Red June Performs at the Whitehorse in Black Mountain on July 2nd with Mike Compton & Joe Newberry

Red June co-bill with Mike Compton & Joe Newberry

White Horse Black Mountain
Saturday, July 2, 2011
8pm show, $12
828 669-0816
105C Montreat Rd.
Black Mountain, NC 28711
www.whitehorseblackmountain.com

Red June is a dynamic, acoustic trio from Asheville, NC, performing beautifully distilled Americana music. The Red June sound is as versatile and original as the musicians themselves; they touch on bluegrass, roots rock, and traditional country music with powerful harmonies, innovative songwriting and expert musicianship. Red June is Will Straughan on dobro, guitar and vocals, celebrated fiddler and vocalist Natalya Weinstein, and John Cloyd Miller on mandolin, guitar and vocals.

Red June will be performing on Saturday, July 2nd at the Whitehorse in Black Mountain, NC. The show is a double bill show with Mike Compton & Joe Newberry.

“Red June is a combination of heart and harmonies with instrumental and vocal chops at the highest level. And the songwriting…well, bless my soul; and yours, ” states Joe Newberry, acclaimed North Carolina singer/songwriter.

John Cloyd Miller states, “We are really excited and honored to be sharing the bill with Compton & Newberry. Both of these guys are masters of their craft and their music has been hugely influential on us and countless others. Speaking as a mandolin player myself, Mike Compton is THE foremost Monroe-style mandolinist in the world and has taken that style to a new level and a new generation. I can’t say enough about Joe Newberry’s musicianship. His powerful guitar and banjo work, dynamic vocal style, and evocative songwriting have made a lasting impact on me. This duo is not to be missed!”

Veteran musicians Straughan, Miller and Weinstein formed Red June in 2008 after working in other acclaimed groups, namely the Emma Gibbs Band, Lo-Fi Breakdown and Polecat Creek. Members of Red June have shared the stage with countless bluegrass and Americana greats such as James Taylor, Robert Earl Keen, Sam Bush, Donna the Buffalo, Joe Craven, Jim Lauderdale, Del McCoury, Derek Trucks, Alice Gerrard, Jim Shumate and B.B. King, and have performed at festivals across the country including RockyGrass, Grey Fox, Merlefest, Grand Targhee, MagnoliaFest and Shakori Hills.

Red June is partnering with the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project for their Homegrown Tour 2011 to highlight the importance of local, sustainable food systems. To emphasize their “Buy Local” message, Red June, (named after the heirloom apple variety) is donating $1 of each CD sale at live shows in 2011 to the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP). ASAP does critical work in WNC expanding local food markets, supporting farmers, and building healthy communities through connections to local food.

Red June will take their Homegrown Tour out West this July and then up to the Northeast in August. Also, be on the lookout for them at Music City Roots this August as well as Bristol Rhythm and Roots. They are constantly creating new material and are currently planning a follow-up recording to “Remember Me Well,” Their 2010 release which was voted #1 in WNCW’s Regional Top 20 Contest. Find out more at: www.redjunemusic.com.

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Traditional music veterans Mike Compton and Joe Newberry love to play together – and it shows. Although they live far apart, their music makes them seem like they are next-door neighbors. And audiences around the world agree.

Mandolinist extraordinaire Mike Compton grew up in Mississippi, where he was exposed to music at an early age. A prolific composer, he has made a powerful mark in the old-time and bluegrass music worlds, including a fertile association with John Hartford in the Hartford String Band, as a long-time member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band, and with rock legend Elvis Costello. The multiple Grammy Award-winner treasures his memories of a friendship with his mentor, Bill Monroe.

Joe Newberry is a Missouri native and North Carolina transplant who has played music most of his life. Best known for his powerful and innovative banjo playing, he is a prizewinning guitarist, fiddler, and singer as well. In addition to his work with Mike Compton, Joe makes music with the string band Big Medicine, and with old-time music stalwarts Bill Hicks, Mike Craver, and Jim Watson. He writes songs that show up on the Bluegrass charts, does solo and studio work, and teaches and performs at festivals at home and abroad.

Joe and Mike are also members of the Jumpsteady Boys, a band they formed with friends Bruce Molsky and Rafe Stefanini that is taking the traditional music world by storm.

Find out more at: www.mikecompton.net and www.myspace.com/joenewberry.

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Kellin Watson’s CD Release Party at Pisgah Brewing on Sat, July 2nd Features Guests Sarah & Christian Dugas, Mary Ellen Bush, Zach Blew, and The Business

KELLIN WATSON “HALO OF BLUE”
CD RELEASE PARTY

Special Guests include; Sarah & Christian Dugas of the Duhks, Mary Ellen Bush, The Business and Zach Blew

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2011

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY
(828) 669-0190
150 Eastside Drive
Black Mountain, NC 28711
http://pisgahbrewing.com

Doors and music starts at 7pm
Music goes until Midnight followed by a dance music DJ Afterparty!

Tickets $10 ADV/ $12 at door
CLICK TO PURCHASE ONLINE

*Anyone who brings a functioning musical instrument to donate to Operation Happy Note and Operation Music Aid, will receive half off their admission price to the show. The requirements for instruments are “new or gently used guitars,violins, mandolins, banjos, keyboards, horns of any kind harmonicas and we even get requests for bagpipes.”

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Kellin Watson will have a few special guests for the evening including, Sarah & Christian Dugas of The Duhks, Zach Blew , The Business, and local favorite Mary Ellen Bush, along with a few other surprises (; Lots of talent on one stage!

Kellin Watson is a internationally-touring singer-songwriter, whose award-winning sound blends elements of blues, pop, folk, and soul. Hailing from Asheville, NC, Kellin draws on her Appalachian roots to bring both power and rawness to her music. “There are a lot of common talents in the world, but there are very few rare talents. I feel that Kellin is a rare, uncommon talent. Her songs have the ability to take someone gently by the wrist and tell them a story…”  states Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins. Courtney Devores with The Charlotte Observer describes her, “Jazzy soul and swinging pop comparable to Fiona Apple or a less folksy Ani DiFranco, Watson has an endearing stage demeanor and a killer voice, not to mention soulful songs that don’t fit in any particular box.””Halo Of Blue” was created with musician/producer Michael Bellar [Art Garfunkle, and Amos Lee] out of Manhattan, NY and was recorded in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Asheville. Kellin and Michael worked non-stop this past year to put out a simple, honest and stripped down recording with echoes of some of her strongest influences: Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Nina Simone. The album has 14 tracks and features cameo’s from some of the greatest musicians and vocalist in North America, including Sarah and Christian Dugas (The Duhks), and Oliver Wood (The Wood Brothers).

Sarah & Christian Dugas will be opening the evening with an acoustic set as well as joining Kellin on backup vocals for the occasion. They also make an appearance on “Halo of Blue.” Though these two Dugas siblings have made quite the sound waves each in their own right, you always know that when they are apart, it’s only temporary. Sure enough, in 2007, their respective joining of the Canadian Juno-winning and Grammy-nominated, The Duhks, was staggered over a mere couple of seasons.

Hailing from the French quarters of Winnipeg, Canada, they grew up on a varied regimen of vinyl records, courtesy of their musician parents. While never denying their wide-ranging musical tastes, they vicariously immersed themselves in Southern music and this unmistakable connection expanded into a full-blown musical path. They have since shared the stage with the likes of John Paul Jones, Los Lobos, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Wood Brothers, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Arrested Development and the Zac Brown Band to name a few.

As international touring and session musicians, Christian and Sarah have held on to the dream of launching their own project… Still deeply rooted in Southern music and culture, their sound draws from Roots, Rock and old school Soul. They bring a hard-hitting, dynamic and heart-felt energy to their diverse original compositions, improvisations and a few chosen covers – all of it, delivered with the awe-inspiring vocal and musical chemistry only seen amongst siblings.

Mary Ellen Bush will be singing back-up vocals with Kellin for the CD release. Mary Ellen Bush has been a part of the Asheville music scene since 2002, when she and her group Ménage first took the town by storm. She has a powerful, soulful voice that is often compared to Steve Nicks. She is also a talented and prolific songwriter who may be seen strumming the guitar, but really wows people when she plays her upright bass and harmonica at the same time. When on stage, she is captivating as she throws her whole body into whatever song she’s belting. Over the years, Bush has appeared with many different groups in a wide range of genres, from 1930s jazz to rock to old-time. Many of her projects include vocal harmony, mostly three part.

Bush is appreciated for her vocal strength, unique sense of style, exceptional ear and her sassy, raspy voice and has thus been called upon to record backing vocals with many bands over the years, such as G Love and Special Sauce, The Avett Brothers, Ben Lovett, Stephanie’s id, Strut, Woody Wood, Yo Mamma’s Big Fat Booty Band, The Firecracker Jazz Band, Brian McGee, and Marty Lewis (of The Sons of Ralph).

Bush’s latest project is by far the most intoxicating to date, as she introduces her first solo album, done under the alias, Mimi Bell. The album, “You’re Not Loving Me,” incorporates subtle yet clever lyrics, and contagious melodies that have always been a part of her work. Dan Reeves calls the sound “Motown and Nashville in unison.” Producer Seth Kauffman weaves her songs into a unique and timeless soundscape that is big, dreamy, soulful and lo-fi, different than anything we have seen from her to date.

The Business will perform a short set prior to the show as well as be Kellin’s backing band. The Business is the best special events band in the area. Every band claims the be the best but this band is a force to be reckoned with. The Business is a dance band primarily with other strengths in vocal and instrumental jazz, blues and classic rock.

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Zach Blew, a longtime Black Mountain favorite, and folk soul powerhouse, since relocated to Chicago, will be performing as well.

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Tweet this for a free download: Get Kellin Watson’s song Swagger for free in exchange for one tweet: http://trkurl.com/cKdo8U #TFAT

Find Kellin on the web:
Homepage: www.kellinwatson.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/kellinwatson
Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/kellinwatson
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/jrPd7A
Myspace: www.myspace.com/kellinwatson
Youtube: http://bit.ly/igkEnC
Evolution Licensing Company Catalog: http://bit.ly/iCFtX9
Itunes: http://bit.ly/m7JQCt
CDbaby: http://cdbaby.com/all/kellin

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Rebel Records to Release Ravens and Crows from Dehlia Low ~ Street Date Aug 2, 2011

Newly signed to Rebel Records, Dehlia Low echoes the sounds of early country with a strong bluegrass flavor, crafting a fresh originality that feels like home in this new album produced by the Infamous Stringdusters’ Travis Book…

Dehlia Low pushes bluegrass squarely into the Americana genre, combining their tenacious, authentic vocal style with extraordinary instrumental prowess in original songs that feel at once old and new.  Their newest project Ravens and Crows will be their first release on the venerable Rebel Records label (Ralph Stanley, Steep Canyon Rangers) on August 2, 2011.

The vocal harmony and instrumentation on the album reflect a deep connection to traditional music with modern arrangements and relevant, smart songwriting.  Fans of Dehlia Low immediately latch onto the compelling, nostalgic vocals of Anya Hinkle, the group’s lead singer and fiddler, uniquely paired with guitarist Stacy Claude’s clear, unyielding singing.  Greg Stiglets, on bass, has the edgy country vocals reminiscent of Steve Earle’s early days.  Aaron Ballance frames their sound through his virtuosic and expressive resophonic guitar playing that is punctuated and textured by Bryan Clendenin’s inventive and powerful mandolin.

The project, their fourth record to date, was recorded and mixed close to home in Asheville, NC at Echo Mountain Recording.  “We were thrilled to get into the studio and get these songs recorded, and grateful to the wonderful folks at Rebel for making the record possible,” said Hinkle.  “Each song has a story behind it that is personal for each one of us.  For me, it is a privilege to be able to share my thoughts, the melodies that run through my head, and my influences as a reflection of those who inspire me in this record.  To stand in front of the incredible mics at Echo thinking about sharing those songs with the world was very emotional for me.  After laying down “Living is Easy” at around midnight on a cold March evening with the rest of the band in the booth, I could hardly sleep.  I felt like I was already dreaming anyway.”

The album was produced Travis Book, a member of the International Bluegrass Music Association multi-award winners and Grammy-nominated The Infamous Stringdusters.  A singer, songwriter, bass player and lifelong “band guy,” Book was the perfect fit.  “The stars really aligned to have Travis come out to Asheville and work on this project during a break in the Dusters’ busy touring schedule,” said Claude.  “He has a terrific ear and tremendous experience with arranging music in the studio.  He was on the same page with us immediately in developing the songs and arrangements we brought to the project.  His positive energy made all the details fall into place.  The whole experience was a great lesson in faith and fun, and you can really hear that on the album.”

About the record, Book says, “the band and I are traveling the same path, creating music with friends that speaks from our experience, ignoring convention and following our ears.  The traditional aesthetic and down-to-earth nature of the music initially drew me to the project, but the raw creativity and uniqueness of the members and the seamless integration of their influences and biases were what made this project really special.”

The record is the latest release on Rebel Records.  Rebel’s president Mark Freeman says, “Rebel Records is thrilled to have Dehlia Low as a part of the Rebel family. The Asheville, North Carolina-area has seen the emergence of a number of amazing roots-oriented groups over the last few years and Dehlia Low is certainly one of those bands at the forefront of the scene!  They project a highly energetic, contemporary sound that is fresh yet still very much rooted in tradition.  I have no doubt their distinctive singing and original material will quickly win over new audiences everywhere.”

The ten original songs are filled with compelling poetry that conveys a sense of time and place wholly familiar yet hard to categorize.  Hinkle’s songwriting ranges from a coming-of-age gallop in “State of Jefferson,” to southern sounds and mythology in “Goin’ Down” and “Ravens and Crows,” to the mesmerizing, bluesy “Drifting on a Lonesome Sea.”  Stiglets’s wordplay and cadence are Dylanesque in “Thunder,” while his imagery and melody are both intriguing and heartbreaking in “Ride” and “Better Left Unsaid”– all in sharp contrast to the hard-edged, bluegrassy “$40 Chain.”   Clendenin’s “Change Up” showcases the instrumental work of the group.  Of the two covers on the album, the band swings Willie Nelson’s “What Do You Think Of Her Now” behind Claude’s vocals, while taking “Cannonball Blues” to bare bones.

Ravens and Crows follows two previous studio albums and one live album that have been released since the band formed in 2007.  Their inaugural EP Dehlia Low and full-length studio album Tellico both scored in the top 20 of WNCW 88.7FM’s top 100 new releases of 2009 and 2010, respectively, and garnered praise from Bluegrass Unlimited, SingOut!, No Depression and others.  The buzz led to an exciting tour in 2010 in support of Tellico, with appearances some of the most prestigious festivals in the U.S., including Merlefest and the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, where they shared the stage with the Stringdusters, Seldom Scene, and Alison Krauss and Union Station.  In 2011, Dehlia Low will be taking their “Appalachiagrassicana” sound across the U.S. and Canada in support of the new album.

www.DehliaLow.com

Photos by Sandlin Gaither

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Tara Nevins, of Donna the Buffalo, Performs Live “From the Living Room to the Loft” on Wednesday, July 6th Promoting New Release “Wood and Stone”

Tara Nevins with The Heartbeats

“Wood and Stone”

From the Living Room to the Loft
SiriusXM Recording
Wednesday, July 6th, 2011
$15 , 21+
10pm set-time

The Living Room
212-533-7237

154 Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002
www.livingroomny.com

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American roots traditionalist Tara Nevins’ new release, ‘Wood and Stone’ is an exploration of her own heritage, musical and otherwise. Released on May 3rd, 2011 on Sugar Hill Records ‘Wood and Stone’ was produced by Larry Campbell at the Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY.

Nevins will be performing a set of music from the new album live “From The Living Room to the Loft” on Wednesday, July 6th at 10pm. The Heartbeats,  the all-female, old time/Cajun band that Tara has played with for years, will be joining Tara on stage at the Living Room in NYC and the evening’s show is recorded to air on Sirius XM. Also joining Tara and the Heartbeats will be Lora Pendelton- Guitar and Vocals, Thomas Bryan Eaton- pedal steel, Barry Mitterhoff (from Hot Tuna)- Mandolin.

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Wood and Stone has been well received with sentiments of the music being an eloquent, honest blend of Donna the Buffalo, Americana, old time country, pop and straight up rock and roll:

“If heroes and heroines of rock ‘n’ roll are defined by their uniqueness, they definitely broke the mold when they made Tara Nevins.” – Wildman Steve, The Corner News“Larry has taken Tara’s music to an entirely higher level, if this doesn’t turn into an award winner they’ll have been cheated!” – Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association

“This is an exceptional piece of music, one that I think needs to be heard—to prove that people are still cutting ‘Country Music’ these days!” – Chuck Dauphin, Music News Nashville

“‘Tennessee River,’ a dark and gripping song about love’s place in ones’ life, features Campbell’s harrowing, electric guitar wails. The record closes with a cathartic, beautiful cover of Van Morrison’s ‘The Beauty of Days Gone By’—bringing Wood and Stone full circle.” Bill Clifford – Relix

“…as invigorating as it is mesmerizing.” – Amos Perrine, No Depression

“… That’s the mark of the good ones, the guarantee is their name on the label, something Nevins shares with Van Morrison (maybe it’s the water in Woodstock) whose ‘Beauty Of Days Gone By’ closes out the album.” Blurt

“The pedigree of the album is staggering. Start with Nevins, who has been an integral member of DTB since its formation in 1987, and add producer Larry Campell along with guest performers Levon Helm, Jim Lauderdale, Allison Moorer, and Teresa Williams, and you get a record that is as solid as the building materials mentioned in the title.” – Fifty Cent Lighter Blog

“a stellar collection….It’s an album that sounds familiar, yet new, not an easy feat.” – Jim Morrison, No Depression

…..the real bridge between past and present is a voice, so singular and beautiful, that it must be heard to be appreciated. – Chip Frasier, Twangville

“… her music takes on the spirit of the [Levon Helm] Barn like a well-worn and cozy Gypsy jacket that was tailored to her shoulders.” – Brian Robbins, Jambands.com

“She’s outdone herself with the superb ‘Wood and Stone.’ – Jeffrey Sisk, The Daily News

“exceptional music and excellent songwriting; ten of the thirteen tunes were written by Ms Nevins, and she does sure brighten the day.” – FAME

Visit www.TaraNevins.com for more information about the album,a gallery of images, videos, music and lyrics.

Wood and Stone showcases Nevins’ ever-evolving repertoire as she journeys both back to her own “roots” and head-long into new territory. Featured guests on the album include Levon Helm, Jim Lauderdale, Allison Moorer, Teresa Williams, The Heartbeats, along with the core band of Larry Campbell, Justin Guip, and Byron Isaacs.

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Mobile Art Lab “Yarnstorming” Friday, June 10th on Amboy Road in Asheville

Mobile Art Lab “Yarnstorming”
Friday, June 10, 2011
4:00 p.m. – 7:00.

Amboy Road Park
Asheville, NC

Free!

Grab your knitting needles and crochet hooks and join the Mobile Art Lab!
Part of the City of Asheville Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department – for a Yarnstorming on Friday, June 10 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Amboy Road Park. The event is free and open to all ages. Music and refreshments will be available.

“Yarnstorming” refers to the idea of wrapping items in public spaces in specially-designed hand-knit or crochet materials. All of the wraps will be removed from Amboy Road Park within a week of the installation.

Read more about “Yarnstorming” in Ursula Gullow’s blog “Art Seen Asheville“

For further information, contact Diane Ruggiero, Superintendent of Cultural Arts, at 828-259-5815 or druggiero@ashevillenc.gov.

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Kellin Watson Celebrates the Release of New Album “Halo Of Blue” At Pisgah Brewing on July 2nd

Kellin Watson
CD RELEASE PARTY
Pisgah Brewing
Saturday, July 2, 2011

ADV: $10/d.o.s.: $12

Doors: 7PM/ Show:8PM

(828) 669-0190
150 Eastside Drive
Black Mountain, NC 28711
http://pisgahbrewing.com

Kellin Watson is a internationally-touring singer-songwriter, whose award-winning sound blends elements of blues, pop, folk, and soul. Hailing from Asheville, NC, Kellin draws on herAppalachian roots to bring both power and rawness to her music. “There are a lot of common talents in the world, but there are very few rare talents. I feel that Kellin is a rare, uncommon talent. Her songs have the ability to take someone gently by the wrist and tell them a story…”  states Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins. Courtney Devores with The Charlotte Observer describes her, “Jazzy soul and swinging pop comparable to Fiona Apple or a less folksy Ani DiFranco, Watson has an endearing stage demeanor and a killer voice, not to mention soulful songs that don’t fit in any particular box.”

Kellin will be releasing her new album, “Halo of Blue” of July 2, 2011 at Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain, NC. There will be activities going on as soon as doors open at 7pm and possibly a surprise guest opener, so people are encouraged to come early. Also door prizes will be given away! Admission is $10 in advance and $12 the day of the show. Anyone who brings a functioning musical instrument to donate to Operation Happy Note and Operation Music Aid will receive half off their admission price! The requirements for instruments are “new or gently used guitars,violins, mandolins, banjos, keyboards, horns of any kind harmonicas and we even get requests for bagpipes.”

“Halo Of Blue” was created with musician/producer Michael Bellar [Art Garfunkle, and Amos Lee] out of Manhattan, NY and was recorded in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Asheville. Kellin and Michael worked non-stop this past year to put out a simple, honest and stripped down recording with echoes of some of her strongest influences: Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Nina Simone. The album has 14 tracks and features cameo’s from some of the greatest musicians and vocalist in North America, including Sarah and Christian Dugas (The Duhks), and Oliver Wood (The Wood Brothers).

Part of the album was recorded in Asheville’s Echo Mountain Studios. “The thing I love about recording at Echo Mountain is the fact that they are prepared for anything you might need,” Watson says in an interview with Jon Elliston in Our State Magazine.  “All the engineers and staff make you feel at home and comfortable, which helps you focus on what you’re really there to do: create. Not to mention that it’s a world-class studio in my own backyard — to be able to work in a studio of that quality, right here in Asheville, is amazing.”

Elliston goes on to write, “On the new album’s title track, Watson’s band recorded lilting pedal steel guitar parts in one of the studio’s smaller rooms; the guitar offers a delicate complement to Watson’s forceful vocals. The two songs recorded in the “church” studio — the gospel-tinged “Rise” and a smoky, brooding cover of “Sitting on Top of the World” — showcase Watson’s range and confidence. She sounds every bit the singer in her comfort zone, content with recording close to home.

Kellin has toured nationally and internationally playing some of the most renowned venues, festivals, events, colleges and universities in the US and Canada, and continues to do so. Playing music and writing songs for the past 16 years, Kellin has released 4 solo independent albums. Her performance stands out as well; Stan of LiveLimeLight.com wrote in a live show review “I was immediately intrigued by her playing style, with percussive hits, finger picking and then strumming, she knows how to use her guitar to its fullest… she filled the room with just the sound of her guitar and voice.”

Here is a nice video of her performing a songs off the new album:

Kellin has also been a featured performer on CMT’s Big Break with award winning host and artists Sara Evans stating, “Kellin is a singing beauty, with an amazing voice. There is nothing fake or contrived about her when she performs, she’s just really, really talented, and sings with soul. I love everything about her…” In addition to her CMT appearance, two of Kellin’s songs, “Ship” and “When Is Enough Enough”, touched millions after being aired on two separate episodes of the hugely popular Canadian teen drama, Dregrassi: The Next Generation. This past march, she was asked to play a supporting role in Sag film “Trinity Goodheart” and the director loved one of the tunes on Kellin’s new album and decided to use the song in the film. Here’s a link to the imdb page for it: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1849899/.

Kellin has worked with and/ or opened for a wide range of notable artists such as Amos Lee, Little Feat, Susan Tedeschi, The Duhks, Crash Test Dummies, Jessica Simpson, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Sara Evans, Walter Wolfman Washington, Gordie Sampson, members of Band of Horses, and several others.  In the words of NPR’s David Dye, Kellin is  “a great new artist to keep an ear out for.”  Filmmaker Richard O’Sullivan (The Lost Colony) goes on to state, “There’s such beauty and intelligence in her work that you rarely find from someone that young. She’s the type of artist that in twenty years people will be talking about in the same way they talk about the Bob Dylans and the Joni Mitchells now.”

Find Kellin on the web:

Homepage: www.kellinwatson.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/kellinwatson
Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/kellinwatson
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/jrPd7A
Myspace: www.myspace.com/kellinwatson
Youtube: http://bit.ly/igkEnC
Evolution Licensing Company Catalog: http://bit.ly/iCFtX9
Itunes: http://bit.ly/m7JQCt
CDbaby: http://cdbaby.com/all/kellin

“Her husky voice flows up and down the staff, accompanied by catchy beats, and the result sounds quite eclectic. ” – VERVE Magazine

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Donna the Buffalo play the Syracuse Big Splash on Sunday, June 12th presented by The Finger Lakes Clean Waters Initiative

As summer gets underway, residents and tourists flock to New York’s lakes, rivers, and streams to enjoy the state’s unique natural and recreational resources. The recently launched Finger Lakes CleanWaters Initiative has teamed up with citizens and environmental organizations and the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance for a two-day event to raise awareness of the impacts of unsafe natural gas development using hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) on water and public health.

The weekend kicks off in Binghamton on Friday, June 3, 4-11pm, with a “Small Splash!” at Atomic Tom’s Art Gallery (200 State Street), including art, a performance by Chris Merkley and Jamie Willard, citizen outreach, guest speakers, and beer & wine. Proceeds to benefit the Finger Lakes CleanWaters Initiative.

On Saturday, June 4, the Southern Tier Clean Waters Symposium will be held at the RiverWalk Hotel in Binghamton. The event will begin at 10:30 am with a presentation by Attorney Joe Health on how to end a gas lease (an issue of growing concern to landowners in the Finger Lakes). A keynote address by renowned author, ecologist, and Ithaca College Distinguished Scholar Sandra Steingraber will focus on the threats to children’s health and futures from environmental damage, including industrial gas drilling. The afternoon will be devoted to a workshop on the health effects of hydrofracking moderated by Dr. Walid S. Hammoud, President of the Broome County Medical Society. Expert panelists include Dr. Ron Bishop of SUNY Oneonta; chemical safety and hazardous materials specialist Tom Shelley; Dr. Adam Law of Weill Cornell Medical College; and Dr. Michelle Bamberger of Vet Behavior Consults.

“As New York considers whether to permit or prohibit this form of energy extraction, it is essential that we understand the possible consequences to public health as a prerequisite for making that decision,” says Sandra Steingraber. “Once shale is shattered, it cannot be unshattered, nor water unpoisoned.”

On Sunday, June 5 from 11am-9pm, The Binghamton Big Splash! will take place in Recreation Park. Live bands will perform in celebration of water resources and the work being done to defend them against unsafe gas drilling. Bands include YOLK, Sim Redmond Band, Drift Wood, Richie Stearns and the Evil City String Band, The Burns Sisters, Thousands Of One, Dutch Bucket System, The Green Deeps, Driftwood and Cabinet. The Syracuse Big Splash! will take place on Sunday, June 12 from 11am-9pm at the Inner Harbor in Syracuse with Donna The Buffalo, Sophistafunk, Ayurveda, Tim Herron Corporation, Thousands of One with more to come.

Both Big Splash! events will include information booths, food vendors, and live solar energy demonstrations.

“We’ve teamed up with some great organizations to talk about gas drilling impacts and some really great bands to engage and entertain,” says Chris Tate, co-founder of the Finger Lakes CleanWaters Initiative. “These events will give the public a chance to learn about the urgent need to defend New York’s precious water resources, while also having some great summer fun. Dancers welcome!”

All CleanWaters Initiative events are open to the public and free with a suggested $10.00 donation. For more information, visit http://fingerlakescleanwaters.org, contact info@fingerlakescleanwater.org, or check out the events on Facebook.

Event sponsors include The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival, City of Binghamton, City of Syracuse, Binghamton River Walk Hotel, Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition, Catskill MountainKeeper, Coalition to Protect New York, Earthworks Oil & Gas Accountability Project, Frack Action, New York Residents Against Drilling, ShaleShock, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, Gas Free Seneca, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network, and others.

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Tara Nevins (of Donna the Buffalo) Performs a Solo Concert at the North Shore Points House Party on June 11th in Norfolk, VA

Photo by John D Kurc

Tara Nevins
North Shore Point House Concerts 10 year Anniversary Show
Saturday, June 11th, 2011
8pm
The donation to the artist is $20.

Norfolk, Virginia

Anyone interested in attending should email jim@northshorepoint.com or visit www.northshorepoint.com

American roots traditionalist Tara Nevins recently released Wood and Stone, her first solo album since Mule to Ride in 1999. Wood and Stone showcases her ever-evolving repertoire as she journeys both back to her own “roots” and head-long into new territory. In support of the new album, Nevins will be performing at the ten year anniversary show for North Shore Point House Concerts on Saturday, June 11th at 8pm in Norfolk, VA.  Anyone interested in attending should email jim@northshorepoint.com or visit www.northshorepoint.com

North Shore Point’s first show in 2001 was with Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer (the second was with Steve Forbert). They’ve hosted well more than 60 shows over the years with folks like Jim Lauderdale, Eliza Gilkyson, Marshall Crenshaw, Jimmy LaFave, Kim Richey, Steve Forbert, Tom Russell, Dave Alvin, Chris Smither, Peter Case, Mary Gauthier, and dozens of others. It’s generally considered one of the more successful series in the country so come out and celebrate!

Fans of Nevins from her 21-year tenure with Donna the Buffalo are familiar with her versatile talents; she shares the vocal and songwriting responsibilities for the band and is a stellar musician on fiddle, guitar, and accordion. (She plays a mean scrubboard too.) Prior to DTB, Nevins was a founding member of the all-female, old time/Cajun band The Heartbeats. (They join her on two tracks here as well.) Wood and Stone delivers the musical expertise fans have come to expect and surprises with new perspectives.

“This album is personal and sort of revelatory,” Nevins says. “It’s an expression of recent emotional discovery within relationships lost and found, and how knowing the core of who we are is the real deal. There were so many elements I wanted to explore—to combine all the pieces of my personal musical puzzle–and then have it come together in a cohesive whole. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Larry Campbell. I am honored to have had him both produce and play on my record. He’s an amazingly talented and soulful musician. He has a very natural, down-to-earth approach and an instinctual insightfulness that I really appreciate; he really got what I was after. The whole experience was inspiring and challenging in a very positive way.”

Campbell is a much-sought-after musician/producer renowned for his work with Bob Dylan and still rolling from the success of Levon Helm’s two Grammy- winners, Dirt Farmer and Electric Dirt, which he produced. He found Nevins’s project immediately compelling. “I liked the feel of the project– her combination of old-time mountain music and original songwriting—and I was taken with Tara’s unique talent; she’s got a distinctive voice—there’s a kind of honesty that shines through.”

The record kicks off with the title cut “Wood and Stone,” and that “honest” element is readily apparent in this touching tribute to home and family. Old-timey acoustics are quickly joined by drums and steel guitars as Nevins sings about “the better part of me” regarding her upbringing and early influences. “It’s got that magical blend of music and lyrics,” Campbell says of it, “and it really paints a picture of where she comes from.”

Ten of the thirteen tracks are originals, and Nevins’ complexity gets a broad stage. She dispenses wit and wisdom with an atypical take on love and relationships through gritty songs such as “You’ve Got It All” and “You’re Still Driving That Truck,” then turns to wrenching hearts with songs like “Snowbird” (accompanied by Jim Lauderdale), a beautiful metaphorical ballad about the pain of loving someone unable to truly give back, and “Tennessee River,” a haunting, gripping song about the stranglehold love can have over a person’s whole existence. “Stars Fell on Alabama” sounds like it fell from her heart and pen too, but Nevins has the capacity to take a well-known standard like this, change the melody, and perform it so ingenuously that it fits in seamlessly to the whole groove of the record.

The record is “framed” by another nostalgic piece, “The Beauty of the Days Gone By” (by Van Morrison), bringing the record full-circle and serving as a sort of catharsis for the dark tone of “Tennessee River”. “I wanted to end the record with it,” Nevins explains, “because I love the sentiment of the song and it’s kind of like ‘the sun always comes back out’ kind of thing. We grow and learn and take our relationships with us for better and for worse and that’s life in all its beauty and glory.”

Nevins’ rare blend of enormous talent coupled with genuine down-home humbleness has won the hearts of fans and colleagues alike. “Tara has this worldly awareness combined with a fragile innocence,” Larry Campbell notes, “which makes her songwriting and music very accessible…very appealing.” Wood and Stone is sure to add to that appeal. Visit Nevins’ website at http://taranevins.com to read the song lyrics, see a photo gallery, listen to the songs and more.

North Shore Point House Concerts

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Galen Kipar brings his experimental folk masterpieces to San Francisco with David Gans and Lake Tahoe with Ike Marr

Wednesday June 8
Live audience radio set
KPFA w/ David Gans
9-10pm

KPFA is at 1929 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA http://galenkipar.com

Effortlessly crafting a fusion of folk, classical, jazz, and blues, Galen Kipar has been hailed as “complex yet accessible” and “cohesive and poignant.” His most recent release, The Scenic Route, was listed in WNCW’s Top 100 Albums of 2010! Host of the Grateful Dead Hour, David Gans states about the album, “It’s like a collection of short stories, brilliantly constructed and with a unique and compelling literary voice. I keep coming back to each song, listening more deeply and being drawn more deeply in. I was knocked out by their last CD, and was hoping I’d like the next one even half as much; if anything, I like this one twice as much.”

Thursday June 9
Rubber Souldiers & Galen Kipar
Ashkenaz
9pm

1317 San Pablo Ave
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 525-5054

www.rubbersouldiers.com

Rubber Souldiers is the phenomenal Beatles tribute band combining the talents of Grateful Dead historian and innovative songwriter David Gans with the incomparable Rowan Brothers! This trio brings to the stage a rockabilly/jam-band revision of all your favorites from the Fab Four!The band describes themselves as: “Beatles vocabulary with a Grateful Dead syntax… The Beatles wrote all these kick-ass songs and these amazing grooves, and then they quit ’em after three minutes. And so we’re stretching them out and stringing them together.” -David Gans – guitar, vocals

“The essence of Rubber Souldiers is the harmony singing, instrumental jamming and the experimental approach. By expanding on spontaneous things that happen, we’re creating our sound.” – Chris Rowan – guitar, vocal

“We’ve written our pieces around their pieces, our hooks around their hooks. We take some of the more obscure songs and mix them with some of the more familiar ones. We’ve opened it up so things flow within you and without you – to coin a phrase.” –Lorin Rowan – guitar, mandolin, vocals

Friday June 10
Galen Kipar with Ike Marr

Big Water Grille
Showtime: 8:30p

(775) 833-0606

North Shore of Lake Tahoe
341 Ski Way • Incline Village, NV  www.ikemarr.com

Ike Marr has more than 20 years of professional experience in laying studio tracks for music sessions as well as movie soundtracks, network television shows, and even video games.

Ike has built his career in American acoustic rock music, playing variations on Acoustic, Alternative, Bluegrass, Blues, Country, Classical, Folk, Pop and Rock. He can provide performances on viola, violin, mandolin, banjo, electric or acoustic guitar, electric or acoustic bass guitar, keys, piano, organ and vocals.

Galen Kipar Project on the Web

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