Buskin & Batteau

• Folk

Buskin & Batteau have been winning hearts and minds with their soulful acoustic balladry and fun-filled performances for more years than they care to remember.

“We’re not from the Cambridge, came-over-on-the-Mayflower first wave of folkies [ Joan Baez, Tom Rush, Eric Von Schmidt ],” says Buskin, “but we’d like to think we’ve stolen many of their licks.”

The Washington Post called their work “an irresistible amalgam of melodic, sensual pop, folkie grit and killer wit.” And while their humor runs the gamut from topical irony (“Second Homeless”) to terminal silliness (“Jews Don’t Camp”), it’s their unique combination of instrumental virtuosity (piano and violin, primarily, though both play other instruments as well), soaring vocal harmonies and unparalleled lyric-writing that prompts the standing ovations and rhapsodic reviews: “The most musically sophisticated act in folk” –The New York Times; “Acoustic Heaven” – The Boston Globe. And with the help of the late, great uber-percussionist Marshal Rosenberg, they managed to kick the rhythm pretty hard for a couple of seasoned troubadours.

Famous in the eighties as superstar jingle writers –Batteau’s “Heartbeat of America” heads a list of a hundred or more hits — they’ve also divided their time between writing songs for other artists — e.g., Judy Collins, Tom Rush, Astrud Gilberto, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Peter, Paul and Mary and Bette Midler; helping a diverse group of non-profits — Paul Newman’s Hole-In-The-Wall Camps, Harry Chapin’s WhyHunger, Roger Payne’s Ocean Alliance, among others; and hosting their quirky, unpredictable Radio B&B show on WPKN-FM and WPKN.org. Their latest CD, Love Remembered, Love Forgot, was recorded at Neale Eckstein’s Fox Run Studios in Sudbury, MA, features some delightful guest appearances.

Christine Lavin

• Folk
• Singer/Songwriter

Christine Lavin started her professional life as a waitress/bread baker at the Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY in 1975 where she met Dave Van Ronk who encouraged her to study guitar with him in NYC. She took his advice and is now a singer/songwriter/guitarist/recording artist/author/videographer based in New York City. Her latest solo album, her 25th, ON MY WAY TO HOOTERVILLE, includes 10 new songs and one re-worked song, “Ramblin’ Waltz,” a re-telling of her time in 1975 when she was an entourage driver for the first week of Bob Dylan’s iconic “Rolling Thunder Revue” tour.

WHAT SHE IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW
There is a 90 minute off-Broadway show in development called “InunDATEd,” written by playwright Alice Scovell that the York Theatre produced that showcased 11 performances in October and has 10 songs of Christine’s in it. It was performed by Broadway veterans Kate Rockwell, one of the stars of MEAN GIRLS, and Taylor Crousore, from FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, and very well received.There will be one more workshop production by The York Theatre, and then it will open off-Broadway and be available to theaters across the country.

John Forster

• Comedy
• Singer/Songwriter

As a recording artist John’s 19,94 debut album Entering Marion got an Indie Award HM (the independent record labels’ Grammy) for Best Comedy Album. Many of his witty topical songs have been featured on NPR’s “Morning Edition.” His songs have been recorded by Christine Lavin, Judy Collins, Rosanne Cash and the late Dave Van Ronk, among many others.  His song “Entering Marion” is included in Dr. Demento’s “50 Greatest Novelty Songs Of All Time.” John is also co-author of the children’s books “This Pretty Planet,” based on his song, as well as “The Backwards Birthday Party” (Atheneum) and the teen parody book “The BSAT Official Study Guide” (Running Press).

As a writer and producer of bright, sassy music for children John has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, most recently for the Tom Chapin album Some Assembly Required. Other children’s albums include Family Tree, This Pretty Planet, Billy The Squid and a dozen more. He has produced records for everyone from the Olsen Twins to the original “tot rock” band, Rosenshontz.  John’s song “Sing Me The Story Of Your Day” was sung by Faith Hill on the 2006 Grammy-winning Thanks & Giving.

His musicals includes the regional theater favorite Eleanor-An American Love Story (licensed through Concord Theatricals) as well as “Into The Light” on Broadway and the Off Broadway revues “Pretzels” and “A Good Swift Kick.” His latest is “Mariel,” an Afro-Cuban immigration story commissioned by the Cincinnati Playhouse. His scores for young audiences include the perennial “How To Eat Like A Child,” one of the most widely produced children’s shows in the country (licensed through Concord Theatricals), as well as book and lyrics for Freaky Friday with composer Mary Rodgers.

“If Joni Mitchell and Daffy Duck had a love child, he’d probably write songs just like JOHN FORSTER. His sharply observed satires range from sheer slapstick to Jon Stewart acute.” -Scott Alarik (The Boston Globe)

“You don’t need me anymore. Now you’ve got John Forster to kick around.” -Tom Lehrer