New 25th Folks Fest addition: Taarka

[ Every day this week we’re sharing a new artist on this year’s 25th Annual Folks Festival, leading up to the complete single-day lineup, and single-day tickets, this Friday, April 24. We begin today with a highly deserving band from our hometown… ]

For more than 10 years and 6 studio albums, Taarka have been crafting an otherworldly blend of Gypsy-folk and Americana with impeccable musicianship and a joyously energizing spirit.

Though they began as a purely instrumental string band, with a modern spin on Gypsy and Eastern European folk music, Taarka has evolved to include a rich song repertoire sung beautifully by both David and Enion. Their songwriting incorporates sweeping pop and popping gypsy elements, drawing from Western and Eastern folk traditions, bluegrass and old-time, as well as jazz, rock and 19th century poetry.

Followers of progressive acoustic music have been enjoying Taarka for years. But this will be their first full set on a Planet Bluegrass stage. Though no one at last year’s RockyGrass will ever forget their emotional rendition of “Smile” during the Watergirls Sunday morning set (even featured on PBS News Hour).

Check out this video from their wonderful new album “Making Tracks Home” - which includes footage shot in their flood-ravaged house in Lyons. And here’s a great little documentary about David and Enion, beautifully shot in Lyons and Moab.

We’re thrilled to welcome David, Enion, and their band to the 25th Folks Festival lineup.

Awesome!

The Waters Girls set at RG last year was one the most amazing experiences of my life.

Granted my Dad lives across the street from one of the band members, just blocks from Planet Bluegrass. He and I watched from front row center with our tarp full of “strangers” who all turned out to be locals and neighbors he had not yet met. Seeing the Lyons town folk come out to support their neighbors and friends playing incredible music and telling their even more incredible stories was unbelievable.

Listening to Taarka now is only bringing back those memories. Cant wait. Well done as usual PB. :thumbsup