Folk by Association

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Folk By Association is the duo of Karen Krajacic and Jill Cowen, two singer/songwriter/ multi-instrumentalists who have truly become a grassroots phenomenon. They share seven years, two CDs, twenty-two states, hundreds of performances, and an infinite resolve to carve for themselves a career path that lies just outside of the commercial mainstream- all the while operating completely independently of any record label or outside management.
Traveling almost constantly, they’ve played everything from intimate house concerts to large festivals, showcasing their top-notch vocal harmonies and organic blend of guitar and mandolin. Their sound is an eclectic blend of influences (folk, rock, bluegrass, jazz, world) combined with poetically penned lyrics, resulting in a uniquely inspiring and energetic expansion of contemporary acoustic music.
Recently the duo has begun producing and booking regional events in an effort to bring other high-quality artists to their audience’s attention. In 2007 they collaborated with Moon Dancer Winery in Wrightsville, PA to hold the first of a now annual Folk Festival, as well as organized a monthly singer/songwriter series with Orpha’s Coffeeshop in Skillman, NJ. They also are the hosts of a recurring "Lilith Night" at the Moose in Doylestown, PA.
PRESS:
“Two gems in the American music scene for sure!”
– Mary Palmer, DJ/Host, High Plains Public Radio
"Their lyrics are organic and spiritual, reminding listeners of the larger things in life- the earth, hope, risk- and of universal human experiences, like breaking up, the joys and pitfalls of traveling, and self-analyzation... folk at its purest."
Jaymi Heimbuch, Girlistic Magazine, Spring 2007
"As is the case with their live performances, the duo’s harmonies on "As We Travel" are impeccable, two soaring voices sounding as if they were plucked from the highest mountain range."
-S.J. Dibai, music journalist, One Note Ahead
"These girls have certainly got the goods! They should be headlining folk concerts until the end of days. Beautiful, honest talent!"
-www.redfizz.com
"Fabulous harmonies with wonderful musical interplay. An acoustic delight!"- Acoustic Harmony, WGDR
"There’s something visible between them as they play. It’s as if, while each song lasts, they’re telling each other’s story. In the music, each note sounds better accompanied, each harmony richer with it’s complement, each word more honest with a supporting vocal."
-Cynthia Koons, The Messenger Press
"Brilliantly tight vocals and instrumentation. It was the highlight of my day. Listening to them brought me back to the Folk scene in the coffee houses of the nineteen seventies. I would highly recommend catching their performance when they are in your area."
-Ed Saultz- Liscune
"The songs on "As We Travel" have a natural "live" feel, with the guest musicians -- bassist Jim Cowen, Jon Thompson on sax and flute and percussionists Kim Leary and Dave Merritt -- occasionally adding the lightest of embellishments. Otherwise, there’s no question (As We Travel) is a Folk by Association record. "
-Patrick O’Shea, The Trenton Times
"The CD is excellent but "Letter To Myself" is more than another folk number- ala Joni Mitchell School of Jazz-Folk Fusion."
-Ralph Drake, DJ WDVR and Homegrownradionj.com
"’Mind’s Eye’ (is) an impressively haunting, poetic masterpiece..." -
S.J. Dibai, music journalist, One Note Ahead
"’Mind’s Eye’ is a beautifully sung folky gem!"
-www.redfizz.com
"These ladies have something beyond just an ordinary gift... truly inspiring and mood-altering."
-Kyle-Glenn McLaughlin, Owner, Arianna Miles
"Their haunting harmonies and skillful guitar playing will leave you entranced."
-Tim Niland, www.lmxac.com
Featured on Comcast’s OnDemand in select areas, 2007
N.E.R.F.A Formal Showcase Alternates, 2005
DISCOGRAPHY:
"FBA Mosaic Promo"-2001
"A Change in Elevation" Live in New Hampshire - 2002
"Folk by Association" Debut 2003
"Mind’s Eye" Promo Single- 2004
"As We Travel" -2006
"Other People’s Songs" Free Promo- 2006
"Bluergrass Sampler"- Promo- 2006
"Homegrown Wine and Music Festival Live"- 2006
SHARED THE STAGE WITH:
Todd Sheaffer of Railroad Earth, Antigone Rising, Mike Doughty of Soul Coughing, ZEN, Stargazer Lily, Sage, Victoria Vox, Nadine Goellner, Ryan Montbleau Band, Tony Triska and Skyline, Hickory Project, John Ginty Band, Stone Poets, Brett Mitchell, Locksley, White Light, Marafanyi Percussion, Spook Handy, Joanne Juskus, Boston Afrobeat Society, North Shore Accapella, Divinity Destroyed, Andrew Lipke, Sunny Daze
COLLEGE/PUBLIC RADIO:
WXPN Philadelphia, PA and various signals
HPPR (High Plains Public Radio), multiple states, www.hppr.org
WMNF Tampa, FL
CHES Erin/Toronto, ONT
WGDR Plainfield, VT
WFSS Fayettsville, NC
WYEP Pittsburgh, PA
WDVR Sergeantsville, NJ
WBZC Pemberton, NJ
WEQX Mancester, VT
KRFC Fort Collins, CO
WVUD Newark, DE
WSPN Saratoga Springs, NY
KZUM Lincoln, NE
INTERNET RADIO:
Art Music Coffeehouse, HomeGrownRadioNJ.com, No Holds Barred Radio, Your Inner Vagabond
VENUES:
NJ:
"Music Under the Stars" at Grounds For Sculpture- Hamilton, NJ;
Triumph Brewing Co.-Princeton, NJ ;
HomeGrownRadioNJ.com Wine and Music Fest- Belvidere, NJ;
Collingswood Music Festival- Collingswood, NJ;
Hopewell Valley Vineyards- Pennington, NJ;
Cornerstone Coffee- Pennington, NJ
Ocean County Library- Toms River, NJ;
Old Bridge Public Library Performance Series- Old Bridge, NJ;
Border’s Books and Music- Eatontown, NJ Mount Laurel, NJ Princeton, NJ Marlton, NJ;
Septemberfest- Hamilton, NJ;
Plainfield Pride Picnic- Plainfield, NJ ;
Harvest Festival- Allentown, NJ;
Dover Township Founders Day- Toms River, NJ;
Azalea Festival at Sayen Gardens- Hamilton, NJ;
Shipbottom Summer Concert Series- Ship Bottom, NJ;
"Concerts at the Crow’s Bar"- Robin’s Nest Restaurant- Mount Holly, NJ;
Fuel House Coffee Co.- Vineland, NJ;
grooveground- Collingswood, NJ
Orphas Coffeeshop - Skillman, NJ;
PA:
World Cafe Live- Philadelphia, PA;
Beta Hi Fi Festival at the World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA;
"1st Annual Moon Dancer Winery Folk Festival"- Wrightsville, PA;
Susquehanna University- Selinsgrove, PA;
Selingrove Brewpub- Selinsgrove, PA;
Cherry Alley Cafe- Lewisburg, PA;
Crossing Vineyards- Washington Crossing, PA;
"NOMADS: Women in Music Benefit" at Your Inner Vagabond Coffeehouse and World Lounge- Pittsburgh, PA;
"It’s Comin’ On Christmas"- Joni Mitchell Tribute Show at Make Your Mark Artspace and Coffeehouse- Pittsburgh, PA;
Arianna Miles Restaurant and Inn- Quakertown, PA;
Moon Dancer Winery-Wrightsville, PA;
Gallery at Afton Pond- Yardley, PA;
Fergie’s Pub- Philadelphia, PA;
The Moose- Doylestown, PA;
Hinge Cafe -Philadelphia, PA;
Strawberry Festival- Lahaska, PA;
John and Peters- New Hope, PA;
University City Arts League- Philadelphia, PA;
"Vote!" Music Festival- Philadelphia, PA;
International Food and Fun Fair - Lahaska, PA;
Fall Festival and Auction at Liberties Walk- Philadelphia, PA;
Brown Bag-It Concert Series- Doylestown, PA
NY:
Bluergrass! Festival- The AMP, Vienna, NY;
Mother’s at RPI- Troy, NY;
Gaffneys - Saratoga Springs, NY;
Valentine’s- Albany, NY;
Moon and River Cafe’- Schenectady, NY;
Artie’s Riverstreet Stage- Troy, NY;
Mount Kisco Sales Days- Mount Kisco, NY

DE:
"Talk of the Town" Concert Series- Wilmington, DE;
Art on the Town series- Wilmington, DE;
"Made in the Shade" Concert Series- Wilmington, DE
MD:
Frederick Festival of the Arts, Frederick, MD;
S.N.A.F.U (Sunday Night All Folked UP) at the Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, MD;
"Tunes at Noon"- Hyattsville, MD;
Duffy’s on Potomac- Hagerstown, MD;
Leitersburg Theatre- Hagerstown, MD;
The Tavern at the Calvert House- Riverdale, MD

VT:
The Bobcat Cafe and Brewery- Bristol, VT;
Nectar’s- Burlington, VT;
Ascutney Mountain Resort- Brownsville, VT;
The Cider House- Waterbury, VT;
Red Clover Inn- Mendon, VT;
West Mountain Inn- Arlington, VT;
Mallett’s Bay Music Festival- Colchester, VT;
The Bee’s Knees- Morrisville, VT;
The Skinny Pancake- Burlington, VT;
Langdon Street Cafe- Montpelier, VT;
The Radio Bean- Burlington, VT
MA:
RiverJam- Fitchburg, MA;
Peabody Summer Concert Series, Peabody, MA;
Bangkok Paradise, Salem, MA
NH:
Pumpkin Festival- Keene, NH;
DelRossi’s Trattoria- Dublin, NH;
Dover Soul- Dover, NH;
The Coat of Arms- Portsmouth, NH;
The Barley House- Concord, NH
CT:
The Sugar Cube Cafe- Cromwell, CT;
Farmer’s Market at Billings Forge- Hartford, CT
FL:
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts- Tampa, FL;
Manatee Arts Festival- Apollo Beach, FL;
Circle’s Bar and Grill- Apollo Beach, FL;
Java Nirvana Cafe- Gulfport,FL;
JR’s Old Packinghouse Cafe- Sarasota, FL;
Sacred Grounds- Tampa, FL;
The Drunken Monkey- Orlando, FL
SC:
Palmetto Acoustic Series- Charleston, SC;
"Low Country Live" on ABC Ch. 4- Mount Pleasant, SC;
Kudu Coffee- Charleston, SC
NC: Joe Beans Coffee House- Thomasville, NC
VA:
New Creations Cafe- Arlington, VA;
Market Street Coffee- Leesburg, VA and Purcellville, VA;
Ware River Yacht Club- Gloucester, VA;
Loudon County Democratic Fundraiser- Loudon, VA

WV:
The Purple Fiddle- Thomas, WV;
Pegasus Farm Campground and Music Park- Elkins, WV
NE:
Crescent Moon Coffee, Lincoln, NE
IA:
"Thursdays in Pella"- Pella, IA;
The Oak Tree Opry- Anita, IA;
Java Joes, Des Moines, IA
IL:
Ridgeville Farmers Market- Evanston, IL;
Jazz-it Café, Chicago, IL
CO:
Summerfest- Loveland, CO;
Coggon House Concerts- Fort Collins, CO;
Vincent- Fort Collins, CO;
The Rock N Soul Cafe- Boulder, CO;
Under the Umbrella Cafe and Bakery- Denver, CO;
Bemis Public Library, Littleton, CO;
KRFCs Live@Lunch, Fort Collins, CO
KS:
Living Room Concert Series- Garden City, KS;
The Artichoke- Wichita, KS;
In-studio at High Plains Public Radio
MO:
ArtT Cafe- St. Louis, MO;
Grandview Farmers Market- Grandview, MO;
IN:
Lazy Daze Coffeehouse- Indianapolis, IN
OH:
The Barking Spider- Cleveland, OH