It's been a great summer and as we have swung in to fall I have some exciting news to share:
Facets of Folk made it through to the list for consideration for the GRAMMY Awards® for Best Folk Album! This is not a nomination, or the final ballot, but now members can listen and vote for submissions to go on to the top 5 until October 10! Members can listen here: https://soundcloud.com/mara-b-levine/tracks
I’m honored to have been selected for a SEMI-FORMAL showcase at NERFA this year, and excited to be touring again with long-time partners Gathering Time, who will also support me at the showcase. We'll be doing a fall tour together as a co-bill.
The Mara Levine/Gathering Time Northeast Tour will kick off with a special live in-studio appearance on WVBR’s long-running show “Bound For Glory” hosted by Phil Shapiro in Ithaca, NY Sunday, October 20 at 8 PM ( Listen at https://www.wvbr.com/) and then hit Ray Naylors radio show "Philly Folkscene and the Landsdowne Folk Club on October 24th. I have a Semi-Formal Juried Showcase at the prestigious Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference (NERFA) in Stamford, CT Friday, November 8. The tour ends on a high note with a CD celebration party for Facets Of Folk sponsored by the Edison Arts Society at the Edison Twp. Mayor’s office in Edison, NJ Sunday, November 17 at 2 pm.
In addition, Terry Kitchen and I are opening for Bill Staines on Saturday, November 2 at the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Club in Fairlawn, and opening for Gathering Time on December 27 at the Troubadour in Morristown, NJ on December 27.
Some fantastic quotes have come in:
"HER SIGNATURE SOUND SHINES THROUGH"
"With Facets of Folk, Mara Levine solidifies her position as a folk force to be reckoned with. As on her previous CD Jewels and Harmony, her signature sound shines through: Thoughtful song choice, creative harmonies, rich instrumentation, her own exuberant singing. With an emphasis on songs that make a difference, Mara has created music that is very much for today, but also for years to come." - Si Kahn
"When Chris Lavin and David Amram are saying ‘looky here', we're going to look. On her third album, Levine marks her territory as the new standard bearer for folk music with this classically framed set that finds her interpreting worthy modern classics, protest music and some of the sweetest vocalizing you'll find this side of the golden sounds of the 60s. A flat out winner throughout, this isn't about lo-fi, nostalgia or what ever---it's a delightful slice of the here and now hitting the nail right on the head. Well done." - CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher MIDWEST RECORD 6/24/19
"This collection of 13 "fine and contemporary " folk songs from the likes of Paul Simon, Tommy Sands, Gordon Lightfoot, Bill Staines and Si Kahn is delivered most admirably. Ms. Levine has a wonderful voice which she uses with heart and aplomb, delivering excellent renditions of her extremely well-chosen songs, some well known, some not so much. She takes few liberties or flights of fancy, delivering very straightforward, respectful and comfortable of folk renditions of such songs as "Bitter Green" and "A song For the Asking" Her version of Christine Lavin's "The Moment Slipped Away" is as fine a song as I have ever heard and have now experienced it thanks to Ms. Levine's fine choices on her excellent playlist called Facets of Folk. The world needs more such interpreters of fine and contemporary folk songs. - Les Siemieniuk, Penguin Eggs
Facets of Folk has been getting airplay and reviews throughout Europe since June, through Peter Holmstedt of Hemifran and my CD release concert in Germany with Andrea Ballini and Walk the Line was amazing!