On March 30, Father Ron and Friends will continue their Sunday Residency at Buffa’s, celebrating their recent Global Music Award win for the title track of their new album, Forever The Seasons (Louisiana Red Hot Records). The New Orleans-based folk/Americana band is gearing up for a spring tour across Nebraska.
Beyond their music, Father Ron and Friends are deeply committed to their community, from leading “Don’t Let The Fire Die” at an MLK Day Service to hosting children’s folk singalongs as part of the Little Box of Good News program with the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana.
Father Ron Clingenpeel, a retired Episcopal priest and cherished folk DJ on New Orleans’ iconic WWOZ, has spent years traveling the globe to spread the healing and peace found in folk music. The band features: Robert Eustis on guitar, David Schwartz on keyboards, Barbara Smith-Davis on vocals, and Max Valentino on bass. They embrace a profound mission, honoring the American experience and channeling the legacies of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.
Guest musicians on “Forever The Seasons” are Louisiana greats Jack Crai on cello and Gina Forsyth on fiddle, and the chorus includes New Orleans vocal divas Debbie Davis (Smith-Davis’ daughter) and Cole Williams. Produced by Andre Bohren and recorded at studios including Marigny in New Orleans, the project is featured on the New Orleans Public Library’s Crescent City Sounds. It includes the award-winning title ballad, the haunting refrain of “The Promise Land,” and the New Orleans classic “Saint James Infirmary.”
Also included are “Roll River Roll,” “Don’t Let The Fire Die” [Global Music Award], and the lively “Bayou Goula Ball.” Other highlights include the reflective “San Antonio Rain,” the mellow “Easy Moments,” the introspective “Another Night,” the raw “Blues #42,” and the comedic original “Damned Roaches.” These tracks weave together folk, blues, and wit, crafting a mosaic of sound and storytelling.
Father Ron and Friends Spring / Summer 2025:
March 30 Buffa’s Backroom Residency New Orleans LA
April 4 House Concert Lebanon, TN
April 9 Longue Vue Gardens Metairie, LA
April 13 French Quarter Festival New Orleans, LA
April 30 DeSoto Street Porch Fest New Orleans, LA
May 8 Father Ron Tour Kearney NE
May 9 Father Ron Tour North Platte NE
May 11 Father Ron Tour Valentine NE
May 15 Father Ron Tour Omaha NE
May 16 Father Ron Tour Lincoln NE
May 22 Seither’s Harahan, LA
May 25 Buffa’s Backroom Residency New Orleans LA
May 29 LaDivina Baton Rouge, LA
June 3 Summer Music Festival Lake Charles, LA
July 18 Grill & Grocery Hattiesburg, MS
July 24 LaDivina Baton Rouge, LA
