THE FOLKSOUL DUO
Fred Simmons and Leslie Vogel began playing music together way back when they attended Bard College. Their musical partnership has endured as well as their marriage, and has produced a steady stream of music via various projects, including Tattoo and The Folksoul Band.
After years of performance, the pair is also enjoying playing just as a duo, drawing on a large repertoire spanning folk, oldies, originals, and songs that might not fit into a band set. Blending the trombone with piano, and guitar with accordion, there is plenty of variety and plenty of good rhythms. “This gives us the freedom to play songs that don’t require drums, and to play for occasions where a lighter sound is wanted. Sometimes we get a little help from our friends, such as Dan Wheeler on stand-up bass.”
A brief bio, (by Fred):
1973—The first band is formed in upstate NY upon my graduation from Bard. Leslie graduates 2 years later.
1976—The band moves to the Bay Area of California (9 of us). We begin learning about street performance on Fisherman’s Wharf in SF, and on the Berkeley University campus, while also playing at clubs and festivals.
1980—We move up to Oregon. (5 of us, …eventually) We play all around the northwest, in bars and at festivals. We meet Ken Kesey and join with him on some occasions, including a spot opening for the Grateful Dead. (…and closing, but that’s another story
1983—We begin traveling up to Alaska to play and explore. We play in all the towns of Southeast Alaska, particularly Ketchikan and Skagway.
1986—We move back east to New Hampshire (just the two of us…with our two young girls)
1987—A new band is formed, and the process begins again. We make ourselves known at the Folkway Coffeehouse, and I play with Tony Bird, Greg Brown, and begin playing with clarinetist Mad Dog Don Wright. Our bands make music all around the towns.
1993—I make my first trip to New Orleans, playing music with another friend on clarinet, first stopping and playing for the Clinton Inauguration.
2000—I get my wish for a tuba player to play with. Leslie begins a partnership which helps give birth to the Youth Circus Movement, as we play live music for its various incarnations.
2004—We parade throughout the state with Granny D Haddock, to support her run for US Senate, and perform for her, ‘til the day she dies and beyond
2005—We head down to New Orleans, this time for Mardi Gras season (four of us), to play and take part in the festivities and hear some great music. Hurricane Katrina hits in August. Leslie forms the Youth and Community Fiddle Orchestra as a means of furthering her focus of bringing live acoustic music to events that foster community.
2007—We form the Folksoul Band to play for Mardi Gras at the Union Mill Café.