Fiddling Cricket Concerts Fiddling Cricket
February 2009

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The Bee Eaters
Tuesday, February 3rd, 7:30pm, $10/$10
<21 w/parent

FC Cosponsored Show
AT DON QUIXOTES MUSIC HALL

6275 Highway 9 in Downtown Felton, call 831-603-2294

The Bee Eaters boasts four of the most accomplished, creative young talents of the new generation, tracing roots back to the musical traditions of bluegrass, old-time, celtic, jazz and pop. The quartet combines the strong, striking music of hammered dulcimer virtuoso Simon Chrisman and banjo phenomenon Wes Corbett with the inimitable sound of brother-sister fiddle duo Tristan and Tashina Clarridge. The result of the foursome’s collaboration is an elegant fusion of tradition and innovation. http://www.beeeaters.com

The Bee Eaters are the instrumental cream of the brand new string nation. Harking back to the ‘grand old days’ when new virtuosos seemed to spring onto the scene fully formed with a whole repertoire of brilliant music nobody had ever heard before, somehow these kids have absorbed everything we had to offer and alchemized it into a new musical world.” ~Darol Anger

These Bee Eaters have bowled me over! Their bodaciously brilliant bowing and banjoing, the mellifluously magnificent malletwork, and impeccably impressive ensemble work leave me breathless. Compositionally, creatively, clarridgely and new acoustically (or whatever category you want to assign to them), they inhabit the highest rung of the musical ladder. Their music excites, heals and enriches. Listen often.” ~Tony Trischka



Chuck Brodsky
Singer-Songwriter and Storyteller
Michael Gaithier, Local Songwriter, Opens

Friday, February 6th, 8.00pm $15 adv/$17dr
AT MISSION CITY COFFEE ROASTING CO.

2221 The Alameda, Santa Clara, CA 95050
call 831-475-4938 or email Brundle@attglobal.net

Chuck Brodsky is a musical storyteller who combines barb-witted social commentary with underlying humanity, compassion and humor. His songwriting on the one hand pokes fun at political corruption, small-town meanness, religion and our laughable culture, and on the other, contains poignant vignettes, in vividly rendered stories, of old, unknown, and unsung heroes. Originally from Philadelphia, Chuck was resident in the Bay Area a few years ago, but now lives in the mountains of North Carolina, where some of his songs are set. He has 7 solo CDs - all critically acclaimed. The first 3 were on Red House Records. The 4th, Baseball Ballads, has led to him performing 3 times at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. His 2004 CD, Color Came One Day, produced by JP Cormier, was recorded in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He is currently taking pre-orders for Two Sets, a double live CD recorded in several venues just like this one. http://www.chuckbrodsky.com/

"Reflects the good old US of A, warts and all…" - Rolling Stone

"What tales……brimming with wit and compassion" -New York Times

Michael Gaither is also a storyteller in the Americana style, honing his craft in the Santa Cruz area for the last few years. He writes intelligent lyrics and has a keen eye for detail and gentle humor. http://www.michaelgaither.com/b2/blogs/multiblogs.php

"Sounds like Dylan - if Dylan were born in Texas and moved to Santa Cruz" KVMR-FM



Jamie Laval & Scott Nygaard
Tuesday, February 10th, 7:30pm, $13/$15 seated
<21 w/parent

FC Cosponsored Show
AT DON QUIXOTES MUSIC HALL

6275 Highway 9 in Downtown Felton, call 831-603-2294

Jamie Laval is one of the premier Celtic violinists on the international music scene today and is winner of the 2002 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championship. He creates rapt audiences with his intensely passionate, virtuosic performances of traditional music of Scotland, Ireland, Brittany and Quebec rendered with hints of classical refinement and ethnic music from around the world. His CD, Zephyr In The Confetti Factory, won Best World Traditional Song in the 2007 Independent Music Awards Vox Populi, and he collaborated on Dave Matthews’ Some Devil, Warner Bros. Pictures’ Wild America, and WB-TV series Everwood. http://www.JamieLaval.com

"One of the hottest fiddlers out there…this act has been turning heads wherever it plays."Asheville Citizen Times.

Scott Nygaard, both as guitar soloist and as a collaborator with the who’s-who of international acoustic music stars, sits in the ranks among the greatest masters of his instrument. His solos are a seamless amalgam of bluegrass, folk, and jazz influences. As a side man, he is sought out by Jerry Douglas, Chris Thile, Tim O’Brien, Darol Anger, the Matt Flinner Trio, Tony Furtado, Laurie Lewis, Todd Phillips, and David Grisman, and has received numerous Grammy nominations. Scott fronts several groups of his own, including Crow Molly and a duo with Roger Tallroth (of Våsen), and is a senior editor of Acoustic Guitar Magazine. http://www.ScottNygaard.com

"As adept at creating magnetic rhythms as he is knocking off stunning solos, Nygaard is possibly the best acoustic guitarist to come along in bluegrass music since Tony Rice."—Edmonton Journal



Cosy Sheridan / Chuck McCabe and Joe Weed
Singer Songwriters With A Knack For The Truth And The Absurd
Friday, February 13th, 8.00pm $15/$17
AT THE CAYUGA VAULT

1100 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
call 831-475-4938 or email Brundle@attglobal.net

In this show, Joe Weed, a cousin Cosy only met for the first time a few years ago, will sit in on Cosy's set. Joe and bassist Rolfe Wyer then join Chuck in his set.

Carnegie Hall and the Dr. Demento Show are just stops along the way for Cosy Sheridan, who has garnered top honors at Kerrville, Telluride, and the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Songwriting competitions. Cosy may sing songs about body piercing, a more user-friendly Barbie Doll, the loneliness of an elderly neighbor, or how small and humble things in life can sew your heart back together. One way or another she will make you cry. Playing bass with Cosy and providing harmony vocals, is her partner, TR Ritchie, an accomplished solo performer in his own right

"...a keen and wicked eye for the excesses of our fast-food, TV-happy and noisome culture" - Boston Globe

Chuck McCabe is also an award winning songwriter, producing engaging, poetic lyrics about issues confronting us all. From Partisan Polka to I miss my Moustache, he exudes insight and wit. Chuck has played with Joe Weed since the 1970's and recording Chuck's Pensacola Flash album. They formed a band in 1977 which played clubs and concerts from California to Martha's Vineyard. Chuck and Joe joined forces again recently to produce Chuck's most recent two albums.

Joe Weed, local recording studio and album producer maven, has 6 CD's of his own, the most recent being Swanee - The Music of Stephen Foster, described by The New York Post thus: "..for those interested in American music, this is required listening."



Tracy Grammer
Accompanied by Jim Henry
Tuesday, February 17th, 7:30pm, $15/15
<21 w/parent

FC Cosponsored Show
AT DON QUIXOTES MUSIC HALL

6275 Highway 9 in Downtown Felton, call 831-603-2294

Tracy Grammer is a brilliant artist and unique individual. Her voice is distinctive, as is her mastery over the instruments she plays.”- Joan Baez

[Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer have] become a treasured part of my music collection.--Flower of Avalon presents more songs by Dave Carter, with Tracy at the helm as artist, interpreter, co-producer and the beating heart at the center of it all. Her pure voice conveys the simple truths of these songs; her gifts as a musician are like that of a painter who is a master of chiaroscuro, offering light and shadow at every turn--- I was honored and humbled by the invitation to sing on this record.“- Mary Chapin Carpenter

A gracefully gifted multi-instrumentalist, singer and producer." - Pasadena Weekly

One of the finest pure musicians anywhere in folkdom.”- The Boston Globe

http://www.tracygrammer.com



Mary McCaslin plus Steve Palazzo
Wednesday, February 18th, 7:30 pm, $10/$10
<21 w/parent

FC Cosponsored Show
AT DON QUIXOTES MUSIC HALL

6275 Highway 9 in Downtown Felton, call 831-603-2294

Mary McCaslin represents an unbroken link between traditional American folksingers and today's "new folk" singer-songwriters. Known for her songs about the West, its landscape, and its outlaws as well as her insightful songs about relationships, Mary has influenced countless other performers. For many years before her current solo career, Mary toured with legendary singer Jim Ringer. Together they helped keep folk music on the map through some very lean years. Mary was a pioneer of open tunings, using them long before they gained their current popularity. In addition to her flawless fingerpicking style on the guitar, Mary also plays "clawhammer" banjo using it to great (and unique) effect on such unlikely songs as "Blackbird" and "Pinball Wizard." These and other personalized arrangements of popular songs have consistently added to her appeal. In April of 1994 Philo / Rounder released Broken Promises, Mary's first recording of new material since 1980. On this album Mary takes a striking turn inward and tells her own story. With the release of "Broken Promises", Mary McCaslin reclaims her place among the most original and talented singer-songwriters of the folk and acoustic genre. http:/www.marymccaslin.com

"She sounds as if she had risen out of the Western soil and became its voice." Larry Kelp - KPFA, Berkeley.

Steve Palazzo has spent almost his entire adult life playing, building and/or teaching guitar. He began building instruments in 1977 and was on the very first crew at the Santa Cruz Guitar Company, building high end acoustic guitars. He has been teaching guitar full time while holding down guitar duties with the Northern California based bluegrass band Homefire since 1989. His original flatpicking arrangements of traditional fiddle tunes (with David Grier) have been featured in Flatpicking Guitar Magazine and their yearly compilation CDs in Flatpicking 1997 and Flatpicking 2002. His prowess at both flatpicking and fingerpicking traditional guitar styles are aptly displayed on his When The Springtime Comes Again CD. http://www.americanriverfolk.org/instr08/bio.php?instr=Steve+Palazzo



Matt Flinner Trio
Hot Bluegrass, Newgrass and Roots Acoustic Music
Friday, February 27th, 8.00pm $15/$17
AT MISSION CITY COFFEE ROASTING CO.

2221 The Alameda, Santa Clara, CA 95050
call 831-475-4938 or email Brundle@attglobal.net

Acoustic stalwarts, Matt Flinner (mandolin) and Scott Nygaard (guitar), join forces with rising young star, Sam Bevan (double bass) for a reprise of the wonderful evening of acoustic music they gave us last year.

Flinner, now Nashville based, is both a former national mandolin and banjo champion. He has 3 solo albums on Compass Records. http://compassrecords.com/matt-flinner

Nygaard has been a leading guitarist in the "new" bluegrass and acoustic music movement on the West Coast for 2 decades, with several CDs on the Rounder label. http://scottnygaard.com/

Bevan, formerly with the David Grisman Quintet, is an astounding acoustic bassist, but also a unique composer, currently playing with Joe Craven. http://www.sambevan.com/

Together these 3 virtuosos create a tapestry of original and roots acoustic music, including lots of improvisation in live shows.
" Flinner provides the next logical evolutionary step to David Grisman's unique style" - Bluegrass now
"Scott is one of the absolute cutting edge players" - Flatpicking Guitar



Home
Concert Descriptions
At-A-Glance
Concert Calendar
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General Info
Contact Us
Archives

Last Updated: 01/16/09