Primal Rhythm was created by Sue Balaschak initially as a solo project for recording records and teaching hand drum workshops. Sue’s first hand drum CD, “Primal Rhythm 1” received national publications and is featured in the Cleveland documentary “Return of the Cuyahoga” which aired on PBS. She decided to bring her solo records to life and create a kick ass all female drum ensemble. They first surfaced the festival circuit in 2011- 2013 and have returned once again in 2020.
Two of the original members, Dawn Fritz Heartsong, on percussion and Michelle Clark, laying down the bottom on DunDuns, have returned to tribal rock your world. In addition, Primal Rhythm is happy to announce their newest member, Sarah Ann Riffle on djembe.
Mama Gina is a Pagan Bard, singer/songwriter, fearless storyteller, and wanderlust. With down-to-earth, bluesy vocals, a bit of humor, and straight-ahead, rhythmic, acoustic guitar, djembe and frame drum, she tells the true stories that fall into her head and heart. She sings of life, death and rebirth. She sings of holding on and letting go. She speaks to the Gods and Goddesses and they speak back. Oh, boy, do they speak back! She sings their stories as they become her own. She sings of her spiritual connection to the natural world, and of our responsibility to nurture both the mundane and the magical. When she is not performing, you just might find her camping in the woods seeking inspiration from the earth beneath her feet and the vast, open sky.
Nine Toes the Bard
It’s all fun and games until someone loses a … toe! No figment of Mama Gina’s imagination, Nine Toes the Bard will have you singing along. Dragons and pirates, something for the kids, and something naughty NOT FOR THE KIDS. It’s all in the music. Her companions are colorful, her stories are outrageously true, and her world is one you will wish to visit time and time again.