Rod MacDonald Headlines The 6th Annual Fiesta de las Calabazas at Arizonas Oracle State Park



"Ah, a singer who has hard-hitting politics, can write good songs AND can sing them" wrote Johanna Halbeisen of New Song Library of Rod MacDonald's latest CD, "A Tale of Two Americas". The penultimate cut, "I Am Bob Dylan," based around the premise of mistaken identity, represents Rod's typical tongue-in-cheek approach to many of life's events.

"Of course he is not Bob Dylan, but he may be the closest thing to a 21st century update", says Jim Hewitt of the Fiesta de las Calabazas. "His songs are tuneful and often laced with not so subtle social commentary. But it's the voice that grabs you, a rough-hewn tenor with a hint of Scottish brogue. This man can sing! Before you know it you are tapping your tunes and humming to the refrain, "Terror Is A Very Magic Word."

As distinctive an entertainer as he is a songwriter, Rod has been delighting audiences worldwide for almost 30 years with his timeless ballads, modern folk songs and musical versatility. With enduring classics like "American Jerusalem" and "A Sailor's Prayer", recorded by more than two dozen notable artists including Dave Van Ronk and Garnet Rogers, Rod is regarded as among the elite of North American singer-songwriters.

His love for performing and his easy rapport with his audiences is very evident as he seamlessly weaves standout romantic ballads in between his trademark politically-charged and often reckless, but deliciously tongue-in-cheek political and social commentaries. And when his target is politics, he is undoubtedly at his wittiest

Formerly a long-time resident of Greenwich Village where he frequently performed at the then Speak Easy Club, Folk City and other venues, Rod became one of the most popular performers in New York and surrounding areas.

In the mid-90s, he moved to south Florida, married, and although maintaining an aggressive touring schedule, quickly became one of the busiest performers in Florida. After the tragic events of 911, in typical thought-provoking honesty, Rod wrote and recorded what has become another of his signature songs, "My Neighbors In Delray", a contemplative commentary about how easily these terrorists, who lived only blocks from his own home in Delray Beach, were able to unobtrusively blend into the south Florida culture and lifestyle.

Rod has released 9 solo albums in the U.S. and Europe, including "No Commercial Traffic", re-released in 2002, and "White Buffalo", chronicled by the Boston Herald as "among the towering achievements in modern folk music." His 2003 release, "Recognition" included "My Neighbors In Delray", a Folk Finalist in the 2003 USA Songwriting Competition. "MacDonald approaches the genre differently from most contemporary singer-songwriters. His 'protest' songs are narratives that invite you to draw your own conclusions.takes listeners on previously untrod paths in his unique stories". (Sing Out! 2003)

Rod's CDs are available at www.folkera.com/windriver, www.rodmacdonald.net and other Internet sites.

Don't miss the opportunity to hear one of contemporary music's finest performers on Saturday, October 15th at the Oracle State Park. Rod's two-hour performance begins at 1:00 PM.

Further information is available at http://www.calabazas.org or call 520-896-2425.





Rod MacDonald Headlines The 6th Annual Fiesta de las Calabazas at Arizonas Oracle State Park