Root Down in the Shadow

Hot August Music Festival, just celebrated it's 22nd year of music at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville, MD. on August 16, 2014.  With three stages, t he family-friendly event will included three stages of live music and performance artists including Old Crow Medicine Show, Dr. Dog and Nickle Creek. Photo by Jeff Coon Recap by contributors: Marye Isaacs & Jeff Coon The Solicitors The Solicitors - Photo by Marye Isaacs The Solicitors started off the festival, playing the PayPal Stage welcoming fans to Hot August Music Festival with their grit ty, rock and roll based songs combined with some fiddle for instant country cred. The lead singer, Jim Hickey , had a growly but melodic voice - I could see him fronting almost any style of band.  The crowd was calm, since it was early, but they got livelier and more appreciative getting to know The Solicitors.  Some were excited to hear "Incommunicado", which has been played on WTMD (89.7 Towson, MD) lately

"The stages are set for this year’s  Hot August Music Festival (formerly Hot August Blues & Roots Festival ) scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2014 at the picturesque Oregon Ridge Park. The family-friendly event will include three stages of live music and performance artists; an array of local artisans and crafters; food and beverage vendors; plus activities for the kids. Now in its 22nd year, the Hot August Music Festival continues to benefit Common Ground On the Hill, a non- profit organization committed to the unifying power of music, as well as the Baltimore Blues Society, a 501(c)3  corporation dedicated to preserving blues music in our region." To get ready for the fest, Root Down In The Shadow sat down with Event Founder and Producer Brad Selko to find out how it all started. Root Down In The Shadow : How did Hot August Music Festival get its start?  Brad Selko: While I was doing a benefit in downtown Baltimore it was suggested that I do a picni

In early 2011, I was excited for the release of the Iron & Wine album Kiss Each Other Clean .  I had been keeping an eye on their website for details of shows and maybe a free single.  At the time, the depth of what you could find on the internet for music was burgeoning.  The fans had spoken and wanted more music, but the free-for-all that was Napster, etc was over.   With Kiss Each Other Clean, s omething happened, that I had never experienced before.  All the promo stuff that happened previously city by city, limited to local fans at record stores and radio stations, this now was out on the web for all to see.  There were many session from stations across the country.  Included in this promotional explosion was a video session at Daytrotter.com! Here it was a Daytrotter session in video form. Iron & Wine pre-Kiss Each Other Clean  - Jan 12, 2011: Daytrotter Studio, Rock Island, IL This was and still is a beautiful piece of recording.  I was darn curious what was happen