Edom Hosts 6th Annual Festival of the Arts

The Muses of Edom once again will draw the finest of artisans to this tiny East Texas village for the Sixth Annual Festival of the Arts on October 20 and 21.

The Festival -- free to the public -- hosts thousands of visitors each year for this traditional gathering in a sprawling grassy meadow in the town center.

No ordinary arts and crafts fair, the Festival comprises only the finest of juried art works that include bronze and metal sculpture, oil and watercolor paintings, mixed media artworks, turned wood vessels, handmade wood furniture, fine jewelry, pottery, photography, hand-woven fabrics, and the blacksmith's art, many with ongoing demonstrations.

Sponsored by the Edom Area Chamber of Commerce, the Festival offers sights and fun for everyone. Wander through lanes of artists' booths, feast on traditional festival foods, homemade ice cream, and cold drinks.

Watch live music performances throughout both days by blue-grass, rhythm and blues, country, or Celtic musicians.

In the free Kids' Art area, kids paint their own canvases to leave for display at future Festivals, or for a small donation can take the canvas home.

Edom has been home for more than 25 years to a wellknown fine arts community. Along with visiting artists' booths, Edom's main street boasts quaint shops run by local artisans featuring original whimsical arts, jewelry, pottery, and clothing, as well as three restaurants that feature country cooking, a bakery and even a gourmet grill.

Festival grounds open Saturday, October 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday, October 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The music performance schedule follows For more information, see the Festival website at www.edomartfest.com

Music Schedule:

Saturday, October 20

10-11am - Jessica Vest & Shane Smith

11-12 noon David Sherman

12-1pm Sounds of Joy - Gloria Williams

1-2pm David Hendley www.farmpots.com. David is a multi-talented guy; he is also exhibiting his pottery at the Festival. His songs incorporate his love of his art.

2-3pm - Still on the Hill HILLwww.stillonthehill.com. Since 2001, the Ozarkian duo of Kelly Mulhollan and Donna Stjerna have toured steadily and produced six CDs. Both Kelly and Donna are accomplished songwriters and play a plethora of acoustic instruments including acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and harmonica. The group's repertoire is primarily their own original, roots-based compositions (a genre hybrid they term "folkgrass") interspersed with new arrangements of traditional songs.

"The creativity and originality of these two blows through the stale air of singersongwriters like a gale of genius. " --Rich Warren, Sing Out! Magazine.

3 - 4pm - Randy Brown http://www.never heardofhim.com Randy grew up in the heart of Cowtown - Fort Worth, Texas, USA. This part of Texas provided him with a steady dose of hardcore honky-tonk and western swing. His music reflects the versatility of his songwriting, diverse vocal range and his enthusiasm for true country music; all of which are ingredients that make him extremely appealing to a wide variety of listeners.

4-5pm - Dreamsicles www.thedreamsicles.com. Introducing The Dreamsicles, the Texas based folk/pop duo featuring Tom Prasada-Rao and Cary Cooper. Two voces and a guitar, intricate harmonies with a little cheerleading thrown in, singing love songs for grown-ups.

Both Tm and Cary are Kerrville New Folk Competition Winners, accomplished songwriters in their own right. "Cleverly-worded pop confections that swiftly live up to the pair's billing." - Mike Joyce, The Washington Post.

Sunday, October 21, 2007 11-12noon - Dreamsicles

12-1pm - Still on the Hill

1-2pm - Jud Caswell www.judcaswell.com. Jud Caswell is a very particular kind of Maine singersongwriter. He comes from that place where the two Maines meet: where ex-hippies play cribbage with fishermen and a kind of rural poetry is infused with no-nonsense Yankee pragmatism. With songs praised as "emotionally resonant, deeply affecting and superbly crafted," Jud has been recognized by Sing Out! Magazine as "one of the leading singersongwriters on the current scene."

2-3pm - Neal Katz www.katzmusic.com Neal Katz is an emerging artist on the folk music scene. After years of writing folk music and playing it for friends and open-mikes, Neal has begun performing his music at coffee houses, folk festivals, living room concerts, and more. On stage, he is high energy and offers touching and funny intoductions to his songs. His music has been called uplifting, beautiful, funny and wellwritten.