for public service in education at the New England Cable Television Assn. Awards. Many of the episodes have aired nationally on A&E's The History Channel. Since 1995, members of Pendragon have also been the driving force behind the Blackstone River Theatre, bringing traditional and ethnic music to northern Rhode Island on a weekly basis.