Moab Folk Camp 2023 Instructors
Cara Luft
Cara Luft is an award-winning musician, singer and songwriter, a plucky performer with an impish sense of humour and a founding member of two Canadian folk super-groups: The Wailin' Jennys and The Small Glories. Brought up by folk-singing parents in a vibrant music community, Luft has a spirit that drives her to connect with people, and for this she is loved everywhere she goes. She is one of Canada's hardest working musicians, armed with amazing tenacity, vision, energy and a contagious hilarity. In 2011 she branched out into instructing at music camps for adults and teens, discovering an immense joy and skill in helping others tap into their own creativity. Cara’s the real deal, there’s nothing pretentious about her. And that sense of honesty, integrity, personality and spontaneity permeates both her music and her live shows. www.caraluft.com
Cara Luft is an award-winning musician, singer and songwriter, a plucky performer with an impish sense of humour and a founding member of two Canadian folk super-groups: The Wailin' Jennys and The Small Glories. Brought up by folk-singing parents in a vibrant music community, Luft has a spirit that drives her to connect with people, and for this she is loved everywhere she goes. She is one of Canada's hardest working musicians, armed with amazing tenacity, vision, energy and a contagious hilarity. In 2011 she branched out into instructing at music camps for adults and teens, discovering an immense joy and skill in helping others tap into their own creativity. Cara’s the real deal, there’s nothing pretentious about her. And that sense of honesty, integrity, personality and spontaneity permeates both her music and her live shows. www.caraluft.com
Beth Wood
Beth Wood is an award-winning singer-songwriter and poet and believer in the power of word and song. Beth has been writing, creating, recording, and touring full-time twenty-five years — delighting and inspiring audiences with her exceptional musicianship, intelligent songwriting, powerhouse voice, and warm and commanding stage presence. Beth has released twelve solo albums, one duo album, three books of poetry, and a collection of funny stories from the road. Beth’s poetry book Ladder To The Light (Mezcalita Press) is the winner of the 2019 Oregon Book Awards People’s Choice Award and was a finalist for the Stafford/Hall Award for Poetry. Beth’s work has expanded to include teaching and song coaching as well as leading workshops at festivals, songwriting retreats and beyond. She is the co-founder and director of Sisters Songworks, a series of intimate songwriting retreats in collaboration with Sisters Folk Festival. Beth lives in Sisters, OR with her rescue dog Hannah and is continuously writing and rewriting her artist’s manifesto. Beth’s dream is to live simply, to build community through music and poetry, and to move something with her art, whether it’s a swirling emotion or a curious mind or tapping feet. Her mission is to communicate the joy she feels when she opens her mouth and sings. Beth’s musical philosophy is that there are no wrong notes.
Beth Wood is an award-winning singer-songwriter and poet and believer in the power of word and song. Beth has been writing, creating, recording, and touring full-time twenty-five years — delighting and inspiring audiences with her exceptional musicianship, intelligent songwriting, powerhouse voice, and warm and commanding stage presence. Beth has released twelve solo albums, one duo album, three books of poetry, and a collection of funny stories from the road. Beth’s poetry book Ladder To The Light (Mezcalita Press) is the winner of the 2019 Oregon Book Awards People’s Choice Award and was a finalist for the Stafford/Hall Award for Poetry. Beth’s work has expanded to include teaching and song coaching as well as leading workshops at festivals, songwriting retreats and beyond. She is the co-founder and director of Sisters Songworks, a series of intimate songwriting retreats in collaboration with Sisters Folk Festival. Beth lives in Sisters, OR with her rescue dog Hannah and is continuously writing and rewriting her artist’s manifesto. Beth’s dream is to live simply, to build community through music and poetry, and to move something with her art, whether it’s a swirling emotion or a curious mind or tapping feet. Her mission is to communicate the joy she feels when she opens her mouth and sings. Beth’s musical philosophy is that there are no wrong notes.
Sloan Wainwright
Sloan is a songwriter, singer, performer, teacher, mentor and collaborator. A unique hybrid of pop, folk, jazz and blues, Wainwright’s music is unified by her melodious tone and rich, powerful contralto. Over the course of a 30-year career in music, she has played the great concert halls, the most storied listening rooms and top music festivals while also teaching at the nation’s leading music retreats. She has inspired hundreds of students on their creative journeys and collaborated with dozens of musicians, writers, choreographers and performers. Most of all, Wainwright is an artist. As a member of an acclaimed family of artists (brother Loudon Wainwright, sister-in-law Kate McGarrigle, nephew Rufus Wainwright and nieces Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche), Wainwright has charted an artistic path all her own, one based in close observation, joy, and spiritual connection. “They say you stand a chance of being a good musician if you first become a good human being. Sloan is a wonderful singer and all-round musician, and as a teacher really overlaps into the role of a life coach ~ she has given skill and confidence to so many.” ~ Richard Thompson www.sloanwainwright.com
Sloan is a songwriter, singer, performer, teacher, mentor and collaborator. A unique hybrid of pop, folk, jazz and blues, Wainwright’s music is unified by her melodious tone and rich, powerful contralto. Over the course of a 30-year career in music, she has played the great concert halls, the most storied listening rooms and top music festivals while also teaching at the nation’s leading music retreats. She has inspired hundreds of students on their creative journeys and collaborated with dozens of musicians, writers, choreographers and performers. Most of all, Wainwright is an artist. As a member of an acclaimed family of artists (brother Loudon Wainwright, sister-in-law Kate McGarrigle, nephew Rufus Wainwright and nieces Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche), Wainwright has charted an artistic path all her own, one based in close observation, joy, and spiritual connection. “They say you stand a chance of being a good musician if you first become a good human being. Sloan is a wonderful singer and all-round musician, and as a teacher really overlaps into the role of a life coach ~ she has given skill and confidence to so many.” ~ Richard Thompson www.sloanwainwright.com
Rolly Brown
Rolly Brown is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter based in Bucks County PA. He has been a National Guitar Fingerpicking Champion and a Philadelphia Music Award nominee. In a career spanning 50+ years, he has been a solo performer, sideman, studio musician, radio producer, and teacher, performing over much of the United States, and in Canada and Australia. He considers himself a lifelong student of the guitar and his musical passions have included folk, blues, jazz, swing, bluegrass, and original fingerstyle guitar. He is adept at both fingerpicking and flatpicking. Acoustic Guitar Magazine calls Rolly's guitar sound "an exceptionally melodic, articulate playing style that takes full advantage of the acoustic guitar's beautiful tone.” Rolly has been a favorite instructor at dozens of guitar camps around the U.S. and Canada over the past 24 years. In recent years, he has focused on songwriting. He is also an acupuncturist and T’ai Chi Ch’uan instructor, and a dog lover. www.rollybrown.com
Rolly Brown is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter based in Bucks County PA. He has been a National Guitar Fingerpicking Champion and a Philadelphia Music Award nominee. In a career spanning 50+ years, he has been a solo performer, sideman, studio musician, radio producer, and teacher, performing over much of the United States, and in Canada and Australia. He considers himself a lifelong student of the guitar and his musical passions have included folk, blues, jazz, swing, bluegrass, and original fingerstyle guitar. He is adept at both fingerpicking and flatpicking. Acoustic Guitar Magazine calls Rolly's guitar sound "an exceptionally melodic, articulate playing style that takes full advantage of the acoustic guitar's beautiful tone.” Rolly has been a favorite instructor at dozens of guitar camps around the U.S. and Canada over the past 24 years. In recent years, he has focused on songwriting. He is also an acupuncturist and T’ai Chi Ch’uan instructor, and a dog lover. www.rollybrown.com
Cosy Sheridan
Cosy Sheridan has been called one of the era’s finest and most thoughtful songwriters. She first appeared on the national folk scene when she won the songwriting contests at The Kerrville Folk Festival and The Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 1992 and released her critically acclaimed CD Quietly Led. The Albuquerque Journal called her “a buddhist monk trapped in the body of a singer-songwriter.” Backed by the strong rhythms and harmonies of her bass player Charlie Koch, she plays a percussive bluesy style of guitar – often in open tunings and occasionally with two or more capos on the guitar. “You can't make it into double digits, and continue touring for twenty or so years, unless you know what you're doing, and do it well,” wrote The Chicago Examiner. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Cowgirl Hall of Fame and on the Jerry Lewis Telethon. She was a voice student at Berklee College of Music and a guitar student of legendary finger style players Guy Van Duser and Eric Schoenberg. She teaches classes in songwriting, performance, and guitar at workshops and adult music camps across the country. She is the director of Moab Folk Camp in Moab, Utah. www.cosysheridan.com
Cosy Sheridan has been called one of the era’s finest and most thoughtful songwriters. She first appeared on the national folk scene when she won the songwriting contests at The Kerrville Folk Festival and The Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 1992 and released her critically acclaimed CD Quietly Led. The Albuquerque Journal called her “a buddhist monk trapped in the body of a singer-songwriter.” Backed by the strong rhythms and harmonies of her bass player Charlie Koch, she plays a percussive bluesy style of guitar – often in open tunings and occasionally with two or more capos on the guitar. “You can't make it into double digits, and continue touring for twenty or so years, unless you know what you're doing, and do it well,” wrote The Chicago Examiner. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Cowgirl Hall of Fame and on the Jerry Lewis Telethon. She was a voice student at Berklee College of Music and a guitar student of legendary finger style players Guy Van Duser and Eric Schoenberg. She teaches classes in songwriting, performance, and guitar at workshops and adult music camps across the country. She is the director of Moab Folk Camp in Moab, Utah. www.cosysheridan.com
Eric Jones
Eric Jones is a student of early Americana music. His sound reflects a fondness for dressing-up traditional songs in new musical styles. He was a founding member of the Irish-American band Keltika, and the western slope string band Big Timbre. In addition to his solo work, he can be heard playing mandolin with the alt-bluegrass band Quicksand Soup and the folk-rock Rogue Assets. Eric has been hosting jams and teaching mandolin at the Moab Folk Camp since its first year.
Eric Jones is a student of early Americana music. His sound reflects a fondness for dressing-up traditional songs in new musical styles. He was a founding member of the Irish-American band Keltika, and the western slope string band Big Timbre. In addition to his solo work, he can be heard playing mandolin with the alt-bluegrass band Quicksand Soup and the folk-rock Rogue Assets. Eric has been hosting jams and teaching mandolin at the Moab Folk Camp since its first year.
Mandy Danzig
Mandy plays almost anything with strings, and during her shows, she flows effortlessly from one instrument to another, weaving in and out of songs with her effervescent storytelling. Shows are rollicking romps through traditional and original music filled with joy, and an invitation for everyone to join the choir and sing along. As a teacher she is dedicated to the idea that the act of making music belongs in everyone’s life regardless of skill. Classes are a joyous supportive between student and teacher in pursuit of that goal. Mandy (She/Her/Hers) used to perform and teach under a different name and pronouns but she changed her name when she came out as transgender in December of 2019. A member of the duo Otter Creek, her song “The Fiddle Preacher” reached the top 10 on the Folk DJ charts. She has performed with the Salt Lake Choral Artists, the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society, and the Utopia Early Music Ensemble in state premiers and programs that blend both classical and folk traditions. In collaboration with Wendy Lowder, her arrangement and performance was on TLC's Sister Wives. She is on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as MandyLynnDanzig and can be found online at www.MandyLynnDanzig.com.
Mandy plays almost anything with strings, and during her shows, she flows effortlessly from one instrument to another, weaving in and out of songs with her effervescent storytelling. Shows are rollicking romps through traditional and original music filled with joy, and an invitation for everyone to join the choir and sing along. As a teacher she is dedicated to the idea that the act of making music belongs in everyone’s life regardless of skill. Classes are a joyous supportive between student and teacher in pursuit of that goal. Mandy (She/Her/Hers) used to perform and teach under a different name and pronouns but she changed her name when she came out as transgender in December of 2019. A member of the duo Otter Creek, her song “The Fiddle Preacher” reached the top 10 on the Folk DJ charts. She has performed with the Salt Lake Choral Artists, the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society, and the Utopia Early Music Ensemble in state premiers and programs that blend both classical and folk traditions. In collaboration with Wendy Lowder, her arrangement and performance was on TLC's Sister Wives. She is on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as MandyLynnDanzig and can be found online at www.MandyLynnDanzig.com.
Anke Summerhill
Anke has been with the Moab Folk Camp since its beginnings and is an invaluable member of our staff. In recent years, she has worked with people of all ages in her community and beyond and is continually inspired by the healing power of music. She especially enjoys exploring songwriting and the creativity of playing the guitar with others as a way to weave community. Originally from Munich, Germany, Vancouver, British Columbia; and now surrounded by Utah's desert beauty, Anke’s diverse background and powerful gift of observation has seasoned her songwriting and performances with qualities which show genuine compassion. In addition to recording her own well received full-length CD projects, The Roots Run Deep and Shine On Through, her songs have found their way onto many CD compilations and samplers used in a wide variety of community fundraising projects. She recently recorded Utah Phillips' song, "Miner’s Lullaby" for the 2010 tribute project, The Long Memory ~ Utah remembers Bruce "Utah" Phillips, and she loved singing harmonies on Hal Cannon's debut solo recording. www.AnkeSummerhill.com
Anke has been with the Moab Folk Camp since its beginnings and is an invaluable member of our staff. In recent years, she has worked with people of all ages in her community and beyond and is continually inspired by the healing power of music. She especially enjoys exploring songwriting and the creativity of playing the guitar with others as a way to weave community. Originally from Munich, Germany, Vancouver, British Columbia; and now surrounded by Utah's desert beauty, Anke’s diverse background and powerful gift of observation has seasoned her songwriting and performances with qualities which show genuine compassion. In addition to recording her own well received full-length CD projects, The Roots Run Deep and Shine On Through, her songs have found their way onto many CD compilations and samplers used in a wide variety of community fundraising projects. She recently recorded Utah Phillips' song, "Miner’s Lullaby" for the 2010 tribute project, The Long Memory ~ Utah remembers Bruce "Utah" Phillips, and she loved singing harmonies on Hal Cannon's debut solo recording. www.AnkeSummerhill.com
Charlie Koch
Charlie Koch has trained horses, sailed across the Atlantic more than once, and fronted an R&B band. He skippered a race boat for Buckminster Fuller. He whipped in for a fox hunt in Ireland and saddle-broke young horses on a breeding farm in France. He taught tennis, skiing, and horseback riding. He trained as a body-oriented psychotherapist. These days, he tours playing bass for his wife, singer/songwriter Cosy Sheridan. In his first CD, Help Me To Believe, Charlie sings of his father, who was also a sailor, and of his longing for a place to call home. His love songs are heartfelt. His melodies are influenced by such diverse writers as Otis Redding, Ray Charles, and James Taylor. His guitar playing has roots in soulful country blues.
Charlie Koch has trained horses, sailed across the Atlantic more than once, and fronted an R&B band. He skippered a race boat for Buckminster Fuller. He whipped in for a fox hunt in Ireland and saddle-broke young horses on a breeding farm in France. He taught tennis, skiing, and horseback riding. He trained as a body-oriented psychotherapist. These days, he tours playing bass for his wife, singer/songwriter Cosy Sheridan. In his first CD, Help Me To Believe, Charlie sings of his father, who was also a sailor, and of his longing for a place to call home. His love songs are heartfelt. His melodies are influenced by such diverse writers as Otis Redding, Ray Charles, and James Taylor. His guitar playing has roots in soulful country blues.
Glen Roethel
Glen Roethel is an award-winning singer-songwriter, sought-after accompanist and an entertainer who has played and sung for every human milestone you can imagine. With thousands of hit songs up his sleeve and 48 years of experiencing what makes performing exciting, he brings irresistible energy and uncontrollable toe tapping to singalongs at song camps, events, and music gatherings across the US. He is thrilled to experience his first time at Moab Folk Camp! www.glenroethel.com
Glen Roethel is an award-winning singer-songwriter, sought-after accompanist and an entertainer who has played and sung for every human milestone you can imagine. With thousands of hit songs up his sleeve and 48 years of experiencing what makes performing exciting, he brings irresistible energy and uncontrollable toe tapping to singalongs at song camps, events, and music gatherings across the US. He is thrilled to experience his first time at Moab Folk Camp! www.glenroethel.com
Janet Buckingham
Janet has lived in Moab for 32 years. She began painting in the late 1990s. At that time her medium was pastels, but while living briefly on Kodiak Island in Alaska she found the chalky, soft pastels did not translate well to the watery landscape she was trying to capture. Although she still uses her pastels in mixed media pieces, she switched to watercolor and ink and never gave it up. Janet also works in textiles by transferring her images to cotton fabric and integrating them into quilted bags and unique wall hangings. In 2018 Janet was selected as Community Artist in the Parks for Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Hovenweep, and Natural Bridges National Monuments. Janet’s work is shown at Gallery Moab and Moab Made on Main Street in Moab. www.janetbuckingham.com
Janet has lived in Moab for 32 years. She began painting in the late 1990s. At that time her medium was pastels, but while living briefly on Kodiak Island in Alaska she found the chalky, soft pastels did not translate well to the watery landscape she was trying to capture. Although she still uses her pastels in mixed media pieces, she switched to watercolor and ink and never gave it up. Janet also works in textiles by transferring her images to cotton fabric and integrating them into quilted bags and unique wall hangings. In 2018 Janet was selected as Community Artist in the Parks for Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Hovenweep, and Natural Bridges National Monuments. Janet’s work is shown at Gallery Moab and Moab Made on Main Street in Moab. www.janetbuckingham.com
Jon Fuller
Jon Fuller has been exploring and photographing the Moab area for almost 35 years and has been a Moab resident for the past twenty years. He is a working free-lance stock photographer and is a member of the North American Nature Photographers Association (NANPA). His first published photo was a two-page spread in National Geographic Magazine in January 1983. He has since been published in hundreds of publications world-wide, from the Singapore Times and Ranger Rick Magazine to Geomundo and the Insight Guide Books. He has traveled extensively internationally and has photographed in more than 40 countries, but his favorite subject is still the Colorado Plateau.
Jon Fuller has been exploring and photographing the Moab area for almost 35 years and has been a Moab resident for the past twenty years. He is a working free-lance stock photographer and is a member of the North American Nature Photographers Association (NANPA). His first published photo was a two-page spread in National Geographic Magazine in January 1983. He has since been published in hundreds of publications world-wide, from the Singapore Times and Ranger Rick Magazine to Geomundo and the Insight Guide Books. He has traveled extensively internationally and has photographed in more than 40 countries, but his favorite subject is still the Colorado Plateau.