Tribute to John Hartford

Until further notice, all shows at Natalie's will require proof of vaccination (card or photo), along with photo ID, OR a valid negative Covid test 48 hours prior to entry.

Natalie’s presents a special tribute to the music and life of John Hartford, featuring Adam Schlenker and Hayes Griffin, talented musician Rick Good, and multi-instrumentalist Paul Brown with Nick Weiland. Hartford was one of the most influential and widely loved musicians of the 20th century, and this annual celebration helps to keep his legacy alive.

Adam Schlenker & Hayes Griffin are the hosts of the ongoing American Roots Recap series at Natalie’s. Hayes is a multi-instrumentalist and music educator who has over a decade's worth of experience touring with acts like Canadian fiddler April Verch and progressive bluegrass band Newtown, whose album Harlan Road featured Griffin’s guitar work and debuted at #8 on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts. Adam is an educator, performer, composer and arranger of Acoustic American Roots Music, and has been featured in and contributed to Flat Picking Guitar Magazine and is the Coordinator of American Roots & Bluegrass Music Studies at Denison University.

Rick Good was a founding member of the notorious Hotmud Family and a co-director and performer with Rhythm in Shoes for twenty-three years. Rick received the 2010 Ohio Heritage Fellow, an award which honored his 40 year career as a musician, actor, writer, educator and advocate of America’s musical roots. He is recognized and respected for his accomplished banjo playing, heartfelt singing and crafty songwriting.  Rick also performed regularly with the Red Clay Ramblers, and currently can be seen with the Dayton based band The Elements.

Paul Brown has been performing for over four decades and recently formed his new band “Hillbilly Chic”, which includes Nick Weiland on bass. According to Paul, he began his musical journey on the streets of Lancaster, Ohio, busking for drinking money at the age of 9.  He offered himself as a human sacrifice to Sam Bush and Stewart Duncan at the age of 15 and has had only a few regrets about it.  After a brief stint in prison, where he wrote children’s books about pet vivisection, Paul joined a Tantric bluegrass cult.  Penning hits such as “Little Buddhist Shrine on the Hill”, “The Ballad of Swami Yogananda” and “My Himalayan Cabin Home”, Paul has been well tolerated in the southern Ohio music scene.  Primarily playing banjo and fiddle, he has been described as “like John Hartford, but without the talent”.  He currently wanders the hills around Chillicothe, Ohio with his wife and three cats named “Banjo”.