The Zulu Leprechauns bring rock music with a world beat to Common Ground. The band plays a wide variety of vocal and instrumental music, including originals and contemporary dulcimer pieces, spotlighting the sometimes haunting, sometimes driving electric dulcimer, played by Jim Schwellenbach in an entirely new and nontraditional manner. The rhythmic intensity is both echoed and amplified by Annegret Baier and Jeff Howe's percussion work. Howe not only lends power and dynamics to the percussion but also allows Baier to step forward with her expressive violin playing counterpoint to the dulcimer. All of this is anchored firmly in time by John Shaw's intricately fluid bass lines.
All musicians sing lead and backup vocals, often with striking harmonies.
Dad is sure to get the crowd warmed up with its rural music from around the world. Dad songs are influenced by salsa, blues, jazz and African highlife music. One of our songs is dedicated to Masa Harina and another is about the destructiveness of biotechnology and Bill Gates. By Saturday evening, many fairgoers, volunteers and exhibitors are starting to feel the effects of two Fair days running. Come to the amphitheater, put your feet up on a hay bale and relax under the stars listening to the beautiful music of Cindy Kallet and Will Brown.