Music
Press
“BEST OF THE WEEKEND” …Frederick News Post of Barnstormers Concert Hoedown for Hope
“Their spirited music jumped over the audience and the room was filled with wonderful, joy, rhythm and old melodies…. audience loved the performance and musicians were forced to play extra numbers.” …Joerg Geschke, Artistic Director Moelln Germany Festival
“Children love their toe tapping tunes… they are terrific with kids and adults… Tom and Slim’s washboard band is a treasure to share with the world” …Deb Butler New Market, MD Town Manager
“thank you, especially for the dance program… received all positive reactions from officials and the audience.” …Matthias Weyrich, Dance Coordinator Rudolstadt Germany Festival
“known for their high energy performances and versatility on many instruments, they are real crowd pleasers.” …. The Frederick (Maryland) Post
“international favorites ….this is good homemade music designed to set your feet to tapping.”
…..Dulcimer Players News
“great musical ambassadors.” … Jay Raman, Assistant Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Estonia
“one of our best-received concerts in recent years! Tom and Slim represent the very best in performance of traditional folk music of the Appalachian region” … Dr. Stephen Folkemer Music Gettysburg
“they are both superb musicians… highly recommend the Barnstormers” S. A. Casticone Yuma, Arizona Fire Department
“dazzled us with beautiful music on so many different instruments…. What wonderful talents you are…. your music and sunny personalities over flowed with happiness… great work!… loved it!…. what a pleasure!... Folabli Olagbaju, Director Amnesty International Mid-Atlantic Regional Office
“Thanks for your awesome concert yesterday. Clearview really loved your positive energy. I can now say I’m a huge fan of the hammered dulcimer.” ….Kristin Hart, Clearview Elementary Concert Coordinator, (Hanover, PA)
- Various Publications and Media Sources
Tom Jolin plays traditional American music and has recorded five albums. He was a founding member of The West Orrtanna String Band that was active from 1972 to 1987. They recorded two albums on Revonah Records and also several short historic folk music segments for National Public Radio. From 1987 to 1998 he performed with the Orrtanna Mountain Steamers who recorded two more albums. He is currently member of the duet Orrtanna, along with Catharine Roth. They’ve performed together since 1974 and have released five albums. He has been a solo performer since 1978, playing the hammer dulcimer, button accordion, banjo, harmonica and more. He has performed for former Vice President Gore and for Garrison Keillor. - Susquehanna Folk Music Society of Harrisburg, PA
Tom Jolin
It was 1954 in a northern Wisconsin kindergarten class as Tom Jolin
walked round and round singing, “Oh where oh where has my little dog gone”, in a game of “Guess what I am”. He was a record player and even though it was a thoughtful performance, no one guessed it. Some careers have auspicious starts; others don’t.
Tom plays traditional American music and has recorded six albums. He was a founding member of the West Orrtanna String Band which was active from 1972 to 1987. They recorded two albums on Revonah Records and also several short historic folk music segments for National Public Radio. From 1987 to 1998 he performed with the Orrtanna Mountain Steamers, which recorded two more albums. He is currently a member of the duet, Orrtanna, which also released an album. Since 1980, he has played with The Barnstormers, an old time duet. He has been a solo performer since 1978, playing the hammer dulcimer, button accordion, banjo, harmonica and more. He released a solo album in 2003. He has performed for former Vice President Gore and also, Garrison Keillor. His performances are loaded with humor, sometimes intentionally.
Tom is also an experienced instrument maker. He is a sought after
Pennsylvania artist in residence and spends extended times in various schools, assisting students make their own school owned dulcimers.
Tom and his wife, Marianne, have five children and live in their
owner-built home in the foothills of the Appalachians near Gettysburg. - Seven Springs Web Site
“The America We Believe In”
A Benefit Concert for
Amnesty International
“The America We Believe In: A Benefit Concert for Amnesty International USA” will bring together musicians from several different traditions to perform Friday, November 3, in the sanctuary at Trinity United Church of Christ on the corner of Stratton and High Streets in Gettysburg. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
The program will feature traditional “old timey” string band, blues, and contemporary folk musicians from around the area. They include Tom Jolin and Slim Harrison, appearing together as The Barnstormers; Judy Marti; Susan Savia; Will Lane; and Larry Gregorio.
The focus of the evening will be on respect for human rights as a core American value. The concert is intended to remind people that rejection of torture and a commitment to human rights and the rule of law are important American traditions.
Slim Harrison (l.) and Tom Jolin (r.) of The Barnstormers
The other goal of the concert is to raise money for Amnesty International USA, an organization whose mission includes support for human rights around the world. There is no charge for admission but a free-will offering to benefit Amnesty will be taken during the program.
Slim Harrison and Tom Jolin have been performing traditional American folk music together for over twenty-five years. Harrison plays the fiddle, banjo, guitar, mountain dulcimer, and harmonica and is also a sought-after traditional dance caller. Jolin plays the hammer dulcimer, banjo, button accordion, guitar, harmonica, and bowed psaltery. He has recorded six albums with various groups over the years along with a solo album entitled Civilian.
- Gettysburg Times 10/25/06
Discography
Tom Jolin recordings:
"West Orrtanna String Band" by the West Orrtanna String Band (1976)
"An Orrtanna Home Companion" by the West Orrtanna String Band (1978)
"Steam" by The Orrtanna Mountain Steamers (1989)
"Wonderment" by The Orrtanna Mountain Steamers" (1991)
"You've Been Friend to Me" by Orrtanna (1999)
"Civilian" by Tom Jolin (2003)
"Traditional Music from Orrtanna" an archival set of the West Orrtanna String Band and Orrtanna Mountain Steamers recordings - funded, in part, by National Endowment for the Arts.
"Promenade Home" by Tom Jolin & Slim Harrison recorded by Rock Candy Studios (2006)
“Of the People” Civil War era music by Tom Jolin, RockCandy Studios (2011)
Other recordings by Slim Harrison:
"Slim Harrison-Who Needs Him", solo recording on Fonotone Records:1980
"Songs for Singing and Learning", with other artists, Wolf Trap Institute Recordings, Vol. 1-1992, Vol. 2-2002, Vol. 3- 2011
"Everybody Comes from a Different Place", Wolf Trap Institute Recordings, 1993
"The Sounds of Farm & Wilderness", Recorded & produced by Slim for F&W Foundation: 2000
Slim contributed the opening song, "Slim's Chance" and other solo instrumentals & vocals with South Mt String Band for:
"Music from The MD Sheep & Wool Festival", 2005
In 2007, Slim recorded 5 traditional tunes for the "Little Voices for Healthy Choices" CD produced by Wolf Trap Institute & the Early Head Start National Resource Center
"Goin' to that Sunnyland" recorded with the Sunnyland Band (children's jugband), by RockCandy Productions, 2009.
Photos
Bio
Slim Harrison and Tom Jolin teamed up in 1980 to perform traditional American roots folk music. They perform for all kinds of venues including schools, folk festivals, and history events.
They have performed for the Smithsonian Institute and also, for former Vice President Gore at his residence. In summer 2006, they performed at the Viljandi, Estonia Folk Music Festival. In July 2008 they performed at the Rudolstadt World Music Festival and Moelln Folk Festival in Germany, plus 5 German schools and 2 community concerts. Primarily, they tour the Mid-Atlantic Region and local festivals & schools.
The Barnstormers, Slim & Tom, have not only enjoyed performing together for over a quarter century, but have their own separate solo schedules.
Slim has performed for over 35 years and has been making instruments for over 30 years. He is a very popular artist in residence through the Maryland States Arts Council. Besides performing at Wolf Trap, he serves there as a Master Artist, teaching other performers and teachers. He has also been a teacher at the prestigious Farm and Wilderness Foundation in Vermont and Common Ground on the Hill in Westminster, MD.
Tom has been performing for over 40 years and making instruments for over 35 years. Under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts, he has been an artist in residence in many schools, camps, and other locations. With his groups he has performed with Garrison Keillor, and was a featured artist at the 25th anniversary concert of WITF-FM. He is a past presenter for the PA Humanities Council. He has recorded 7 albums with various groups, and 2 as a solo artist.
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