Jonathan Santos is a soulful, globally minded and locally grounded singer/songwriter out of Asheville, NC. People are moved daily by his music that inspires and encourages. Now it is time to take it to the next level. You can listen to his song “Enough” on the official kickstarter page: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/578200915/changing-the-world-by-changing-me-ep?ref=video
The goal of the Kickstarter Campaign is to raise $3,333 that will pay for him to record an EP at Echo Mountain Recording Studio in Asheville with the incredibly talented producer Josh Blake. Many greats have recorded there including Avett Brothers, Flogging Molly, and Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers.
Help to spread the word and let’s get this project funded!
Santos states, “With so much encouragement from the arts and music community here as well as the supporters of this project from around the world, I realize now that this project is something larger than me and I am honored to play my part. So, I invite you to join me on this adventure!”
“A tour de force from start to finish” – Kay Cordtz, Elmore
“With the wonderful fiddle groove and vividly written lyrics, Nevins gives a glimpse into her roots. Stepping out for a rare solo record (beyond her beloved band, Donna the Buffalo), she meshes her Cajun influences, unique voice, drums and steel guitars for an intriguing look at her heritage.” – CMT
“Wood And Stone adds another powerful and engaging chapter to Nevins’ musical achievements”. – Steven Stone, Vintage Guitar
“a wide-ranging affair encompassing all manner of rootsy Americana, spiced with Nevins’s voice and multi-instrumentalist skills, served up in a package that is polished but never slick. Nevins, in other words, is the real deal.” – David Maine, Pop Matters
“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
“The centerpiece of the album, in my opinion, is the sweeping “The Wrong Side,” which features Allison Moorer and Teresa Williams. It’s a track sounds like it was from the O’Brother Where Art Thou? sessions, but the same could be said of the haunting “Stars Fell On Alabama,” where once again Nevins shows her prowess on the fiddle. 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
“Tara channels swampy accordion and mountain fiddles through a set of songs about heartaches and a longing for the sanctity of family values and a simple home life. The chemistry between Nevins and Campbell cooks up a powerfully convincing sound through tracks like Down South Blues, The Wrong Side and You’re Still Driving That Truck as the duo’s varied strings entwine. But the star turn is the brooding Tennessee River with its big, fat, shimmering guitars and broken heart laid bare. Terrific.” – Properganda
“Songs such as the fiddle-infused title cut, a touching tribute to home and family, and ‘You’re Still Driving That Truck’ are country rockers. ‘Snowbird’ is a string ballad about unrequited love, while “Nothing Really” is an instrumental bluegrass dust-up. ‘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
“The sound is both loose and tight at the same time; the band knows how to walk that line and let Nevins be herself. To put it simply, it just plain works.” – Brian Robbins, Jambands.com
For more reviews of ‘Wood and Stone’ please visit Taranevins.com
After a restful few days at the beach, Mags and I decided to extend our vacation by a day and make the trek to Norfolk to catch the house concert with Tara Nevins. Mapquest fixed the driving distance from Holden Beach, NC (south of Wilmington) to Norfolk at 318 miles, but the actual distance turned out to be more like 352 miles, and we got caught in a long stretch of stop-and-roll traffic, thanks to construction. Happily, the drive time from Norfolk to Durham is under four hours, and so the trip home tomorrow shouldn’t be so bad.
The concert was held in the back yard of a private home in a very cool, older neighborhood in the northern part of the city, in the general vicinity of the navy base. There was a small stage — a riser, actually — with a tent, off to the side that could be placed over it in case of rain. Folding chairs were set up for about 120 people, and it looked like all but a few were taken. Some people spread blankets to the sides of the seated area and had picnics. The host, Jim Morrison, also provided beer and water for his guests, though many people brought their own. There were a number of Donna the Buffalo fans in attendance, though the overwhelming majority seemed to be local music aficionados who enjoy the house concert scene and who are interested in hearing new sounds. Unfortunately, a storm front rolled in just before the show got under way. The cool breeze was a relief, but menacing skies provided a backdrop against which the the first half of the show was performed. Finally, some sprinkles, placement of the tent over the performers, then more serious raindrops, then the downpour. Some people sought shelter in the garage, others in the house; still others called it a night. Jim brought out plastic bags for the instruments and moved the show into his home. Tara and Carol Elizabeth set up in his spacious living room and performed without amplification. People sat on the floor and stood, spilling out into the dining room. Somehow, this worked just fine.
This turned out to be a very special evening indeed, both for the intimacy of a house concert and for the opportunity to see Tara perform in her own right. Musically, the concert was a melange of old time, material from Tara’s recent release, Wood and Stone, and some Donna the Buffalo favorites. Tara’s musicianship is peerless, and she is also a most engaging raconteuse. I came away with a new appreciation for and admiration of this remarkable talent and very special person. A heartfelt thanks to our host, Jim Morrison, for sponsoring this event and for inviting us into his home. My daughter had it right when she said that this is an evening that we shall always remember fondly. No question about it. This was a beautiful experience.
Paul R.
[Also, check out this review of the show by host Jim Morrison and find out more about the evolution of house concerts as well: Magic moments: a decade of house-concerts]
Photo by Maggie Roberge. Reposted here with permission.
Photo by Maggie Roberge. Reposted here with permission.
Tara Nevins, fiddle, guitar, vocals
Carol Elizabeth Jones, guitar, backing vocals, lead vocal on “Chilly Winds,” “The North Country,” and “Half Way to Nowhere”
Set List
Start: 8.15pm
I
Breaking up Christmas
Wood and Stone
What Money Cannot Buy
Chilly Winds
The North Country
Stars Fell on Alabama
Locket and Key
Nothing Really
Sugar Hill
Snowbird
You’re still Driving that Truck (interrupted by thunder storm; show stopped at 9.18pm)
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 the flourishing roots music soundscape. Their new release ‘Ravens and Crows’ was produced by the Infamous Stringdusters’ Travis Book and hits the streets on August 2nd…
Dehlia Low’s vocal harmony and instrumentation reflect a deep connection to traditional music with modern arrangements and relevant, smart songwriting. The band combines their gripping, rustic-flavored vocal style with extraordinary instrumental prowess in original songs that feel at once both old and new pushing their sound into the emerging Americana genre. The group’s sound is focused on original music rooted in bluegrass but with a distinctive country/folk feel true to their southern Appalachian roots.
Dehlia Low’s eagerly-anticipated Rebel Records debut ‘Ravens & Crows’ is released August 2nd. Produced by Travis Book of The Infamous Stringdusters, this album helps to firmly establish Dehlia Low as one of the most compelling and distinctive young groups on the acoustic music scene today. With their tasteful, sometimes moody blending of different styles, the group has created a unique sound that already seems fully mature and established.
Dehlia Low formed in late 2007 as part of Asheville, North Carolina’s roots music renaissance. Singers Anya Hinkle (from Blacksburg, VA on fiddle) and Stacy Claude (from Atlanta, GA on guitar) pulled together a group of talented pickers from the region: Aaron Ballance on Dobro (Winston-Salem, NC), Bryan Clendenin on mandolin (Hurricane, WV) and Greg Stiglets on bass (Jackson, MS).
Here is what the press is saying about Dehlia Low’s Ravens and Crows:
“The group has taken off like a skyrocket…and deservedly so: in a musical world that doesn’t always treasure creativity, Dehlia Low has staked out a good piece of ground all its own.” ~ Nashville Scene, Jon Weisberger
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“Dehlia Low’s “Ravens & Crows” is carefully crafted to lure traditional, country, bluegrass and Americana fans. They are generally appealing to all of these genres without alienating anyone, which is hard to do.” ~ Boone Mountain Times, Ashley Wilson
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“Heavenly lead & harmony vocals…superb original songs…musical prowess.” ~ Al Shusterman, Backroads Bluegrass on KCBL
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“…bittersweet vocal harmonies and spirited picking…Dehlia Low promises to bring the sounds and soul of the Blue Ridge Mountains …” ~ Art News New Orleans
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“…relying on the warm tones of acoustic guitar, mandolin, upright bass, slide guitar, and not to mention fiddle thumpin’, strummin’ and pickin’ underneath honeysuckle vocal harmonies — the Asheville, N.C., quintet seems like it has rolled straight off a mountainside and right onto a wraparound wooden porch in some summer-grass valley.” ~ Style Weekly, Mike Hilleary
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“The real highlight on Ravens and Crows is the vocal harmony. Lead singer Anya Hinkle, guitarist Stacy Claude, and bassist Greg Stiglets’ voices blend beautifully on songs like the album’s title track.“ ~ Americana Music Examiner, Chris Griffy
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“…really special. I have added them to my “must see” list permanently.” ~ The Bluegrass Blog, Diane Farineau
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In 2011, Dehlia Low will be taking their “Appalachiagrassicana” sound across the U.S. in support of the new album:
Sun, July 24th – Mast Farm Inn – Banner Elk, NC
Fri, July 29th – North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center – Nevada City, CA
Sat, July 30th – Sutter Creek Theatre – Sutter Creek, CA
Sun, July 31st -Freight & Salvage – Berkeley, CA
Tues, August 2nd – House Concert – Bear Valley, CA
Wed, August 3rd -The Abbey at Hopmonk Tavern – Sebastopol, CA
Thurs, August 4th – The Red Fox Tavern – Eureka, CA
Fri, August 5th – Dead on the Creek Festival – Willits, CA
Sat, August 6th – Oaksong Music Society at Gray Pine Farm – Oak Run, CA
Sunday, August 7th – House Concert | Berkeley, CA
Sat, August 13th- Stecoah Valley Center -Robbinsville, NC
Mon, August 15-21st – Northern Lights Bluegrass Festival |- Big River, SK
Fri, August 26th – Bacchus Bistro – Marshall, NC
Sat, September 3rd – The Station Inn – Nashville, TN
Thurs, September 8th – The Evening Muse – Charlotte, NC
Sat, September 10th – Mountain Song Festival – Brevard, NC
Fri, September 23rd – Hendershots Coffee Bar – Athens, GA
Sat, September 24th – Jammin’ at Hippie Jack’s – Crawford, TN
Mon, September 26th Abbeville County Career Center – Abbeville, SC
Tues, September 27th – The Basement – Nashville, TN
Sat, October 1st – The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center – Asheville, NC
Sat, October 8th – Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival – Silk Hope, NC
Fri, October 14th – Private Event – Seneca, SC
Sat, October 15th – Private Event – Candler, NC
Sun, October 16, 2011 – Poplar Knight Spot – Aberdeen, NC
Thurs, October 20th – Cafe Nola – Frederick, MD
Fri, October 21st – The Purple Fiddle – Thomas, WV
Sat, October 22nd – Elk Creek Café – Millheim, PA
Sun, October 23rd – Puck Live – Doylestown, PA
Sat, November 12th – The Grey Eagle – Asheville, NC
Fri, November 18th – Ashland Coffee & Tea – Ashland, VA
Sat, November 19th – Southern Cafe and Music Hall – Charlottesville, VA
Tues, December 6th – Wilbert’s | Cleveland, OH
Wed, December 7th – Circus – Ann Arbor, MI
Thurs, December 8th – Salt of the Earth – Fennville,MI Stay tuned to DehliaLow.com for more tour dates TBA!
“If the Pied Piper-like migration of people to the stage during their FloydFest performance this past summer [2010] is any kind of barometer, the band is on an immutable trajectory of permeating Southwest Virginia with their versatile, yet immediately attainable sonority.” ~ Todd Guill, New River Voice
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“Their style can be described as broad, showing influences from blues, jazz, and folk. It’s a fusion of these elements that give GKP its full and rich sound, described by Galen as “a stew” and by Benjamin [Bass player] as “familiar yet original.” I could easily picture myself finding a secluded stream high on the mountain and lying in the warm sun as the Galen Kipar Project played softly in the background. Maybe I can talk them into hiking with me one day, with instruments in hand, of course. I would even offer to carry a few things.” ~Jeremiah Greer, Magazine 33
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“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.” ~ David Gans, KPFA’s Dead to the World, Host of Grateful Dead Hour
Dehlia Low pushes bluegrass music squarely into the emerging Americana genre, combining their gripping, rustic-flavored vocal style with extraordinary instrumental prowess in original songs that feel at once both old and new. The band’s Rebel Records debut Ravens & Crows is the eagerly-anticipated follow up to their acclaimed 2009 independent studio release, Tellico. Produced by Travis Book of Grammy-nominated and IBMA Emerging Artist winners The Infamous Stringdusters, Ravens & Crows will help firmly establish Dehlia Low as one of the most compelling and distinctive young groups on the acoustic music scene today. With their tasteful, sometimes moody blending of different styles, the group has created a unique sound that already seems fully mature and established.
The band will be touring around the new album throughout the Summer and Fall with stops this weekend in New Orleans, Mississippi, and Nashville!
“Dehlia Low is rapidly becoming a musical force to watch for.” ~ Bluegrass Unlimited
“The heartfelt mountain sounds of this new band recall the Carter Family and the Stanley Brothers.” ~ Diane Amov, Bluegrass Spotlight on MerleFest
“One of those kinds of bands that I just really fall in love with” ~ Iaan Hughes, No Depression
Dehlia Low formed in late 2007 as part of Asheville, North Carolina’s roots music renaissance. Singers Anya Hinkle (from Blacksburg, VA on fiddle) and Stacy Claude (from Atlanta, GA on guitar) pulled together a group of talented pickers from the region: Aaron Ballance on Dobro (Winston-Salem, NC), Bryan Clendenin on mandolin (Hurricane, WV) and Greg Stiglets on bass (Jackson, MS). The group’s sound is focused on original music rooted in bluegrass but with a distinctive country/folk feel true to their southern Appalachian roots.
Many of Asheville’s most talents musicians are coming together for a benefit concert to raise necessary funding to send Asheville’s own Andi and Maia Morrell to Bali as they grow the global village at the internationally renown Green School.
Performing are: Gift of Gab, Josh Phillips, Juan Holliday and the Secret B-Sides, Zanza, Josh Blake’s Jukebox, Agent 23, Members of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Ben Hovey and more!
…THE KREKTONES The Krektonesblend the surf swagger of the Ventures with the scorching guitar of Link Wray and just a wee bit of Tav Falco psychobilly to make a beat that’s pretty much impossible to stand still to. The Krektones feature Jason Krekel at lead, Dave Gay on bass, and Lance Wille on drums. These instrumentalists bring a broad range of musical experience, swinging wide from stints with The Parting Gifts, Freakwater, and The Reigning Sound, as well as some seminal Asheville bands, including the Firecracker Jazz Band, Mad Tea Party, The Unholy Trio, and White Heat. Don’t let the sequined tuxedo jackets fool you.
…THE E.NORMUS TRIO
The E.Normus Trio is an adventurous avant-garde instrumental spirit comprised of Jay Sanders on 8-string N/S Stick, Steve Alford on Alto, Bass and Contrabass Clarinet, and Michael W. Davis on Drums. Drawing from the deep well of cataclysmic music, the trio shapes and build sonic landscapes that are equal parts thrilling and soothing. The essence of creativity is emphasized in collective improvisation that traverses the wide musical spectrum and the spirit of music. Individually the members of the E.Normus Trio have played with Acoustic Syndicate, Donna The Buffalo, Spork!, The Slithers and The Broadcast.
Photo by Bren Dendy. Illustrations by Gregory Keyzer.
Jonathan Scales played the Elbo Room in Chicago last Saturday. Here is a review from SouthSide on the Town.
[Jonathan Scales] combined the best of two music worlds – the ultra smooth sounds of jazz rhythms and vibrant energy of rock with the cool taste of the Caribbean into a deliciously sounding performance. This unique attraction not only captivated this reviewer’s attention but the entire audience as well. Steel pannist Jonathan Scales brought his rockin’ Fourchestra band (however it was a trio for his Elbo Room appearance) and its rockin’ music that featured intricately woven melodies and notes off his steel drums and the lively momentum of rock and jazz together. Throughout the opening set, this oddly mesh of sounds and rhythms retained a pleasurable vibe as well as a danceable groove for anyone adventurous enough to do so.
SouthSide thoroughly enjoyed hearing such creative floetry within Jonathan’s epic yet poetic compositions in which, if listened closely, one could hear the fierce intensity (and at times, emotionally charged) “vocals” within the lyrics even though there weren’t any actual lyrics to be humanly sung. That was, in SouthSide’s opinion, the beauty of this artist’s music. It was an awe-inspiring experience for this reviewer to hear the “lyrics” spoken directly (and indirectly) amongst the instruments during certain points of his songs. For example, during one particular song, she could vividly hear the fiery “spoken” words between the drum kit versus the steel drums and bass combined and then vice versa drums (steel and percussion) versus bass.
She also enjoyed another particular song featuring an interesting combination of sudden/abrupt dramatic bursts and pauses that grabbed her immediate attention. Jonathan’s rhythmic island/jazz/rock sound was dazzling …spellbounding that no one in the basement lounge dared move a muscle until the performance concluded.
SouthSide highly recommends spending your warm summer nights amidst the cool rockin’ sounds of this island-jazz breeze by Jonathan Scales. And just a small reminder, blogspot readers, he doesn’t do Jimmy Buffet songs. Visit http://www.jonscales.com for more information and music by this artist and his Fourchestra.
Effortlessly crafting a fusion of folk, classical, jazz, and blues, the Galen Kipar Project has been hailed as “complex yet accessible” and “cohesive and poignant” with “experimental folk masterpieces.” Based in Asheville, in 2011 GKP released their fourth album The Scenic Route which features the unique sonorous sound that has become the band’s trademark. GKP is vocalist Galen Kipar on guitars & harmonica, Lyndsay Pruett on violin & vocals, Jeremy Young on drum kit, Ben Portwood on upright bass & vocals, along with with frequent guest Aaron Ballance on dobro and lap steel. “This is folk and blues done so well, with bits of jazz and funk thrown in making it that much more enjoyable,” states Origivation Magazine.
Galen’s other endeavor keeps him on the water as he serves as a fly fishing guide with Curtis Wright Outfitters to Western North Carolina which has over 3000 miles of Trout waters and streams. He gets much of his inspiration for songwriting while standing waist deep in a river. If fans would like to go fishing with Galen this summer and talk music, they can visit www.curtiswrightoutfitters.com.
True to his inspiration, Galen sings in the song Riversong, “Headin’ on down to the waterside, gonna take some time, to rest my mind. Gonna break there, gonna stay there. For a moment there, I’ll sigh.” Water is a consistent theme in his uplifting music that WNC Magazine describes as, “intricate and memorable, sophisticated and relaxed.
The GKP was featured on WNCW’s 2010 Crowd Around the Mic Compilation CD with artists such as Darrell Scott, Jeff Sipe and Ike Stubblefield, Muddy Waters Reunion Band, Drivin & Cryin’ and Jim Lauderdale. Their hit October Snow was used in a commercial promoting the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) and the WNC Farmers Market Association and was also a finalist in the Google TV for All Contest. ASAP has released a Spring 2011 video for the farmer’s market with one of GKP’s songs at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg-82R0QB7U.
Here is a video interview and show clips from the last time GKP played the LAB by Jeremiah Greer Live:
Santos states, “With so much encouragement from the arts and music community here as well as the supporters of this project from around the world, I realize now that this project is something larger than me and I am honored to play my part. So, I invite you to join me on this adventure!”
Photo by Maggie Roberge. Reposted here with permission.
Photo by Maggie Roberge. Reposted here with permission.
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