Rita Hosking concludes Manitou Music Festival
From staff reports
On Wednesday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. the country-folk musician Rita Hosking will perform outdoors on The Leelanau School Graduation Green, north of Glen Arbor. Rain location is the Leelanau School Student Center. Hosking’s concert concludes the 2011 Manitou Music Festival, which for 21 years has treated Leelanau County residents to jazz, classical, blues, folk, country, celtic, bluegrass and world music.
Kitchen tables, springs, loss, miners, mountains, culture clash, trailers, stray dogs, loggers, hope, forest fires — Rita Hosking’s country-folk music is this and more, and always fierce and lovely. Her delivery is, to put it simply, intense. “From the first time I heard Rita sing, her voice gripped me and did not let go,” (Joe Craven.)
That voice, called a “soulful howl from the mountains” (California Bluegrass Association) is calling attention around the country — “What? California girls don’t sing like that!?” But Rita, called “the real thing” by California acoustic music fans, will tell you about her upbringing in rural Shasta County, and the old-time band of seasoned mountain characters that took her under their wings. “This California girl comes by her mountain-music sensibility with true authenticity, with original songs deeply rooted in her family’s frontier experience,” (Dan Ruby, FestivalPreview.com.) A descendant of Cornish miners who sang in the mines, Rita grew up with deep regard for folk music and the power of the voice.
Rita’s songs have been lauded for story and sense of place, and her performances praised for capturing the audience. Honors include winner of Best Country Album (Vox Pop) in the 2010 Independent Music Awards, winner of the ‘08 Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Contest at the Sisters Folk Festival, finalist in the ‘09 Telluride Troubadour Contest, and others as well. “There’s a grit to her songs and sinewy toughness to her voice that weave their own spell,” (Q Magazine.)
Come Sunrise, a collection of 11 original songs and Rita’s third album, was released in June of 2009. Recorded in Austin, Texas with producer and guitarist Rich Brotherton (Robert Earl Keen, Caroline Herring,) Come Sunrise launches Rita onto the international Americana scene with players such as Brotherton himself, Lloyd Maines, Warren Hood, Glenn Fukunaga, and many more. “Superb country-folk from a brilliant singer-songwriter,” (Americana UK) In addition to her ‘07 Silver Stream and ‘05 Are You Ready? featuring members of her band “Cousin Jack,” Come Sunrise completes a collection of well received recordings.
For more information, visit www.ManitouMusicFestival.com. All Tickets are $15 (Children 18 and under are FREE. Tickets may be purchased at the venue or by calling the Glen Arbor Art Association (231) 334-6112 or Lake Street Studios (231) 334-3179. MMF is a presentation of the Glen Arbor Art Association, a nonprofit (501(c) 3) organization.
