|
Julia Brown:
Friday October 21st, 2005
Donation: $8 in advance and $10 at the door.
 Julia Brown's music isn't just
pop: this is soul-infused, smart [acoustic] art rock that isn't afraid to
take chances. Even the sweet stuff has rough edges. A brief
introduction to this songstress: Julia Brown is a New York City transplant
from Richmond, VA, with a warm, infectious energy and a voice that will
knock you over if you stand too close. But she's quick to remind you
that she's a songwriter first. The thoughtful, incisive lyrics are
the icing on the cake - the chord changes and wordplay create an urgency
that draws you in, while letting you draw your own conclusions.
"Forgive me if this seems
like a stretch (for it is), but wrap Laurie Anderson in Macy Gray's
feathered boa, and you've got a hint at where this drop-dead eclectic is
tuning in from. But just a hint - the rest of it is all Ms. Brown -
earthy, pure, evocative. Another shade - like Gray's, sorely needed in the
less-than-vibrant pop spectrum."
Visit her website at: www.juliabrown.com
 Opening
for Julia is Robin Renee. "Her smooth delivery flows through and I expect her to pop up on all sorts of interesting projects delivering wonderful post-modern soul to the
masses." - San Francisco Spectrum
"Renée's musical style blends a poet's eye with Punk and post-Punk's independent, defiant spirit, New Wave's quirky art-pop, and the edgy introspection with which [the classic] singer-songwriters… dissected life." -Taylor Guitars-- Discover the Indies
"…one of the Garden State's finest singer-songwriters whose spiritual pop is a solid mix of
Joni Mitchell, Joan Armatrading, and The Beatles." - Courier News (NJ)
Visit her website at: www.robinrenee.com
Open
Stage: Friday September 23, 2005
 Featuring:
Drew Gibson
Donation: $3 in advance and $5 at the door.
Join us for our popular semi-monthly
concerts featuring Drew Gibson and the Delaware Valley's own talented
musicians, poets and artists.
Open Stage guidelines are here...
Performing a legendary
genre of music, Gibson is a songwriter with a heart for the simple things
- dusty streets, back porch exits, letterboxes, and all things folk and
blue. With influences from Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy,
Mississippi John Hurt and Greg Brown, spinning stories and tunes is truly
this working man's craft.
Visit Drew's website here: www.drew-gibson.com
Benefit Concert: Friday
August 26, 6:30 to 9:30pm. T
he proceeds of this concert benefit St. Paul's Lutheran
Church, our gracious host that provides the wonderful space and full
artistic freedom in booking artists. Come out and show your
support to help keep our acoustic venue alive and
thriving.
Headliner: Monica McIntyre
Monica McIntyre is a talented cellist, vocalist, and lyricist who started playing the cello at the age of 7. Ms. McIntyre is originally from Hyattsville, MD where she studied classical cello for 11 years. Monica came to Philadelphia, PA to study Fashion Design at Drexel University.
Her debut album Blusolaz was released in October 2003. Monica has performed at The Black Women's Art Festival 2003, Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2003, Soul Sista's Jukejoint GA 2004, The Philadelphia Underground Music Phestival (PUMP) 2004 and Women Against Abuse 2005.
Monica was also featured in B-Informed Magazine 2004, The Writer Blocks 2004, Philadelphia Arts Writers (PAW) 2004, MagnaPhone Magazine 2004 and The City Paper, PA 2004. Look out for Abuse, Monica McIntyre's newest project to be released in the Fall of 2005.
Visit her website at: www.monicamcintyre.com
Opening Performer: Carlyn Hutchins
 Carlyn was born and raised in Philadelphia. At age 10, after she heard her oldest sister play the guitar, she asked her parents for one, got a 3/4 size guitar with a book of chords, and taught herself to play. After college, she moved back to Philadelphia and hooked up with a band called "Thunderstrings and Onyx", and played in the Philadelphia area for a couple of years. She also played with Philly area bands "Random X" and "Frozen Pop", and then took a long hiatus from writing and performing.
In 1998 life circumstance brought her to the Boston area where she now makes her home with a cat, a dog, a couple of guitars, numerous guitar and mic stands, and many miles of cords. In October 2003, she joined forces with Allison Hale for a time, with whom she performed numerous shows in venues across the Boston area. Now playing and performing in the Boston area on her own, she is looking to release her first full length CD by late 2005 or early 2006.
Visit Carlyn
Hutchin's
website here...
 Second Performer: Spider
Miranda
For his twelfth birthday, boy gets nylon-string classical acoustic but plays Crazy Train and Purple Haze anyway. MTV rearranges everything. Image is King. The album is dead. A succession of one-hit wonders make B-movies with weak
soundtrax. He grabs a hold of War and Murmur and holds on. He hears Marley while he’s high. He changes. Discovers the Dead and psychedelics at the exact same moment. A taste for the unenglishable is born.
Things start to move pretty quickly. Allman Brothers. Miles Davis. John
Coltrane. Charles Mingus. Bela Fleck. Experimental sounds. Noise. Falls for a girl named Nirvana who makes candy out of noise. Re-creates Sonic Youth and the avante without knowing it by pushing his imitations of Dead-jam intensity until they levitate and disintegrate into formless ecstasy and terror. Forms band and plays post-apocalyptic soundscapes of greens and blues and silvers. Collapses and implodes. Begins again. Bob Dylan. Leonard Cohen. Lou Reed. Van Morrison. Nick Drake.
Spider Miranda.
Visit
Spider Miranda's
website here...
Third Performer: Robin Renee
Her smooth delivery flows through and I expect her to pop up on all sorts of interesting projects delivering wonderful post-modern soul to the masses. - San Francisco Spectrum
Renée's musical style blends a poet's eye with Punk and post-Punk's independent, defiant spirit, New Wave's quirky art-pop, and the edgy introspection with which [the classic] singer-songwriters… dissected life. -Taylor Guitars-- Discover the Indies
…one of the Garden State's finest singer-songwriters whose spiritual pop is a solid mix of
Joni Mitchell, Joan Armatrading, and The Beatles. - Courier News (NJ)
Visit Robin Renee's website here...
Open Stage: Friday
July 22, 2005
 Featuring: Barclay Martin
Join
us for our popular semi-monthly concerts featuring Barclay Martin and
the Delaware Valley's own talented musicians, poets and
artists.
Open Stage guidelines are here...
Barclay Martin’s music reflects experiences wrought from taking the road less traveled. Having spent over three years of his life living abroad, his songs speak of the ties that bind people—their hope and joy, sorrow and struggle.
He weaves stories throughout his shows, looking intimately into the places and the events that brought them about.
Visit Barclay's website here: http://www.barclaymartin.com
Brad Davis: Friday June
17th, 2005
 Brad began studying the bluegrass music styles of Flatt and Scruggs, Doc Watson, Norman Blake, Clarence White, Tony Rice, and any other bluegrass he could get his hands on. In 1973 Brad then fell in love with acoustic jazz or (as it is sometimes called) Dawg music.
 In 1986 Brad accepted the lead guitar job with Warner Bros recording artist the Forester Sisters, with whom he toured for five years. In 1992, MCA recording artist
Marty Stuart offered Brad a job. Brad began his studio career with Stuart directing. After three years of whirlwind touring, Brad left Marty’s camp in 1994 for a year to tour and record with Sugar Hill recording artist Sweethearts of the Rodeo. With brother Greg now in Nashville, Brad formed the progressive bluegrass band wHITE
wATER. In October of ’94 Brad recorded his first solo record and also co-produced a record for the brothers’ new group on Raisin' Cane records.
In November of 1997 Brad became a columnist for Flatpicking Guitar Magazine. In 1995 Marty Stuart contacted Brad about coming back to form a new band, the Rock and Roll Cowboys. During his involvement with the Rock and Roll Cowboys, Brad recorded with Willie Nelson, Pam
Tillis, Dwight Yokem, Steve Earl, Travis Tritt, Emmy Lou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Warren
Zevon, Joe Diffee, Mark Chestnut, Billy Bob Thornton, and many others.
In 2001, while still with the Rock and Roll Cowboys, Brad joined the Earl Scruggs Family and Friends band.
Brad recorded his second solo record, his first with FGM Records. Billy Bob Thornton asked if Brad would tour and record with his new rock band, and Brad accepted. In 2002 Brad left the Stuart fold, and in 2003 turned down a touring offer from the Dixie Chicks.
Brad did accept a job offer from mandolin legend
Sam Bush, with whom he now tours year round. Brad also tours solo, promoting his new record I'm Not Gonna Let My Blues Bring Me Down on FGM Records.
"Brad Davis is a great musician and singer. He really shines on this [latest CD] project. I'm glad to endorse this music and Brad. He's also a fine young man whom I'm glad to call friend."
- Ricky Skaggs
"Having spent the last 10 years attending honky-tonk university as Marty Stuart's lead guitarist, you could say that Brad Davis has now earned his degree. This mostly acoustic solo debut at last puts the spotlight cleanly on him, despite the presence of heavy-hitting guests like Earl Scruggs, Billy Bob Thornton, Styx's Tommy Shaw and others. Brad also plays bass and drums on most cuts, but the primary focus is on his guitar and mandolin playing, singing and songwriting, and he earns his diploma by doing a fine job of them all."
- Jeff Wall, Country Music Weekly
Visit his website at: www.braddavismusic.com
--------------------------------
 Opening
for Brad Davis is Lizanne Knott.
"When I was young, I wanted to be a journalist, a writer, a poet, a painter of words. I wanted to go to Africa to start an elephant orphanage, I wanted to adopt all the girl babies from China, ride the fastest horses across the Irish countryside and build the warmest houses for the homeless. And when all else failed, I wanted to land on an island ~ plant my feet in the cool, wet sand and brace myself against the oceans forgiving waves. I wanted always ~ a safe place to dream, a legacy to leave my daughter's daughters. I wanted there to always be music..."
"Lizanne sings so sweet - she makes birds jealous" - Phil Roy
A long standing member of the singer-songwriter scene in Philadelphia, Lizanne Knott has been captivating audiences throughout the Northeast and garnering attention from radio listeners in places as far away as Belgium and the UK. Well known locally for her understated music, floating vocals and lyrical juxtapositions, her apparent depth and transcending warmth make for an inviting mix of music which moves easily through dark poetic ballads - to
soulful jazz influenced gems - to folk driven rock. Perhaps most captivating is her way of using poetic verse to touch the
simplest of human emotions, reminding us that at the end of the day, we are all in this together.
Visit his website at:
www.lizanneknott.com
OPEN STAGE: Friday,
May 27, 7pm.
Featuring: Ryan
Gaughan
Join
us for our popular semi-monthly concerts featuring local and regional
talented musicians, poets and
artists. This is an Open Stage Concert -
click here for Open Stage information.
"With a mix of reggae,
funk, and speed flamenco,
this guy tore up the guitar and vocals. For those
of us lucky to be there, Ryan was a new awakening,
a real talent."
Visit Ryan's website here: http://www.ryangmusic.4t.com
Lemon Hill: Friday
April 29th, 2005
 Lemon
Hill is a hot, young bluegrass band from Philadelphia. Come
see them heat up the stage as they perform traditional,
progressive bluegrass music!
Lemon Hill began as two Johns (John Koutsouros on mandolin and
John Spangler on banjo) playing a duo act in an attempt to unleash their bluegrass abilities on the city of Philadelphia. Their ventures took them to gigs across the city as well as some in Cleveland and New York. The two hooked up with Jorge Gaglione (as in
Gaglione!) and Jared Fisher earlier this year to form the current Lemon Hill lineup. With Jorge laying down the bass lines and Jared playing rhythm and lead guitar Lemon Hill quickly
acquired a solid sound. Lemon Hill now plays traditional and original hard-driving bluegrass for crowds in numerous venues throughout Philadelphia.
--------------------------------
 Opening
for Lemon Hill was Alicia Björnsdotter
Abrams. Alicia is a fiddler in the Swedish tradition but her repertoire stretches into Norway and Finland as well as the British Isles. Alicia has a strong sense of melody and timing and a playing that is both ornate and powerful. In Swedish traditional music, the fiddle often plays the role of a second voice, with harmonies and counter melodies. These come through in Alicia’s music. Alicia has played and studied with many of the influential fiddlers in Sweden, including Mikael Marin of
Väsen, as well as with Shetland fiddler Aly Bain. She has a performance degree in Swedish folk music from the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm. Alicia plays solo, as well as in the Swedish group Ditt Ditt Darium and Swedish-Breton group Anak among other musical projects.
Visit
Alicia's website.
Pamela Means: Friday February
25th, 2005
 Pamela
Means is a Boston-based Out (spoken), Biracial indie folk artist
whose "kamikaze guitar style" and punchy provocative songs have
worn a hole in her guitar. Armed with razor wit poetry and irresistable
charm, Pamela Means' "stark, defiant songs" (New York Times Magazine)
set the status quo and the stage afire.
Pamela Means' many honors include being named Falcon Ridge Folk Festival's #1 "Most Wanted New Artist", and both Wisconsin's "Folk Artist of the Year", and "Female Vocalist of the Year". Pamela has also been a Boston Music Award Nominee ("Outstanding Contemporary Folk Artist").
Currently, Pamela performs over 150 shows a year at clubs, coffeehouses, colleges, and festivals across the country, most notably the Newport Folk Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, South by Southwest Conference, Southern Womyn's Fest, and Michigan Womyn's Festival. Pamela is also a favorite at innumerable regional Gay Pride events, Take Back the Night rallies, and Black History Month celebrations. Pamela has shared the stage with artists including Ani
DiFranco, Joan Baez, Neil Young, Shawn Colvin, Richie Havens, Patty Larkin, Melissa
Ferrick, Violent Femmes, Pete Seeger, Janis Ian, and Holly Near.
Pamela's 2003 summer tour took her nationwide, promoting her fifth self-released album, Single Bullet Theory
(Wirl Records, 2003), in which "...Means fires off what is easily one of the best musical summanations of our current political situation.." (Bay Area Reporter, San Francisco, CA)
Quoting her inspiration, Warrior Poet Audre Lorde, Pamela asks "I am myself- a Black woman warrior poet doing my work- come to ask you, are you doing yours?" With Truth as ammunition, a Pamela Means performance brings the fight for social justice and human dignity to the forefront of a new generation.
Visit her website at: www.pamelameans.com
--------------------------------
 Opening
for Pamela was Monica McIntyre. Monica McIntyre is a talented cellist, vocalist, and lyricist who started playing the cello at the tender age of 7. Ms. McIntyre is originally from Hyattsville, MD where she studied classical cello for 11yrs. Monica came to Philadelphia, PA in 1995 to study Fashion Design at Drexel University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1999 from the College of Design Arts at Drexel University. Being in Philadelphia has introduced Monica to different genres of music such as: jazz, rhythm & blues, folk, funk, blues, and middle-eastern music. Her debut album
Blusolaz, was released in October 2003 and incorporates many of these genres.
Visit her website at: www.monicamcintyre.com
Flexible Flyer: Friday
January 28th, 2005
 Flexible
Flyer, is one of the most versatile acoustical pickin' band,
features a heady mix of original and traditional Bluegrass, the
explorative forays of "Newgrass", and an occasional
touch of jazzy swing. Together for more than a decade, the group
has performed at an impressive list of festivals, fairs, clubs,
indoor and outdoor concert stages, and numerous private events.
Flexible Flyer's second album, BLUEGRASS
MILLIONAIRES, is going f or
a Grammy. Their current CD, released in 2004, will be one of
twenty six bluegrass bands competing in the Bluegrass category
for the 47th Grammy Awards. The event will take place in
February 2005.
Competing with such names as Skaggs, Stanley, Martin and other
legends is certainly humbling and daunting, and the band has no
delusions about actually winning the Grammy. But the chase is on
for the only Philadelphia area band up for a Bluegrass Grammy.
The album is getting airplay on dozens of radio stations, and
positive print reviews.
--------------------------------
 Opening
for Flexible Flyer was David Falcone. Falcone
is a professor at LaSalle and plays regularly around town. He is
an excellent finger-style guitar player offering original
compositions reflecting a unique synthesis of influences: Kottke
- Renbourn - Bensusan.
Visit
David Falcone's website.
View
the artists from 2004 here!
|
Featuring
double headliners!
clueLess is an acoustic trio (currently touring as a duo) made up of lifelong professional musicians. Their sound is acoustic, middle-eastern,
celtic, folk, funk, pop, rock with the mood and subject matter as varied as the band's description.