Fiddling Cricket Concerts 
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Concert Calendar |
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Geoff
Muldaur |
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During the 60's and 70's Geoff Muldaur made a series of highly influential recordings as a founding member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band and the Paul Butterfield Better Days Group, as well as collaborating with such notables as his then-wife Maria Muldaur, Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Garcia and others. In the mid 80's he disappeared from the stage, turning to film and TV scores and to producing off-beat albums of other artists, but his definitive recording of "Brazil" provide the seed for, and was featured in, Terry Gillam's film of that name. Geoff has been back performing as a solo artist for several years, appearing at folk and blues events from Newport to Norway, and has been regularly featured on NPR shows and guested on A Prairie Home Companion. |
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. Two long awaited new High Tone CD's have recently been released, featuring Geoff's interpretation of classic and obscure American Material, as well as his own compositions. After a London performance, the London Times said "Immaculate guitar picking was matched by vocals that were rich, and bore out the guitarists, Richard Thompson's praise for him: There are only about three white blues singers and Geoff Muldaur is at least two of them" Geoff returns to us after two previously sold out appearances. www.geoffmuldaur.com |
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Houston
Jones |
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Houston Jones became Fiddling Cricket favorites the first time they played, a couple of years ago, for their first CD release. They feature the stunning left-handed and upside down acoustic and electric guitar playing of Glen Houston, and the richly crafted golden tenor of Travis Jones (also rhythm and occasional lead guitar), plus the double bass and back up vocals of Chris Kee and the percussion and back-up vocals of Peter Tucker. |
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They usually sizzle through an Americana mix covering bluegrass, country, folk, blues (particularly blues), rock, Celtic and jazz. Their latest CD, "Three Crow Town", produced by friend and collaborator, Chojo Jacques, has 75% original material, stretching their boundaries even further. Chojo (mandolin, electric mandolin, and fiddle) plays on it and joins them in many of their live shows (those of you who are counting might have noticed that there are four original Waybacks playing here, plus Travis Jones!). Last year they made their debut, to great acclaim (voted best new band; best new vocalist) on the main stage at the Strawberry Music Festival. "….a killer acoustic music act…. unique interpretations of grassroots Americana that will leave you breathless" ….West Coast Live, KALW and NPR. www.houstonjones.com |
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April Verch
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April Verch is 27 years old, born, raised, and living in Pembroke, Ontario, the Ottowa Valley region her family has occupied for generations. By 1992, aged 13 she was appearing as a guest competitor in fiddle contests and as an instructor at fiddle and stepdancing camps, always integrating fiddle and dance into a seamless whole. By 1995 she had two self-released CDs and in 2000 was signed to Rounder Records after a vibrant performance at the Annual Folk Alliance Conference that year. Just after that she graced our stage, to a sold out audience, with perhaps the most dynamic, high energy, show Fiddling Cricket has seen. |
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In 2003 her second Rounder
CD, From Where I Stand, produced by old time music guru, Bruce
Molsky, confirmed the growth of her musical palate with French Canadian,
Appalachian and Latin compositions. It also introduced her as a vocalist. Her
most recent release, Take me Back, produced and recorded by roots music
master, Dirk Powell, continues this development with emphasis on songs
and arrangements of broad, roots leaning appeal. |
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Connie Doolan Quartet
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Connie Doolan, from Oakland, has been appearing on the Fiddling Cricket stage for all 9 years we have been at Espresso Garden. With classical, jazz, and musical theater training, music teaching and playing have always been Connie's living. As one of the principal vocalists of The Mighty Avalanche Choir, her beautiful soprano was heard in folk and Celtic arrangements for several years at the FC Annual Holiday Party. |
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Later she also appeared as one third of the group, Doolan, Herold, and Haan, (Sylvia Herold of Cats and Jammers and Patrice Haan from Leftover Dreams). Over the last few years Connie has concentrated on developing her own group, appearing for us in both trio and quartet arrangements and presenting a wide range of material from jazz standards to folk. During this time she has been working also in the studio and now her debut CD, Haunt Your Heart, is done and will be released at this show. Fiddling Cricket is proud to have supported this venture and have the CD appear on the FC label. It features beautifully arranged renditions of material ranging from Tom Waits to bluesy versions of traditional American and Irish songs, to favorite jazz standards, swing, folk, and quirky pop hits such as "Calling You" from the film Baghdad Café, and "Summer Fly" by Cheryl Wheeler. Accompanying and augmenting Connie's vocals will be the entirely elegant and lyrical playing of the rest of the Quartet, consisting of Julian Smedley on violin and viola (formerly of The Hot Club of San Francisco), Mike Wallenberg on jazz guitar, and Steven Strauss on upright bass and ukulele, just as they do on the CD. Come out and support the efforts of this very fine local group on their debut CD release! |
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The Cache Valley
Drifters |
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CVD, from the Santa Barbara region of the California Coast were a hot bluegrass group originally, and then the original backing group for the legendary singer-songwriter, Kate Wolf, in the 70's. They are now in their 4th decade as a group and are instantly recognizable by their driving rhythm, layered and textured ballad presentation, unique acoustic arrangements and vocalization harmony (yep, that's just about everything!). Two of the original members are still in the group (Bill Griffin, mandolin, guitar and lead vocals) and Wally Barnick (bass and lead vocals). The third member of the trio is Mike Mullins (guitar, mandolin, lead vocals), a relative newcomer (about 11 years in), but a collaborator since way back. |
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CVD have 7 albums to their credit and each member has also played in numerous other groups and on other recordings. Mike also has major songwriting credits. They perform a wide range of material from folk to bluegrass, The Eagles to the Grateful Dead, little known arcane delights, and originals from Mike - all with incredible harmony and superb instrumental arrangements. They are, perhaps, the Fiddling Cricket audience's favorite group and if they lived closer would surely be our very own house band. As CVD they play strictly for enjoyment these days, and only a few times a year in places they really like. Fortunately they seem to like us quite a bit, but since the series may end if Espresso Garden closes, you may not get a chance to hear them again after this one, so book early! www.cachevalleydrifters.com |
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Lost Weekend Western
Swing Band |
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Don Burnham's nine-piece all-star band LOST WEEKEND, celebrating its 22nd anniversary, rides Into Don Quixote's Music Hall, kicking off its spring Tour with an evening of classic Western Swing, LW-style. That means guitarist/vocalist Burnham plus Steel guitar Hall-of-Famer Bobby Black; reedmeister Jim Rothermel, clarinet and sax; fiddle ace Paul Shelasky; Mark Holzinger take-off guitar; vocalist Pam Brandon, piano titan Shota Osabe, bassist Bing Nathan, and Krupa-protegee John Brinck on drums. KPIG radio favorite "Sleepy John" Sandidge will be Master of Ceremonies for this debut LOST WEEKEND concert and dance at DQMH. Don and the LOST WEEKEND gang will have the band's hot new CD, SWINGIN' OUT WEST - LOST WEEKEND LIVE!, in their saddlebags. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy one of Western music's finest bands. www.lostweekend.ws |
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Two High Strung
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Roy Zimmerman &
Stevie Coyle |
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Concert Calendar |
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Last Updated: 12/07