2026 Folklife Festival Songwriters in the Round

Songwriter in the Round in the Carlo Theater
Tuesday July 21st
7pm, $10 General/$7 HFS Members
Dave Trabue, James Zeller, Tony Cogliati, Katie Belknap

David Trabue- David Alan Trabue (aka “Kentucky Dave”) moved to Humboldt County in the late ‘70s from his home in Louisville, Kentucky. At that time, Dave was in solo guitar/vocal mode in Louisville, which he continued here, playing around the numerous spots in Old Town Eureka in those days. Tomaso’s, Fog’s, The Vance Log Cabin, Old Town Bar & Grill, and other venues in both Eureka and Arcata kept him busy as much as 7 nights a week.

In the mid-‘80s, Dave joined up in one of the area’s most working country bands – “Country Fever”, where he stayed for several years before forming his own bands – “Dave Trabue & The Roundup Band”, followed by “Still Kickin’.”

After moving away in the late ‘90s, and playing in the SF Bay Area for a long while, Dave returned to Humboldt in 2022 and is working to get his Covid-atrophied chops back in shape to entertain you again & is very happy to have a chance to return to the Folklife Festival in its new (to him) digs, as he used to play at the old Fickle Hill location.

See you there! I pick, therefore I grin!

Tony Cogliati- I was born in Louisiana on a December morning to the sound of my mother's voice singing Some Enchanted Evening. I tried playing the clarinet and then fell in love with the guitar. And I decided at 12 I wanted to be a writer.

Early influence included Doc Watson, Johnny Cash, Hank Sr. , Ray Charles and Country Music. I love to sing and tell a story. Thanks, Mom!

Here in Blue Lake I'm known as The Bread Guy. I love baking bread. And cookies! Great Grandma Gillies Shortbread, home made bread and some homemade music Saturday and Sunday at The Center of the Universe! Sounds like a party! Let's celebrate!

James Zeller and Katie Belknap- The Ponies of Harmony are dedicated to connection with audiences through heartfelt original songs about community, friendship, gratitude for the earth and life, and of course love and the human condition. Our music is inspired by many genres, from folk styles to jazz, country and R&B, using different elements that come together in a sparse duo setting that we hope feels creatively collaborative with the universe moment to moment. We combine rehearsed, composed vocal harmonies and song structures with improvisation.