NATALIE’S UPCOMING SHOWS
Agenda
Posterboard 
Month 
Week 
Day June – October 2013
Acclaimed multi-instrumentalists John Sherman and Randy Clepper are highly regarded performers of Irish traditional music on guitar, bouzouki, and tenor banjo.
John Sherman has been a performer of traditional and Celtic music for the last two decades. While he has played a variety of instruments, he is first and foremost a guitarist, and has arranged over a hundred Irish and Scottish melodies for the instrument. His two solo recordings, “Farewell to the Creeks” and “So Inclined” have received critical acclaim in musical magazines Sing Out!, Dirty Linen and Acoustic Guitar, and have garnered airplay across the U.S. and Canada, and Ireland. As an accompanist and opening act, John has performed with the Tannahill Weavers, Phil Cunningham and John Renbourn, with uilleann piper Todd Denman, and as a regular accompanying guitarist for folk singer/songwriter Tom Paxton.
Multi-instrumentalist Randy Clepper is an accomplished player of Irish and other traditional music on Irish bouzouki, fingerstyle acoustic guitar, tenor banjo and hammer dulcimer. Equally adept at all of these, his playing has been described as “magnificent”, “strong and confident” (Dulcimer Player’s News) – “a Celtic guru” (Wood ‘N Strings). Randy has released an acclaimed solo instrumental album of traditional Irish music, “Within a Mile”, a CD “Hammer On!” with the band of the same name, and has appeared as a guest performer on Dan Landrum’s “Winter Mix” CD.
Singer and fiddle player (and Randy’s daughter) Gina Clepper joins the ensemble, and has performed with them at the Dublin Irish Festival and other events in the Central Ohio area.
Websites:
YouTube:
Nova Madrugada is a five-piece ensemble which marries Brazilian music with bop, post-bop and jazz-fusion, and uses original compositions and a common language developed over many years as a freshly-prepared canvas. Given the drop-dead gorgeous melodies of Brazilian composers such as Antonio Carlos Jobim and Moacir Santos, it should come as no surprise that the Portuguese language spoken in Brazil is itself poetic. Both the language and melodies of Brazil are inspiration for the quintet Nova Madrugada. The group’s name, pronounced “Mah-dru-GAH-da “is a Portuguese word that expresses the lyrical transformation of darkness into dawn – a state of change like the one the band imposes on its approach to live performance.
A couple of the tunes on their recently released debut CD (available at the show for $10) were developed by bassist Roger Hines and guitarist Stan Smith over their 20 year musical history, yet the majority were recently composed with Madrugada, giving a unique approach to each selection. On a deeper level, according to Smith, “madrugada” describes the whole process starting with the sky changing colors, birds chirping, followed by citysounds. It’s the same each day, yet it’s different each new day.
Anne E. DeChant first caught the attention of music fans as the charismatic front woman of Odd Girl Out, showcasing her astute, socially aware songs. Following the band’s breakup, she went on to a busy solo career, producing six CDs, including her rock-oriented debut, “Effort of the Spin”, the introspective “Something of the Soul”, intimate storytellers CD, “Live, An Evening with Anne E. DeChant” the sparkling, tuneful “Pop the Star”, produced by Don Dixon (R.E.M., Hootie and the Blowfish, The Counting Crows, Marshall Crenshaw, Mary Chapin Carpenter). Her 5th recording, “Girls and Airplanes” was released in 2007 and her latest, “Swing”, came out in November 2011.
Anne is a 5-time winner of Cleveland’s Best Singer Songwriter award (Cleveland’s Scene Magazine), and 2007 inductee into The Cleveland Free Times Magazine’s All Star Musician Category.
She has performed at Lilith Fair, The White House, The Bluebird Cafe, opened for Nora Jones, Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, Train, Vonda Shepard, 10,000 Maniacs, and Guster, to name a few. She’s done countless radio and television performances, and logged hundreds of club dates.
DeChant is a standout delivering brilliant performances from her long list of poignant, melodic songs. Anne’s format stretches from solo/acoustic, acoustic duo and trio to full band performances. Each one is a unique experience offering her audience and venues a performance tailor made. She is a storyteller, creating characters as diverse as the landscapes in which she paints them. Anne currently is based out of Nashville.
Share a mad evening at Natalie’s while helping to support the Rafiki School, an Aids Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, where Jesse Henry has helped to develop a music program.
Before the music begins, celebrate a “World Gone Mad” with a sampling of New Holland beers. Every June, New Holland Brewing Company puts out special anniversary beers, and this is a chance to celebrate with them while also supporting the Rafiki School of Music.
The first 70 tickets will include a sampling and “guided tour” of four different New Holland Beers starting at 9 PM by a representative from New Holland Brewing Company, plus a special concert with Jesse and Friends starting at 10 PM. 100% of the ticket proceeds will go to the Rafiki School. BUT, THERE IS ONE CATCH. Everybody is expected to wear a hat..any hat..the best hat..because New Holland Brewing is bringing swag for the maddest hat!
Choose from 6 different IPA hybrid forms:
- Mad Hatter IPA, New Holland’s classic flagship brew
- White Hatter, New Holland’s NEW spring/summer seasonal a Belgian-white style pale ale
- Oak-Aged Hatter, an IPA aged in bourbon barrels!)
- Black Hatter, Black IPA
- Farmhouse Hatter, an IPA with a farmhouse yeast that is maddeningly delicious
- Rye Hatter, a twist on the Mad Hatter that uses rye malts to convey a delicious spicy malt character while still enjoying a distinct hoppy finish.
Jesse Henry is a prolific songwriter and musician versatile enough to excel in multiple genres. A soulful singer, he writes songs with spirit, humor, and storytelling elements, often with a down-and-dirty blues feel. For the past decade, he’s played countless concerts with the Spikedrivers, who merge country, blues and rock; Royal Tycoons, a jazz and soul band; and The Field Dogs, an acoustic Americana group. Also an accomplished solo act, he is working on three recording projects. He brings his electrifying stage presence and musicianship wherever he roams.
This year, he will be returning to the Rafiki School to bring instruments and share his gift of music. ” I am imagining just what they will create from learning music, what songs will they play, what will they write, how much will their community benefit from their involvement with this art form?” – Jesse Henry
Mo’ Mojo is a hard driving, high energy, Zydeco-based “Pardi-Gras” Band. They take Zydeco and Cajun music and infuse it with Americana, reggae, rock & roll, funk, R&B, and African and Latin rhythms. The female fronted group features three-part harmonies, accordion, fiddle, guitar, rubboard, sax, trumpet, harp, bass, percussion, and drums. Songs are sung in English and French.
The band has played at a wide variety of Festivals, dances, and venues over the past few years, including the W.C. Handy Blues Fest, The Akron Civic Theater, The Kent State Folk Festival, the Put-In-Bay Concert Series, and many others.
Mo’ Mojo has 7 members, many of whom are multi-instrumentalists. They are Jen Maurer (vocals, diatonic accordion, guitar), Davidione Pearl (vocals, percussion, sax, rubboard), Leigh Ann Wise (vocals, rubboard, trumpet, percussion), Anthony Papaleo (fiddle, guitar), Joe Golden (guitar, talk box), Darren Thompson (bass), and Rod Lubline (drums). Also traveling with the band is manager/roadie/driver/ Sam Rettman (harmonica, sax).
Mo’ Mojo’s new album, Together in Love We Drown, was released in August, 2012, and the songs showcase the versatility of instrumentation and style and draw from Zydeco, blues, Cajun, and rock. Their debut album, “Finally!” stays true to their live sound, and the songs are mostly Zydeco, but also include Cajun, Americana; rock & roll, alt-country, and funk elements that are indicative of its jam style.
Since 1995, New Basics has serving up their own brand of sousaphone-powered party music at clubs, festivals and private events. Their latest studio recording is a crowd-funded CD focusing on their youngest fans- kids. The result is a fun, funky collection of old and new favorites called, Ditties For Kiddies. NBBB and Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza team up to celebrate the release of the project with a special kid-friendly matinee program of material from Ditties For Kiddies. Reserve your tickets now for either of two back-to-back shows at 11 am and 1:00 pm.
Doors: 10:30 AM / Show: 11:00 AM
(Kids 2 and under are free)
Since 1995, New Basics has serving up their own brand of sousaphone-powered party music at clubs, festivals and private events. Their latest studio recording is a crowd-funded CD focusing on their youngest fans- kids. The result is a fun, funky collection of old and new favorites called, Ditties For Kiddies. NBBB and Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza team up to celebrate the release of the project with a special kid-friendly matinee program of material from Ditties For Kiddies. Reserve your tickets now for either of two back-to-back shows at 11 am and 1:00 pm.
Doors: 12:30 PM / Show: 1:00 PM
(Kids 2 and under are free)
Picture a traditional bluegrass ensemble pickin’ away in the moonlight. Instead of boys from the mountains of Virginia, picture a band of gypsies from all walks of musical life. Fox N Hounds keeps the laments and ballads of Bluegrass music, but also brings a lively addition. It’s Bluegrass music of the now. Songs from the hills and from the city– full of excitement and adventure, love and despair, and even unhealthy appetites. The fall of 2009 marked the release of their self-titled EP, and they look forward to the release of their first full length studio album. Fox N Hounds has spread its sound across the states to the ears of listeners eager for a new twist to bluegrass music.
The Fox N Hounds are:
STEVEN FOX lead vocals, upright bass
Known for his prowess on the upright bass, this classically trained musician sets the bass on fire with his acrobatic bow work. His powerful bass thumping pushes the ensemble into progressive sonic boundaries. Fox also showcases his sideburn-curling singing and songwriting skills.
ADAM SCHLENKER lead acoustic guitar
Once a staple of the blues scene spanning the country, Schlenker found his way home to the music he grew up with. To watch Schlenker’s fingers while he plays his lightning-fast licks is like watching a river flow over fallen trees.
AARON SNYDER rhythm guitar, vocals
Aaron’s sweet crooning and rhythm guitar playing provide the sonic foundation of the FNH.
Caleb Powers banjo, mandolin, vocals
A mulit-instrumetalist who has been playing old-time music since he was a pup, Caleb’s clawhammer banjo and mandolin styling add authentic twang to FNH.
Noah Shull and Steve Frye are the early Americana, Country Blues duo Front Porch Revival. Steve has seen and done just about everything a man can see and do in one lifetime, and he’s boiled all that experience down to an incredibly insightful and rhythmic blend of New Orleans/Mississippi Delta soul and funky washboard rhythm. Noah has been playing Blues music professionally for 20 years, and has been blessed enough to have studied personally with some of Americana Music’s finest musicians, including Jorma Kaukonen, G.E. Smith, Jimi Vincent, and Chuck Day. Teamed together, Noah and Steve bring a unique blend of incredibly moving and beautiful blues music, and a wealth of knowledge of the American blues music catalog.
As an acoustic blues duo, Shari Kane and Dave Steele throw a four handed guitar party of original and time-honored blues, gospel, swing and ragtime. Steeped in Dave’s smoky vocals, percussive rhythm and innovative lead lines, Shari’s crisp picking style, rootsy leads, and stinging slidework, their music has been described as “street swing and stomp blues,” – like a testament to sounds once heard on the streets of Harlem, the juke joints of Mississippi, or from the jug bands of Memphis.
The Adrienne Hindmarsh quartet is an amazing amalgamation of musicians from around the world, performing a selection of music from blues to swinging bebop. The quartet is a unique instrumentation of vocals/Hammond B3, guitar, saxophone and drums, you can expect a night of soulful energetic music that will uplift and inspire.
A native of New Zealand, Adrienne moved to Columbus Ohio in late 2008 to study with some of the great organists that reside in Ohio. After spending a year in Ohio and performing at jazz clubs and festivals around the Midwest, she relocated to New York, where she currently performs extensively around the city, including hosting a weekly jam session in Harlem.
Adrienne is teamed up with her husband Josh, a premier guitarist who brings a style of playing that is both rootsy and invigorating. One of the finest guitarists New Zealand has produced, Josh has performed with many jazz greats, including Joe Beck, Bruce Forman, Joey DeFrancesco, Mike Nock and Ronnie Cuber.
Adrienne and Josh will be supported by outstanding area musicians Jim Rupp (Drums) and Pete Mills (Saxophone). Don’t miss a rare opportunity to hear this great band.
The songwriting engines of The Floorwalkers!… Solo, but together…
Benjamin Meinhold started playing piano at seven. Six years later, he took up the bass guitar and guitar. He met Kerry through their mutually shared guitar instructor. They soon enlisted Jonathan Elliott to be the voice of the group that would become The Floorwalkers.
Kerry Henderson. Like Ben and Jon, Kerry grew up in Chardon. He took up guitar at the age of 12. Kerry started attending OSU in 2004. Ben and Jon followed him to Columbus. Moving into a house together, they started making waves in the Columbus music scene and beyond.
Jonathan Elliott is the son of a voice teacher and grew up performing. He starred in plays, show choirs and the hottest young local band in Chardon. At 15, he joined Ben and Kerry, putting on shows all around the Cleveland area for three years. In addition to The Floorwalkers, Jon croons with The Columbus Jazz Orchestra.
Host Eric Gnezda tours nationally as a singer-songwriter and keynote speaker. He is a regular Writers Night performer at Nashville’s Bluebird Café, and a recipient of the Ohioana Citation for Music Composition. His media credits include NPR, ESPN and “Entertainment Tonight.” His most recent CD is Songs of Hope in a Changing World. www.gnezda.com
Songwriters: If you’re interested in being considered for Songwriters Showcase, please visit the “About” link on our Facebook Page for more information.
Canta BRASIL is a 7-piece ensemble with a very unique group of talented musicians and singers that all have a passion for the Brazilian jazz fusion sounds. This group performs popular tunes by famous Brazilian composers such as Djavan, Chico Pinheiro, Ivan Lins, Egberto Gismonte and also performs American style compositions such as George Duke, Brazilian Love Affair and Chick Corea 500 Miles High. Danny Aguiar, native Brazilian drummer and founder of Canta BRASIL, moved to Columbus in 2004 and quickly started to perform with some of the best musicians in town. He started working on his own CD entitled “Fim Do Ciclo”, meaning “End of Cycle” which was released spring of 2012. Canta BRASIL is made up of Danny Aguiar, Erik Augis, Stan Smith, Brett Allen, Jeff Bass, Kris Keith, and Tia Harris-Roseboro.
The Kells play traditional Irish music with a genuine passion and a sincere sense of purpose. They pour their hearts into playing lively jigs, spirited reels and haunting airs with songs that reach deep into the moral and emotional part of man’s nature. Instruments such as the Irish uilleann, pipes, tin, whistle and flute provide the brilliant melodies, while the guitar and traditional Irish bodhran provide intricate layering, heart-beat and drive.
Members of this outstanding band include Brian McCoy (flutes, whistles, pipes), Doug Rudy (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, vocals), and Kim Rattan (vocals, guitar, mandolin).
Experience a rich variety of musical styles in the songs of R.U. Bound, a local trio known for both its original compositions and commitment to traditional American roots music. From Bluegrass to Blues, Old-Time to Swing, this trio creates a sound that is old and new, traditional and innovative.
Gary Puckett’s melodic banjo style and Travis-like guitar compositions are the heart of this trio’s repertoire. Gary’s visually-inspiring music sparks creative contributions from his fellow band mates.
At the bottom of the instrumental sound is Jim Saltz on bass. Jim, a vocalist in the group, brings fresh interpretations to bluegrass standards, swing numbers and tunes from earlier eras.
Rounding out the trio is guitarist Adam Schlenker. Adam has been featured in Flat Picking Guitar Magazine and is one of the most exciting and distinctive, up-and-coming flat-picking guitarists in the acoustic music world. He is the creator of 5th Fret Productions, an online instructional resource used by flat pickers around the globe.
This local trio combines an array of sounds, images and stories into a unique listening experience.
Victoria Vox has taken the artful sound of the ukulele into eclectic new directions. Her music ranges from upbeat and clever to honest and moving, while incorporating her signature “mouth trumpet” and occasionally singing in French. Her whimsical songwriting uses a unique palette of sounds and beats that delight audiences of all ages.
Vox earned a degree in songwriting from the Berklee College of Music, and has become known among the ukulele community for her refreshingly modern and playful ukulele technique and songwriting. Since 2006, Victoria has been a highlight at ukulele festivals around the world, where she both performs and gives workshops to ukulele enthusiasts.
Her songs have been featured on NPR, television and in independent films, and she has won numerous awards in the Baltimore-Washington DC area; Contemporary Folk Vocalist (’09, ’11 & ’12), Album of the Year (’10 & ’11), and Fan Favorite (’10). Also, Vox appeared on the Jay Leno Show to demonstrate her perfected mouth trumpet! Originally from Green Bay, WI, Victoria now lives in Baltimore, MD.
2013 sees the release of two new albums: KEY (her latest solo effort) and Boombox Séance (her alter-ego “uketronica” album). Both albums continue to push the ukulele along a contemporary path with the introduction of loop and effects pedals.
The Raineys are a family that enjoys music and playing together. They perform a wide range of tunes from the folk and pop worlds putting their unique sound into each tune they cover. Their diverse catalog includes music from such artists as Neil Young, Harry Chapin and Jethro Tull to more modern tunes from groups like The Civil Wars, REM and The Decemberists.
The Raineys have performed at The Circleville Pumpkin Show, The Gazebo Gatherings Series in Ashville, The Earth Gathering in Chillicothe and have been the featured artist at The Columbus Folk Music Society’s Coffee House Series.
Dave Rainey (vocals, acoustic guitar) has been involved with music and singing most of his life and also plays bass in the jazz group Sweet Sixteen. He is joined by his two daughters to form The Raineys.
Jenny Rainey (piano, vocals) is the standout vocal talent in the group, bringing her powerful yet sensitive style to great songs. She is also an accomplished author, having published her first novels These Hellish Happenings and Throughly Modern Monsters. Her latest novel, The Beldam’s Eye, was released in 2012.
Megan Rainey (flute, accordion, piano, vocals) is a musician far beyond her years. She began playing with her father at the age of 12 and brings a level of musical expertise that gives the group a fresh, unique sound. Megan is a piano performance major at The Ohio State University. She was recently honored to be chosen as the featured pianist at the OSU Celebration Concert in December 2011. She also performs with The Studio Memento and as accompanist for groups and soloists at The Ohio State University.
The Raineys are all about playing good music and having fun. Their easy going, off beat style combined with great vocals and musicianship make for an entertaining evening.
Sirens is formed around the duo of Kay Harris and Molly Pauken, two of Ohio’s most sought after studio and live-performance musicians. Sirens music is all about the unique melody, the expression through lyric & voice and the texture of acoustic guitar & bass coming together to create unique but timeless pop songs. Their original compositions range stylistically from pop to acoustic rock to blues to funk to folk to create Sirens’ own unique sound.
Joining Kay and Molly are Pete Cary on guitar, bass and vocals, and multi-instrumentalist Craig Markley (sitting in for drummer Jeff Peters) on accordion, tin whistle, and keyboards.
Kay Harris has been an integral part of the Central Ohio music scene for a number of years. As a vocalist and songwriter for most of her life, she has been involved with numerous albums and also has provided lead and backup vocals for over seventy local and national jingles. Having performed throughout the U.S., she is one of the region’s most powerful, enduring vocalists and songwriters
Multi-instrumentalist Molly Pauken has played bass, guitar, drums and mandolin in a number of Columbus-based bands, covering a wide range of musical styles. On tour with Rodney Crowell, Molly returns home to Columbus as often as possible to perform with the area’s elite. As a top-demand session musician, Molly can be heard on hundreds of CD and demo projects.
JOHN SCHWAB is an original member and creative force behind the legendary band, McGuffey Lane. Still, if you ask him what he does for a living, he will probably say something like, “Hey, 35 years without a day job, not bad, huh?” Well, what an understatement. John continues to be a mainstay of the music business, in Columbus and beyond. He keeps his audiences happy with sold-out shows…songwriting… and recording. And did we happen to mention he also fronts one of the best party bands around?
We’re honored to have John back on our stage, making his second appearance at Songwriter’s Showcase. www.johnschwab.com
KEITH LARSEN was a finalist in the County Music Television/ Nashville Songwriters Association International Song Contest, in which his song, “Hold On,” received the Listener’s Choice Award. He is a frequent participant in Music City songwriter rounds and writing sessions. A compelling performer, Keith merges a straightforward vocal style with lyrics that resonate with honesty. He is returning to our showcase by popular demand.
ERIC GNEZDA tours nationally as a singer-songwriter and keynote speaker, spinning his humor, music and stories into concerts that entertain and inspire. He and his work have been featured on Entertainment Tonight, ESPN, Nickelodeon, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the ABC Radio Network and in Sports Illustrated and USA Today.
He was awarded the 2006 Ohioana Citation for Music Composition, joining three-time Grammy Award winner Nancy Wilson; Michael Feinstein; Jefferson Airplane founder Jorma Kaukonen; and Mannheim Steamroller founder Chip Davis.
Eric is a regular Writers Night performer at Nashville’s Bluebird Café. His most recent CD is Songs of Hope in a Changing World. He is the creator and host of Songwriter Showcase at Natalie’s. www.gnezda.com
After a busy few years that found her nabbing a Peabody Award (for her narration of the documentary “Whole Lotta Shakin”) and a multimedia Janis Martin Tribute that she created and performed at the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame, Rosie Flores is half way into a brand spanking new CD, Working Girls Guitar.
Flores took flight in Southern California, and has been a major figure in the Los Angeles, Austin and Nashville music scenes – as well as in Europe and Japan. She has received critical raves from prestigious publications such as the Los Angeles Times and Guitar Player magazine, received an LA Weekly Music Award for Best Rockabilly Swing Artist, and was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
Signing with Warner’s Reprise subsidiary in 1987 as a solo artist was her first major break. Her first album yielded three singles, and “Crying Over You,” earned Flores her first Billboard chart appearance. She was also the first female Latina country artist to ever enter the Billboard country charts.
Yet it was 1995′s Rockabilly Filly that received the most attention, because it reintroduced rockabilly pioneers Wanda Jackson and Janis Martin to audiences worldwide through their duets with Rosie and a successful 1995 tour with Jackson. Moreover, Flores’s self-penned “You Tear Me Up” is arguably the best performance by a contemporary female rockabilly artist.
Rosie’s solo recordings have found homes on both the Billboard and Gavin charts and are featured in seven motion pictures. Her revved-up performances from California to New York have won legions of fans and earned appearances on such nationally broadcast television programs as “Austin City Limits” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” She is currently appearing in the documentaries Every Night is Saturday Night: The Story of Wanda Jackson and Sweet Lady with the Nasty Voice.
With a new tour, new CD under way and trails of shiny accolades around her, Rosie Flores is taking on the future one swell wave at a time.
Imagine a perfect blend of Nashville and Vaudeville, incorporating sensibilities from Music City with Radio City, and you’ll find the dynamic female-fronted Americana group, Grace Adele & the Grand Band. With a distinct style, Grace Adele sets her stage with traditional American roots drawn from classic country, western swing, bluegrass, folk, and indie rock.
A native of Ohio, Grace Adele originally had her heart set on becoming a Rockette after years of classical training in ballet. Traveling between her hometown in Columbus to New York auditions at Radio City Music Hall exhausted precious resources. Grace spent much of her time singing, eventually cuing a move to Music City. With the help of Keenan Wade, she assembled The Grand Band.
The Grand Sessions is Grace Adele’s Nashville debut CD produced by Grammy-winning engineer/producer, Phil Harris. The ten-track recording features guest appearances by Chris Scruggs, Buddy Spicher, David Mayfield, and Ketch Secor.
With well over 100 tour dates a year, Grace Adele charms audiences from Columbus to Jacksonville, Nashville to Asheville and many points between and beyond. Her original tunes and instrumental talent converge with comedic grace as she’s a master kazoo player, and blends percussive tap dance into her live show.
“There is something both charming and disarming about Grace Adele.”
River Whyless is named in spirit of its ongoing love affair with the natural world. Since its formation in 2009 the band has toured extensively, playing hundreds of shows from coast to coast and into Canada. Its sound has been described as folk-rock, nature-pop, and baroque-folk, but in the end the members of River Whyless hope only to lend craft to their passions. Notable performances include Music on the Mountain Top, Bele Chere, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, Shakori Hills, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival and supported Ben Sollee and Railroad Earth.
River Whyless is Ryan Okeefe (vocals, rhythm guitar), Halli Anderson (vocals, violin), Alex McWalters (drums), and Dan Shearin (bass).
Samantha Crain’s songwriting has almost certainly been influenced by the great story-songwriters of Texas and farther west, like Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and even Woody Guthrie. Borne of the newly, interestingly vibrant Oklahoma music scene, Crain’s fans may be interested in some of her peers from around that state’s capital – the Flaming Lips, JD McPherson, John Fullbright, John Calvin, and Parker Millsap spring to mind. Though she still lives in Oklahoma, there’s a certain gritty quality to Crain’s music which could fit well in the music of scenes like Seattle and Brooklyn. Fans of the Head and the Heart, the Cave Singers, and Brooklyn’s Sweetback Sisters would appreciate Crain’s take on modern folk and Americana music.
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A native of Toronto Canada, saxophonist and composer Pete Mills’ discography includes 3 solo releases and appears on over a dozen CDs including those by guitarist Stan Smith, saxophonist Chad Eby, the eclectic ensemble Madrugada, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, the Paul Ferguson Jazz Orchestra and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. As a soloist, Mills works throughout the U.S and Canada, and teaches saxophone, improvisation and directs the jazz ensemble at Denison University. For more information, visit his website at www.petemills.com
Celebrating over ten years of their special brand of Celtic music, the Ladies of Longford serve up a unique blend of both contemporary and traditional styles. They are most often defined by their superb vocal harmonies and excellent musicianship. From the living rooms and back yards of intimate house concerts to the huge sound stages of renowned festivals, they share their inspired gifts of melody and performance to a vast range of fans.
“This all woman band never ceases to excite and amaze its audiences.” Dublin Irish Festival 2012, Director Alison LeRoy
The Ladies of Longford play locally and nationally around 80 gigs a year, and have played at a number of the top Celtic Festivals in the nation, including the Milwaukee Irish Festival (largest Irish festival in the nation), Dublin Irish Festival (2nd largest in nation), Louisville World Fest, Syracuse Irish Festival, and The Irish Fest Chicago. They have shared the stage with Celtic Women greats…Cherish the Ladies, Cathie Ryan, Eileen Ivers and Aoife Clancy.
The Ladies of Longford have recorded 5 CD’s (played on a regular basis on WCBE’s Toss the Feathers) and each member of the band has been featured on a number of other artists recordings.
Stephanie Doyle (bass, piano) has spent the majority of her life surrounded by music, and 2013 marks her 15th year teaching K-8 music at two local elementary schools.
Elizabeth Blickenstaff has had a violin in her hand since the age of three, and has recorded, sung, and played on stage with several national and internationally known Irish artists.
Heather Doyle Fraser’s vocal style is versatile –feeling equally comfortable and at home singing Celtic, Jazz, Folk or Rock. Heather adds rhythm and exuberance to the Ladies of Longford sound as a percussionist for the group.
Hilda Doyle, bandleader Of LOL, defies any easy pigeonhole, and her background is varied and fully encompasses a number of genres including Bluegrass, Celtic, Folk, Jazz and Country. She is a versatile and diverse musician, adept at guitar, banjo and mandolin. Hilda has 14 Albums/CD’s to her credit and has been a guest artist on many other CD projects.
Rj Cowdery is a Columbus-based artist who has solidified her place as a standout of the next generation of performing songwriters.
Though she wrote her first songs as a teenager, Cowdery took a circuitous path to becoming a full-time artist. She experienced exciting creative breakthroughs followed by distractions and obligations that took her away from her lifelong dream of being a professional singer/songwriter. But it has all paid off in recent years.
Cowdery’s past few years on the folk festival trail have been nothing short of extraordinary. She has received major accolades at some of the most prestigious festivals in the U.S., including wins at the 2007 Mountain Stage NewSong, 2008 Kerrville New Folk, and 2008 Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist competitions. Most recently, she won the Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Contest at the Sisters Folk Festival in Oregon.
Her most recent release “In This Light” has been met with rave reviews from critics, fans, and her fellow artists.
“There is no possible way to listen to Rj Cowdery’s music and not feel deeply. The tone of her voice, the clarity of her guitar and spot on emotive lyrics plumb the depths of human hope and struggle. These are not just songs, they are arrows shot directly to center of the heart”. — Joe Crookston
Shannon Slaughter & County Clare is a high-energy bluegrass band featuring a collection of talented musicians and vocalists who share a love for traditional and contemporary bluegrass and country music. Heather Slaughter (Shannon’s Wife) is an accomplished singer that adds another dimension of vocals that accommodates Shannon’s. Their powerful duet singing is the mainstay of each performance. There is no doubt that this will be the most talked about band of 2013!!
Vinegar Hill is a Columbus, Ohio based Irish Pub band whose signature harmonies and hard driving jigs and reels give a fresh sound to traditional pub favorites, as well as a sprinkling of originals drawn from Celtic roots music. They have toured throughout the Midwest, playing in Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Louisville, and of course at many pubs and Irish organizations in their home town of Columbus, as well as many smaller towns and festivals across Ohio.
Vinegar Hill consists of Elizabeth Blickenstaff(fiddle), who is truly gifted and has played in Chamber Groups, countless weddings and events; Ted Mueller(Guitar),,who was devoted to American folk & protest music before discovering Dominic Behan rebel tunes; Barb Cunningham(Vocals/Penny Whistle) who has been involved in choral music since childhood, and is a member of St. Cecilia Choir, Bell Choir and Contemporary Group; Michael Cunningham(Guitar/Vocals), who’s love for Celtic music and all things Irish has inspired him to create many of the group’s original compositions; Steve Cunningham(Bass), who has formed and played with many local Rock and Country bands since 1963, and Chip Stalter(Vocals/Bodhran), who has long been involved in choral music and is a member of the St. John Neumann Choir in Sunbury, Ohio.
The Strung Up bluegrass band is made up of six men that bring individual talents and musical perspectives to the stage. Together their sound is unique, traditional, energetic and soothing. Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs tunes are in their repertoire, but their arrangements are new and fresh. You might call some of their music “Blues-grass” after you give them a listen.
The band is led by Marty Leedy, a native of southwestern Virginia who brings a soulful and powerful vocal to the band. Marty travelled briefly with the Idletymes, and delivers emotional renditions of your favorite bluegrass and traditional country tunes.
Billy Ray Caines (banjo) is a multi-instrumentalist and has been playing music his whole life. He has toured with country legends Mel McDaniel and Waylon Jennings and his larger than life stage presence cannot go unnoticed.
John K. Victor (harmonica) is known around the region for his tasteful yet energy filled playing. John plays with several groups around central Ohio and his contribution to the sound of this band are great.
The youngest men in the band, brothers Kale Richardson (mandolin) and Bo Richardson (lead guitar) are individually, highly talented multi-instrumentalists and their tight sibling harmonies and strong lead singing rings clear.
Holding it all together is Daryn Steed (bass). His driving bass lines punctuate the delivery of the band’s many songs.
Jazz fusion group FLIPPO, joined by vocalist Kay Harris, brings the music of Joni Mitchell and others to Natalie’s. Kay and FLIPPO’s love and appreciation of her music come out in their dynamic and inspired versions of Joni’s songs.
Kay Harris has been an integral part of the Central Ohio music scene for a number of years. As a vocalist and songwriter for most of her life, she has been involved with numerous albums and also has provided lead and backup vocals for over seventy local and national jingles. Having performed throughout the U.S., she is one of the region’s most powerful, enduring vocalists and songwriters
FLIPPO, one of Columbus’ newest “super groups,” displaying instrumental virtuosity and creative energy in the spirit of sonic colors and innovation born of the “funk” and “jazz/rock fusion” movements of the 1970’s and beyond, features Michael Cox on Sax, Paul Brown on guitar, Erik Augis on Keys, Andy Woodson on bass and Louis Tsamous on Drums.
Greg Trooper is a singer/songwriter who has released 11 albums since 1986. Raised in the shore town of Little Silver, NJ he became enthralled by the greater New York area’s rich music scene. He discovered a sort of holy musical trinity in the work of Otis Redding, Bob Dylan, and Hank Williams, with their guiding lights of passion, literary dexterity and plainspoken honesty. It’s one reason Trooper’s music feels equally informed by Memphis soul, Greenwich Village folk and Nashville twang.
Trooper has made an impact on the music scenes in all the places he’s lived since leaving home after high school: Austin, Texas, Lawrence, Kansas, Nashville and New York. Music critics praise his poetic feel, infectious melodies and insightful lyrics. Americana star Buddy Miller produced 1998’s ‘Popular Demons’ album, while soul legend Dan Penn steered 2005’s extraordinary ‘Make It Through This World’.
His songs have been recorded by numerous artists including: Vince Gill, Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Robert Earl Keen, Maura O’Connell, Lucy Kaplansky and Tom Russell.
Hailing from South Alabama and spending over a decade in New Orleans, revered singer-songwriter Grayson Capps has found listeners the world over enthralled by his stinging tales of the Southern Gothic. He explains in his own words: “I write songs which have the voice of dead prophets masquerading as town drunks screaming ‘look at us we’re pretty, too!’”
Over the course of five critically acclaimed studio albums and cameo appearances in the films A Love Song For Bobby Long (Golden Globe Award-nominated) and Straw Dogs, one will find stunning depth to his work, authenticating Grayson Capps as a rare American gem, equal parts country singer, bluesman, philosopher and poet. Jambase.com declared, “Southern marvel Grayson Capps is alive and well and slowly building one of the most phenomenal songbooks in America today. If ever there were a cat primed to pick up where Lowell George and John Prine have left off, it’s Capps.”
Grayson Capps is currently touring the world in support of his latest album, The Lost Cause Minstrels. His band features four of Mobile, Alabama’s finest musicians, including Corky Hughes on lead guitar, Christian Grizzard on bass, Chris Spies on Hammond B-3 and John Milham on drums.
Freedy Johnston’s songs are often praised for their literary quality – and deservedly so – but they also hit you on a gut level. As a young man, Johnston was drawn to both the raw energy of punk and the austere beauty of Paul McCartney’s vocal melodies. It’s no surprise that Elvis Costello’s My Aim Is True is among the first albums that inspired him. One can hear Costello’s gift for meticulous songcraft and wry storytelling on Johnston’s second album, Can You Fly.
When it came out in 1992, Rolling Stone and Spin hailed Can You Fly as a masterpiece. Its success led to a major label deal with Elektra, for whom Johnston released “This Perfect World” in 1994. Not only did that album showcase Johnston’s increasing sophistication and range as a songwriter, but it also included his breakthrough hit, “Bad Reputation.”
In the ensuing years, Johnston released three additional albums on Elektra, including 1999′s critically acclaimed Blue Days, Black Nights, produced by T-Bone Burnett. Critics have continued to praise Johnston’s work effusively, solidifying his reputation as one of the finest and most singular voices in the singer-songwriter genre.
Now splitting his time between New York City and Madison, Wis., Johnston is currently writing and recording songs for his new album, tentatively titled Neon Repairman. In an age where the Internet has greatly diminished the power of radio to dictate artistic success, Johnston is poised for perhaps the most exciting stage of his career.
Moon High began in 2007 as a recording project between musicians and friends David Fowler and Ryan Wells. The beginning of 2008 marked the release of their self-titled debut, which also saw the beginning of their formation into a live band. Since then, the band has seen a couple line up changes and has taken many turns in the direction of their sound, finally arriving at its current lineup which includes Summer Sherman on bass, flute and harmonies with Blake Pfister on drums. The band’s sophomore release, ‘Six Suns’, released in the summer of 2011, showed a matured and more confident band, whose sound had evolved from its predominantly bare folk roots to include elements of country, rock and even the occasional (yet subtle) nod to metal.
Currently, Moon High are in the process of recording their third full length record, ‘Take It Down’, which should see its release sometime in late 2013 or early 2014. Most of the band’s current live set is comprised of material from this yet-to-be-released record and shows a band that is constantly evolving. Banjos, cellos and acoustic guitars have been replaced with electric guitars and a more pronounced rhythm section; and the band is experimenting with a sound that is both heavier and more pop-oriented.
Jeannie Burns and Andrew Hardin combined their amazing skills to create a duo simply known as “Hardin Burns”. They worked hard to bring bluesy folk-rock vocals, and fierce country blues guitar to their new CD that features 9 new songs, written and produced by Jeannie and Andrew, and 1 great cover of George Harrison’s “ Beware of Darkness”.
One of the most anticipated aspects of the new duo was hearing a whole new side from both of them! Jeannie, with her beautiful bluesy voice, and at the same time showcasing her great guitar skills. Andrew has that rockin’ country bluesy guitar we know and love, and also shows us his vocal skills on back-up, as well as some lead vocals.
Jeannie Burns (1/3 of the Ithaca, NY – based trio “The Burns Sisters”) has been
traveling all over the country playing music with her sisters. She sang back-up vocals on two Arlo Guthrie tours, and played at many folk festivals such as “The Woody Guthrie Festival”, “The Philly Folk Festival” and “The Winnipeg Folk Festival” just to name a few.
Andrew Hardin had been Tom Russell’s right hand man for over twenty years. He toured, recorded and co-produced many of Tom’s CD’s. Hardin has also performed over the years with artists such as Dave Alvin, Ian Tyson, Katy Moffatt, Nanci Griffith, Eliza Gilkyson, and Ray Wylie Hubbard. He released his own album in 2005 titled “Blue Acoustic”, which is a fantastic collection of instrumental acoustic guitar titles. Andrew’s guitar has dazzled audiences for many years.
Americana singer/songwriter Kevin Welch left his Oklahoma home at age 17 to pursue a life in music, settling in Nashville in 1978 after years of traveling. He soon signed on as a staff writer at Sony/Tree, over the decade to follow authoring songs for artists including Waylon Jennings, Roger Miller, Trisha Yearwood, Ricky Skaggs, and the Highwaymen;
Welch’s self-titled solo debut appeared on Warner/Reprise in 1990, followed two years later by the acclaimed Western Beat. In 1995, he teamed with fellow Nashville renegades Kieran Kane, Tammy Rogers, and Harry Stinson to form his own independent label, Dead Reckoning. Welch’s first album for the label, Life Down Here on Earth, followed soon after, and in 1999 he returned with Beneath My Wheels. You Can’t Save Everybody (2004), Lost John Dean (2006), and Kane Welch Kaplin (2007) found Welch collaborating with Kieran Kane and multi-instrumentalist Fats Kaplin on a series of spare, moody originals and covers,
Kevin now resides in a log cabin in some woods outside of Austin, Texas, and is getting ready to hit the road behind a brand new record called “A Patch Of Blue Sky”.
