The Barnstormers and RockCandy Cloggers

The Barnstormers and RockCandy Cloggers

MSAC Touring Artist Profile

The Barnstormers, Slim Harrison & Tom Jolin perform as a duo on a variety of traditional folk instruments including fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, hammered & mountain dulcimers, autoharp, jaws harp & button accordion. They are often joined by Sam (Samantha) & Joe Herrmann of the Critton Hollow String Band for concerts & barn dances.

Sam plays hammered dulcimer and guitar, Joe plays fiddle, banjo, mandolin & guitar. The RockCandy Cloggers, (Rock Howland & Candy Ranlet) perform choreographed and freestyle flatfoot clogging.

When they are not dancing, they join the band on fiddle & mandolin, concertina, dulcimer, autoharp & bass. The Barnstormers & RockCandy Cloggers have toured North America & Europe for over 30 years.

School performances include: “Exploring the Roots of American Folk Music” & “Exploring the Roots of American Folk Dances” as well as an environmental program titled, “It All Flows into the Chesapeake Bay”. The Barnstormers also provide performances based on many themes and programs suitable for all ages. STEM and Common Core Standards are a focus of school performances and arrangements can be made to include “The Science of Sound”, “Math in Music & Dance”, & “Tech Tools & Engineering Musical Instruments”

The Barnstormers work with the MD State Arts Council, PA Council on the Arts and Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts (Slim is a Master Teaching Artist). Select performances include: Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Smithsonian, Appalachian Fest, American Roots Music Festival, Rudolstadt, Moelln, Halsingbo & Viljandi Festivals in Europe as well as schools, barn dances & festivals all over North America and Latin America.

Complimentary Activities:

Workshops and Residency Programs can be included following performances.

“Exploring the Roots of American Folk Music & Dance” residencies include workshops for each class where students work as an ensemble and try up to 12 different traditional instruments.

Additional workshops can include folk dances & recycled instrument building. An All School “Fiesta/Hoedown” concludes the residency and parents are invited to join in the fun!

Stem and Common Core Standards are the focus of “The Science of Sound,” “Math & Music,” and “Tech Tools & Engineering of Musical Instruments” as well as the environmental program, “It All Flows Into the Chesapeake Bay”. Community Barn Dances/Hoedowns provide a wonderful opportunity for folks to gather and interact with no prior skill needed.

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