Galen Kipar Project Florida Performances: Middleburg, Jacksonville and St. Augustine 2/16-18

Galen Kipar and Lyndsay Pruett. Photo by Cameron Yaeger.

Galen Kipar Project Florida Performances

GKP at Prevatt’s on Thurs, Feb 16th

Middleburg, FL 

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GKP & Grandpa’s Cough Medicine at Mojo Kitchen on Fri, Feb 17th
Jacksonville Bch, FL

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GKP at Cellar 6 at Sat, Feb 18th
St. Augustine, FL

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 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, GKP released their fourth album The Scenic Route in 2010 which features the unique sonorous sound that has become the band’s trademark. “In Asheville, fans call his act a ‘small-scale symphony.’ It’s probably more like chamber folk/pop, sometimes reminiscent of Adrian Belew’s quieter moods,” says The Roanoke Times writer Tad Dickens. Joining vocalist Galen Kipar on guitars & harmonica is Lyndsay Pruett on violin & vocals.

Galen Kipar is currently writing new music and in the pre-production phase of the next album. The WCGazzette writes, “Kipar says ripples of his trout-tinted soul will continue to be felt in the band’s upcoming release. ‘It will be accessible, with catchy hooks,’ he says of the album. ‘[But] it will also be complex enough that a fan will be able to listen to it and still come back and hear something new. That’s always been our goal.'”

Galen’s other endeavor keeps him on the water as he serves as a trout ninja (aka. 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. Galen states in an interview with the WVGazette, “Water, particularly rivers, have many different currents. Music is the same way,” he says. “Music has many different currents, and they all work together. Maybe that’s a little far-fetched, but it’s something that’s always fascinated me.”

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. “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,” states Magazine 33.

The fan base of the Galen Kipar Project is growing exponentially, with a strong regional presence in the Southeast plus U.S. national touring, including performances at Magnolia Fest, Suwanee Springfest, FloydFest, Six Points Music Festival, and the Crested Butte Music Series. The GKP has also played the Knitting Factory in NYC and to a jam-packed, toe-tapping crowd at the Kennedy Center’s renowned Millennium Stage in Washington DC. This fall they will be returning to Magnolia Fest amongst other shows on their tour.

The New River Voice recalled, “If the Pied Piper-like migration of people to the stage during their FloydFest performance is any kind of barometer, the band is on an immutable trajectory of permeating Southwest Virginia with their versatile, yet immediately attainable sonority.”

Photo by Jake Candy.

www.GalenKipar.com

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Galen Kipar Project, Whetherman and Taylor Martin’s Engine Perform Thurs, Dec 8th at The Grey Eagle

Galen Kipar Project. – 9p
Whetherman – 8p
And…
Taylor Martin’s Engine – 10:30p

Thursday December 8, 2011
Grey Eagle
185 Clingman Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801
8pm, Donation w/ $7 min.
http://www.thegreyeagle.com

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, GKP released their fourth album The Scenic Route in 2010 which features the unique sonorous sound that has become the band’s trademark. “In Asheville, fans call his act a ‘small-scale symphony.’ It’s probably more like chamber folk/pop, sometimes reminiscent of Adrian Belew’s quieter moods,” says The Roanoke Times writer Tad Dickens.  Joining vocalist Galen Kipar on guitars & harmonica is Lyndsay Pruett on violin & vocals, Aaron Ballance on dobro and Rob Parks on bass.

Galen Kipar is currently writing new music and in the pre-production phase of the next album. The WCGazzette writes, “Kipar says ripples of his trout-tinted soul will continue to be felt in the band’s upcoming release. ‘It will be accessible, with catchy hooks,’ he says of the album. ‘[But] it will also be complex enough that a fan will be able to listen to it and still come back and hear something new. That’s always been our goal.'”

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Whetherman is the mellow music project of Nicholas Williams, a 27 year-old unsigned singer/songwriter out of the Midwest, who has been heavily influenced by folk musicians such as Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Nick Drake and Neil Young. This emerging artist is becoming increasingly well-known for his distinct voice, a creative blend of crooning and soaring melodic qualities that has become the staple …for Whetherman’s music. His songs are comforting and gentle on the ears, providing depth and landscape with insightful lyrics and beautiful texture in supporting instrumentals.

Since June of 2007, Williams has released four full length albums: “Bull” (2007), “The Great Lull” (2008), “Nooks and Crannies” (2010) and most recently, “Wind in the Trees” (2011). The first two works were under a distribution deal backed by Adorable Records, an independent label based outside of Detroit, MI, which Williams remained signed with until 2009. Williams then chose to be independent, booking all festivals, tour dates, merchandising, managing artwork and continuing to record every album on his own dollar and time.

After a move to the Southeast and releasing the third Whetherman title, Williams has since found a local group of diversely talented musicians of up to nine different performers to share the stage with, called “The Steady Melodies”. The ensemble is mostly made up of University of North Florida Musical/Jazz Studies alumni, and worldly influenced musicians. Currently, The Steady Melodies are comprised of: JP Salvat (Percussion), Dan Evans (Mandolin, Guitar), Alex Hayward (Drums), Rachel Murray (Vocals), Angel Garcia (Keys), Adam Mantovani (Bass), Milan Algood (Drums), Austin Johnson (Bass) and Lyndsay Pruett (Fiddle).

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Taylor Martin brings you music with a beating heart. Gritty, real and powerful, his new band Taylor Martin’s Engine is filled with music born of genuine experience painted true and honest with raw and uncommon sincerity. This is music as it should be. This is music for those who wish to be moved. Engine. A word that despite many uses is almost always tied to motion. Taylor’s music and writings are also in the business of motion. Unconcerned with the fickle demands of fashion this Engine is as timeless and dynamic as the word itself. Featuring Jon Stickley on guitar, Lydsay Pruett on Fiddle, Ricky Cooper on Bass, and Taylor Martin on rhythm guitar.

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Lazybirds Perform their Ragtime Style of American Roots Music at MoDaddys on Friday, September 23, 2011

Lazybirds. Photo by Jen Fox

Lazybirds is a classic American roots band from the mountains of North Carolina. Specializing in good time music that is just about impossible not to move to, there is also a depth to the band that faithful fans have treasured over the years. According to the legendary Doc Watson, “Lazybirds play a good variety of blues, jazz, and that good old ragtime sound, and you will hear the flavor of that in anything they play.” The ‘Birds cover a lot of musical ground, from early American stringband music to Dylan classics, as well as classic sounding originals, but deep roots are what hold all of these sounds together.

The Lazybirds most recent CD release (2010), “Broken Wing,” pays homage to founding member Andy Christopher, who played tenor banjo and tenor guitar, and sang with the band until being stricken suddenly with a mysterious heart condition. The title track, a Lazybirds original, describes how the band misses their soul brother; “It seems wrong you’re not here on my right,” “There’s a hole where there should be your banjo.” Andy was with the band for part of the recording before he took sick, and you can hear his distinctive banjo picking particularly on “Life,” a Lazybirds rendition of the Sly and the Family Stone classic that will surprise most listeners other than long time fans, who expect the occasional knuckle-ball from this band. In essence the CD is life-affirming, moving through the blues, swing and deep country with humor and heart. “Broken Wing” has received sparkling reviews across the American southeast and in Europe.

Lately the band has been incorporating more original music into the mix. Some of these will certainly find their way onto the next Lazybirds recording, but you’ll have to check the credits to know which songs are Lazybirds originals and which are old classics, as the band has been steeping in the American roots melting pot for so long that it flavors anything they do. The band began nearly twenty years ago, when Jay Brown and James T Browne, who had played acoustic blues and folk together in high-school, moved up to Boone NC where they immediately met Mitch Johnston. Eventually Mitch became the hard driving bass man who perfectly complimented James’ jazz drumming and Jay’s finger style blues-swing guitar and jazzy harmonica. Shortly afterward they met Andy, who’s rhythmic style opened up more doors for the band. A few years later they were joined by German born fiddler and blues guitarist Alfred Michels who, evidence clearly suggests, is from 100 years ago.

Together they have played top festivals across the southeast, including Merlefest, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, LEAF, Birmingham City Stages, Music on the Mountaintop, and Bele Chere. They have shared the stage with their friends The Old Crow Medicine Show and Doc Watson. They’ve been a longstanding favorite in some of the best bars from Birmingham to Boone. Lazybirds is an American classic worth getting to know.

Show Details at a Glance:

LazyBirds
MoDaddys
Friday, September 23, 2011

9:30, $5
(828) 258-1550
77 Biltmore Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801
http://www.modaddysbar.com

www.lazybirds.net

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Video Interview with Galen Kipar Project!

Galen Kipar Project. Photo by Jake Pelham- Folktography.

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, GKP recently released their fourth album in five years 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 Kipar Project did a recent interview Jeremiah Greer Live at their show at the Lexington Ave Brewery (The LAB) in Asheville, NC. Check out the interview as well as clip from the show here:

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Galen Kipar Project with Lyndsay Pruett performing “How I’ve Changed” at MagnoliaFest

This is Asheville based band Galen Kipar Project with Lyndsay Pruett performing “How I’ve Changed” at the Amphitheater stage on Thursday at the 2010 MagnoliaFest at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL! It was filmed by Gary Reckard.

Read more about MagnoliaFest at these two blogs:

• Your Hometown Hiker: MagnoliaFest 2010 Report
• Festgrrl: Magnolia Fest Was Sublime

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Woody Pines plays The LAB in Asheville Friday Oct 22nd // Recording a New LIVE Album

Woody Pines plays The Lexington Ave. Brewery (LAB)

Recording their “LIVE” LIMITED EDITION 12″ vinyl album
Friday, October 22, 2010

$6, 9:30pm
39 N. Lexington Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801

The night will be caught on film- so come get dressed up and party with Woody Pines!!!

Woody Pines (Jonathan Woods to his mum) had been writing and playing as well as any of his generation long before producing his debut solo album in 2005.

The material is rich in character and redolent of place, namely rural, real America. His style has been compared to Paul Burch and his presentation likened to Mark Olson, but he’d dug even deeper for his source inspiration, with a passion for the early ragtime and jug band greats.

Earlier, those leanings set him off on a musical journey which led him to form the highly-rated Kitchen Syncopators with Gill Landry (Old Crow Medicine Show) who performed everywhere from New Orleans to Seattle’s Folklife Festival and the Oregon Country Fair.

After striking out on his own and moving to Asheville, western North Carolina, his repertoire was re-shaped to create a pleasing blend of old-time/juke joint/country blues so authentic and evocative you’d swear they might be period pieces.

The 2007-issued Lonesome Shack Blues with its great pickin’ and just-right lightness of touch, won him an even bigger following among the kinda folks who seek their musical fix courtesy of Professor Longhair or Mississippi John Hurt.

Woody Pines Circa ’09 is now a person and a band, his playing companions – Zack Pozebanchuk (bass), Darin Gentry (fiddle) and Nathan Taylor (drums) – providing so much brotherly support and bonhomie they are now one and the same and have adopted the stage name.

In between a busy touring schedule that has taken them to venues and festival stages from Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon and Michigan to Indiana, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia and Ohio, they recorded killer tracks for the widely-acclaimed new album, Counting Alligators which has been picking up rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic.

The album reunited Woody with Gill, who helped out on a bunch of the studio sessions in Nashville.

The Mountain Xpress, labelled Woody an “old soul and natural performer playing like an all-state champ who took to hopping trains and frequenting speakeasies”. _________________________________________________________________
The Salty Caramels will be opening for the evening: Molly Winters, Angela Perley, and Bree Frick, are a trio of singer-songwriters from Columbus, Ohio. Borrowing from a combination of influences spanning from the girl-group sounds of the 40’s through the 60’s and Folk Americana, the Salty Caramels bring nostalgia, whimsy, and sweetness to their audience, without ever losing their “salty” edge. The girls formed in September of 2010 and play a rotating variety of instruments which include the suitcase bass drum, resonator guitar, acoustic bass, washboard, saw, and kazoo, to name a few.

Certain talented musicians have the ability to transport the listener to a different place and time by just hitting some strings or directing the air that fills their lungs…

For Woody Pines, you find yourself in the Mississippi Delta when AM radio is king, sippin’ whiskey if you re fortunate and moonshine if you’re desperate.

The band; comprised of Woody on guitar, banjo, harmonica and lead vocals, Zack Pozebanchuk on upright bass, Nathan Taylor on drums, and Darin Gentry on fiddle; epitomizes the swinging ragtime and country sound and embraces a simpler time.

”New Orleans has music seeping out of the bricks in the old French quarter,” said Woody, who moved to New Orleans to steep in the city’s famous music scene, but now resides in Asheville, North Carolina. “We went down there to learn [the music] not just note for note, but also through the food and lifestyle that make New Orleans so special.”

Although the group has been playing together for two and half years, Pines is the driving force both creatively and on stage, which has lead to some very tall comparisons. “I m not really sure where the Bob Dylan associations come from,” said Pines. “But I love Dylan and I m honored to be alive when he is, so I take it as a compliment.”

Pines, who comes from a musical family and has been playing music since he can remember, describes the band’s sound as a ragtime rhythm and a swinging good time, and his songs reflect that belief. ”Reefer Man” immediately brings to mind a haunting, Halloween hootenanny that could have come straight out of vaudeville. “Pretty Blue Eyes” puts listeners straight into the backseat of a convertible, whipping around the back roads of the Delta on a crisp, autumn night. Several other songs by the band, such as “Nashville” and “Delta Bound”, evoke thoughts of a Southern gossip or a post-Civil War America where the blues weren’t just a style of music, but a way of life. “I pick and choose the best sounding stuff,” said Pines. “Everything from swing band to old country blues goes into our music, along with life’s influences.”   – By Max Bonem, Athens OH

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Fall Tour Dates Announced for the Galen Kipar Project!

Galen Kipar Project Fall Tour Dates:

Wed 10/6 ~ Stone Soup ~ Landrum, SC
Thu 10/7 ~ The Lab ~ Asheville, NC
Fri 10/8 ~ Canyons ~ Blowing Rock, NC
Sat 10/ 9 ~ Leaf Festival of Cashiers, NC
Thu 10/14 ~ Olde Hickory Tap Room ~ Hickory, NC
Fri 10/15 ~ The Purple Fiddle ~Thomas, WV

Sat 10/ 16 ~  Mojo’s ~ Urbanna, VA
Mon 10/18 ~ The PourHouse, Charleston, SC
Wed 10/20 ~ Awendaw Green, Awenedaw, SC
Fri- Sun 10/22-24 ~ Magnolia Festival ~ Live Oak, Fl

Thu 11/4 ~ Blue 5 ~ Roanoke, VA

Fri 11/5 Urbanna Oyster Festival ~ Urbanna, VA

“In Asheville, fans call his act a ‘small-scale symphony.’ It’s probably more like chamber folk/pop, sometimes reminiscent of Adrian Belew’s quieter moods.” ~Tad Dickens, Roanoke Times

Galen Kipar Project released their fourth album in five years, The Scenic Route in June 2010. It was recorded in Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC and has been widely received, satisfying the musical longings of loyal fans as well as the uninitiated.

“The Scenic Route is luminous and warm; Kipar’s vocals as light and syncopated as water cascading over rocks…Each song on Routes is carefully orchestrated and worked with the tender care of a master painter at his easel. Kipar elevates this eight-song collection far beyond standard singer/songwriter fare, wringing emotion and texture from each song and adding layers of interest with rich, resonant percussion and an intricate dance of string tones. He pushes the envelope of how many sounds can be introduced without reducing the sum to a fuzzy, sonic snarl.” ~Alli Marshall, Asheville’s Mountain Xpress

Galen Kipar Project’s line up and instrumentation for the shows are  Aaron Ballance – lap steel guitar, dobro; Ben Portwood – upright bass, vocals; Galen Kipar – guitars, vocals, harmonicas; Jeremy Young – drum kit; Lyndsay Pruett – violin, vocals.

Check out the song “Rushing Over My Bones” in the video below. This song was chosen by WNCW for their Annual “Crowd around the Mic” compilation vol 14.

“Strange, slightly other-worldly acoustic music sung in a sweet, slightly distracted voice. I think of it as a sort of American Primitive, with hits of Sandy Bull in the guitars, Brett Dennen in the voice, Donna the Buffalo in the rustic simplicity, and something altogether new in the wonderful orchestrations… In the words of Tina Fey, when I hear the sounds of this nearby world, I want to go to there.'”

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“North Carolina singer-songwriter Galen Kipar has nothing to do with the Grateful Dead, but I’m really excited to turn you on to this music. The Scenic Route has been my favorite CD since it arrived in my mailbox a couple of months ago.”~ David Gans; KPFA’s Dead to the World, Host of Grateful Dead Hour

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Also, check out this studio session and Interview with Kipar and David Gans!

Galen Kipar Project on the Web

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New Video for the Galen Kipar Project!

Check out this new video for the Galen Kipar Project:

The songs in the above video is from GKP’s newest release, The Scenic Route. It is Galen Kipar Project live @ Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC 8-12-10. Musicians: Jeremy Young – drums, Lyndsay Pruett – violin, vox, Aaron Ballance – dobro, Ben Portwood – upright bass, Galen Kipar – guitar, harmonica, vox.

We are pleased to announce that WNCW has selected “Rushing Over My Bones” off the new release The Scenic Route, to be featured on their annual Crowd Around The Mic Vol. 14. Thanks WNCW for all you do for music!

Galen Kipar Project’s fourth album in five years, The Scenic Route, was recorded in Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, North Carolina-[Others who have recorded there include Donna the Buffalo, Avett Brothers, and Band of Horses]. Featuring eight songs, the album promises to satisfy the musical longings of loyal fans as well as the uninitiated.  Mastered in NYC by Richard Morris Mastering – Iron and Wine, Nora Jones, Wiyos, Felise Brothers (richardmorrismastering.com). The Scenic Route was published by Paper Sailer Publishing and released nationally on June 29th 2010.

Here is what the press has to say about GKP:
“The Scenic Route is luminous and warm; Kipar’s vocals as light and syncopated as water cascading over rocks…Each song on Routes is carefully orchestrated and worked with the tender care of a master painter at his easel. Kipar elevates this eight-song collection far beyond standard singer/songwriter fare, wringing emotion and texture from each song and adding layers of interest with rich, resonant percussion and an intricate dance of string tones. He pushes the envelope of how many sounds can be introduced without reducing the sum to a fuzzy, sonic snarl.” ~Alli Marshall, Asheville’s Mountain Xpress

“In Asheville, fans call his act a ‘small-scale symphony.’ It’s probably more like chamber folk/pop, sometimes reminiscent of Adrian Belew’s quieter moods.” ~Tad Dickens, Roanoke Times

“I was given a copy of his CD Why It’s Needed [2007]  … and I was hooked right away.” … “Strange, slightly other-worldly acoustic music sung in a sweet, slightly distracted voice. I think of it as a sort of American Primitive, with hits of Sandy Bull in the guitars, Brett Dennen in the voice, Donna the Buffalo in the rustic simplicity, and something altogether new in the wonderful orchestrations. I have heard this CD about four times all the way through since it hit my car’s CD player two days ago. One of the songs… made me cry the first time I heard it. In the words of Tina Fey, when I hear the sounds of this nearby world, I want to go to there.'” ~David Gans, KPFA’s Dead to the World, Host of Grateful Dead Hour

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Galen Kipar Project on the Web

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Noteworthy Band, Galen Kipar Project, Shares New Sound

By Krista Harris, The Brunswick News, Ga.

www.thebrunswicknews.com

www.californiachronicle.com

Oct. 23–Rafters is the place to be Saturday night.

A new group with a new sound will grace the stage. The Galen Kipar Project is all about sound and composition.

This three-piece band based out of Asheville, N.C., offers an eclectic mix that music lovers will appreciate.

“We are a band on the rise,” said Galen Kipar, who plays classical guitars, an acoustic Guild D-40 and Horner harmonicas. “Some of the music you will want to dance to and others you will want to sit down and have a beer … .”

Kipar and the band describe their sound in four words — Blues, fusion, soul and folk.

“It’s basically music that has soul and Blues roots,” explained Kipar. “It’s going to be a great show, and in these hard times everyone needs to have a good time.”

The band has a score of original music, but will also play some cover songs. This year has been a busy one for them — playing at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and at Floydfest in Virginia. The band has been working on a new album for 2010 and just released a single “October Snow” this month.

Kipar said playing in Coastal Georgia has been a long time coming. He is originally from Augusta, and is a graduate of Brevard College where he studied composition and majored in music. He enjoys creating a sound that brings peace of mind. His fellow bandmates are Jon Morrow on guitar and Jeremy Young on percussion.

“This is what we do for a living,” said Kipar. “We love it and its gets easier every year. It is a wonderful thing to travel around and meet different people.”

The Galen Kipar Project is a band on the rise, and will leave people wanting to hear more.

Photo By: Sean Cuddy

If you go

The Galen Kipar Project will play at 10 p.m. at Rafters, 315 1/2 Mallery St., St. Simons Island. Cover is $5.

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To see more of The Brunswick News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to www.thebrunswicknews.com

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